led the 5th Annual Children's Hospital at Dartmouth Hero Half Marathon & Relay 5K Walk around Occom Pond and through the town of Hanover, New Hampshire. She is a member of the Advisory Committee for the New Hampshire Coalition Against the Death Penalty, an organization that successfully sought to end the death penalty in the state of New Hampshire through outreach, education and advocacy. She was the co-founder, with Marjorie Rose, of the Trumbull Hall Troupe in 2004 as a means of providing children with a fun, educational theatre experience. Children from grade 6 through grade 12 audition to be in an original musical written by Picoult and composer Ellen Wilber. The proceeds are donated to local charities. The organization's contributions since its founding have exceeded $120,000. On January 21, 2017, Picoult spoke at the New Hampshire Women's Day of Action and Unity in support of the Women's March on Washington. Honors and awards New England Bookseller Award for Fiction (2003) Alex Award from the Young Adult Library Services Association (2005) Book Browse Diamond Award for novel of the year (2005) Lifetime Achievement Award for mainstream fiction from the Romance Writers of America Fearless Fiction Award from Cosmopolitan magazine (2007) Waterstone's Author of the Year (UK) Vermont Green Mountain Book Award (2007) New Hampshire Granite State Book Award Virginia Reader's Choice Award (2007) Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award (2006) Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award (2007) New Hampshire Literary Award for Outstanding Literary Merit (2013–14) Princeton Alumni Weekly Our Most Influential Alumni list Sarah Josepha Hale Award Medalist (2019) Personal life Picoult has been married to Timothy Warren van Leer, whom she met in college, since 1989. They reside in Hanover, New Hampshire with their three children: Samantha, Kyle Ferreira, and Jake. Picoult has published two books with her daughter Samantha. Recurring characters Jordan McAfee, his son Thomas, and his wife, Selena, are featured in the novels The Pact, Salem Falls, Nineteen Minutes, and Mad Honey (2022). Patrick Ducharme, a detective, is featured in Perfect Match and Nineteen Minutes. She has stated that she brought Patrick's character back for a second novel because she had a crush on him. Ian Fletcher of Keeping Faith makes a brief appearance in Change of Heart, published in 2008. Frankie Martine, first featured in Salem Falls, returns in Second Glance and Perfect Match. Nina Frost, a main character in Perfect Match, makes a cameo