I’m excited and honored to announce that my short story, “The Red Ball,” has been nominated for the 2026 Best Of The Net Award! I’m also honored to be among so many fellow talented authors and friends! Thank you, Michelle, for your continued support and love for this community!
Hotel By Masticadores Proudly Announces Its Nominees for the 2026 Best of the Net Hotel By Masticadores is thrilled to announce its nominations for …
Hotel By Masticadores Proudly Announces Its Nominees for the 2026 Best of the Net
I’m extra-delighted that you’ve been nominated, Joni. You have a golden pen, my friend, and everything you write is magical. Here’s wishing you the very best with your nominated story “The Red Ball.” It’s a wonderful piece of writing. All the best to you and Scott. 😊
Dearest Mike,
Thank you our friend for the kind comment. I would be so happy to see any of these folks actually become a finalist and a win. That be worthy of some sort of celebration, indeed. Just being nominated is such an honor and I know you feel the same way. Big hugs from both of us.
Great for you. I hope you win.
Oh, thank you so much John. It is so nice to be recognized as I admire all these writers. It is a lot of work for the editor and I appreciate it. There are about 1,100 submissions annually so I don’t expect to place but I admire all of these writers so it is an honor to be among them. So nice to hear from you John, I hope you are well my friend. Big hugs and love, Joni
You are very graciously welcome. It is great to hear from you. I am fine, but busy with a big move. Moving to southern Virginia.
We live in Virginia too, my friend. It is beautiful here. The fall is especially gorgeous. Although I don’t envy you the work of moving. It is a lot of work and takes a while to get settled in. Big hugs, Joni
Thank you. Big hugs to you.
🤗🙏
Congratulations, Joni. And all my very best. 🌹
Thank you so much, your kindness is truly appreciated. Many blessings and hugs, Joni
Congratulations, Joni.
Timothy you are such a kind soul. Thank you friend. 🤗❤️
Congratulations, everyone!
Thank you so much Barbara. Have a blessed week. 💕
You, too, Joni! I miss you!
Oh, thank you Barbara that is very kind of you. I have been slowly coming back, it will not be with a bang but it is nice to be on line. It was a wonderful thing to get recognition for a story, what a wonderful surprise that was. Terveen, years ago, use to encourage me to write more stories and Mich continues to be an amazing encourager as well. I am grateful for all my mentors, you included Barbara. Of course I will always be grateful for Lisa, who believed in me enough to publish my book. Sending lots of big hugs to you Barbara.
I am sending hugs and hearts your way, too!
<3 <3 <3
It’s wonderful that you’re Michelle’s Best of the Net 2026 fiction nominee, Joni! I think your amazing writing certainly brings on the nomination.
Thank you Timothy for reading and for your inspiration. I really was not expecting this and I do feel honored. It especially means a lot coming from a writer with your talent. The story was one that came from the heart – except for the ending I remember hearing my mom tell this story when I was young and thinking how horrific that would be to not get a chance to say goodbye to someone like your little sister. Hope the family is all well and sending hugs and appreciation, Tim.
Congratulations again Joni and I am thankful to have this wonderful chance of nominating your work.
Thank you dear Mich. I appreciate the work and time something like this must take an editor, of not one but two segments of the magazine. I am honored to be amongst the names listed. Thank you again, for this honor.
Congrats on the nomination, Joni. What a wonderful honor. And not surprising to me. You are amazing. <3
Thank you so much, Diane. It is always an honor to be recognized. There were some very talented writers in there so it is always nice to have the validation. It is a lot of work for Michelle too and she is a busy lady so I really appreciate her going the extra mile to take the time to recognize people. Thank you for your kind words. They are always appreciated. Have a great weekend ahead. 🍁🦉
Mom! It took a lot of courage to share this story. I’m proud of you. This is beautiful work. Carolyn
Thank you, daughter, that means so much to me. I know how busy you are and I’m grateful that you enjoyed the story. Hope you’re having a wonderful day in Seattle, we love you. 🙏💕
Congratulations on your nomination Joni!! You so deserve it,
Beautiful Karima – the enigma or person that creates such beauty for us to view. So dear of you to respond to this with such a kind message. You know our close friends never leave us do they, not in this life or the next. alsalam ealayk ya sadiqi aleaziz “As-salamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullah,” love you, Joni
Congratulations Joni.. and that was a brilliant piece as well..you absolutely deserve this nomination. Good luck to all. Would be such a treat to see you in that anthology.
