Lakewood Author's Debut Novel Wins Colorado Book Award

LAKEWOOD, Colo., June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Lakewood author C.S. Shride and her debut novel, Lucy Dakota: Adventures of a Modern Explorer Book 1 - Rocky Mountain Beginnings, are climbing to great heights in an amazingly short period of time. The book, first in a series, won the prestigious Colorado Book Award for Young Adult Literature yesterday in Aspen, Colorado.

Shride aims to teach young people vital life skills through the explorations and trials of her teen heroine, Lucy Dakota, whose mountain climbing adventures help her learn about perseverance, focus, self-esteem and healthy relationships. Shride's aim with the book series is to help young adults live their fullest lives by sharing the knowledge she has picked up as an adventurer herself.

Shride's work as an adventure travel guide led her on many journeys around the world which provide the inspiration for the tales of Lucy, who is not a superhero, but a teen facing the same challenges confronting teens today such as relationship issues, bullying, friendship confusion and even drug use and sex. In her first novel, the author focuses on skills such as self awareness, focus, preparedness and trust in oneself and emphasizes that while we might not always have control over the circumstances of our lives, we do have control over our thoughts. Through Lucy, Shride teaches teens, just like the young people she mentors when volunteering with Colorado Youth At Risk, that with a positive attitude, faith in yourself, and a few good coping skills, there are no limits to what can be accomplished.

Shride is also a great personal example of how perseverance and heart can really pay off. A retired schoolteacher turned writer, she is passionate about making a difference in the lives of young adults. Rocky Mountain Beginnings and her website, LucyDakota.com, have already won several awards, including US Book News Best Book Award Finalist, a Silver Medal and Best Book Website in the eLit Book Awards and a Merit Book Award in the Colorado Independent Publisher's Association EVVY awards. Now Rocky Mountain Beginnings can add a Colorado Book Award Best Young Adult Literature to its accolades! Her next book in the series, Journey to Nepal, is due out later this year and can be preordered through the Lucy Dakota website.

To contact C.S. Shride about interviews or presentations, call or email:

Carol Sue Shride
Lakewood, CO
720-808-1194 or 303-358-1194
http://www.LucyDakota.com 
http://www.CSShride.com 
[email protected]

This press release was issued through eReleases® Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE C.S. Shride