Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award – Karen Cushman https://www.karencushman.com Newbery award-winning author Sat, 07 Oct 2023 13:33:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/www.karencushman.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/favicon.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award – Karen Cushman https://www.karencushman.com 32 32 197177275 Announcing the 2014 Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award Winner https://www.karencushman.com/announcing-the-karen-and-philip-cushman-late-bloomer-award-winner/ Tue, 22 Jul 2014 10:44:02 +0000 https://www.karencushman.com/blog/?p=1334 Read more]]> Jennifer SommerThe Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators congratulates Jennifer Sommer of Kettering, Ohio, as the award winner for authors over the age of fifty who have not been traditionally published in the children’s literature field. Jennifer received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and has worked as a children’s librarian for twenty years. She won the award for Octopus Capers, an interesting twist on nonfiction in which octopuses are the culprit in aquarium mysteries around the world. Learn more about Jennifer.

The grant was established by Newbery Award winner and Newbery Honor Book recipient Karen Cushman and her husband, Philip Cushman, in conjunction with the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Karen published her first children’s book, Catherine, Called Birdy (winner of the 1995 Newbery Honor), at the age of fifty-three and has gone on to become one of the field’s most acclaimed novelists.

“I chose Jennifer Sommer’s Octopus Capers because it reached out and grabbed me—it’s original and engaging. The proposal made me wonder, laugh, and want to know more about octopuses, and I am looking forward to reading the whole thing,” said Karen.

SCBWI Executive Director Lin Oliver added, “Due to the generosity of Philip and Karen Cushman, this award recognizes the fact that creative life has no age limit. Jen pursued her MFA during midlife and her dedication has borne wonderful fruit!”

To read an interview with Jennifer Sommer by SCBWI official blogger, Lee Wind, visit SCBWI: The Blog.

To find out more about the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award and the application process visit the “Awards and Grants” section on the SCBWI website.

]]> 2321 Late Bloomers! https://www.karencushman.com/late-bloomers/ https://www.karencushman.com/late-bloomers/#comments Tue, 14 May 2013 14:34:58 +0000 https://www.karencushman.com/blog/?p=848 Read more]]> Leo the Late BloomerNot yet traditionally published? Over 50? SCBWI members can apply next year for a Work-in-Progress grant and have your manuscript considered for the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award, $500 and a scholarship to one SCBWI conference. This award was established to encourage and celebrate late bloomers like me, who didn’t start to write until age fifty. But then I bloomed, and I’d love to see others do so as well.

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