NEWS: Nancy Cole Nominated for 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award!

This was just so exciting, I had to share it!

Nancy Cole is a wonderful lady and a great author who I first encountered several years ago through her novel Tips (the first volume of a trilogy that includes A Different Kind of Courage and Inconvenient Truths). Nancy writes emotionally powerful stories that are down-to-earth, honest, and sincere. What first attracted me to her work is the fact that her writing takes a creative approach to exploring themes of gender identity and expression. Her work isn't solely defined by questions of gender (there's no naive fantasy or exaggerated eroticism), but it is an integral part of the human experience that her stories explore.

Nancy's latest work is The Gambit, which has just made it through to the 2nd round of the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards in the Young Adult Fiction category. This is a huge accomplishment, and I hope you'll join me in wishing Nancy the very best in making the cut to the next round. You can check out the fascinating premise of her novel below:

A young Lady Elizabeth, eager to experience life beyond the palace and Henry, an orphan seeking to flee the brutal conditions of Sixteenth Century London become involved in a case of mistaken identity and an adventure that is as dangerous as it is exciting. The freedom the Lady Elizabeth enjoys while assuming the role of a boy is tempered by the cruel realities of battle. For Henry, what should have been a respite from a life of deprivation becomes something more as he is drawn up into court intrigues that is just as vicious and unforgiving as the back alleys of London. As the two youths tread their way along uncharted paths, the English King arranges for the betrothal of the Lady Elizabeth. Sir Robert, who passed Henry off as the Elizabeth must do all he can to keep that from occurring, least is discovered. When she learns of this, the Lady Elizabeth, aided by Sir Thomas, races back to England in an effort to undo a comedy of errors that threatens to turn deadly.

If you're at all curious, please pick yourself up a copy, give it a read, and (if you're so inclined) give it a review. Any feedback can only help to increase Nancy's visibility to the panel of judges, and with a Penguin publishing contract (and a $15,000 advance) on the line, increased visibility is very good indeed!

Congratulations on the nomination, Nancy, and best of luck in the next round!
♥