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| L. to r.: Ann Weisgarber, Lilah Conroy, Melissa Conroy, Kathy L. Murphy, Caroline Leavitt, Cassandra King and Janis Owens. | |
The Pulpwood Queen Girlfriend Weekend was held January 12-15 in Nacogdoches, Tex. This year the annual celebration of books and authors partnered with Stephen F. Austin State University.
Kathy L. Murphy, founder of the 700-plus member Pulpwood Queen and Timber Guy Book Club Reading Nation, said: "Our wonderful partnership with the Creative Writing Department at Stephen F. Austin State University is off to a great start. Thanks to Dr. John McDermott who heads the program, we had six graduate students volunteer to help with the event. We not only gave all students, faculty and board access to hear all the authors we brought in, but we are now making arrangements for the authors to visit their classrooms and do workshops through their Distinguished Author Series."
During the weekend, an Author Silent Auction was held, featuring writers signing personal items to benefit the charity of their choice. This year, $2,500 was raised and all proceeds will go to the Pat Conroy Literary Center. Houston's Murder by the Book, which was the book vendor for Girlfriend Weekend, also donated a portion of its sales to the center. In addition, the Doug Marlette Award, which is given to individual or individuals for spending a lifetime promoting literacy, went to the late Pat Conroy's family.
Other awards handed out included:
Fiction Book of the Year: Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt
Nonfiction Book of the Year: Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening by Carol Wall
Bonus Book of the Year: The California Wife by Kristen Harnisch
Splinters (Teen) Book of the Year: The Feathered Bone by Julie Cantrell
Pinecones (Children's) Book of the Year: Momotaro: Xander and the Lost Island of Monsters by Margaret Dilloway