In Deb’s post last week, she shared the story behind her accepting the Carol Award for my novel A Million Little Choices at this year’s ACFW Conference.
But have you seen the video of her reading that acceptance speech?
If you didn’t read Deb’s post, here’s a quick recap of events:
* Earlier this summer, I’m notified I’m a finalist for a Carol Award and ask Deb if she’ll accept the award for me since she’s attending the ACFW conference (where she is being honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award!), and I’m not going due to deadlines and obligations.
* Deb agrees to accept the award
* Deb forgets she’s agreed to accept the award
* Deb is sitting at her table during the awards program (which I’m streaming from home) when it occurs to her, “I wonder who is accepting Tammy’s award?”
* So she texts me asking that question, to which I text back YOU!
* Texts start flying
* I text, “Didn’t you get my speech I sent you?” (having never sent her one—I sent the real speech to her husband Ken two weeks earlier, and Ken agreed to print it out and have it ready in case my name is called)
* More texts fly
* Deb asks (with several exclamation points) for my speech again
* Having such fun with this, I text her a “fake” speech
* Texts stop flying
* Minutes later, they announce the winner for Best Contemporary Novel…and it’s A MILLION LITTLE CHOICES!
* As Deb is getting up from the table, her husband Ken hands her a piece of paper and says, “Read this one. This is the real speech.”
* And so she does…
* And the contagious laughter you hear in the background belongs to none other than writing buddy Tricia Goyer who recorded the video (thanks, Tricia!)
It was such a fun experience, both winning the Carol (from afar) and honoring Deb and her Lifetime Achievement Award. : )
The kicker is, Deb would have never read those things about herself had she known what was coming. So I really had no choice. : )
When’s the last time you’ve been really surprised by something? What was the occasion (if you’re willing to share). And do you even like surprises?
Much love from Nashville,
Tammy
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Tamera Alexander
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Oh, what a neat story!! How blessed you are to have such good friends. And both of your rewards were so richly deserved.
Thank you, Lorraine, for your kind words. I’m so grateful. And so glad you’re part of this community.
Oh, my goodness…I’m laughing and cheering—and having a heart attack!—all over again. It was such a wonderful evening and it was ALMOST like you were right there with me, Tammy. SO happy for you.
Oh, and you forgot the part where, after seeing the photo of our two awards together, you texted and asked me to prop your award up on napkins so it was as tall as mine! Remember?! 😉
Such a fun night! And yes! I should’ve added that to the post. 🤣 I may go back, just for fun, and add our text messages down at the bottom. We will call it a bonus post!
Hahaha! As Deb was reading your speech, I leaned over to my friend and said, “Those two are friendship goals right there!” It was fantastic!!
Awwww, I love that, Joy. “Friendship goals.” Yes. And thank you, Lord.
That is such a kind thing to say, Joy. Thank you so much, my friend.
Such fun taking us through the whole event. Knowing of yours and Deb’s friendship makes it all the more hilarious and a testimony to the bond you share.
Congratulations to both of you on your awards, as I have enjoyed following you for years on this blog. I think I’ve already said how much I loved A Million Little Choices, but in case I haven’t, it bears repeating. It has to be one of my top reads for 2024.
Wish I could hug you, Betty! I am in my heart, my friend. 🙂 Thanks for your kind words, and yes, it was such a fun evening. SO appreciate your encouragement on AMLC, too. Means so much.
I love hearing the backstory of this speech! It was so clear Deb was reading it for the first time and was so surprised to read about herself. And congrats on the award. I LOVED the book!
Haha! I’m glad it was clear, D’Ann. I probably should have explained to the audience that I was seeing THIS speech for the very first time on the fly! But at that point, I was still SOOOOO confused it was a miracle I could read at all!
Thank you, D’Ann!So kind of you. And Deb read it perfectly! 😉
I’m still laughing about how all of this went down! Deb was left reading oodles of praise OF DEB. Ha ha ha!
Haha! Yep, and I’m still just soaking it up. 😉
LOL, as well you should, my friend. : ) All deserved. Thanks for being such a good sport about it. It really was such fun to watch it unfold.
I KNOW!!! LOLOL I was at home watching just getting so tickled! Thoroughly enjoyed it! LOL
My goodness! I was sitting at that table and had no IDEA all that texting drama was going on behind my back. (I was facing the stage.). But congrats to both of you, and what fun! :-).