Bridge Lake area children’s author Becky Citra recently found out she’s in line for a possible second Chocolate Lily Award for excellence in children’s writing.
Her book, White-out, which is a chapter book for children in Grades 3-5, was nominated by a panel of teachers, librarians and authors for consideration for the award.
Whiteout tells the story of cousins who overcome differences as they face a snowstorm together.
In 2006, Citra won a second-place Chocolate Lily for her chapter book, Chocolate Moon.
The ultimate judges for the competition will be the children who read her book, as the award is a people’s choice award.
Chocolate Lily is a reading program, which involves thousands of elementary school aged children from all over British Columbia. They take on the task of reading the nominated books and vote for their favourites.
Citra says she feels great about the nomination.
“It’s kind of fun because I just recently received letters from school kids who have been reading my book in the Chocolate Lily Book Club. These kinds of things are a big part of my career as an author and they’re the inspiration to keep you going. Writing is a solitary thing much of the time.”
Citra will find out how her book was rated next June at a gala and awards
presentation that
will include authors and many young readers.
Meanwhile, she’s looking forward to her newest book entitled, Missing, to come out in April. It’s a mystery novel for juvenile readers aged nine to 13 years, which takes place on a guest ranch in the Cariboo.
“Every new book is exciting. I think this book will do well, as it has a good story line and the characters are strong.”
