Dennis,

As my editor, I just wanted to let you know that we have just been notified that ELK RIVER was selected by the IBPA as one of the three best books in its category LGBT, (as you remember there was that important part of the book that focused on Frank's gay relationship). The awards will be in New York City on June 4th, we are considering going.

I am so excited - sometimes just the littlest things make you happy - then again so can the big things.

an update......

Thanks for helping put the book together.

Regarding the IBPA award, there were almost 1300 submittals for the LGBT
category, I was given finalist/silver award for the book. I am thrilled. I will send you a copy of the award. They also gave out stickers that I can place on the books, very cool. I will order more and place them on all the books. Without a doubt I am charged up about the recognition and the the
placement in the competition. The other book that was a finalist was written by a fellow in the same association I belong to. The cover was also done by a friend of mine, Joel Friedlander, check out his blog at
bookdesigner.com. We had a couple of great laughs and backslaps over being selected. The winner was a non-fiction book on drugs and the gay community. Larry Jacobson's book, The Boy behind the Gate, was a memoir.

So I can quite happily report my story was the best novel in the category. Again thanks for the effort.

It has charged me up being the best out of 1300 submissions. I thought
there might be a few hundred but a silver for the book is both humbling and exciting.

You should also know that Elk River is one of five finalists in Dan Poynter's Global Ebook Awards for young adults. The five will be cut to two, I think, on July 9th, Then an award ceremony in Santa Barbara in
August. Again, wish us luck.

Not bad for a first novel.