I am happy to announce that I have an article on gall insects in the latest issue of Colorado Gardener magazine. Many thanks to editor and publisher Jane Shellenberger for her appreciation of contributing writers and photographers.
This is a free publication, but you can read this issue and back issues online, at their website. You may also want to "like" their Facebook page, here. Thank you.
Having "Google Alerts" on my name and blog title provided an unexpected bonus last week. It turns out that one of my magazine articles won an award from the Association for Conservation Information. The award was for first place in the "Magazine Wildlife Article" category, and awarded to Wonderful West Virginia magazine. My article "Stealth Hunters," about assassin bugs, took the prize.
Curiously, the Google Alert was to a television news story that mentioned me by name. The award itself did not. However, Wonderful West Virginia changed publishers and staff recently, so that may account for why they never notified me themselves.
The full slate of awards is available for viewing in this PDF
I honestly don't think about potential accolades when I am writing. I strive to write captivating, informative, and understandable prose of a quality that I am proud to put my name on. Feedback from readers and blog followers is even more appreciated than recognition in the "red carpet" sense. I have peers who I think far exceed me in skill, knowledge, and initiative, and I hope they are recognized and appreciated, too. It literally "takes a village" to spread the word about fauna, flora, and the need to conserve habitats.
I am going to “cheat” a little here by offering a link to an article in lieu of a blog entry. The Missouri Conservationist magazine published a shortened version of an article on underwing moths that they paid me for a few years ago. Changes in editorial staff and the format of their publication were the reasons for the delay. I am delighted to say that the new Managing Editor, Nichole LeClair Terrill, has been a joy to work with. I am looking forward to contributing more articles in the future. I would also like to thank photographer Donna Brunet for providing such a fantastic image to illustrate this current piece.
