A number of my friends in various writing groups received word yesterday that they are finalists in RWA contests – either the Golden Heart for unpublished authors, or the Rita for books published in 2011. Being ineligible for either (I am published, but my book is from 2010) I was surprised and pleased to get another unexpected, but totally delightful, message.
![](\"http://www.babinns.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/46ec4-pull.jpg\")
Students in my neighboring state of Indiana have nominated my book PULL for the 2012/13 Eliot Rosewater Indiana Hoosier Book Award (a. k. a. the Rosie Award). Of course, I\’m up against an awesome list of books, including Five Flavors of Dumb, Ship Breaker, Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and Yummy – all of which I read and loved. But it\’s great to be in such awesome company. The Rosie Award is chosen annually by students across Indiana in grades nine through twelve. The winner will be announced in May. Obviously I have my fingers and toes crossed. I just consider it an honor that the students nominated PULL. PULL has acheived a number of honors:
- 2010 Golden Rose winner – Oregon
- 2011 National Readers Choice Award winner – Oklahoma
- 2011 Children\’s and Young Adult Bloggers Literary (CYBIL) Awards nominee
- 2011 Best Books for Youth in Detention list – School Library Journal
- 2012 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list – American Library Association
The sequel, BEING GOD, will be out later this year. Who knows what next year will bring.
BTW – Eliot Rosewater is a recurring fictional character in Kurt Vonnegut\’s novels, including God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. Vonnegut is a famous Hoosier author who grew up in Indianapolis. This award was named to honor him and all Indiana writers. I feel like I\’m an honorary Indiana writer.
WOW – impressive. I need to take another look at this book.