Minnesota celebrated its vibrant literary community by honoring its finest writers at the Minnesota Book Awards Ceremony. The night began with the Preface Reception downstairs at the Intercontinental Hotel. Attendees could peruse the finalist books, purchase copies, and meet the authors and have their books signed while enjoying cocktails and conversation.
Book sales.
Perusing book displays.
Volunteers hanging out book bags.
Author signing area.
The author signing room.
The author signing room.
The author signing room.
The author signing room.
The author signing room.
The author signing room.
The Awards Ceremony took place in the ballroom. The following winners were announced:
Children’s Literature
Worm Loves Worm by J.J. Austrian, illustrated by Mike Curato
General Nonfiction
The War on Science: Who’s Waging It, Why It Matters, What We Can Do About It by Shawn Otto
Genre Fiction
The Heavens May Fall by Allen Eskens
Memoir & Creative Nonfiction
The Song Poet: A Memoir of My Father by Kao Kalia Yang
Middle Grade Literature
The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse by Brian Farrey
Minnesota Nonfiction
The Big Marsh: The Story of a Lost Landscape by Cheri Register
Novel & Short Story
Wintering by Peter Geye
Poetry
Unbearable Splendor by Sun Yung Shin
Young Adult Literature
The Memory Book by Lara Avery
Inside the ballroom.
The ceremony program I designed and the plate for the ceremony.
The live band from the ceremony.
Some of the night's winners.
After the ceremony winners, finalists, and adoring fans all headed downstairs to to the Epilogue After-party for drinks and desserts.
The band basically played the entire "Chocolat" soundtrack.
These were nummy.
The guests enjoying conversation.
The guests enjoying conversation.
Guests examining the handmade book they purchased.
Selfie with the adorable Abby Cooper.
There was a wonderful plush created from This is NOT a Cat as a gift for the author. It was adorable and even had a tiny ceremony program! I was so flattered to see something I had designed recreated as the final touch to make it as if the little mouse was truly enjoying the Awards Ceremony.
How cute is this little guy?
The tiny ceremony program.
It is completely to scale.
Simply amazing!
He is the lead character in This is NOT a Cat.
The Minnesota Book Awards Ceremony is a festive evening for any literary lover. Next year will be its 30th year. A great reason to attend!