University Times

A Pitt staff member has won a national award as a new author of children's literature.

Sharon Flake, director of public relations at the Katz business school, won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent for her first novel, "The Skin I'm In." (See University Times, Oct. 1.)

The King awards recognize African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults — fiction or nonfiction — that demonstrate sensitivity to the worth and value of all people.

"The Skin I'm In" was published by Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, New York.

Flake also has published in Essence and Black Elegance magazines and is a scholarship recipient from Highlights for Children magazine. She is a 1st-place winner of the August Wilson short story contest for multicultural enlightenment, sponsored by AIM mag azine.