This past Thursday, April 20th, Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence announced their 2023 shortlist. As past Chair of CWC, not to mention an avid reader, many of the names on the list were familiar to me. One of those was MH Callway, whose excellent short story, ‘The Moon God of Broadmoor’ appears in the Superior Shores Press Moonlight & Misadventure anthology. I’ve known Madeleine for a few years, having first met her at a bookstore event at Toronto’s Sleuth of Baker Street, and so I was pleased to see that she’d been shortlisted for two awards: Best Novella and Best Short Story. I happen to know that these awards are independently judged and that the judges are different for each category. To get a nod for two is truly a testament to her talent.
I sent a congratulatory message to Madeleine and her response (beyond the usual thanks) was, “This writing life is all mountains and valleys.”
Truer words were never written. The happiness attained by a dozen five star reviews can be dashed by a single one-star. The acceptance of a short story can be derailed by the rejection of another. The writing life really does feel like a series of mountains and valleys, and I expect most writers write simply because they can’t imagine living life on a plateau.
My own entry in the CWC Awards, Before There Were Skeletons, didn’t get a nomination, though based on the multiple entries and lauded names in the category (Best Crime Novel set in Canada), I’d faced some stiff competition. Would I have fared better in another category, such as Best Traditional? Who knows? All you can do is pick your lane and hope for the best.
Still, waking up to find my book didn’t make the cut hurt, and there’s no way to sugar coat it. All those past mountains I’d climbed up, the summits I’d reached, seemed to fade, until all there was left was a tumble back down that mountain into the valley.
But there’s always tomorrow, when I’ll get up, sit down at my computer, and continue writing. Because that’s who I am. That’s what I do. It’s the only way I know how to climb out of the valley. Even if I don’t make it to the top of the mountain every single time.
Find the CWC Awards of Excellent shortlist announcement here.