Florida Book Awards

Yesterday, hubby and I had the pleasure of attending the Florida Book Awards Banquet in Orlando.


A panel of five winning authors from a variety of categories had the opportunity to speak to a group of librarians about our books before the banquet. I spoke first, so I got to relax and enjoy listening to the sprints and stumbles of the other authors -- Patrick Kendrick, Loreen Leedy, Kristy Kiernan and Terri Witek.

Here's Patrick Kendrick, talking about his novel, Papa's Problem.




This is part of the audience. Patrick's sons and wife, Lisa, are front and center.



Wayne Wiegand of the College of Information at Florida State University did a fabulous job of hosting the event.



In the evening, we had the pleasure of sitting at a table with several librarians and Loreen Leedy, fellow book award winner, and her hubby, Andrew Schuerger, who is a scientist and author. We talked about things like earthworms (imported here from Europe) and honey bees (imported here from Europe) and microbes (necessary for life but responsible for much death) and how major plagues that killed off a huge chunk of the population have helped forests grow and reduce CO2 levels and greenhouse gases. Fascinating stuff for this very curious writer!

After dinner, the book award winners were announced. We were given medallions and framed posters to commemorate the event.

(l. to r.) Marlene Lee, juror in the children's literature category and former Youth Services Coordinator in Broward County, me for As if Being 12 3/4 . . ., Loreen Leedy for Missing Math: A Number Mystery and Susan Womble for Newt's World: Beginnings.

A huge thanks to all the jurors, Micah Vandegrift, Wayne Wiegand and all those involved in promoting Florida authors and their books.

With appreciation,
Donna

Talented Teens, Flowers on a Friday and Basketball, Basketball, BASKETBALL!

Greetings!

Determined beyond all reason to finish my novel revisions (almost) on time, I worked 13 hours the other day, finishing after 3 a.m. But WOOHOO it felt great to e-mail the finished book to my editor and agent.

Later that day, I had the great pleasure of speaking to the talented teen writers at the Wellington Branch Library. There's a post about it here.



Yowza, are these kids good writers! Brooke showed me a poem, "Symphony of Rain," that was beautiful and Sarah showed me a whole collection of different poems she'd written for her school's unit on poetry. Ellen bravely read a poem that had fabulous imagery. And here's Alexis summoning the courage to read a very moving piece she'd written.


Next to her is Tiffany, who milked a cow earlier in the day and kissed a llama. That must be why she's smiling.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Lance and Dawn and Maddie. Did I get everyone? Nope!

A big, hairy thank you to Amanda Bosky, uber-talented writer, editor and librarian, for inviting me.


Earlier, my dear friend, Deborah, gave me these gorgeous flowers to celebrate my winning a silver medal in the Florida Book Awards Children's Literature category.


Thanks, Deb! The awards banquet is May 7th in Orlando, and I'm already excited about it!

Finally, I don't know about your house, but at ours it's basketball, basketball, BASKETBALL. My guys are either playing it, watching it or talking about playing or watching it.

Here are a couple happy snaps of them doing what they love best . . .



Here's hoping you spend your weekend doing what you love best.

Have a happy one,
Donna

Florida Book Award

This week, I received wonderful news. My novel, As If Being 12 3/4 Isn't Bad Enough, My Mother Is Running for President!, won a silver medal in the children's literature category of the Florida Book Awards.

Hearty congratulations to the gold medal winner -- Newt's World: Beginnings by Susan L. Womble and the bronze medal winner -- Missing Math: A Number Mystery by Loreen Leedy. And hats off to all the Florida authors included in the competition.

In other news, I've been invited to speak at a conference in Fort Lauderdale to a group of librarians, media specialists, educators and parents. If you fit into any of these groups, I'd love to hear what you'd hope to learn from an author presentation.

I'll also be talking with students at a middle school and at an area library the day before the conference, and am really looking forward to meeting the students.

My editor sent another revision letter for my novel, so I'll be busy thinking, rethinking, researching and revising during March.

But for now, I'm off to watch our 14-year-old son compete in a 3-point competition at half-time during his league's basketball playoffs. I will be the crazy lady in the stands screaming, "Go, Gephart!"

Hope you all have a lovely weekend as we say so-long to February. When I lived in Pennsylvania, I was happy to see gloomy, chilly, icy February pack it's bags and go. But here in sunny South Florida, I savor February days. With breezy, spring-like weather, I stroll through street festivals, choose brightly colored veggies at green markets, kayak at a state park and enjoy strolls through parks or along the beach. It almost makes up for the terror of hurricane season in the early fall!

Have a wild and wonderful weekend!

All best,
Donna