They say no news is good news, but good news is always worth shouting about. Thankfully I do have some lovely news to share.

I’ve been shortlisted for not one, but two literary awards, and I couldn’t be more excited.

I really wanted to enter the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature this year. In the past, each time the call for entries went out I’ve either been in the middle of editing a manuscript or knee-deep in one project or another.  But this year I was ready and made sure I had something to submit. You never get anywhere if you don’t try, right?

I am delighted to announce that my entry for the English category made the shortlist. There are some amazing writers on the shortlist, so I’m doubly excited to be counted among them. Now it’s a matter of crossing fingers and toes until the winners are announced in October.

Read the shortlist announcement here.

Now for my second bit of good news.  Earlier this week I found out that my YA novel, Mine, was shortlisted for the Media 24 Literary Awards’ MER Prize. It’s my fourth nomination for this prestigious prize since The Goblet Club won in 2008.

I put so much of myself into Mine. It might sound cliché to say that it’s an honour just to be nominated, but in this case, I really mean it. Just for a panel to recognize something special in a book so close to my heart is enough. Besides, the shortlist is fierce. You know I’m going to be wearing my battle heels at the award’s evening. (Just joking. Heels + me + public events = disaster waiting to happen).

Read the shortlist announcement here. The winners will be announced in June.

Hold thumbs for me, guys!