So, here's the thing. Sometimes I feel like I'm swimming through a huge bowl of custard and progress is sooo slow! Other times I'm ricocheting from one opportunity and experience to another like a pinball wizard.  Currently I'm ecstatic to be feeling like that shiny ball-bearing! 
A couple of weeks ago a fellow artist announced his fabulous news that he was a finalist in nominations for several categories in the Josie Music Awards to be held at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on 20th September. These awards are to celebrate the work of independent artists and there were over 100,000 entries this year. Delighted for him, I congratulated him on his post and followed the link to the Josie website….and was shocked to find my own name on the finalist list for Female Vocalist of the Year - Multi-Genre!
Given the incredibly tough odds I felt certain that there must be another artist with my name, and that this was referring to her, so I kept quiet. After all, there had been no communication from the awards organisers so I didn't want to get my hopes up. However, eventually I decided to roll with it, to manifest with all my might and to trust that this was me. So I made an announcement on my socials and received a truly humbling response from my lovely followers. 
But another few weeks went by and no confirmation arrived so I started to feel a bit silly and was bracing myself to take my post down and face the utter embarrassment of admitting I'd been mistaken. But I checked the Josie website once again, and found my name had miraculously appeared on another list! Now this one I could be more confident about as it was for Song of The Year - Female Country. Surely it was too much of a coincidence for there to be another Sarah Riches with a song called Devil In Blue? So I made a 2nd hugely surprised announcement!
I'm so relieved that I've finally received my confirmation email, but I imagine the admin load for such a huge event must be ginormous. I feel like I've got a Willy Wonka golden ticket! And surreally, the email contains details of how to behave on the red carpet, and guidance on what to say (& not say!) in an acceptance speech should I win. Good grief… ! I'm just amazed I'll be there!! 
I feel so incredibly lucky to have been recognised like this, and I'll be so excited to return to Nashville, and hopefully meet up with the wonderful guys who produced and played on my album “I Don't Give Up Easily” back in 2022. I'll keep you posted on my adventures - watch this space. Oh, and if any famous designers happen to be reading the random blog of an openly stunned UK independent artist and would like to dress her for the occasion, she would, of course, be overjoyed!!! ;-D