How I bungled my way to Amber Quill

Since we're celebrating past Amber Heat Wave winners, I wondered if any other authors cared to share their "How I Got to AQP" stories. How did you react when you got the news? Any stories about sending in your contest entry?

Here's mine:

Friend and fellow writer Bridget Midway told me about the contest in mid-December 2004, which for obvious reasons is not a good time to start anything. As presents cluttered the floor unwrapped and others remained unpurchased, I decided to write Chella's Quest. But I got cold feet and thought I'd stop until after Christmas, then see how I felt.

With a few days vacation left, I decided, "What the heck?" and wrote. And rewrote. And ignored my family, lived in my pajamas, and drove my husband nuts. On the last day to enter, a good friend invited me to a, um, adult toy party - how could I pass that up? I was almost done, I told myself. Just needed an ending. I'd leave the party around 10 pm and still have plenty of time to wrap things up and send the story on its merry way.

I got home, settled into the computer chair, and stupidly decided that this was the time to revise it once again. I did write an ending. Hated it. Scrapped it and basically wrote the very same ending. Tried another ending...that kept going and going and going. Looked at the clock. 11:30 pm. Heart pumping, fingertips sweating, I did the best I could and had one final look. Then one final, final look.

It's now 11:58. I had my cover email ready. I was ready. Time to kiss this baby goodbye and let the waiting begin. At 11:59, I hit send.

My email hangs up.

My heart turns to dead weight in my chest and sinks. I stare at the hourglass taunting me, then run into the living room to put on a full-blown freak-out show for my husband (who was waiting up for me to offer support and congratulate me when I was done). The things I do to that poor man.

I go back to the computer. The hourglass is gone, so I frantically check the official time sent on the outgoing email. 12:01. Then - in a moment of optimism and unprecedented clarity - I decided to see if AQP was Eastern Standard Time like I was. They weren't :D I treated hubby to a happy dance, then went to look at the email one more time. I sent the wrong file format.

So I made it on time, but looked like an idiot. Hubby got a second "Laura Freaks Out" performance. Good thing he's used to it...

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm a first-class ditz. So I decided there's no sense in hiding that from the good folks at AQP. Since I figured I didn't have anything to lose, I sent the correct file with a very apologetic cover email. Now for the waiting.

Imagine my surprise when Chella's Quest was selected! I was thrilled, and I'm still thrilled when the powers that be give me the green light on a new story. To all those thinking about entering the contest, please polish your work (and don't wait until the last minute - ha ha) and send it in. Amber Quill is a class act through and through! And if you need any more incentive to submit, take a look at Trace's wonderful cover art ;)

Anyone else?