Here’s the award photo from the Council for Wisconsin Writers luncheon on Saturday, May 14. Janis Joplin, Rise Up Singing received the book-length nonfiction award. To see more, please click on the link.

Yesterday, Janis Joplin Rise Up Singing won the 2011 Crystal Kite Award, an award that was selected by my writing peers from Wisconsin/Minnesota/Iowa/Illinois/Nebraska/Indiana/Ohio.  I’m sure Janis herself  still has the energy and voice and amazing spirit to reach all of these folks. But I also thank each and every one of you for voting and for making sure Janis Joplin’s legacy lives on. She was my hero, my flawed and lovely hero. She was my cautionary tale. I’m so happy to know she’s all of yours too. Thank you, dear friends and writers.