My Essay is among the Winners of Nickie’s Prize for Humor Writing as part of Erma Bombeck’s Writers Workshop of the University of Dayton

Someone pinch me- Not that hard though please! Wow, I can’t believe it. My essay “Code Word: Hoobasflagen” was among the winners in the Nickie’s Prize for Humor Writing contest that was part of the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop of the University of Dayton (Ohio). When I read the email saying I was a winner, I felt like Erma had hugged me through the computer screen! It was the seal of approval I didn’t know I needed as a writer.

This particular contest had a theme of sisters/sisterhood bonds. I don’t have a sister but I wrote about my lifetime friendship with my friend Jynell and shared (more like confessed) some of my/our funniest moments over the years. It is about an embarrassing for me, yet an endearing moment of us taking care of each other and having conversations of some of our favorite childhood experiences.  I can’t wait until the full essay is released so you can read it too.

I’m so honored to have won and I’m even more honored to have had a wonderful friend this long in my life (and all our precious memories that go along with it!) What is amazing to me is that my essay was read by a panel of judges. Mine was one of 21 selected out of 263 submitted, including from parts all over the country and other U.S. territories. It’s an honor to be selected and a bonus that the winners receive a cash prize and now gives me the opportunity to participate in their upcoming writers conference with guest speakers like Mike Rowe and his mom Peggy.

Thank you judges and Nickie’s Prize for Humor Writing founder and the team at Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop and the University of Dayton for this amazing chance to tell a story that is very dear to my heart. I hope others will enjoy it and laugh along with it when it’s officially released.