Minnesota Book Awards Nominations Now Open

Nominations are open for the 23rd annual Minnesota Book Awards, coordinated by Friends of the St. Paul Public Library. A book's author, publisher or agent may nominate an eligible book; categories are children's literature, general nonfiction, genre fiction, memoir/ creative nonfiction, Minnesota, novel/short story, poetry and young people's literature. 

Nomination forms and submission details are available at thefriends.org or by calling 651-366-6497 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              651-366-6497      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. Deadline is 5 p.m. Dec. 10.

Finalists will be announced Jan. 30, and winners will be announced at the April 16 Book Awards gala at the Crowne Plaza Hotel-St. Paul Riverfront hotel. Tickets go on sale in January. — Mary Ann Grossmann.

This years winners below for posterity as their day in the sun draws to a close - at least as far as the Minnesota's are concerned. 

Winners 22nd Minnesota Book Awards

Joyce Sidman won for "Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors," which was a Caldecott honor book this year. St. Paul writer Marlon James won for "The Book of Night Women," which was a finalist for a National Book Critics Circle Award in fiction. 

The winners were selected from a pool of 250 books nominated and narrowed to 32 finalists 

Publish Post

The full list of winners:

• Children's literature, sponsored by Books for Africa: "Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors," by Joyce Sidman (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). Sidman is the author of several books for children, including "Songs of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems," which was a Caldecott Honor book
• General nonfiction, sponsored by Minnesota AFL-CIO: "I Go to America: Swedish Women and the Life of Mina Anderson," by Joy K. Lintelman (Minnesota Historical Society Press). Lintelman is a professor of history at Concordia College in Moorhead.
• Genre fiction, sponsored by Wellington Management Inc.: "Jelly's Gold," by David Housewright (Minotaur/St. Martin's). Housewright has won an Edgar and a Minnesota Book Award for his crime fiction.
• Memoir and creative nonfiction: "The Wolf at Twilight," by Kent Nerburn (New World Library). Nerburn has written a dozen books on spirituality and Indian themes.
• Minnesota, sponsored by Xcel Energy: "Opening Goliath: Danger and Discovery in Caving," by Cary J. Griffith (Borealis Books/Minnesota Historical Society Press). Griffith writes about the outdoors.

Posted by Kevin Park

• Children's literature, sponsored by Books for Africa: "Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors," by Joyce Sidman (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). Sidman is the author of several books for children, including "Songs of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems," which was a Caldecott Honor book
• General nonfiction, sponsored by Minnesota AFL-CIO: "I Go to America: Swedish Women and the Life of Mina Anderson," by Joy K. Lintelman (Minnesota Historical Society Press). Lintelman is a professor of history at Concordia College in Moorhead.
• Genre fiction, sponsored by Wellington Management Inc.: "Jelly's Gold," by David Housewright (Minotaur/St. Martin's). Housewright has won an Edgar and a Minnesota Book Award for his crime fiction.
• Memoir and creative nonfiction: "The Wolf at Twilight," by Kent Nerburn (New World Library). Nerburn has written a dozen books on spirituality and Indian themes.
• Minnesota, sponsored by Xcel Energy: "Opening Goliath: Danger and Discovery in Caving," by Cary J. Griffith (Borealis Books/Minnesota Historical Society Press). Griffith writes about the outdoors.

Calling Writers! Final Call for Benjamin Franklin Prize. Discuss “In politics, what can laws do without morals?"

In politics, what can laws do without morals? Benjamin Franklin

The Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize is endowed by Benjamin Franklin House Chairman JohnStudzinski, a leading executive and philanthropist.
 

Benjamin Franklin is one of history’s great figures. While he made lasting contributions in many fields, his first passion was writing. He believed in the power of the written word to inform and stimulate debate – as the bedrock of a democratic society.
 

Each year a question or quote exploring Franklin’s relevance in our time is open for interpretation in 1000- 1500 words by two groups: young people and professional writers. 

The winner of the Young Writers Prize will receive £500 while the winner of the Professional Writers Prize will receive £1000 with publication of their essays in the British Daily Telegraph, and at www.BenjaminFranklinHouse.org. Entries for 2010 must be received before 15 October.
 

For nearly sixteen years between 1757 and 1775, Franklin lived at 36 Craven Street in the heart of London, England. He is one of history’s great polymaths a
diplomat, patriot, scientist, inventor, philosopher and more. He was one of the first American journalists, writing prolifically not only on politics and foreign affairs, but on science, the arts and humanity. In 2006, Benjamin Franklin House, the world's only remaining Franklin home, opened to the public for the first time as a dynamic museum and educational facility. 

See www.BenjaminFranklinHouse.org.
 

The Franklin quote for interpretation in 2010 is: “In politics, what can laws do without morals?” Entrants should interpret this quote for its significance today.
Submissions
 

*Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize – Young Writers Award: Entrants must be aged 18- 25 years
*Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize – Professional Writers Award: Entrants must be professional writers
 

Entries of 1000- 1500
words must be sent by 15 October to info@benjaminfranklinhouse.org. Each entrant is asked to provide their name, email, postal address, and telephone number. 

In addition, entrants for theYoung Writers Award should provide their age and place of study (if applicable) while entrants for theProfessional Writers Award should provide a CV. Entries can be relevant articles or essays produced over the preceding year. Entrants may submit only one entry; fiction or nonfiction
accepted.
 

Read more information on the Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize at www.BenjaminFranklinHouse.org.