EPPIE ENVY

I'll confess. I've been suffering from EPPIE envy for some time now.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, the EPPIES is a major e-book contest sponsored by EPIC, the Electronically Published Internet Connection, an organization of e-book authors and publishers.

I first saw the EPPIE statue at the 2003 EPICon in Tampa Beach, Florida, where my dear friend Helen Haddad won the EPPIE in the Romantic Suspence category for her wonderful book, Picture of Guilt. A year later at the EPICon in 2004, I had the honor of accepting two EPPIES for my friends, Catherine Snodgrass and Bryndis Rubin, in the same category, for their novel, Judging Ellie.

Since then, I've been lusting in my heart after an EPPIE. I've entered the contest year after year, hoping to make the final round, but to no avail. Until now.

Imagine, then, my delight at learning that Finding Jason is a finalist in the GLBT category. I am both thrilled and stunned by the honor of being an EPPIE finalist. My only regret is that Helen is no longer with us to share in my excitement at being a finalist. She loved Finding Jason and I know she'd be as happy for me as I was for her.

Amber Quill is well-represented in this year's EPPIES. I've listed all the finalists below. Those of us who attend EPICon 2008 in Portland, Oregon, will sit together at the EPPIE banquet and quiet each other's nerves while waiting for the announcements, console each other if we don't win and celebrate riotously if one of us does win.

Wish us luck in March.

Lyndi

Amber Quill Press 2008 EPPIE Finalists

Contemporary Romance:
Cover Me by Sharona Nelson

Erotica:
One to Grow On by Caitlyn Willows

Erotic Romance Contemporary/Suspense/Mystery:
Play Hard by Barrie Abalard

Fantasy/Paranormal Romance:
Threads by Michelle Levigne

GLBT:
Finding Jason by Lyndi Lamont
Hearts & Bones by M. L. Rhodes
Persistence of Memory by J.M. Snyder

Historical/Western
Black Crossing by C.K. Crigger