Some awards for Independent/small press publishers were announced last month, and my novel, “The Fat Lady’s Low, Sad Song,” was honored twice.

The Maxy Awards were named for a young girl, Max, born with a congenital brain disorder. Maxy ended her short life at Home of the Innocents in Louisville, Kentucky. Donations to Maxy Award go to the home, which helps children with developmental problems.

I was pleased to learn that my novel won a Maxy in the literary/romance category.

Then, I received a letter from the Eric Hoffer Award. “The Eric Hoffer Award honors the memory of the great American philosopher Eric Hoffer by highlighting salient writing, as well as the independent spirit of small publishers.”

“The Fat Lady’s Low, Sad Song” was a finalist for the Montaigne Medal, awarded to books that “either illuminate, progress, or redirect thought.”

Nice to be recognized. And ironic – I never intended to send the novel out for publication. The story had been in my mind for nearly 15 years, but I had no faith in the book’s marketability. I wrote it for myself. A very good friend and author, Pat Stoltey, encouraged (badgered) me into submitting the book, and I’m so glad she did.

A shout out to my publisher – Black Rose Writing – who took a chance on a literary baseball novel, and helped me make a success of the project.