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The life of a writer can be a lonely one, as you send your words out into the world but you don’t go with them. I’ve been a writer for more than 20 years, and even now, there are many times when I wonder whether those words are being read at all once they take flight.
Yet then, out of that figurative blue sky that birds enjoy, comes an affirmation that not only are my words being read, but indeed, they even have the potential to actually make a difference.
Birds for Kids – Nautilus Book Award Winner
I received word a few months ago that Birds for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Owls, Eagles, Penguins, and Other Bird Species was selected as a silver winner in the 2025 Nautilus Book Awards.
This award, in the “Children’s Illustrated / Non-Fiction Ages 6-9 Years (Grades 1-4)” category, notes that Birds for Kids upholds the spirit of the nautilus, one of growth, wisdom, expanding horizons, elegance, and awareness of nature.
The awards themselves specifically choose “better books for a better world” and it’s humbling to have not one, but both of my titles receive this recognition. In 2022, Migration: Exploring the Remarkable Journeys of Birds received the same award, albeit in a different category based on expected age, publisher, and other factors.
Both awards are touching, to know that my work, the words that bear all of who I am, can be seen objectively as exceptional, even if only for a moment. That in itself is something to celebrate with all the glitz and glitter of the occasion.
It is my hope that someone with just a casual interest in birds or nature may read either book and spark a deeper passion for birding. How they choose to do that – adding a feeder to their yard, visiting a nature preserve, buying their first field guide, or planning a dedicated trip – is irrelevant. We all enjoy birding in our own way, and the bigger our flock grows, the better for all birds flying in all skies across the world.
I do read your words. I don’t always comment but some days. I just don’t feel like doing anything. I’m getting old now and one of my cancers has come back and I decided not to do anything about it so it won’t be too much longer perhaps another year, maybe two if I’m lucky. I still stop by occasionally, especially if I get an email from you. I have to see what you’ve got to say.
That is fantastic! Congratulations on your incredible achievement.
This is so awesome!! 👏 Congratulations to you!!🎉 Big Hug!!💞
Congratulations! A wonderful achievement!
Yay, recognition! Congratulations. I enjoyed your Migration book. Your research is always excellent, and you have a way of making the sometimes complex subjects understandable and engaging to read. 🏆🏆
Aw, thank you so much for the kind words! You’ve made my day.