I'm honored

with the Alice B. Award

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"From the Alice B. Award website: This award is given annually to living writers who have careers distinguished by consistently well-written stories about lesbians. The award is given only once in appreciation of lifetime career achievement. In addition to the medal, each recipient is given a monetary honorarium.

“At least two Medals are given out annually. Selections are made from lists of all-time favorite living authors compiled by the committee members. In order to qualify a writer must have published substantial works, usually at least five books (though occasionally, someone has written as few as three or four books that were all so incredible and reflect such great career achievement that we have waived the that rule). Decisions are by consensus. The order of selection for this prize has nothing to do with how the writers are ranked in our hearts and minds."

The award came out of the blue, I was totally surprised. The award comes with a monetary award and a medal! Both will arrive in the mail. Once I receive the medal, I'll need someone to take a photo of me wearing it so I can appear in the online photo gallery.

I never imagined I would receive a lifetime achievement award, but I'm certainly in the age range to receive one (of course others have received theirs without being as old as I am). And the company I'm in!! So many of my idols.

I'm especially thrilled to see both Sandra Scoppettone and Marijane Meaker in the gallery as both of them appear in the play I'm currently writing (the one I was just working on at last week's retreat). This year's recipients are Sandra Butler, Emma Donoghue, Catherine Lundoff, and (blush) me. I've ordered Butler's and Lundoff's books, and have already read almost everything Emma Donoghue has ever written. My friend Joanie and her wife Katherine gave me "Stir Fry" in 1995 as a bon voyage gift for my first trip to Ireland. She is of course the author of "Room," but I think my favorite book of hers is "Frog Music."

I've had a few amazing weeks. First was my show in Fertile Ground, then my Palm Springs retreat, and now this! My gratitude cup runneth over.

So, please tell me your own good news. It can be small, medium, or large. I'm thrilled with the amount of flowers blooming in my garden right now, for example. If you haven't had good news, please share something -- anything -- you are willing for the rest of us to read.

Cecile Brunner climbing rose blooming in my garden now