Old Lyme’s Luanne Rice Receives Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award

On the heels of the paperback release of  The Lemon Orchard, Old Lyme resident and bestselling author Luanne Rice has been honored with a prestigious award from the state of Connecticut for excellence and lifetime achievement as a literary artist.

Rice received the 2014 Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award in the Literary Arts category during a ceremony in New Haven on June 14.  The event, hosted in conjunction with the opening of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, also recognize Connecticut-born actor Christopher Plummer and visual artist Tim Prentice.

“I am honored to have been chosen by my home state for such a prominent award, and I am humbled to stand alongside two other great artists,” said Rice, whose 31 bestselling novels have been translated into 24 languages.

The Governor’s Award has been handed out by the state’s Governor’s office annually since 1978.  More than 140 artists, organizations and patrons have been noted for their dedication and service to the arts in the state, including Helen Frankenthaler, Arthur Miller and Gene Wilder.

Rice’s dedication to the arts goes back to childhood.  Her first published poem appeared in the Hartford Courant when she was just 11-years old, and her first short story was published in American Girl Magazine when she was 15. Her debut novel, “Angels All Over Town,” was published in 1985.

In 2002, Connecticut College awarded Rice an honorary degree and invited her to donate her papers to the college’s Special Collections Library.  She has also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, Conn.

Several of Rice’s novels have been made into television adaptations, including “Crazy in Love” for TNT, “Blue Moon” for CBS, “Follow the Stars Home” and “Silver Bells” for the Hallmark Hall of Fame, and “Beach Girls” for a summer 2005 mini-series on Lifetime.

Rice’s work has also been featured at Hartford Stage in Hartford, Connecticut, the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, California and in several off-Broadway theatre productions.

Rice recently released her latest bestselling novel, The Lemon Orchard, in paperback.  The story, detailing the unexpected love story of two people from different worlds, has received rave reviews.  Rice will be discussing and signing copies of her book on Saturday, July 26, at 11 a.m. at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts during this year’s Midsummer Festival.

Editor’s Note: Luanne Rice is the New York Times bestselling author of 31 novels that have been translated into 24 languages.  The author of The Lemon Orchard, Little Night, The Silver Boat and Beach Girls, Rice’s books often center on love, family, nature and the sea.  Rice is an avid naturalist and bird-watcher and is involved with Georgetown University Law Center’s Domestic Violence Clinic.  Born in New Britain, Connecticut, Rice divides her time between New York City and shoreline Connecticut.  Follow her at www.luannerice.com, on Twitter @LuanneRice and at facebook.com/luannericebooks.