Edward Jones' fictional account of the lives of black slaveowners and
Paul Hendrickson's social history of racism in Mississippi took top
honors at the National Book Critics Circle annual awards
ceremony in February.
Jones' debut novel, The Known World, explores the world of blacks
who owned slaves 20 years before
the Civil War. Besides the National Book honor, The Known World has also
be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the
Black Caucus of the
American Library Association's First Novelist Award.
Paul Hendrickson's Sons of Mississippi is a
biographical portrait of seven sheriffs who were photographed for Life
magazine. In the picture, taken just before the 1962 riots over the
integration of the University of Mississippi, one of the sheriffs is
shown posturing with a billy club. Besides the National Book Award for
Nonfiction, Sons of Mississippi has been awarded the Heartland
Prize for Nonfiction.
First-time Novelist Wins
Florida Literature Award
Artifacts,
a novel by Mary Anna Evans, has won
the 2004 Patrick D. Smith Florida Literature Award, given by the Florida
Historical Society. This award recognizes the valuable contributions
made by writers of Florida fiction in stimulating the promotion and
study of the state's history and heritage.
Ms. Evans is a resident
of Gainesville, Florida. She holds degrees in physics and chemical engineering, and her professional background includes stints as an
environmental engineer, as a youth choir director, and as a roustabout on a offshore production platform. She is at work on Relics, the sequel to
Artifacts.
Artifacts
has just been released in mass-market paperback (ibooks/Simon&Schuster, $6.99,
ISBN:
0743479505).
Shenandoah Announces Annual Prize Winners
SHENANDOAH: The Washington and Lee University Review,
announces the winners of its annual fiction, essay and poetry prizes for 2003.
Ann Harleman of Providence, Rhode Island has been awarded The Goodheart Prize
for Fiction ($1,000) for her story, “Will Build to Suit,” which appeared in
Shenandoah 53/4. The Goodheart Prize is awarded annually to the author of
the best story published in Shenandoah during a volume year, and is made
possible by a gift of the late Mrs. Goodheart’s husband, Harry G. Goodheart Jr.
and her son Harry G. Goodheart, III. Harleman’s stories have appeared previously
in Shenandoah, and she is the author of Bitter Lake (SMU, 1996)
and Happiness (Iowa, 1994). She is on the faculty at Brown University and
is the recipient of Guggenheim and Rockefeller fellowships and the O. Henry
award. Latha Viswanathan was judge for the 2003 prize.
Jeffrey Hammond of Takoma Park, Maryland is winner of the $500 Thomas H. Carter
Prize for the Essay for his work, “Night Moves,” published in Shenandoah
53/4. The Carter Prize, judged this year by Rebecca McClanahan, is given in
honor of the late Thomas H. Carter, co-founder of Shenandoah, and is
awarded to the author of what is judged to be the best essay published in the
magazine each year. Hammond’s most recent books are Ohio States: A
Twentieth-Century Midwestern (Kent State, 2002) and The American Puritan
Elegy: A Literary and Cultural Study (Cambridge, 2000). The recipient of a
Pushcart Prize, he teaches at St. Mary’s College in Maryland.
Cody
Walker of Seattle, Washington is the recipient of The James Boatwright III Prize
for Poetry for his poems, “Hephzibah Cemetery, April 1889” and “New Orleans,
August 1890,” both of which were published in Shenandoah 53/4. The $1000
prize for poetry is awarded annually to the author of the best poem/s published
during a volume year and is made possible by gifts from friends of the late
James Boatwright, former editor of Shenandoah. Aimee Nezhukumatathil was
judge for the 2003 prize. Walker’s work has appeared in The Cream City
Review, The Cortland Review and Poetry Motel. He teaches at the
University of Washington.
"The Faces of Mardi
Gras" to become Cover for Robertson Novel
Brewster Milton Robertson has purchased the original
painting and rights to "The Faces of Mardi Gras" -- painted by artist Jo Patton,
also of Fairhope, for the cover art of "A Posturing of Fools", his novel to be
released by River City Publishing of Montgomery on September 1, 2004. Patton's
painting will be used in an international media campaign and will serve as the
cover of the River City Fall Catalog.
Prior to the selling of the painting, 100 numbered
prints were created. These are now available at The Lyon's Share in Fairhope as
are the official Fairhope Mardi Gras T-shirts bearing the colorful painting.
Other original paintings by Patton following the faces of Mardi Gras theme are
showing at The Lyon's Share and are available for purchase.
Edward Jones' fictional account of the lives of black slaveowners and
Paul Hendrickson's social history of racism in Mississippi took top
honors at the 
Artifacts,
a novel by 