Oklahoma Book Awards

The storms were threatening but I will forever be grateful that I didn't miss the 2012 Oklahoma Center for the Book Awards Banquet in Oklahoma City last night. It was a first-class event with amazing food, dear writing friends, and new acquaintances that I hope to meet again. The master of ceremonies was Jay Wilkinson, the son of Bud Wilkinson. He shared thoughts about his latest book based on letters his father wrote to him when he was a young man. What a precious gift to have letters from your father offering you advice that holds true all these years later. I definitely plan to buy a copy of the book.

The highlight of the evening for me was when SCBWI Oklahoma Regional Advisor, Anna Myers, and a precious friend, received the Arrell Gibson Award for Lifetime Achievement. Her son, Ben Myers, recipient of the 2011 Oklahoma Book award for poetry, introduced his mother with words of obvious love and respect. Then Anna mesmerized us all with her wit and wisdom when she accepted this well deserved award for her seventeen books of historical fiction and two contemporary novels. The great news is, she's not finished. We can't wait till the next book, Anna.

I was thrilled when, Sonia Gensler received the 2012 Oklahoma Book Award for her young adult novel, The Revenant. It is a historical fiction paranormal tale set in Talequah, Oklahoma, that will keep you turning the pages.