Tassy Walden Award - 2016

Note to self: Don't read with your eyes shut!

On Wednesday, I basked in the glow of writerly love at the Tassy Walden Award ceremony in beautiful Blackstone Library in Branford, Connecticut. It was a wonderful classy event. Lauren Miller from the Connecticut Humanities spoke about reviving the Connecticut Book Award. I had no idea it had been discontinued. I was entertained and inspired by renowned illustrator Wendell Minor. What a stellar career that man has had!

Lauren Miller-CT Humanities, Doug Fisher-Executive Director CT Humanities, Holly Howley (Winner Young Adult Novel), Linda Zajac (Winner Picture Book Text), Wendell, Florence, Melanie Meehan (Winner Middle Grade Novel), Tim Perra (Winner Illustrated Picture Book), Doe Boyle (Chair of Tassy Walden Awards Committee), Eric Dillner, CEO/Executive Director Shoreline Arts Alliance

I figured I'd be speaking third. Boy, was I surprised to see my name listed first in the program. Next up was Melanie Meehan, who read her captivating middle grade chapters. Then Holly Howley followed with spot-on teen dialogue. Tim Perra had us all laughing when he presented his picture book dummy.

There is beautiful woodwork in this library.

I really enjoyed listening to my colleagues read their unique stories, and speaking with Marcela Staudenamier and Florence Minor. The magical evening flew by too fast.

Congratulations to all the Tassy Walden finalists and honorable mention recipients!

There aren't many opportunities for unpublished writers to shine, so I'm grateful for all that the Shoreline Arts Alliance has done to create this well-respected contest and to make the evening a special one. Salute!

Tassy Walden Awards

Winners: Edward Tucchio, Janet Croog, Kelly Hill, Jeanne Zulick

On May 13th, I was surprised and delighted to receive an email from the Shoreline Arts Alliance that my nonfiction picture book manuscript won a Tassy Walden Award!  Last night, I drove to the Blackstone Memorial Library in Branford for the ceremony.  Thankfully, I gave myself plenty of time because I wound up turning off the engine on the highway for about fifteen minutes while emergency personnel cleaned up an accident.  Luckily, I was in the shade of a tractor-trailer because it was hot and humid and the air-conditioning in the Civic was weak, at best (my goal is 200,000 miles for this ole heap).

Middle grade and young adult honorable mentions and finalists

It was an enjoyable evening listening to other writers read their work and meeting new writing folks.  Edward Tucchio, an artist who has painted murals at the Peabody museum, read his illustrated picture book.  Janet Croog, the illustration winner, had a diverse portfolio that included amazing paper cutouts (one had a finished size of over five feet!).  One recipient has already a landed a contract with Random House.

I found out there are anywhere between 200–400 submissions to this contest.  Half the entrants submit picture book texts.  The picture book category is the only one that accepts nonfiction and they get about five entries each time.  The contest is judged by anonymous agents and editors.  Given those statistics, I feel very fortunate and pleased and privileged that my nonfiction manuscript rose to the top of a good-sized pile of predominantly fiction.  I'm thankful for the Shoreline Arts Association and for the judges for their time and energy running and judging this contest.      

Last night was certainly memorable at the PEN Discovery Award presentation. The good news is that I'm glad I remembered everything I wanted to say. I think I fielded more questions than anyone else and answered them the best I could. I learned the hard way that a back-up plan is necessary in case things don't go as expected. I read in Melanie's public speaking book that you don't want to hang onto the podium like you're driving an out of control vehicle. I looked down and AGGGHHHH! The hands were at the corner of the podium. Immediately I let go like they were on fire.

It was great to meet some very distinguished writers from the PEN Children's Book Caucus (or is it Committee?) who were all very nice and supportive. It was also an opportunity to congratulate Heather Jessen (in the middle) who I've exchanged emails with and Bette Anne Rieth (on the right) who I contacted through Facebook. I wished them both the best of luck with their works.

The ampitheatre was not a daunting auditorium that you might find at a large college, but more like a lecture room where roughly six rows of seats curved around and were close to the podium. Large AV screens hung from the ceiling. My mother brought me those beautiful flowers which are now on my kitchen table. That was a really nice touch.

Saturday, I worked all day on the article and detangled the bottom half. Walt wanted to go to a nursery to buy flowers, but I was disciplined and kept at it. I knew if I trotted off I would likely not pick it up again.

Yesterday was one of those days where I could not make myself get into the writing world. My biggest accomplishment was painting a champagne cork. How sad. The cork came from the bottle of champagne I opened to celebrate winning the PEN Discovery Award. If nothing comes of the proposal, I will still have my ornament decorated like the subject of my chapter and every Christmas when I take it out I will remember. I also thought I'd post a photograph of an old ornament I made as a kid. Interesting that I sometimes use the logo of a jack in the box (Zajac in a box). Actually, that old ornament was more sophisticated than it looks. Jack was on a spring and could be lowered into the box and the box shut. Time moves on, but some things never change.

Lilac

I took this photograph of a tiger swallowtail butterfly today. I'm quite pleased I captured it with its wings wide open.

Outside on the arms of my Adirondack chair, I placed my notes, research papers, a book, blank paper, a pen, and a glass of iced tea. Then I sat down and fell asleep.

I did spend some time reviewing videos and reading descriptions of the place I'm writing about for the chemistry article I'm currently working on. After reviewing what to include in these kind of speeches, I wrote up a short speech for that PEN award presentation later this month. I have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to say, but it still needs work. I also made sure to find the correct pronunciation for a couple of words in the chapter I'll be reading. The two things I need to have are confidence and practice memorizing it. But if I have trouble finding the keys half the time.......Ut oh.

I found out the ampitheatre at Leslie University has 175 seats. Since I envisioned this gigantic room, that was a bit of a relief. Then I wasted some time trying to figure out the layout. My best guess is 17 rows of 10 with 5 seats for the handicapped (merely a guess). I sure hope the video equipment is off.

Tulips

I had a very productive critique group meeting this morning where we welcomed a new member. Now there are three of us. Three eyes on a manuscript are better than two and meetings can still be held if one person can't attend. Hopefully, we can get the group rolling on a regular basis. Maybe, if I bust stones, I can get this article written by our "email manuscripts date" in mid-May.

I also found out I'll be reading my manuscript in the ampitheatre of Leslie University in Cambridge. I don't think I've ever had to be on stage in a room that large. This will certainly be a memorable experience. Deep breath.

I am truly honored, exceptionally grateful and somewhat stunned to be the recipient of this year's PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award for Nonfiction! Last Friday, I received the call. This starving writer ate up all the glowing words of encouragement and made sure to note them. Walt later asked where the celebration was. Heck, if I know, I took down the key points.

I've entered this contest at least five other times and I still remember the sting of that "sorry" letter with no clue where I went wrong. Every year, I had to figure it out. After several years of not seeing any nonfiction winners, at one point, I wondered if it was even possible to win this award for nonfiction, but those doubts didn't stop me from entering.

In the middle of my notes is the champagne cork that I'll be turning into a Christmas ornament. I'll post a photograph after the transformation (so my editor knows exactly how I'm spending my time). And my New Year's resolution: "Burst out of the egg and shatter the shell!"