groundwater's writings have won several awards. her first novel was put up for the best first novel agatha award in 2007. groundwater's short stories have won awards also. her short story "new zealand" won first place in the 2003 ppw paul gillette memorial writing contest, and was the winner of the rocky mountain fiction writers short story anthology contest. "flamingo fatality" won the great manhattan mysteries conclave short story anthology contest in 2005, and her 2005 short story "lucky bear" was first in the storyteller magazine flash fiction contest.