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Georgia Author of the Year Awards
Submission Guide
About Georgia Writers
2024 Winners & Finalists
2023 Winners & Finalists
History
Previous Nominees
Previous Winners
Judges' Statements
Lifetime Achievement
Posthumous Lifetime Achievement
Georgia Author of the Year Awards
Submission Guide
About Georgia Writers
2024 Winners & Finalists
2023 Winners & Finalists
History
Previous Nominees
Previous Winners
Judges' Statements
Lifetime Achievement
Posthumous Lifetime Achievement
Submission Guide
About Georgia Writers
2024 Winners & Finalists
2023 Winners & Finalists
Folder: History
Back
Previous Nominees
Previous Winners
Judges' Statements
Lifetime Achievement
Posthumous Lifetime Achievement
2024 Lifetime Achievement Award Anthony “Tony” Grooms
Garrard Conley 11/18/24 Garrard Conley 11/18/24

2024 Lifetime Achievement Award Anthony “Tony” Grooms

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2022 Lifetime Achievement Award Clarence Major
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 6/11/22 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 6/11/22

2022 Lifetime Achievement Award Clarence Major

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2021 Lifetime Achievement Award Pearl Cleage
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/16/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/16/21

2021 Lifetime Achievement Award Pearl Cleage

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2020 Lifetime Achievement Award Lynn Cullen
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/16/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/16/21

2020 Lifetime Achievement Award Lynn Cullen

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2019 Lifetime Achievement Award Janisse Ray
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/16/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/16/21

2019 Lifetime Achievement Award Janisse Ray

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2018 Lifetime Achievement Award Sharan Strange
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/16/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/16/21

2018 Lifetime Achievement Award Sharan Strange

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2017 Lifetime Achievement Award Raymond L. Atkins
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/16/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/16/21

2017 Lifetime Achievement Award Raymond L. Atkins

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2015 Lifetime Achievement Award Philip Lee Williams
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/9/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/9/21

2015 Lifetime Achievement Award Philip Lee Williams

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2014 Lifetime Achievement Award Natasha Trethewey
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/8/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/8/21

2014 Lifetime Achievement Award Natasha Trethewey

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2013 Lifetime Achievement Award Jack McDevitt
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/7/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/7/21

2013 Lifetime Achievement Award Jack McDevitt

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2012 Lifetime Achievement Award Dr. Ferrol Sams
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/6/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/6/21

2012 Lifetime Achievement Award Dr. Ferrol Sams

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2011 Lifetime Achievement Award Terry Kay
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/5/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/5/21

2011 Lifetime Achievement Award Terry Kay

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2010 Lifetime Achievement Award Robert W. Hill
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/4/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/4/21

2010 Lifetime Achievement Award Robert W. Hill

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2009 Lifetime Achievement Award Furman Bisher
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/3/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/3/21

2009 Lifetime Achievement Award Furman Bisher

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2008 Lifetime Achievement Award Dan Veach
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/2/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/2/21

2008 Lifetime Achievement Award Dan Veach

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2007 Lifetime Achievement Award Memye Curtis Tucker
Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/1/21 Jenny Sadre-Orafai 11/1/21

2007 Lifetime Achievement Award Memye Curtis Tucker

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Biography

Winner: The Ballad of Karla Faye Tucker by Mark Beaver

Finalist: Jumpman: The Making and Meaning of Michael Jordan by Johnny Smith

The book cover for The Ballad of Karla Faye Tucker, which depicts mirrored images of a woman praying in front of a cross.

Alt. Text: The book cover for The Ballad of Karla Faye Tucker, which depicts mirrored images of a woman praying in front of a cross.

The Ballad of Karla Faye Tucker author Mark Beaver standing next to a rock, which reads “Be Saved or Lost.”

Alt. Text: The Ballad of Karla Faye Tucker author Mark Beaver standing next to a rock, which reads “Be Saved or Lost.”

Children’s Book

Winner: You So Black by Theresa Tha Songbird

Finalist: Elodie Meets Guber the Ghost by P. E. Waring and Illustrated by Matea Anic

The book cover for You So Black, which depicts two black individuals looking up at the stars in the night sky.

Alt. Text: The book cover for You So Black, which depicts two black individuals looking up at the stars in the night sky.

You So Black author Theresa Tha Songbird sitting on a maroon velvet sofa.

Alt. Text: You So Black author Theresa Tha Songbird sitting on a maroon velvet sofa.

Detective/Mystery & Science Fiction

Winner: Murder in Drury Lane by Vanessa Riley

Finalist: Crypto: A John Wesley O'Toole Novel by William Rawlings

The book cover for Murder in Drury Lane, in which the title is in white text and is accompanied by a gold fence barricading a gray building

Alt. Text: The book cover for Murder in Drury Lane, in which the title is in white text and is accompanied by a gold fence barricading a gray building.

Murder in Drury Lane author Vanessa Riley standing against a pink and white marble background.

Alt. Text: Murder in Drury Lane author Vanessa Riley standing against a pink and white marble background.

First Novel

Winner: Red Clay Suzie by Jeffrey Dale Lofton

Finalist: The Bystanders by Dawn Major

The book cover for Red Clay Suzie, which shows a black tractor and painted green grass with pink, red, and yellow flowers.

Alt. Text: The book cover for Red Clay Suzie, which shows a black tractor and painted green grass with pink, red, and yellow flowers.

