Woman accidentally discovers she won $150,000 by checking her junk email
One person's junk is sometimes literally that person's treasure.
Australian author Helen Garner was browsing through her junk email when she discovered an email from a stranger advertising "good news." The email, which came from Yale University, asked Garner to provide a phone number. Garner immediately assumed it was a scam, before later realizing it was the quite the opposite -- the prestigious Windham-Campbell literary prize, worth $150,000.
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Garner only discovered her error after reaching out to her editor and contacting Yale.
"I nearly keeled over,” Garner told The Sydney Morning-Herald. “I’m staggered. I feel thrilled and validated."
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She wasn't the only author to have this problem. Unlike other literary prizes, the Windham-Campbell doesn't have a submission process, and all nominees are judged anonymously. The Guardian said many writers are therefore shocked when they do win, and some react with total disbelief.
Garner, joining eight other writers, was recognized for her nonfiction work. Her 2014 book House of Grief follows a man who deliberately drowned his three sons. Her newest collection of essays comes out in March 2016.
Everyone check their junk folder now.
Heather was the Web Trends reporter at Mashable NYC. Prior to joining Mashable, Heather wrote regularly for UPROXX and GOOD Magazine, was published in The Daily Dot and VICE, and had her work featured in Entertainment Weekly, Jezebel, Mic, and Gawker. She loves small terrible dogs and responsible driving. Follow her on Twitter @wear_a_helmet.
