S is for Spur

The Quote of the Day that inspired my A to Z Blogging Challenge theme -
A Word for the Day that takes on many meanings.

Quote of the Day: A writer lives in awe of words for they can be cruel or kind, and they can change their meanings right in front of you. They pick up flavors and odors like butter in a refrigerator. John Steinbeck


Word of the Day: Spur and Candace Simar

n.

1. A short spike or spiked wheel that attaches to the heel of a rider's boot and is used to urge a horse forward.

2. Something that serves as a goad or incentive.

3. A spurlike attachment or projection, as:

a. A spinelike process on the leg of some birds.

b. A climbing iron; a crampon.

c. A gaff attached to the leg of a gamecock.

d. A short or stunted branch of a tree.

e. A bony outgrowth or protuberance.

4. A lateral ridge projecting from a mountain or mountain range.

5. An oblique reinforcing prop or stay of timber or masonry.

6. Botany A tubular or saclike extension of the corolla or calyx of a flower, as in a columbine or larkspur.

7. An ergot growing on rye.

8. A spur track.

v. spurred, spur·ring, spurs

v.tr.

1. To urge (a horse) on by the use of spurs.

2. To incite or stimulate: "A business tax cut is needed to spur industrial investment" (New York Times).

v.intr.

1. To ride quickly by spurring a horse.

2. To proceed in haste.

 

Candace Simar is a local author of the Abercrombie Trail series. She has the honor of being Krista's first client at Blue Cottage Agency. I love her books. You can check out my reviews and reactions under the Book Review tab. Candace won the Spur Award for Western Fiction in the young adult category. Here are a few words from her to spur you on to your own success.

 

 

 

S IS FOR SPUR AWARD

Simply spoken, I’m shocked and stupefied.  It may sound silly, but spin me a little slack.  Of course, I’m ecstatic.  BIRDIE, my third novel in the ABERCROMBIE TRAIL SERIES, just won the 2012 Spur Award for best western juvenile fiction.

I didn’t see it coming though my sister, Claudia, tells me that BIRDIE is her favorite of my novels.  It should be her favorite since Claudia first suggested that I write about the two little girls from ABERCROMBIE TRAIL. These small sisters, stolen by the Sioux during the uprising, play a prominent role in POMME DE TERRE. BIRDIE continues the sad saga of Ragna Larson growing up as an orphan.  Ragna is the only survivor in her family.  She doesn’t know what happened to her little sister and is obsessed with finding her.

Several have expressed surprise that BIRDIE was given an award for juvenile fiction.  I must confess that I didn’t write the book with a particular age in mind.  I just wrote the story.  It’s stupendous that Birdie is enjoyed by readers of all ages.  I’m ecstatic that it receives the prestigious Spur Award.

So I’ve bought my plane ticket and will travel to Albuquerque in June to receive my award at the Western Writers of AmericaConvention.  The Spur Award is an actual western spur mounted on a plaque with the author’s name and book title inscribed.  How satisfying for my work to be recognized with a national award.

Lest I become sidetracked, I will segue into my next thought.  Writing is a mostly solitary endeavor. The hours spent alone at my computer seem worth it when I see that my writing connects with readers.

 Does this Spur Award spur me on to more writing?  Oh yes.  It certainly does. 

Thank you, Candace Simar, for sharing your success and spurring us on to...

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Have you ever won an award?