Nigel, your writing is amazing, captivating and entertaining – I was so happy to see so many of our dear friends in this incredible mix of talent. It would be a blessing to be in the anthology. It is an honor to be nominated and such an honor that would be. There is just so much talent out there and honestly to be recognized for a story was really special to me. Terveen use to encourage me and Mich is such an encouragement always too, that is such a blessing for all of us I believe. It makes me want to write more stories. Thank you for this kind comment Nigel and many blessings to you. Big hugs
Much love to you and Scott, my dear.
Thank you Nigel. Scott sends his love and prayers too. 🤗🙏
Thank you, darlin
You are so welcome Nigel. For some reason I did not see this. Big hugs from the both of us.
Congratulations Joni!!!❤
Oh thank you so much Tiffany. That means a lot. I care a lot about the other folks and was just so grateful to be honored with a nomination. Big hugs and love. ❤️
Congratulations, Joni!
Way to go xoxoxo
Thank you so much sweet lady. Xoxoxo <3
xoxoxoxo Sweet back to you!
Hi you,
I tried to reply to the Reinventing Yourself Post – wow, I loved it. I really respect opening yourself up like that. What a fascinating and creative ride you have already had my friend. You looked like a true beauty on that bus with all your own cool clothes “Your Own” amazing. We both took our time enjoying your post together. Leslie Nielsen pic was so adorable. You are something else. I loved the way you described where you are now and except for my honey my life is similar. I can’t help but wonder if we get older and realize the only people we truly have to please are ourselves. We have to be ok with who we are, what we do in our daily lives and we need to feel ok with our choices. Thank you for sharing your history with us. Amazing!
Ah, sorry about that! It was a post Teagan did about me, that I put together for her. I always close comments on reblogs. I figure people will go to the original.
Same when Holly and I do our Rock Star posts. I do the portrait. She writes the bio. She puts up the post. I reblog the post, with closed comments.
Whew!
Once I left home and my Winnipeg family, my life became a wonderful thing.
Yes, age can bring wisdom, as it seems to have for the both of us.
I worked with Leslie twice. He was absolutely lovely!
I was fortunate to have worked with many A list stars. The American film industry was good to/for me.
I’m glad you liked my journey! I’m quite happy about that!
Thank you for taking the time to read, Joni!
BIG HUGS!
You are so welcome. Yes, I really enjoyed it and I did go to Teagan site and joined her wordpress site. Perhaps that is where comments were closed there were so many. She did a great job hosting. Yes, you have had an amazing journey my friend. It is true that wisdom and also what truly brings one happiness becomes so much clearer as we grow older. Blessings and hugs sweet lady!
Joni, Thank you for reading. It means a lot to me.
May you always walk in sunshine!
Oh, what a kind thing to say. Your life has been very exciting and filled with many adventures, and I am glad you enjoyed the ride. If we can say that about our lives we are doing well, my friend. May you always carry the strong sense of self that you have found, a gift that many never get on this earth. Hugs sweet lady!
Congratulations, Joni! It’s well-deserved!
Thank you, Dawn, I feel blessed to be amongst such wonderful riders and very grateful. Many blessings to you and your family.
many congrats!
Thank you so much for your congratulations. It was an honor to be nominated with such a great group of authors. Safe travels my new friend.
Congratulations, I am such a fan!!!!!!!!
Dearest Miriam, Thank you for your kind words. It was such an honor to be nominated with the other writers all of which I truly respect. I appreciate that you enjoy my work as I have always enjoyed yours as well. Sending you big hugs and lots of love, Joni
What an honor, Joni! Congratulations!!!!!! You deserve it!!!! xoxoxo
Thank you so much, dear Cindy. I was very honored by the Nomination and have a lot of respect for each of the other nominees. Wishing you the most wonderful Christmas ever with your beautiful family.
You’re so very welcome, Joni! It’s lovely to stand amongst others your respect! Thank you so very much!!! ❤️💕❤️💕
Dearest Cindy, thank you again for your kind comment. I am so grateful to have had this experience with my writing, and to be among many writers that I have such respect for, when receiving nominations for awards. I am very appreciative and grateful for my blessings. Thank you so much for you response my friend. Love Joni