Minnesota Book Awards Announce Finalists


Sandford, Kling and DiCamillo in running for Minnesota Book Awards.

MINNESOTA BOOK AWARDS
When: 6:30 p.m., April 17, Crowne Plaza Hotel, St. Paul.
Tickets: $40, thefriends.org or 651-222-3242.

By Laurie Hertzel, Star Tribune

Some familiar names, including thriller writer John Sandford, humorist Kevin Kling, children’s author Kate DiCamillo and poet Dobby Gibson, are among the finalists for this year’s Minnesota Book Awards, announced Saturday night. The finalists — four each in eight categories – were chosen by 24 judges from around the state.

They are:

Memoir & Creative Nonfiction: “The Bullhead Queen” by Sue Leaf; “Going Blind” by Mara Faulkner, OSB; “Holiday Inn” by Kevin Kling, and “The Wolf at Twilight” by Kent Nerbern.

Children’s Literature: “The Longest Night” by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Ted Lewin; “Red Sings from Treetops” by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski; “Song of Middle C” by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Scott Menchin, and “Stampede!: Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School” by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Steven Salerno.

General Nonfiction: “Drink This” by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl; “I Go to America” by Joy K. Lintelman; “Journeywell” by Trish Herbert, and “Richard Parkes Bonington: The Complete Paintings” by Patrick Noon.

Genre Fiction, sponsored by Wellington Management Inc.: “Frag Box” by Richard A. Thompson; “Jelly’s Gold” by David Housewright; “Rough Country” by John Sandford, and “The Silent Governess” by Julie Klassen.

Minnesota, sponsored by Xcel Energy: “Honor Bright” by Dave Kenney; “Jewel of Como” by Leigh Roethke and Bonnie Blodgett; “Minneapolis in the Twentieth Century” by Iric Nathanson, and “Opening Goliath” by Cary J. Griffith.

Novel & Short Story: “The Annunciations of Hank Meyerson, Mama’s Boy and Scholar” by Scott Muskin; “The Book of Night Women” by Marlon James; “A Travel Guide for Restless Hearts” by N. M. Kelby, and “The Turtle Catcher” by Nicole Helget.

Poetry: “Faith Run” by Ray Gonzalez; “I Wish I Had a Heart Like Yours, Walt Whitman” by Jude Nutter; “Skirmish” by Dobby Gibson, and “Unrest” by Joanna Rawson.

Young People’s Literature, sponsored by 3M: “Crows & Cards” by Joseph Helgerson; “Lucy Long Ago” by Catherine Thimmesh; “The Magician’s Elephant” by Kate DiCamillo, and “The Sky Always Hears Me and the Hills Don’t Mind” by Kirstin Cronn-Mills.

Winners will be announced April 17.

Minnesotans are also invited to vote for the Readers’ Choice Award throughout March. Two awards for contributions to the literary and artistic community in Minnesota will also be given April 17.

Wilber H. Schilling is the recipient of the third Book Artist Award, presented with the Minnesota Center for Book Arts. He owns Indulgence Press, which specializes in hand-bound, letterpress-printed, fine-press books. A reception featuring his work will be held at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 26 in the Open Book Building.

The Kay Sexton Award, sponsored by Common Good Books, will be announced later in February.

The Minnesota Book Awards is led by the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library, in consortium with the St. Paul Public Library and the St. Paul mayor’s office.

Laurie Hertzel is the Star Tribune’s books editor. She is at 612-673-7302.

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History Theater, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10.00

30 E. 10th St.
St. Paul, MN 55101
651.292.4323
Directions

Written by Kevin Kling | Directed by Suzy Messerole
Kevin Kling presents a comic history of the Twin Cities with a menagerie of hysterical characters that made Pig’s Eye and St. Anthony Falls the towns they are today.  Co-starring Simone Perrin.

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Thursday, December 3, 2009: Holiday Inn Reading

Magers & Quinn, 7.30 p.m.

3038 Hennepin Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55408
612.822.4611

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December 4, 2009:  TPT “Almanac” TV Show Guest, 7 p.m.

