By Morgan Pilz, Staff Writer

Photo courtesy Diana McDonough
Author Diana McDonough receives a bronze medal from Richard Ballo, a board member of the Florida Authors and Publishers Association at the awards ceremony in Florida on Aug. 3.

(Aug. 15, 2019) Ocean Pines author Diana McDonough received a bronze medal in general fiction for her published work, “My Mother’s Apprentice,” during the annual Florida Authors and Publishers Association President’s Book Awards in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, on Aug. 3.

McDonough, who lives primarily in Ocean Pines but also spends three months of the year in Florida, was able to apply for the contest as her book fulfilled the requirements of being published between 2018 and 2019. This contest, while held in Florida, is open to authors nationwide.

“I sometimes hesitate to enter contests, but as an author I think I’ve come to learn that people respect your work a little bit more when you’ve won a few awards,” McDonough said. “It gave me the little bit of confidence that I was looking for and some recognition as a result.”

McDonough has been a resident of Ocean Pines for nearly three decades.

Her first book in the series, “Stuck in the Onesies,” released in 2017, is set in Washington, D.C. and tells the story of the pursuit of women’s and civil rights during the 1960s.

“My Mother’s Apprentice” spans more than three decades and is a story of friendship, addiction and learning to navigate the consequences of one’s choices.

“My Mother’s Apprentice” tells the story of the second generation, Karen and Ginger. Their paths might have been trailblazed by their mothers, but Karen and Ginger find many new ones to venture on their own.

Karen does a good job as her “mother’s apprentice,” but Ginger chases a singing career to Jamaica in the midst of the 1970s reggae explosion. Meanwhile Karen, an aspiring author, initially finds she doesn’t need to go any farther than her own backyard.

McDonough is currently working on the third book of the series, “Ginger Star,” which will take place in Jamaica during the 1700s.

“It will be a continuation of the last story and it’s going to flashback to Jamaica in the 1700s back when pirates reigned and women did not, so it’s going to show women’s struggles in that era,” McDonough said. “It shows a part of Jamaica that most people don’t see in a resort. It shows the real Jamaica.”

“My Mother’s Apprentice” is available on Kindle for $7.99. Paperback copies are available for $15.99 at The Greyhound in Berlin, Bethany Beach Bookstore in Bethany Beach, Delaware, and at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth, Delaware.

McDonough will hold a book signing at The Greyhound in Berlin on Saturday, Aug. 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information or to learn more about McDonough’s books, visit her website at www.dianamcdonough.com or the “My Mother’s Apprentice” Facebook page.