Thank you Colorado

Thank you Colorado

Thank you Colorado

Janet avatar

Janet

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How excited was I to get the finalists badge?
How excited was I to get the finalists badge?

There’s been a bit of excitement in my house this week…. and a very warm and fuzzy feeling for the US state of Colorado.

The reason – The Wild One is a finalist in the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence. Excellence! What a truly… um… excellent word that is.

I’m having a bit of a fan girl moment about this too, because a couple of my favourite US authors are on the same shortlist. (You can see the full shortlist here.) People always say it’s an honour to be on a shortlist, and in this case that’s totally true. To be mentioned in the same breath as such authors is just… awesome!

The Wild One is shortlisted in section for mainstream novels with strong romantic elements.

Last year, Flight To Coorah Creek won the Aspen Gold Readers Choice Award in the same category. That award is presented by the heart of Denver RWA chapter.

They like me in Colorado! And that’s great. Because I rather like Colorado too.

When webmaster John and I were living in the US, we made two trips to the South West – through Colorado, Texas, Arizona. We thoroughly enjoyed both trips.

So as a tribute to the readers of Colorado who have taken my Aussie outback town of Coorah Creek to their hearts… here are some of my fondest memories of their beautiful state.

In the heart of the Rockies, the Red Rocks concert venue where we watched an awesome storm sail across the city of Denver - and an equally awesome concert.
In the heart of the Rockies, the Red Rocks concert venue where we watched an awesome storm sail across the city of Denver – and an equally awesome concert.

 

My Favourite peice of public art in the entire world... a big blue bear peeps into the fourth floor of the Denver Convention Centre.
My Favourite peice of public art in the entire world… a big blue bear peeps into the fourth floor of the Denver Convention Centre.

 

The train ride to the top of Pike's Peak - what a view and the fraying edges of the track didn't scare me at all.
The train ride to the top of Pike’s Peak – what a view and the fraying edges of the track didn’t scare me at all.

 

At the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park. A place I had always longed to visit and it was as amazing as I had hoped.
At the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verda National Park. A place I had always longed to visit and it was as amazing as I had hoped.

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Comments

2 responses to “Thank you Colorado”

  1. Elizabeth Hawksley avatar
    Elizabeth Hawksley

    Congratulations on The Wild One being in the final of the Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence. It’s a book I couldn’t put down and, obviously, the Colorado Romance Writers feel the same way! Good luck – I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed.

    I thought your photo of the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verda National Park was amazing. Do people still live there? And how old are the houses?

    1. Janet avatar
      Janet

      It’s amazing Elizabeth. Some of the dwelling are in cracks in the rock that you can only get to if you climb using handholds carved into the cliff face. (No – we didn’t go to those).
      The Pueblo people lived there for over 700 years, from 600 to 1300. There are over 600 dwellings in the national park. Some are open to the public to actually climb to and look inside. It remains one of the highlights of my two years in they US. J X