The 17th Annual San Diego Book Awards named Mamalita “Best Memoir” in a ceremony on Saturday, June 12, 2011. Yay!
My sister, Adrienne, and her friend, Claudia, attended the event with me, and when the evening’s host announced my name, my sister screamed. (We O’Dwyers are an enthusiastic bunch.) My entire family is thrilled. In fact, as I write this, my mother is showing off my lovely trophy to her “Needlework” volunteer group at Pomerado Hospital in Rancho Bernardo. Adrienne and my parents and everyone else in my family shared the Mamalita journey with me–not only the experience, but also the five years I spent afterward, writing about it. How gratifying to share with them this recognition.
Thank you, everyone!
ShareThisTags: 17th Annual San Diego Book Awards, Jessica O'Dwyer, Mamalita: An Adoption Memoir, memoir writing, San Diego Book Awards, San Diego Book Awards Best Memoir
YAY! That’s so awesome! Congrats!
Thanks, Heather!
Wow, congratulations Jessica. That is fantastic news! And very well deserved. It is a tremendous book and you should be very proud 🙂
Just fabulous! Like you and your Mamalita!
My friend Drusilla Campbell also won for novel…did you meet her?
And congrats of course…I left that on Facebook!!!
I would have screamed too!
Congratulations, Jessica.
Well done.
June
Thanks, y’all. A big thrill, even bigger when shared.
Sharon: Didn’t meet Drusilla personally, but saw her. The evening’s star!
June:
As we all agreed, someone needed to tell the story. Honored it coud be me.
Thank you, friend.
Wow, Jessica! That’s so exciting-and well deserved-congratulations!!
I’m hooting now! Jess that is just outstanding. You are a credit to the unruly cuticle, tamed. Much love, syn
This is sooooo fantastic!!!!! Congratulations, Jessica. I’m thrilled.
Syn: Finally! xo
Dorothy, Syn, Norah: What’s best about sharing with writer friends is we all see that it’s possible. Thank you!
Congratulations Jessica! We enjoyed your talk last night with our book club. None of us were surprised that you won this award. We loved your book and really enjoyed talking about it with you last night. I know you feel lucky to have your adorable children, but they are also lucky to have a Mom like you!
Joy, what a fabulous group of women! Meeting you all and discussing the book was a delight. Thank you for your kind words. ~
Hi Jessica,
Yes, Congratulations and ditto to what Joy said! It was one of our best- if not the best, book club meetings and we actually talked about the book the whole tine!!! LOL! Thank you for your time as well as your talents! It was a pleasure to meet you and discuss your book!
Kelly–so funny about talking about the book. In my writing group, we sometimes get “sidetracked” by other subjects, too. So I understand!
I enjoyed the meeting as much as you did. Now to go lift some weights to keep up with you amazingly fit women….!
Thank you so much again!