Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 16, 2024
Info at: https://www.katedopirakaward.com
Contact: katedopirakaward@gmail.com
PAST WINNER OF THE KATE DOPIRAK CRAFT & COMMUNITY AWARD CHERYL KIM TO PUBLISH WINNING MANUSCRIPT WITH LEE & LOW
The 2020 winner of the Kate Dopirak Craft and Community Award, Cheryl Kim, will publish her award-winning picture book manuscript with Lee & Low Books. The story, WAT TAKES HIS SHOT: THE LIFE & LEGACY OF BASKETBALL HERO WATARU MISAKA, illustrated by Nat Iwata, has also been named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. It will be released June 18, 2024.
Kim says of the KDCC Award, “When I read the description of the Kate Dopirak Craft and Community Award and what it represented (the beauty in craft, community, and connection), I knew I had to apply for this specific award as all of those things that Kate valued also resonated with me.”
Kim adds, “When I received the news that I had won, I was in the process of revising WAT TAKES HIS SHOT with an editor at Lee and Low. I let her know about the award right away and I do think it encouraged her as well. When she presented the manuscript at an acquisitions meeting, she mentioned the award to the editorial team. It was so significant that both my editor and I agreed we should mention the award in the book.” The KDCC Award is mentioned in the Acknowledgments section of the book.
“The whole experience was and is a monumental milestone in my writing journey,” Kim continues. “I’m thrilled to see the KDCC Award continue to give back to the writing community year after year.” More information about Cheryl Kim, Nat Iwata, and WAT TAKES HIS SHOT can be found on the Lee & Low website: https://www.leeandlow.com/books/wat-takes-his-shot
ABOUT THE KDCC AWARD: Submissions for the 2024 KDCC Award are now open to members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Winners receive consultations with industry leaders and admission to SCBWI’s International Summer Conference. Picture book writers may find more information and submit their manuscript between now and February 20, 2024 via the KDCC website: https://www.katedopirakaward.com
ABOUT KATE DOPIRAK: The KDCC Award is offered in celebration of Kate Dopirak, a picture-book and middle-grade author and beloved SCBWI member who lived her life lighting the way for others.
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