Tag Archives: Minnesota Book Awards

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The Minnesota Book Awards nominees are here!

MNbookawards-smNominations for the Minnesota Book Awards are closed and the nominees have been published to the web!  245 books have been nominated in 8 categories.  On Saturday, January 31st, 2015, judges will choose the 4 finalists in each category, which will be announced on the same day.  Each of the 8 categories has a 3-judge panel assigned with choosing the finalists. The categories are:

  • Children’s Literature
  • General Nonfiction
  • Genre Fiction
  • Memoir & Creative Nonfiction
  • Minnesota
  • Novel & Short Story
  • Poetry
  • Young People’s Literature

Check out the complete list of nominees, and stay tuned for updates on the finalists and other events!

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Explore Minnesota with the Minnesota Writers Map

MN Writers MapThe Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, the organization that runs the annual Minnesota Book Awards, has an interactive map of Minnesota writers!  The map highlights writers from all over the state, and there is also a separate map for just the Twin Cities.  Laura Ingalls Wilder, F Scott Fitzgerald, Jon Hassler, Louise Erdrich, and Charles Schultz are just some of the great Minnesotans on the map.  Is your favorite MN writer on it?  Click on the author’s icon to see a brief biography of the writer, where you’ll find links to more information.  Perhaps some of April’s Minnesota Book Awards winners are on the map. . .

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25th Annual Book Award Winners Are…

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This April, more than 800 people attended the 25th Annual Book Awards Gala in Minnesota. The Friends of the St. Paul Library announced the 2013 Annual Book Award winners in 8 categories.

  • Since 1988, Common Good Books has sponsored the Kay Sexton awards given to an individual or organization who is dedicated to fostering books, reading and literary activity within Minnesota. Robert Hedin, founding director of the Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies is the 2013 honoree. Click here to learn more about Kay Sexton Award winners.
  • Also this month the Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) recognized Jana Pullman as the winner of the 2013 Minnesota Book Artist Award.  This award is presented to a Minnesota book artist or book artist collaborative group for excellence throughout a body of work, as well as significant contributions to Minnesota’s book arts community.
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Two Opportunities to Meet the Minnesota Book Awards Finalists!

MNbookawards-smAre you curious about who our state’s top authors are?  Here are two opportunities to meet the Minnesota Book Awards finalists!

First, consider attending the Meet the Finalists event sponsored by Minnesota Book Awards.  This is a free event in which all the available 2013 finalist authors will gather to share their work. In addition, copies of their books will be for sale by Magers & Quinn. Take this opportunity to have your book(s) personally signed!

      Friday, March 15 at Open Book
      1011 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis beginning at 7:00 p.m.
      This event includes a reception with wine and refreshments following the program.

Second, 2013 marks the silver anniversary of the Minnesota Book Awards Gala honoring the finalists. Awards will be presented to the winner in each of the eight book categories as well as the Kay Sexton Award and Book Artist Award. Renowned writer and comedienne, Lorna Landvik, will emcee the evening with her quick humor and wit and passion for all things bookish. Purchase your tickets today!

     Saturday, April 13 at the Hilton Minneapolis
      7:00 p.m.  Opening reception. Meet the finalists, book sales and signings, and cash bar
      8:00 p.m.  Awards ceremony. Wine and refreshments, celebrity presenters, and more
      9:30 p.m.  Epilogue Celebration with champagne, desserts, live music with Reina del Cid and the Cidizens

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Minnesota Book Awards Resources Available!

The Minnesota Book Awards is accepting applications from public libraries and public schools interested in receiving up to $500 in funding reimbursement for hosting an author program featuring a Minnesota Book Award winning or finalist author. Interested parties are encouraged to apply by November 23, but applications will remain open until all funding is allocated (which will probably be at least through the end of November).

For more information, please visit: http://www.thefriends.org/programs/mnbookawards/mba_resources.html#funding.

Bookmarks, posters, and reading guides featuring the 2012 winning authors and their books are available to MEMO members at no charge. To view the items and/or download the reading guides, please visit: http://www.thefriends.org/programs/mnbookawards/mba_resources.html.

To request materials, please email mnbookawards@thefriends.org and provide:

  • Quantity desired of each material
  • Complete address to which the items should be mailed