During the Library of Virginia Literary Awards Oct. 20, guests dined with the nominated authors. Host Adriana Trigiani, a best-selling author beloved by millions of readers around the world for her hilarious and heartwarming novels, asked, “You’re actually eating with writers. How is that working out?”
For most guests, it was a privilege to do so and a great way to celebrate the nominees. Tomorrow is another day for celebrating authors as it is National Author’s Day, which was created by Nellie Verne Burt McPherson, a teacher and avid reader. She submitted the idea for such a day, and in 1949 the day was recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
After attending the Literary Awards, I’m inspired to celebrate several new authors, including David Wojahn, who won for his collection of poetry, World Tree. In accepting he said of the award, “It looks like the Olympics, but it’s for brain works.”
At the event, I picked up David Huddle’s book Nothing Can Make Me Do This, which won the Emyl Jenkins Sexton Literary Award for Fiction. He grew up listening to his parents read books to him. “The sound of the human reading voice is the presence of love,” he told the audience.
David Baldacci won the People’s Choice Award for Fiction for The Sixth Man. I’m planning to read it on my next flight and asked him if I was going to jump in my seat from the suspense. He chuckled and said, “Don’t be surprised.”
Adriana Trigiani and David Baldacci are two authors worth celebrating. (Photo by Cynthia Price)
Both David and Adriana are two authors I greatly admire because despite their millions of books sold, they are both approachable and willing to sign books and talk with fans and would-be writers. They are authors to be celebrated.
In celebrating authors by reading their books, we also are achieving another success, according to Jodi Moore, who won the Whitney & Scott Cardozo Award for Children’s Literature. “In order for a book to be happy, it must be read,” Moore said in accepting her award.
Tomorrow, why not make a book and an author happy?
Cynthia's Communique 
Cynthia: Thanks for sharing your memories of the wonderful Library of Virginia event that honors authors. While I couldn’t be there this year, now I have the feeling that I attended with my many friends. Based on Moore’s comment, I’ve made a lot of books happy. I rejoice that I had a mother who read to me. My father, although illiterate, was touched each time I showed him something I had written. By using my maiden name in my bylline, he saw that I honored his respect for education.
Nancy Wright Beasley
great idea- wonderful picture of David and Adriana!