I was so excited to be shortlisted for this inaugural award offered by the Houston Public Library Foundation.
The city has been my literal (and literary) home for the past four years and I’ve been involved in everything from the local chapter of the SCBWI, RWA, Inprint, Brazos Bookstore, Blue Willow Bookstore, Houston Writers’ Guild, Houston Writers’ House and Writespace. While it’s a massive city that can be hard to navigate, I’ve managed to find amazing author friends, critique partners, and opportunities to grow and learn.
Libraries have been central to this. They are so important to communities – for literacy, yes, but also as a connector and place to gather – and I was thrilled to attend this fundraising gala to support Houston’s libraries.
Of course, the opportunity to hang out with local authors and bookish folks was a big draw too!
Good luck to all the finalists!