Pahl's Story of Breast Cancer Wins Another Literary Award

Nelson Pahl's endearing story of love and breast cancer, Bee Balms & Burgundy (Cafe Reverie Press; April 2008), has won another literary award.

After capturing the coveted Bronte Prize for "North America's best love story," Bee Balms & Burgundy has taken home the Beach Book Festival Award for best audiobook.

The Beach Book Festival Awards pay tribute to "the summer's hottest reads."

Bee Balms & Burgundy is the story of 30-year-old post-mastectomy breast cancer survivor Mia Lawson and her lifelong love for witty childhood next door neighbor Nick May, as well as her battle against the deadly disease and the stripping of her dignity it entails.

After Nick leaves behind a callous relationship with the physically perfect, attention-seeking woman in his resident town of Vancouver, he arrives in his hometown of St. Paul for a weekend visit with his widowed mother. While “home,” Nick, 32, encounters Mia; a mistaken UPS delivery to his mother’s house has left him holding Mia’s package.

As the two joke and flirt like they haven’t missed a beat during the two years since they last saw each other, Mia reveals her cancer, which she’s kept a secret from Nick to this point. He’s floored, to say the least. Subsequently, Mia asks Nick if he’d like to join her for lunch. He accepts, and from there the two travel a journey that's as much heartbreaking as it is charming.

The audiobook version of Bee Balms & Burgundy was directed and produced by Pahl. It's award-winning multi-cast ensemble includes narrator Drew Birdseye (Nick), Donna Cuddemi as Mia, and supporting character voices from Douglas Davis, Mo Moos, and Lani Minella.

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