On Thursday evening, I got a phone call from the coordinator of the Faith, Hope, & Love Reader’s Choice Award. Since I had three books entered in the contest (each in a different category), I thought perhaps one of my books was a finalist.

Then the coordinator said something like, “Congratulations. All three of your books are finalists.” My brain sort of shut down at that moment. Gobsmacked (as in the image on this post) is the word I have used to describe my feelings ever since.

The final...