A small win
 

My poetry book, 'Passing through the Woods' has won third place in the Wishing Shelf Awards in the Adult Non-fiction category (and I think it was the only poetry book to be placed).
http://www.facebook.com/groups/243681522352192/

It's splendid for a book of poetry to be placed at all. My very first book won the Alice Hunt Bartlett Award. I've often wondered who the hell she was. But £50 is £50. So God bless us, every one.

Not small at all! Congratulations!

Wow! How great to win third place in a nonfiction category with a book of poetry! Congratulations.

Susan

I'm impressed!

Congrats, David.

Nemo

It's a terrific book. Congratulations, David.

Nicely done, David.

I love my signed copy! :)

Congratulations on a well-deserved win, David.

Congratulations David. Very impressive!

Diana

Great news, congratulations!

Many thanks to all; much appreciated.
David

Not small at all, David. A wonderful and well-deserved honor. (I've enjoyed my unsigned copy!)

Cheers--
Jean

Thanks, Jean.
I'm pleased to hear you have a rare unsigned copy.
Best,
David

Sorry to be so late to this, David. And sorry my signed copy isn't so rare--but I love it anyway!

And huge congrats on this honor!

Charlotte

Congrats, David. A win's a win -- take one when you can!

David R.

Thanks, Charlotte, David.

All the entrants received feedback from the organiser and this was mine:

FEEDBACK

Firstly, may I begin by saying I thought you should have won. I absolutely loved your collection of poems, particulary Harry Potter and Situation Vacant. Your writing is clever, melancholy and often rather funny.

Cover - Generally the readers liked the cover. A few of them suggested it was a little too moody (I personally disagree. I think it works well with the type of poetry in it - E)

Layout - The readers found no problem with the layout. A few suggested the illustrations could be a little bigger but two other readers suggested removing the illustrations and that they weren't needed (you can't win! :) - E)

Style - Everybody loved the style of your writing. 'Situation Vacant' was picked out as the most enjoyed poem in the collection (possible for its shock value - E). All of the readers commented on how sad many of the poems were but that they did not make them feel sad, only thoughtful. Six of the fifteen reads wanted the book to be longer! (Now there's a compliment! - E). (My wife, who also read it, loved 'Unsaid'. She rang an old friend that day to catch up) 'Cushioning the Blow' was also very much enjoyed; clever too.

QUOTE

'A wonderfully thoughtful and moving set of poetry.' The Wishing Shelf Awards

All the best,

Edward

That editor's verdict is certainly something to be proud of. Frameable, I'd say. He's a pro. Readers vote (and alas, buy) subjectively.

Good on ya, David.

Wonderful, David! Huge congrats.

Non-fiction? Well, of course. Poetry = truth, right?!

Charlotte

PS: See you soon in the UK, I hope!

congrats! and that feedback is delicious!