Pahl Receives Bronte Prize Nomination

2007-08-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

Writing on a small press, Nelson Pahl joined some of mainstream literature’s most famous names to become one of the five finalists for romantic fiction’s biggest award, the 2007 Bronte Prize. The accolade recognizes the best love story published in the U.S. and Canada annually.

Pahl’s Bee Balms & Burgundy, published on independent imprint Café Reverie Press, goes head to head for the coveted accolade against Nora Roberts’ Angels Fall (Putnam), Richard Paul Evans’ Finding Noel (Simon & Shuester), Roger Alan Skipper's Tear Down the Mountain (Soft Skull Press), and Water for Elephants (Algonquin Books) by Sara Gruen.

Bee Balms & Burgundy is the tale of Mia Lawson, a 30-year-old post-mastectomy breast cancer survivor who, in the aftermath of her diagnosis, realizes her lifelong love for childhood neighbor Nick May. Narrated by “Nicky,” the story takes the reader through Mia’s three dilemmas. First, how will she tell her childhood buddy of her feelings? Secondly, if he feels the same, how will she cross the necessary bridge to her first intimate encounter since her mastectomy? And thirdly, if all else works out, will she live long enough to savor it? The story is set between St. Paul, Minnesota and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Pahl's witty and articulate style, as well as his sense-teasing descriptive writing, have garnered him much critical acclaim in the independent literature realm. Indie Nation Magazine went so far as to bill him as "Indie Lit's Most Intriguing Writer" in their Autumn 2006 issue.

And at least one person feels Bee Balms & Burgundy is a sure winner.

"He's a better writer than anyone out there today," says publicist Michelle May. "He knows how to write, he knows how to edit, he knows how to tell a story, he practices efficiency and story activation like few others.

"He's like the whole production process wrapped into an award-winning package."

The Bronte Prize is announced on March 15th (www.bronteprize.org). The victor receives $12,500 and the Bronte Prize trophy.

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You can find Nelson Pahl's Bee Balms & Burgundy here. You may read a free chapter here.

Lit Award Nominations

Pahl Receives Bronte Prize Nomination