Thursday I received the Norman A. Sugarman Award for Biography at a gala event replete with great food, live jazz, and freedom songs--all beautifully presented. Chrystal Carr Jeter (spelled correctly this time, Chrystal) outdid herself by organizing a multi-day event that included meeting the gracious Joan Sugarman, who made the award possible through a generous endowment to the Cleveland Public Library. Chrystal's staff--Vicki, Cathleen, Jaime, and others whom I can't name only because of the whirlwind of activity the last few days--and her boss, Andrew Venable, all went to great efforts to make me and the other authors feel welcome at their beautiful library and in their historic city. I came away feeling as if I'd made many new and good friends, although I'm still pinching myself and staring at the award (which is now sitting on the bookcase in my office) to convince myself that the last few magical days actually happened. The only thing I forgot to pick up were the lovely Sugarman stickers (hint, hint) which will proudly be displayed on my books in the future. Tomorrow another award will be announced.