This one's huge. Five different communities are coming together to host this award.

Excavations was accepted into the Poetry category.

I entered Ancilla into the Chicklit category as a test. The judges accepted it, so it looks like my genre stew of a novel might qualify as chicklit due to having a strong heroine whose character arc includes personal growth and overcoming hardship and trauma. We'll see if it gets anything more than acceptance as an entry.

UPDATE (11/2/2024) - 

Ancilla was accepted to compete in the Chicklit category, but the judge assigned to it is a teenager. I requested an adult judge. If that cannot be accommodated, I must withdraw my book from the competition. 

Ancilla's blurb makes it clear that this is NOT going to be an all-ages book. 

There's also this, at the top of the Content Warnings page.

As I understand it, making it into the selection round of the Visions of Grandeur Awards is a very big deal, so I'm flattered, but I think this is the end of the line for Ancilla in this contest.

UPDATE (11/4/2024) 

I was assigned to "an adult," although no credit was given to the other judge when I read the results page. (This might be corrected soon enough). The contest page makes it look like the only judge of this category was June, the teenage founder/head of The Heather Community, and I am freaking out. 

I live in a very conservative, reactionary part of the United States. Book banning, author silencing, and librarian/bookseller oppressing, all to prevent the "grooming" of youth, is a fact of life here. 

The fundies define "grooming" as "allowing people under the age of 18 know that LGBTQIAP+ people exist and are valid." It has nothing to do with actual grooming.

I'm queer, I'm transgender, I am a parent of queer and transgender children (actual biological offspring, not roleplay children), and I write erotic stories with LGBTQIAP+ content. The protagonist's primary love interest in Ancilla is a kinked librarian...

You better believe I'm on edge.

And tomorrow is the presidential election. Bloody hell. 

Enough of my ranting. It's boring. 

Ancilla took First Place in Chicklit, although it got harsher criticism than any of the other entries. 

And no, I am not changing my cover. lostlovefairy, if you are reading this, please stop second-guessing yourself just because some judge didn't like your cover. I do not want flames. I do not want a scantily clad woman who looks like she is on the verge of an orgasm. I do not want chains. I want the nice little collaboration we did, and I am keeping it, and that is that.

UPDATE 1/9/2024

I received my certificate and my sticker for the Chicklit win. 

Poetry is still being judged. I totally forgot about that. Did I enter Excavations? Yes? No? Maybe? I should probably go back and check.