Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Yes, we have a winner

First there were 410
Then 404
Then 96
Then 38
Then 9

Now there's 1.

The winner of the Liz Norris Pay It Forward Debut novel contest is finalist #3 C.A. Marshall.

When reached at her home Miss Marshall was unable to form coherent sentences for a moment so her dog took over the interview responsibilities:

Q:  How was the wait time during the finals?
A: RUFF!

Q: What would it be like to get the Love Is Epic tattoo?
A: RUFF!

Q: What do you think it will be like to get your work read by agents at Backspace?
A: RUFF!


Miss Marshall then regained her powers of speech and was glad to accept, and will be able to come to Backspace.

We congratulate her for a wonderful entry, salute all the other entrants, and retire to our private bar for a celebratory drink!

48 comments:

Brandi M. Lynch said...

Congratulations! Have fun in New York, and don't get eaten by a shark!

Feaky Snucker said...

Congratulations! I liked her answer to my question. Aw heck, I liked EVERYONE'S answer to my question. I'm nosy like that:D

I hope she has a blast, and I hope you judges have a break for a bit!

Leah said...

Huge congratulations to the winner! And Janet and Liz, y'all are class acts!! :) :)

Jessa Russo said...

Yay!!! I just got chills! (Because I'm so dorky that way!)

Congratulations, Cassandra!!!!!! This is SO HUGE! I'm beyond happy for you and can't wait to see where your journey takes you. This is only the beginning!

This has been such a fantastic ride and learning experience. Thanks AGAIN to Liz and Janet!

Anonymous said...

Wheeeeeeeee! Congrats, Cassandra. Best of luck on the road to publication! :)

Laura Hughes, MittensMorgul said...

Congrats Cassandra! That's fantastic! As soon as your book is released into the wild, you have to let us all know. I can't wait to read it!

Have a fantastic time at Backspace. It sounds like an incredible opportunity.

And Happy Book Birthday to UNRAVELING! I'm sneaking out to the book store the second my husband turns his back...

And a berjillion thanks to Janet Reid, Liz Norris, and all the Transylvanian judges! This has been an excellent month all around!

ProfeJMarie (Janet Rundquist) said...

Fantastic! HOORAY CASSANDRA!

elizabeth norris said...

Congratulations Cassandra! I just loved your manuscript! :)

M.V.Freeman said...

Awesome!!
May this be on the beginning of good things!

Laura Hughes, MittensMorgul said...

My only regret in the whole process: Janet Reid doesn't rep Urban Fantasy, so I don't even have a hope of working with her in the future. Lamentations! I love her sense of humor, and her dedication to her clients. Every one of them is a lucky dog.

Kregger said...

Yay Miss Marshall!

Don't forget your full body mail swimsuit for lunching with the shark.

Judith Gonda said...

Congratulations! Thanks again to Janet & crew for entertaining and informative ride. Also, your followers rock.

Unknown said...

Congratulations, Cassandra! Have a blast in New York and don't forget to see the Lion King ;-)

Dana said...

Congratulations and have fun in NY!

Brooke said...

Congrats, CA!!!

Ali Trotta said...

yay! congrats!!!

E. Arroyo said...

OMG.. Congrats. She is Awesome!!!!

Lisa Gomley said...

Congratulations Cassandra! How exciting for you! I am so anxious to see your book promoted with a release date!

Have fun at Backspace and enjoy the ride!

Josin L. McQuein said...

YAY Cassandra! You've worked hard this; you deserve to enjoy the pay-off. Have fun at Backspace!

Barbara said...

Congratulations! Have a lovely time in NYC!

Unknown said...

Congratulations! Can't wait to read about a teenage stunt double, plus kissing. Am also looking forward to the couch to 5k and puppy adoption!

Bob Mangeot said...

Congratulations, CA!

erica m. chapman said...

Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! CASS!! CONGRATS!!! That's wonderful ;o)

Sarah said...

Congratulations!! Your book looks fantastic and I know it will go far! : )

DeadlyAccurate said...

Congratulations! I can't wait to read your book.

Amy Schaefer said...

Your book sounds so fun - congratulations!

Colin Smith said...

Many congratulations, Cassandra! I hope you have a wonderful time at Backspace, that you find the agent of your dreams, and that this will be a fairytale start to a prosperous and fulfilling career. And I mean that sincerely. Your work must be outstanding to have survived this process and been selected by what I'm sure was an illustrious panel (we know at least Ms. Shark and Ms. Norris read them).

