Remember when I told you I’d been honored with a sixth Stoker Award nomination, and that whatever ended up happening, win or lose, I’d win?

Well, I did win Saturday.

No, not that way. The other way.

The trophy for Superior Achievement in Long Fiction was taken home by co-finalist Mercedes Yardley, with whom I got into a brawl when I’d spotted her inside a candy store earlier that afternoon.

But I’m fine with that—because as you can see by this screen grab from Locus, I’m now tied for the most nominations without a win.

Top of the world, Ma!

Besides, if you’d been in my skin as I wandered The Flamingo Hotel and then the banquet in my Día de Muertos suit, you’d know I felt too glorious for anything to ever bring me down.

A night among peers whom I respect and friends who are more like family? Nothing can beat that.

It truly is an honor to be nominated. Those are more than just words.

In fact, I’m hoping I can someday get nominated again—for one of my stories published this year or one, more likely, which will see print further down the road—so that when I lose I can become the only person in Stoker Awards history to rock a record of 7-0.

I can dream, can’t I?