Betsy Davany e-mailed me yesterday to let me know she won the New Voices in Children’s Literature: Tassy Walden Award for her middle grade manuscript titled, Savannah’s Mountain.
She was quite excited, because ever since the news broke yesterday she has had newspapers and editors contacting her about the win. We are quite excited too for Betsy. Even though Betsy lives in Connecticut, she really is a New Jersey member and belongs with us, well at least that is how we feel.
New Voices in Children’s Voices in Children’s Literature: Tassy Walden Awards program is sponsored byEvergreen Woods and Barnes & Noble with additional support from Helen H. and J. Sanford Davis. The Tassy Walden Awards ceremony is scheduled for May 18, 2011. It will be held at the Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford, CT at 7pm and is free and open to the public. So if you live in the area, it should be enjoyable to attend and hear the winners read selections from their manuscripts.
Betsy says, “Savannah’s story started as a first page, read at the very first SCBWI event I attended. Kathy Temean took me under her wing and encouraged me to sign up for the March 2007 Mentor Weekend. When she told me there would be a first page session, I decided to venture away from writing picture books to follow the voice of Savannah, an eleven-year-old girl. The writing caught the attention of the two editors present, one asked me to send her the first fifty pages of the novel. At that time, only the one page existed. Guided by belief in the work, and with much patience from the editor, I completed fifty pages, and then went on to finish writing Savannah’s story. The novel is currently with several editors at this time.”
In case you didn’t notice. The Crystal Kite Awards were announced this week. New Jersey had two members make the finals, but they were up against some stiff competition with the winning book. I’d like to point out how valuable it is to win this contest. I already have ordered four of the winning books. Books I would have not thought to order. Isn’t that what an author wants? I think, “Yes.” So don’t stick your nose up or take for granted these contests. They can really make things happen for you. I have listed three regions below:
Pennsylvania/Delaware/New Jersey/Wash DC/Virginia/West Virginia/Maryland
Kathryn D. Erskine – Mockingbird (Philomel Books – Penguin Young Readers Group)
First we have Leeza winning HER big thing and now Betsy winning HER big thing! I don’t know if I can take all this excitement! Phew! *wipes brow* I have to sit down…
*now sitting* OK…needless to say, this news about Betsy’s win is NOT SURPRISING AT ALL!!!! YEA!!!! *Party hat on!* Ever since I read the first thing by you, Betsy, I’ve been wanting to hear about a book you’ll be publishing that’s going to be on a shelf (or signed personally at a conference!) that we can buy and READ! I can’t wait! Congrats to you a zillion times over! This is just SO cool! SO wonderful!
Donna
Congratulations Betsy!
Woo hoo! Confetti and Champagne!
Those first pages . . . you just never know.
Best wishes for continued success,
Mimi
Thanks, Donna, you are so sweet!
I can’t wait to see *my family* in June at the conference.
Hugs,
Betsy
First pages are important, or at the very least, inspiring. Most of my novels have started as first pages.
Thanks, Mimi!
Congrats again, Betsy. Amazing what can come out of a First Page. I’m glad you told us the evolution of your book. What is your “elevator pitch” for the book? I want to know what it’s about.
That is SO EXCITING!!! Congratulations to Betsy!!! She is so talented and so sweet and one of the first friends I made within NJSCBWI!
LOL… Betsy, I don’t think you meant this—-”Most of my novels have started as first pages.”—-the way it sounded when I read it, but taking it the way I DID, which was “Duh! Well, yeah…novels usually do begin with first pages!”—-I practically spit my tea all over the screen! LOL
But that’s actually very interesting to know. I can say that the couple of first pages I’ve done, both related to Kathy’s wonderful blog here, have sparked ideas! It’s all great stuff, and congrats again
Donna
While spending the summer in Richmond, VA with unfamiliar relatives, eleven-year-old Savannah Lucille Mays continues to find ways to reach her momma, who faces early-onset Alzheimer’s. Savannah’s Mountain is a middle-grade novel of hope, humor, wish-stones, memories, butterflies, cranes, challenges of the day, keeping promises, and learning how to let go.
Thanks, Miss Connie!
Can’t wait to see you in June!!
Betsy
OOOooooooooooooooooo….sooooooo enticing