And a hat tip to the other 8 finalists. Great job, guys. As I've said before, it was an honor coming in joint 10th behind you.

And to the other 403 10th placers... I'm in great company. :)

Thanks Janet. This has been too much fun. :D

Maureen McCabe said...

Congratulations! Your book sounds amazing and I can't wait to pick it up at a bookstore someday soon!

Editor Cassandra said...

Thank you all so very very very much! Your responses are so kind and heartfelt and I really wish we all could go, all 410 of us! I'll try my best to make you proud!

MolliePup really did meep a lot when I got the phone call! It'll suck to have to leave her for three days, but I've never been to NYC and she'll be in good auntie hands!

I still can't believe it's all real!

I can't thank Janet and Liz enough, this is seriously a dream come true! <3

Kay Camden said...

Wait a sec. You aren't going to make us wait until 11:59 PM? I'd planned to hit F5 every 30 seconds until then. Now what will I do with the rest of my day?

(And congrats to C.A., but don't listen to all these kind words. We all secretly hate you.)

Susan Colarullo said...

Oh hell, yeah.

When C.A. first made the finals and I read her tagline, I immediately found her website. OK, at first I was a little PO'd that she was a freelance editor. But that all evaporated as soon as I read that the name of the teen star of 'The Stars Fell Sideways' was Pomegranate. A brilliant rip on the ridiculous names Hollywood types bestow on their spawn.

Then I read the first 250 words of her ms on her blog. What can I say? This woman not only had a truly original idea for a novel, she also appears to have the writing chops to pull it off. I have no doubt that this book will get published.

Have a blast at Backspace, Cassandra! And even more fun as a published author. I'll be looking for your book. Your talent is obvious and you deserve every minute of what's about to happen to you.

Issy said...

Congrats to Cassandra! She's already been paying it forward herself, with all of the hard work on her blog, so I was REALLY happy to see this!!!! *dances around crazily*

Krista McLaughlin said...

Congratulations to her! That is so very exciting!! :)

Stacy Bennett said...

Congratulations and good luck shark-hunting!

Joyce Tremel said...

Congratulations!!!

Carolynnwith2Ns said...

omg omg omg omg it's you.
I so so so so wanted you to win. Your voice is amazing and your answers fantastic. Oh wait, this is about a book, huh.
Congrats...you get to live your dream honey, and take us on the ride with you.
Keep us posted on your journey.
I will absolutely go see the movie.

To everyone, all 410 and especially the finalists WOW this has been grand.
Good job shark and Liz.

Cindy C said...

Congratulations, and good luck with the rest of your journey!

The BOCO Review Blog said...

Superb! Congrats to Ms. Marshall, the 8 finalists and the roughly 400 10th-placers. I was in the bleachers for this one, just bad timing. Have a fantastic time at Backspace and here's to seeing you in print and getting to review your book on my newspaper blog (should be blogging now, that's why I'm signed in under my work name).

Terri

Lee Kelly said...

Congratulations Cassandra!! So excited to read your book!

Britni Patterson said...

Congratulations Cassandra!

May you meet a dream agent at Backspace who loves your work!

And enjoy your lunch with the shark!

Charley said...

Good show and all that! We'll miss you as you ascend to them lofty heights! (hehe)

Christine said...

Oh, this is really exciting! Congratulations C.A. I read an excerpt from your book online and it looks like a great story and fun read. Enjoy Backspace--and we'll be looking for your book in the bookstores in the future. Best wishes to you, and to all the other finalists!

Jennifer said...

Hey Congratulations! My 12-year-old and I both can't wait to read your book. And she normally pretends a great disinterest in kissing...

Hope you go out and buy yourself a really nice swishy dress to celebrate!

Michael Seese said...

Congratulations to C.A., of course. But to all of us as well since, per Janet's comments, we're all winners.

See y'all at the top!

HK said...

Congratulations! I am so happy for you. I, too, loved your answers to the questions you were asked. Have a great time in NYC

Lanette said...

Congrats, C.A.! Have fun in New York, and I'll be looking for your book in a couple of years.

DEMETRA BRODSKY said...

Congratulations! Have a blast.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to C. A. for capturing the grand prize, and congrats also to all the other finalists!
Thank you Janet (and everyone else who helped out) for tackling the monumental task of putting on this open submission contest.