Won First Award! NEMBA May 2014

NEMBA Program May 22, 2014

Sponsored by the University of Minnesota Duluth and The Lake Superior Writers Group for over 20 years, this award celebrates books written about the unique and particular region of Northeastern Minnesota.  We were nominated in February for both Timber; Fire in the Pines and The Last Dance.  Both are historical fiction novels.  There are five judges who read selections in each of the five genres.

The nominees in the Fiction Category included eight other talented authors: William Kent Krueger for Tamarack County, Dean Hovey for Whistling Sousa, Cary J.Griffith for Wolves, Jim Northrup for Walking the Rez Road, Pat McGauley for The Sons of Marella Windsong, Jim Herschbach for Seven Graves Two Harbors, Vidar Sundstol for The Land of Dreams, and T.K. O'Neill for Jack Pine Savages: A Carter Brown Novel.  

Cathy Wurzer, MPR

Cathy Wurzer spoke and is articulate and smart but also was entertaining and funny.  She's an author and wrote a book about Hwy 61.  After the program I spoke with her briefly and asked if she would consider doing a spot about Sandy.  Cross your fingers fans and family!

If I admit it was a surpise when they announced Timber; Fire in the Pines for the Honorable Mention Nominee it sounds like I didn't think Sandy should win.  Nothing is further  from the truth.  But it is a little intimidating to be amongst some pretty distinguished and popular writers. They bestow two awards for each genre-- the Winner and an Honorable Mention.  Since February Sandy has been saying she doesn't expect an award.  Kind of how she's been known to say "no one wants to read my books".  Well anywho…I thought she had a right to win.  

But then there's authors like our fellow author presenter Dean Hovey,  William Kent Krueger and Cary J. Griffith.  Mr. Hovey has written five popular mysteries.  Mr. Krueger has won many awards including his latest-- the prestigious Edgar Award for Ordinary Grace.  Mr. Griffith recently won the esteemed Midwest Book Award for Wolves, he was also included in the list of Star Tribune's Summer Reads 2014 for his ebook Savage Reads.  I haven't read Wolves yet but I intend to.   I enjoyed Ordinary Grace and other novels by Mr. Krueger.  Hence the apprehension Sandy would get lost in the list of serious contenders.

Our congratulations to Mr. Krueger who was the 2014 NEMBA Award winner in the Fiction category.  Not bad for Sandy's debut novel to come in SECOND PLACE!  Check out all the NEMBA nominees, we just finished Farm Girls and really enjoyed it.  Try and buy from an Indepedent bookstore!   We need to support these stores because they provide author's badly needed exposure and help introduce new authors and books.  

North Branch Library Book Signing April 2013

This was our second event at this library, the staff and The Friends at the North Branch Library are so friendly and accommodating.   We shared The Last Dance.  Dean Hovey also spoke about his books, his most recent (also a nominee for the NEMBA award) is Whistling Sousa.  He writes mysteries so was a good author to have speak, it's nice to have two genres to discuss.  Dean is a sweet guy too.

We enjoyed all the thoughtful questions; a few patrons had already read TIMBER; Fire in the Pines.   We love doing library events, thank you for having us back North Branch Library and The Friends of the North Branch Library!

Family Support and Traditions

Barb Pfankuch hosted the Rosemary Woods/Tuckaway book club event we were invited to attend again this March.  She's been such a wonderful supporter of Sandy's; she also happens to be her daughter in law!   Not only has she hosted two book club events, she organized a Health Partners book signing event this year as well.  Thank you Barb!

It means the world to Sandy and I to have such strong family support.  Sandy's husband Bob passed in 2010 but I know he would be proud and happy knowing his family helps to promote her books and allows her to continue doing something she feels is so rewarding. 

The ladies in the book club are great, interesting and we always have a lot of fun visiting with them.  They read "The Last Dance" and shared their favorite parts comparing and contrasting this book with "Timber".  A few ladies with strong farm connections commented that they especially loved this book because of the farm scenes.  I agree, being a native Minnesotan I love the culture of small towns and family farms.  

Sandy made her special homemade sticky buns (or cinnamon rolls as I call them) for the ladies to enjoy and to thank Barb for all her efforts.  For "Last Dance" readers, this gesture will remind you of Martha.  She was partially fashioned after Sandy's mom Frieda.  My grandma Frieda was a farm girl and learned to cook wonderful homestyle comfort food on the farm.  She made us this special treat when we were growing up.  Now my daughter and I both make these rolls carrying on the tradition and making new memories for our families.