Wow!

[thismaz]

.
So I posted my TtM story, went to the shops, came back to catch up on my flist and saw this http://community.livejournal.com/darker_spike/1962824.html

Not really thinking much about it, I followed the link and Observations won at the Forbidden Awards! Twice!!!

Best Spander (wow again, like what????) and Best New Writer ('cause it was my first spander story and my first adult story, and my second story, like ever).

Hey Maggie, Maggie - wake up maggie77, we won!!! *Hugs Maggie, because she is such a brilliant beta, she deserves to be here too*

And to be sharing the stage with some of the best stories around, is just neat! - as Spike might say.

Thank you so much to the nominator and the judges.

I just have to quote the comments:



Sometimes you come across a story that hits every button you have in the most perfect way possible. Observations may be a D/s story by genre about a vamp and his boy, but at its heart it’s a story about a relationship that’s tender and loving and satisfying and based on complete trust. Maz paints a picture of two people who have finally found what they need in life and this gives them the strength to face the future on their own terms. This is Spander at its very best; beautifully set up, elegantly written and wonderfully realized; what more could you possibly ask for.

and:



Deftly encompassing Xander's journey as the willing sub of a confident, cocky and still caring Spike. Rarely does D/s have such a rich exploration of the journey as well as such tenderness! Bravo!

*Pets awards* *hugs vamptastica for making the awards*

Pleased? Did you pick up that I was happy? Guess I'm not being subtle, huh?

*Big Grin*

Comments

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

You take both awards, save them, put them up in photobucket or wherever you host your stuff and then put them in this post. *g* And you can put them on your user page, or in a separate post where you store awards. whatever.

You don't need to link back with them, but you can.

Coding for putting up a banner is:

<'img src="URL of banner"'>

Coding for link back banner is:

<'a href="URL of place you want to link to"'><'img src="URL of image"'><'/a'>

Take out all the single quotes and that's how it works. Most people put their awards on their user pages.

Congratulations!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I've spent ages trying to do that. I didn't know I had a photobucket. *looks around* psst! What's a photobucket?

In the end I copied them down to my computer and then loaded them up as user pics.

I'll investigate more tomorrow - see if I can't make them better. At the moment, I'm just going to bask. It's the end of my day anyhow - got to go.

Thanks again. I am *so* chuffed!

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

www.photobucket.com

Free hosting site for images.

I'm happy for you.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Got it! Thank you very much for that. I have seen reference, but I never knew what it was - not into graphics so much, you know.

[maggie77.livejournal.com]

Maz paints a picture of two people who have finally found what they need in life and this gives them the strength to face the future on their own terms. This is Spander at its very best; beautifully set up, elegantly written and wonderfully realized; what more could you possibly ask for.

Deftly encompassing Xander's journey as the willing sub of a confident, cocky and still caring Spike. Rarely does D/s have such a rich exploration of the journey as well as such tenderness! Bravo!

Couldn't have said it better myself!! (and not just because I'm your beta. I loved Observations even *before* I beta'd it)

You are a beautiful woman who writes beautiful stories and totally deserved to win.

Congrats, luv!

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

SQUEEEE's right back at you.
You definitely deserve a share of this squeeee, all the hard work you put in on me.
Promise to work on RT today and get it back to you.

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

Whoo Hoo. Congratulations love. I'm so, so pleased for you. Observations is just a joy to read and it's about damn time it got the recognition it deserves.

I'm waving pom poms in your direction and generally jumping up and down in a very immature manner.

Twirls you madly and goes off to have a drink to celebrate your wins.

Oh and I had to get Jan to talk me through the whole photobucket thing as well - you are not alone!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Whoo Hoo right back atcha.
You, immature? Nah, can't be you *looks stern - who are you, what have you done with the real Sparrow?* *G*
Oh, but you should have seen it yesterday, all blurry and stretched. Looks lovely now though. *grin* Thank goodness for Jan. It is really good to learn new things.
Goodness knows when I'll get to read the TtM stories - I haven't been able to start.
I hope your week end was successful, speak soon, hon.

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

Yep, that was me in all my immature glory - coming to an LJ near you for one day only!

Yep, I'm the same with TTM this week. I've only got the couple read which were up earlier in the week plus yours. I'll need to do some more reading before I vote I think.
Oh, I've got Messenger set up, so I'll email you the detaisl and save on phone calls!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

btw - That complaint about time *Points at previous comment* doesn't mean I won't be able to read your TtM for Saturday, if you want a second opinion. *g*

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

thank you, that's reassuring to know. I'm not at work today (Monday) so am hoping to get it done today if possible. And second opinions are always good, especially for the logic and the grammar and the plot...so not much then!
But Pygmies, really!

take care
s xx

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*g*