I haven't been to Traverse City since I was a kid, so I was excited to visit-- it is honestly one of my favorite places in Michigan, and possibly the most beautiful. A family friend graciously let me stay at her cottage on the shore of Elk Lake, which is GORGEOUS (clear, sparkling, see-through water!), and downtown was surprisingly bustling with activity considering tourist season is over. The weather was wonderful, too!
But the best part of the trip was, of course, the awards ceremony. The first person I met was Amy Shamroe, the Moonbeam Book Awards Coordinator, and she was also the first person I've encountered (outside of friends and family and the internet) who had read Saving June and had glowing things to say! My ears, they are still burning.
First there was a cocktail hour for socializing/eating/drinking, and then the actual awards ceremony started. It was a great experience to hear from other authors and the stories behind their books.
Saving June won Gold in the Young Adult - Mature Issues category, which meant I got to go up and give a little acceptance speech myself!
Now I'm a writer, not a public speaker, and I didn't plan ahead what I was going to say, so I don't even remember exactly what I said up there. But I didn't die, which is the most important part! I'm going to assume I didn't make too much a fool out of myself since I was neither booed nor laughed off stage, so I'm chalking it up to a rousing success.
And I got a shiny medal!
In all seriousness, I'm unbelievably honored and humbled to be the recipient of this award-- I never expected anything like it, and I have hung the medal up on my desk where I can admire it to my heart's content. Thanks again to the Jenkins Group for honoring Saving June this way!
