Local cancer survivors and authors Glenda Standeven and Michelle Rickaby have been nominated for an American award alongside the likes of Hilary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.

Chilliwack residents Standeven, Rickaby and Julie Houlker wrote Choosing to Smile, an autobiographical look at the three women's different battles with cancer.

Unfortunately, Houlker died in January from metastatic breast cancer.

Standeven and Rickaby have been nominated in the Woman of Courage category at the Global Woman Awards to be handed out at the Global Woman Summit in October of this year in Washington, DC.

Standeven and Rickaby said that Houlker had hoped to live long enough to see the book become a best-seller and she dreamed of meeting Winfrey. "It's just a little ironic that after Julie passed away we end up being invited to attend an awards event that Oprah Winfrey has also been invited to!" Standeven and Rickaby said in a press release.

Winfrey was nominated for the Woman in the Media Award.

When asked if they think they'll win, Rickaby said they are just happy to be nominated.

"To be in the same room with all these inspiring people will be the memory of a lifetime," she said.

Rickaby goes on to explain that it all started with a chance encounter on Facebook. "We'd come across the Global Woman site and started reading about this amazing woman, the CEO of Global Woman Magazine, Angela Peabody. One thing led to another and before we knew it we were sending her a copy of our book to review."

Standeven said Peabody loved the book and gave them a "wonderful" two-page review in the winter issue of the magazine.

Choosing to Smile is into its third printing and now Indigo and Overwaitea want the book on their shelves, too. The Global Woman Summit in Washington will be opened by U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama.