We got some very good news this month about Hanni and Beth: Safe & Sound — the book is a finalist for another award! If you read my posts about winning a 2008 ASPCA/Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award, you know how much I love feeling those shiny embossed seals on copies of our book. So it’s a thrill to be a finalist for another award, this one from the Dog Writers Association of America. Hanni and I will be crossing our fingers –and pads – until February, when the winners are announced.
But wait. What? You’ve never heard of the Dog Writers Association of America?! DWAA started way back in 1935, and I’m a card-carrying member. Honest. I really do have a card and everything. DWAA holds an annual meeting in New York City just before the Westminster Kennel Club show — that’s when they announce the award winners.
The best known aspect of the DWAA is its annual writing competition, which is meant to encourage quality writing about dogs in all aspects of companionship plus the dog sport. The competition is open to all writers, photographers, editors and publishers…
Hanni and I won’t be able to attend the banquet – we’ll be in Indianapolis that weekend, giving presentations for the blind children’s foundation and the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually impaired. Not to worry – my publisher will be at the Dog Writers Association of America banquet to accept the award if we win! Jude and Francine Rich from Blue Marlin Publications live very conveniently on Long Island – they can make a NYC night out of the event.
It is an honor to be nominated with the other two finalists in the “picture book or easy-to-read category”: The Mystery of the Stolen Stallion by Karen Petit (Red Letter Press), and W is for Woof by Ruth Strother (Sleeping Bear Press). May the best dog win!
Congratulations!! How exciting. I will check out the other two books to see what the competition looks like! Francine and Jude must be thrilled. You really have a card??
Yup. I do. Have a card, I mean. I will admit, though, that it is a bit of an exaggeration to claim I am a “card-carrying”member — I keep my DWAA member card in my jewelry box. You know, to keep it safe!
Thanks for the congrats!
If you keep winning these awards the stickers will soon cover the front of your book. Congratulations! I was ready to volunteer to assist you at the banquet. Let Francine and Jude know that I’ll be there for you at the banquet in Hawaii.
Will do — you’re #1 on the list for the Hawaii banquet, Cheryl!
Wow! Congradulations! Thats quite an honor! Hope you win!
Thanks, Sandra. And okay, I’ll admit it: I hope we win, too. But if we don’t, at least we know we’re in good company with thos other two finalists.
Happy New Year!
I was not aware of the Dog Writers Association of America. Congratulations on your nomination and good luck.
Glad you read my post and found out about DWAA. If you are indeed an author — and you write about dogs — maybe you’ll join? Thanks for the good wishes!
Congratulations on your nomination, Beth! Shandy and I are already sending good thoughts for a win.
Can’t wait for your guest reader visit to NTA. The kids will be so excited to have you and Hanni in their classroom (not to mention the TV crew!)
Oh, what a perfect comment — I hope it has all my other blog readers *dying* with curiosity about what NTA is, and why a TV crew will be filming us soon. Hmmm. Guess y’all will have to keep coming back to the “Safe & Sound” blog to find out!
Happy New Year to you too! It definitely sounds interesting (whatever NTA is!)
Sandra
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