What follows is a list of writing awards and recognition I've received over the years. I've entered lots of contests. I don't enter very many now; sometimes I get asked to be a judge instead. P.S. It is way more fun to enter a writing contest than to judge one.
Nutmeg
Book Award master list for intermediate books, Connecticut, 2009,
for Close Encounters of a Third-World Kind.
Top ten finalist, Writer's Digest magazine's WD Best Writer's Website Contest, 2007.
Hillsborough County Battle of the Books, Florida, 2007-2008 for Close Encounters of a Third-World Kind.
Black-Eyed
Susan Book Award master list for grades 4-6, Maryland Educational
Media Organization, 2007-2008, for Close Encounters of a Third-World
Kind.
Grand
Canyon Reader Award master list for intermediate books, Arizona
Library Association, 2007, for Close Encounters of a Third-World
Kind.
Close Encounters of a Third-World Kind is on the "South Carolina Reads 2007: 100 Suggested Titles for Middle School Students" list put out by the South Carolina Department of Education.
Professional
Development Grant, Arizona Commission
on the Arts, 2007.
Close
Encounters of a Third-World Kind received a 2005 Teddy Children's
Book Award Special Citation, given by the
Writers' League of Texas.
Special Commendation, Memoir, 2005 Society of Southwestern Authors Annual Writer's Contest for ms "Biker Chicks."
Close
Encounters of a Third-World Kind is a recommended Readers Circle
Program pick by the Missouri State Teachers Association.
Close
Encounters of a Third-World Kind is a recommended Readers
Circle Program pick by the Kansas National Education Association.
Artist Career Advancement Grant, Arizona Commission on the Arts, 2005.
Professional Development Grant, Arizona Commission on the Arts, 2003.
If
That Breathes Fire, We're Toast! is featured
for California and Arizona in 35 Best Books for Teaching U.S. Regions
by Toni Buzzeo and Jane Kurtz, Scholastic, 2002.
First
Place, Picture Book, 2001 Southwest Writers Workshop Contest, judged by
Rebecca Stevens of Crown/Knopf, for ms “Desert Snowfall.”
Sequoyah
Book Award masterlist, Oklahoma Library Association, 2001-2002,
for If That Breathes Fire, We're Toast!
Best Science, Fantasy, and Horror list, Voice of Youth Advocates, 1999, for If That Breathes Fire, We're Toast!
If That Breathes Fire, We're Toast! is cited among best books: Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000.
Honorable Mention, Children’s Fiction, 2000 Writer’s Digest Writing Competition for “Desert Snowfall.”
First Place, Juvenile Fiction, 1997 Deep South Writer’s Contest for novel ms “Please Don’t Eat the Princess.”
Honorable Mention, 1997 Byline New Talent Short Story Contest for short story “Islands.”
Honorable Mention, 1997 Byline Juvenile Fiction Contest for short story “The Mindgame.”
Second Place, Middle Grade Novel, 1997 Southwest Writers Workshop Contest, judged by Regina Griffin, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of Holiday House for novel ms “Please Don’t Eat the Princess.”
Third Place, Juvenile Fiction/Nonfiction, 1997 California Writer’s Club Conference at Asilomar Contest for middle grade novel ms “Please Don’t Eat the Princess.”
Honorable Mention, Poetry, Arizona Authors' Association Literary Contest, 1995, for "Agua Caliente Spring in Winter"
Finalist, Short Story, PEN Syndicated Fiction Project, 1992, for "Common Ground" (2,400+ entries)
First Prize, Short Story, Foster City Committee for the Arts Writer's Contest, 1992, for "Common Ground"
First
Prize, Short Story, Society of Southwestern Authors Annual Writer's Contest,
1992, for "Common Ground"
Third Prize, Poetry, Chester H. Jones Foundation National Poetry Competition, 1992, for "Charmed Race." Judges: Jill Breckenridge, Tess Gallagher, and Diane Wakoski
Honorable Mention (Eighth Place), Young Adult Short Story, Writer's Digest Magazine Writing Competition, 1992, for Turnabout"
First Prize, Short Story, Society of Southwestern Authors Annual Writer's Contest, 1991, for "Time Spent Embroidering"
Honorable Mention, Short Story, Writer's Digest Magazine Writing Competition, 1991, for "Getaway"
Honorable Mention, Short Story, Writer's Digest Magazine Writing Competition, 1990, for "With Good Reason"