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December 7, 2009:  Tales from the Charred Underbelly of the Yule Log, followed by Holiday Inn book signing in Guthrie Gift Shop

“Kevin returns to the Guthrie in his celebrated one-man show to spin his hilarious yarn of family tradition and holiday merriment. Wry tales, both old and new, of Midwestern Americana take surprising turns from laugh-out-loud bizarre to touchingly insightful.”

Guthrie Theater 7:30 p.m.

818 S. Second St., Minneapolis, MN 55415
612.377.2224

Ticket Information

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Friday, December 11, 2009:  Holiday Inn Reading

Birchbark Books, 7 p.m.

Reading Location:
Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church
2020 W. Lake of the Isles Pkwy., Minneapolis, MN 55405

For More Information: 612.374.4023

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Sunday, December 13, 2009: Holiday Inn Reading

Mill City Museum, 2 p.m.

704 S 2nd St
Minneapolis, MN 55401-2163
(612) 341-7555
Get directions

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The Current, 89.3 FM, Theft of the Dial, 7 p.m.

Kevin spends an hour on-air with DJ Mark Wheat, choosing songs and telling stories.

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Saturday, December 19, 2009:  Heartland Holiday with Peter Ostroushko Concert

Fitzgerald Theater 8:00 p.m.
10 Exchange St. E., St. Paul, MN 55101-2220
651.290.1200

Composer and instrumentalist Peter Ostroushko returns to the Fitzgerald Theater with his full Heartland Holiday Ensemble, including Kevin Kling. The concert will celebrate the holiday spirit with a musical journey from the beautiful ancient a cappella carols of Ostroushko’s Ukranian heritage to Brazilian choros as interpreted by mandolin.

Map/Directions

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Tuesday, December 22, 2009:  Kare 11-TV Appearance

9:00-10:00 A.M.

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Thursday, November 12, 2009:  Holiday Inn Reading

“Talk of the Stacks”

Minneapolis Central Library, 7 p.m.

Pohlad Hall, 300 Nicollet Mall, More Information

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Saturday, November 14, 2009: Holiday Inn Reading

Northfield Arts Guild, 7 p.m.

304 Division St., Northfield, MN 55057
507.645.8877

Map/Directions

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009: Holiday Inn Reading

Common Good Books, 7:30 p.m.

165 Western Avenue North, St. Paul, MN 55102
651.225.8989

Map/Directions

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Friday, November 20, 2009: Holiday Inn Reading

St. Peter Public Library, 4-5 p.m.

Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, 7 p.m.

Gustavus grad Kevin Kling returns to St. Peter to share his holiday stories. He will be chatting and signing his new book,  Holiday Inn, at the St. Peter Public Library from 4-5pm, then will make a free public presentation at Bjorling Recital Hall at Gustavus Adolphus College.

This special holiday treat is brought to you by St. Peter Reads and the Friends of the St. Peter Public Library.

Gustavus Adolphus College
800 West College Avenue, St. Peter, MN 56082
507.933.7587

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009:  Holiday Inn Reading
Brooklyn Center High School Auditorium 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
6500 Humboldt Avenue North, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430

Sponsored by BC READS Program, the Brookdale Bookers Book Club and Friends of the Brookdale Library.

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Thanksgiving Day, 2009: Classical MPR “Giving Thanks: A Celebration of Fall, Food and Gratitude” Broadcast 9 a.m.

Tune in to 99.5 Classical MPR in the Twin Cities (or find your station here <http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/stations/> ) or listen online at classicalmpr.org <outbind://239/Classicalmpr.org>

Classical MPR’s John Birge host two hours of reflections on the meaning of gratitude and the blessings of Thanksgiving through words and music. The program includes Kevin Kling reading a prayer from “the Dog Says How” and grace from “Holiday Inn”.

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December 11, 2009

Birchbark Books, 7 p.m.

Reading Location:
Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church
2020 W. Lake of the Isles Pkwy.
Minneapolis, MN 55405

For More Information: 612.374.4023

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