>Saturday night was the annual Oklahoma Book Awards Celebration presented by the Oklahoma Center for the Book. I was honored that Chasing Lilacs was a finalist for the Fiction category. So many great authors and illustrators come from my state, it’s hard not to feel a teensy bit proud. And while my book didn’t win, I was glad when the author who sat next to me at the book signing event did take home the medal. Congrats to David Gerard for his book God’s Acres!
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| David Gerard, Winner of the Fiction Award |
These kinds of events both scare me and thrill me somehow. Several judges came by and talked to me about my book and how relevant it was to life in the fifties. Others chatted with Max and made him feel welcome. Oklahomans are like that – good people who take you in and make you feel special. An unexpected treat was meeting Kitty Pittman who reviewed my book on her Okie Reads blog. Here’s her summation of the Book Award evening. What she failed to mention was that she – Kitty Pittman – received the Glenda Carlile Distinguished Service Award. Kudos!
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| Kitty Pittman – as lovely in person as she is on her blog |
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| My favorite date, as always! |
Former Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor, Jari Askins, was the master of ceremonies and shared about her lifelong love of books and memories of trips to the library as a child. Rilla Askew, a beloved Oklahoma author received the lifetime achievement award.
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| Our good friend Jingyau |
Sounds of the harp filled the background as we enjoyed a scrumptious dinner, good fellowship, and added another page to the scrapbook of lovely memories. Have I mentioned lately that I LOVE books? I love to read them, write them, talk about them, and most of all celebrate them.
Thanks Oklahoma Center for the Book for making the celebration a night to remember!!