Welcome to the Michigan Library Association

Purpose:

This award recognizes an outstanding published body of literary work by an author who is either from Michigan or has substantial ties to Michigan.

Background:

The Michigan Author Award was established in 1992 with the intention of recognizing significant Michigan authors with a lifetime achievement award. Michigan Author Award Work Group members consist of an assemblage of librarians, both public and academic, from across the state and are appointed by the President of the MLA (Michigan Library Association). Over the years the award has been given to a diverse collection of writers working in a variety of genres and styles.

Qualifications/Eligibility:

1. The author must either be a current resident of Michigan, a long-time resident of Michigan recently relocated or an author whose works are identified with Michigan because of subject matter and/or setting in Michigan.

2. The author’s work may be in the form of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, or any other literary format the Michigan Author Award Group finds acceptable.

3. The author must have a body of work encompassing at least three published titles for either adults, teens or children.

4. The author must be living at the time of the nomination.

5. The author must have a publishing career spanning a minimum of five years.

Criteria/Selection Process:

• The Michigan Library Association’s Michigan Author Award Work Group, representing MLA members and the Michigan Center for the Book, determines the recipient on overall literary merit spanning a body of work.

• Consideration should also include critical reviews, consistency of quality of body of work overtime, other awards and recognition, style, technique, and where appropriate, accuracy, authenticity, and illustration (but decisions should be based primarily on text). The award is intended to highlight an author who has made a significant contribution to the literary heritage of the state of Michigan.

• Anyone is eligible to submit a nomination.

List of Previous Winners:

1992- Dan Gerber

1993- Charles Baxter

1994- Nancy Willard

1995- Janet Kauffman

1996- Elmore Leonard

1997- Loren Estleman

1998- Gloria Whelan

1999- Jerry Dennis

2000- Janie Lynn Panagopoulos

2001- Thomas Lynch

2002- Nicholas Delbanco

2003- Diane Wakoski

2004- Patricia Polacco

2005- Christopher Paul Curtis

2006- Steve Hamilton

2007- Sarah Stewart

2008- Tom Stanton

2009- Dave Dempsey

2010- John Smolens

2011- Gary Schmidt

2012-Bonnie Jo Campbell