North Carolina—and the Network in particular—had a pretty good showing in the recently announced 2012 Southern Independent Booksellers Association Book Awards:
- NCWN member Sheri Castle was named the Cooking Winner for her book The New Southern Garden Cookbook (UNC Press). “This timely cookbook, with dishes for omnivores and vegetarians alike, celebrates and promotes the delicious, healthful homemade meals centered on the diverse array of seasonal fruits and vegetables grown in the South.” Castle will lead a workshop at the 2012 NCWN Fall Conference, November 2-4 in Cary.
- North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame inductee Robert Morgan won the Nonfiction category with his book, Lions of the West (Shannon Ravenel Books). This book takes readers “from Thomas Jefferson’s birth in 1743 to the California Gold rush in 1849, (as) America’s Manifest Destiny comes to life in Morgan’s skilled hands.” The NCLHOF will hold its 2012 inductions October 14 at the Weymouth Center in Southern Pines.
- John Hart won the Fiction category with his novel, Iron House (St. Martin’s Griffin). This book tells “the remarkable story of two orphaned brothers separated by violence at an early age.” Hart has spoken at Network events in the past.
- A.J. Hartley won the Young Adult category with Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact (Razorbill). Nominated by the Fountainhead Bookstore, this book “takes place in Atlanta, Georgia, and incorporates fantasy along with the real struggles of being a teen in a new place, adjusting to a new school, and a new culture.” Hartley is a professor at the University of Noth Carolina at Charlotte.
Each year, hundreds of booksellers across the South vote on their favorite “handsell” books of the year. These are the “southern” books they have most enjoyed selling to customers; the ones that they couldn’t stop talking about. The SIBA Book Award was created to recognize great books of southern origin.
For a complete list of winners, click here.