Windham-Campbell Prizes

An hour before I got the news-no joke-I'd been googling the rules for when the IRS (and hence my ego) might reclassify my writing 'business' as a 'hobby.' I can't say how grateful I am for this astounding psycho-financial boost.

Who—me? [looks over both shoulders] Well golly!

Absolutely thrilled! The synchronicity of this moment is humbling yet powerfully encouraging. Grateful. Elated. Honored. To find out my work resonates to this degree, speaks for me in these rooms—totally surprising.  

I'm a little embarrassed to admit—I have secretly envied Windham-Campbell winners in the past. Honestly, winning it now, I feel both thrilled, and a little repentant.

I am still in shock about this tremendous and utterly surprising news. To be recognized by a global award of this stature is incredibly affirming, and I suspect it will be life changing.

This is very hard for me to take in! I am more grateful than I can say; this unimagined vote of confidence will not go wasted on me.

Sitting at my kitchen table among piles of Legos, stickers, half-made Valentines, and sticky books of Surrealist women's poetry in translation, I find myself suddenly electrified, as if the Universe had lowered her star-cloak and looked me dead in the eye. I now wear an eel for a stole, an eel I stole from Heaven. I feel transformed, elated, and charged with a very large charge.

It's taking awhile for this news to sink in! I am deeply grateful for this life–changing honor.