When Competing Against Friends for Writing Awards, the Best Result is a Tie

Over the past few months, I've found myself competing with two new friends, Paul Doiron and Hilary Davidson, for some of the same writing awards, and I love how it has turned out.

My novel, Rogue Island,  won the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award and Mystery Readers International's Macavity Award for best first novel. Hilary won the Spinetingler Magazine and Anthony awards for her first novel, The Damage Done. And Paul won the Strand Magazine and Barry Awards for his first novel, "The Poacher's Son."

Folks have been telling me that the Edgar is the most important one, but as far as I am concerned, this is a tie.