My book is an Award Winner!

Every writer dreams that readers will love their book. This week I got one of my wishes! An email arrived from the National Federation of Press Women letting me know my debut novel “The Power of Rain” was awarded Third Place in the 2023 NFPW At-Large Communications Contest.

The National Federation of Press Women is a US-based organization of professional women and men working in all types of communications, including broadcast and print Journalism, PR marketing advertising and more. The book was inspired by many of the weird and wonderful situations I experienced during the 18 years I was a staff writer for the Albuquerque Journal in New Mexico. Many states have their own state-based contest, but since I am no longer living in New Mexico I had to enter the “at-large” contest.

Receiving this award is a real validation of my instincts as a writer.

The Power of Rain– the story

Passions clash in Las Vistas, a Southwest desert town where money buys power and corrupt politicians turn a blind eye. Elizabeth “Digger” Doyle is a tough young reporter investigating Johnny Raposa a shady developer who wants a road built to his luxury new subdivision. Hispanic activist Maria Ortiz begs Digger to save her heritage, a historic Spanish chapel that lies in the path of the road. Digger’s investigation into Raposa’s past is complicated by her powerful attraction to Maria.

As the two navigate a tightrope relationship fellow reporters warn Digger she’s risking her career by getting involved with a story source.

Can Digger get the story without losing Maria’s trust? Can she expose Raposa and stop the bulldozers before they destroy the chapel?

I published the book in June 2022 and have been working hard since then to market it. I have received a lot of good feedback in the reviews on Amazon and in other places.

What the judges said:

A strong sense of place pulls the reader immediately into the story. Characters are fully developed. Good dialogue.

Action, conflict and resolution are well-represented in this novel, creating a smooth delivery of a mystery dealing with contemporary topics.

National Federation of Press Women contest judges – (fiction for adult readers category)

Readers reviews

This book gave me sleepless nights….quite literally. I usually like to read a chapter or two of something before I go to sleep, and this was so darn good that I kept finding myself up until two in the morning finding out what happened next!

Written with a deep knowledge, both of the setting, New Mexico, and the background, local journalism, Rosalie Rayburn has got a winning formula here.

Amazon Customer

Another Amazon Customer: Set in a city in the New Mexico desert, this novel has all the characteristics of a page-turner –romance, underhanded or bewildered City officials, journalists at work to shine light on bureaucratic dealings, nefarious developers and the power of local people who keep showing up and speaking the truth.

Michael Rothrock, The Book Commentary: Rosalie Rayburn’s The Power of Rain contains expertly crafted prose that pulls off the seemingly impossible by making small-town politics a page-turning subject matter. The protagonist is well-developed and leads a life filled with enough turmoil and intrigue to keep the reader on the edge of their seat as she navigates a complicated relationship, a journalistic mystery, and uncertainty regarding her employment. Raposa is an antagonist equally well-developed that the reader will love to hate for his hidden motives and arrogance. Filled with intrigue and suspense, mystery fans will love The Power of Rain. 

A new book coming soon

Over the past year I have been working on a sequel to The Power of Rain. Many of the friends who gave me encouragement and support during the writing process said they wanted to hear more about what happened to my main characters (Elizabeth) Digger Doyle and Maria Ortiz. The new book is called “Sunshine Dreams” and I hope it will be published by the end of 2023.

I’m not going to give the plot away, but I will say that it’s another story about political intrigue, intrepid reporting and REVENGE!

Follow my blog for more news about life in Portugal. Check out my website: rosalierayburn.com