The image of the writer and perhaps especially the freelancer is of a solitary figure hunched alone over their keyboard.
But writing is not a solitary act. It is the shared effort of an author... an editor... a production team in layout be it print or digital... a photographer... and finally and most essentially the cooperation of a subject willing to give their time and bare their thoughts and soul for an interviewer's questions.
If there is one shortcoming to these awards banquets it is that each individual presentation does not allow time for a recipient to briefly thank the team that stands unseen behind them. But knowing how long-winded we horsepeople can be no doubt that would make these awards as notoriously long (or longer) than the Oscars. And doubtful we could arrange an orchestra pit to start the music when such speechifying exceeds a time limit.
But it does bear saying that our stories bind us together. And while it is only one individual who gets to accept an AHP plaque the wise writer knows many hands and hearts go into each winning effort.
To which I can only add, with a youthful vigor guest speaker Bill Shelton would appreciate..."F*** YEAH"
