Kirby Larson may have journeyed to New York and won a major literary award recently, but in the grand scheme of things, she’s a hope-giver who thrives on telling a poignant story that lifts readers’ spirits.
The Kenmore resident, one of the co-authors of “Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle,” received a Christopher Award in the Books for Young People category for children 6 to 8 years old April 15 in a ceremony on the 35th floor of the Mutual America building.
She was joined on stage at the 61st Christophers event by Californian Mary Nethery, her collaborator on “Nubs,” a New York Times bestseller.
“Writing two books about good friends with a dear friend has been a complete blessing to me,” said Larson, who also co-wrote “Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival” with Nethery. “Nearly every day, we get e-mails from readers of all ages wanting to share what Nubs’ story has meant to them.”
Added Nethery: “If Nubs had not loved Brian (Dennis, the Marine) and had not made that critical decision to be with him no matter what, Brian would never have had the opportunity to show his goodness to himself or to the world.”
Larson and Nethery first met in a writing workshop and kicked their collaboration into gear in 2005 with “Two Bobbies.” Living in different states, the writing duo has met its brand of challenges head on and come out of the experience on a high note.
Winning a Christopher Award not only validates that their partnership is solid, but that readers are moved by their storytelling prowess.
“Aside from the heartwarming and humbling Christopher Award ceremony, my highlight of this experience was spending several hours at the PX (Post Exchange) at Fort Lewis signing books for military families,” Larson said. “I had a Kleenex close at hand the whole time, as my heart — and my eyes — overflowed with the stories they shared.”
Larson admitted that, at first, she wasn’t on board with Nethery’s passion about writing a story set in Iraq. But the local’s mind changed when Nethery told her of an article she read describing the powerful bond between an abused Iraqi dog and a U.S. Marine, and how the injured Nubs tracked Dennis down across 70 miles of barren desert in the dead of winter. Dennis took Nubs back to the U.S. with him, away from the dog’s suffering.
“Mary and I knew this was our next story to tell together, but (Dennis) was reluctant. He didn’t want a big fuss made about what he’d done,” Larson remembered, adding that they visited Dennis in San Diego and bonded with him and Nubs — and convinced him to tell their story of “hope and love coming from that place of war.”
Nethery said she feels privileged to both write and experience life with Larson and strike a chord with readers.
“Whenever life slows down for just a moment and I have time to think about what ‘Nubs’ and ‘Two Bobbies’ have meant to so many people, I’m immediately humbled,” Nethery said.
“I’ve always considered these two stories to be gifts given to Kirby and me.”
