Bestselling Author Luanne Rice Receives 2014 Governor's Arts Award Recognizing Lifetime Achievement

On the heels of the paperback release of THE LEMON ORCHARD, Connecticut-born 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 has 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 recognized 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 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.

Follow her at www.luannerice.com, on Twitter @LuanneRice and atfacebook.com/luannericebooks.