…the Society of Midland Authors, which is celebrating the 100th anniversary of their founding this Spring, held their 2015 Awards Banquet, where O, Democracy! was a finalist in the Adult Fiction category. Here Martin and I are with a beautiful portrait of founding member Hamlin Garland and his beautiful mustache…

…and here’s a look from the podium, with Robert Loerzel, the evening’s Distinguished Service Award winner, to the right: 

 

And here’s a view of how downtown looks from 22 stories up: 

Thank you so much to the Society of Midland Authors for naming O, Democracy! a finalist and for putting on such a fun event.