History

Winner: Oconaluftee: The History of a Smoky Mountain Valley by Elizabeth Giddens

Finalist: Poor Atlanta: Poverty, Race, and the Limits of Sunbelt Development by LeeAnn Lands

The book cover for Oconaluftee: The History of a Smoky Mountain Valley, which depicts a golden sunset cascading over a dark green mountain range.

Alt. Text: The book cover for Oconaluftee: The History of a Smoky Mountain Valley, which depicts a golden sunset cascading over a dark green mountain range.

Inspirational

The book cover for Captured by Love, which depicts a red heart-shaped lock against a light blue and white background.

Alt. Text: The book cover for Captured by Love, which depicts a red heart-shaped lock against a light blue and white background.

The book cover for Bengal Hound, with the title in yellow letters with a teal shadow and an orange background.

Alt. Text: The book cover for Bengal Hound, with the title in yellow letters with a teal shadow and an orange background.

Alt. Text: Red Clay Suzie author Jeffrey Dale Lofton sitting on a black floor and looking to his left.

Oconaluftee: The History of a Smoky Mountain Valley author Elizabeth Giddens standing against a gray background.

Alt. Text: Oconaluftee: The History of a Smoky Mountain Valley author Elizabeth Giddens standing against a gray background.

Winner: Captured by Love: Inspiring True Romance Stories of Vietnam POWs by Lee Ellis

Finalist: Hello Anxiety My Old Friend: Harness Your Invisible Superpower by Natalie Kohlhaas

Captured by Love: Inspiring True Romance Stories of Vietnam POWS author Lee Ellis standing in front of a white fence, which blocks off the surrounding woods.

Alt. Text: Captured by Love: Inspiring True Romance Stories of Vietnams POWS author Lee Ellis standing in front of a white fence, which blocks off the surrounding woods.

Literary Fiction and Short Story Collections

Winner: Bengal Hound by Rahad Abir, Edited by Kimberley Lim

Finalist: One Blood by Denene Millner

*Poetry Full-Length Book

Winner: Tender Headed by Olatunde Osinaike

Finalist: The Anxiety Workbook by Christina Olson

The book cover for Tender Headed, in which the book’s title is in white text, and is surrounded by brown designs of various men’s heads and bordered by a blue and orange frame.

Alt. Text: The book cover for Tender Headed, in which the book’s title is in white text, and is surrounded by brown designs of various men’s heads and bordered by a blue and orange frame.

*Romance

Alt. Text: More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew author John Blake standing against a gray gradient background.

Alt. Text: More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew author John Blake standing against a gray gradient background.

Winner: A Laird without a Past by Jeanine Englert

Finalist: Reunited with the Children's Doc by Susan Carlisle

The book cover for A Laird without a Past, which shows a man and a woman embracing one another on a shore.

Alt. Text: The book cover for A Laird without a Past, which shows a man and a woman embracing one another on a shore.

Alt. Text: A Laird without a Past author Jeanine Englert standing against a tan wall.

Alt. Text: Bengal Hound author Rahad Abir standing in front of trees with orange leaves.

*Specialty Book

The book cover for Black on Black, in which the title is emphasized in black, brown, peach, and tan text.

Winner: Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America by Daniel Black

Finalist: Egg Rolls & Sweet Tea: Asian Inspired, Southern Style by Natalie Keng

Alt. Text: The book cover for Black on Black, in which the title is emphasized in black, brown, peach, and tan text.

Black on Black : On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America author Daniel Black sitting in front of a brown circle against a black and brown background.

Alt. Text: Black on Black : On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America author Daniel Black sitting in front of a brown circle against a black and brown background.

Memoir

The book cover for More Than I Imagined, with a photo of a boy on the orange side, and a photo of a woman on the turquoise side.

Alt. Text: The book cover for More Than I Imagined, with a photo of a boy on the orange side, and a photo of a woman on the turquoise side.

Winner: More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew  by John Blake

Finalist: The Way from Me to Us by Mike Coleman

The book cover for LIFE OF THE MIND, which displays tan, brown, and red swatches against a beige background.

*Poetry Chapbook

Alt. Text: The book cover for LIFE OF THE MIND, which displays tan, brown, and red paint swatches against a beige background.

Alt. Text: LIFE OF THE MIND author Julia Knowlton sitting against a blue, white, orange, and yellow patterned brick wall.

Tender Headed author Olatunde Osinaike standing against a tan wall.

Alt. Text: Tender Headed author Olatunde Osinaike standing against a tan wall.

Winner: LIFE OF THE MIND by Julia Knowlton

Finalist: Cold Remembered and Other Poems by David R. Altman

LIFE OF THE MIND author Julia Knowlton sitting against a blue, white, orange, and yellow patterned brick wall.

Young Adult

Winner: Into the Light by Mark Oshiro

Finalist: Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker

The book cover for Into the Light, which depicts orange flowers, yellow mushrooms, and green leaves blooming from a green head silhouette, which also has a black silhouette of a person inside.

Alt. Text: The book cover for Into the Light, which depicts orange flowers, yellow mushrooms, and green leaves blooming from a green head silhouette, which also has a black silhouette of a person inside.

Into the Light author Mark Oshiro standing against a dark gray background.

Alt. Text: Into the Light author Mark Oshiro standing against a dark gray background.