Winners of the 30th annual Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards were announced on Thursday, May 24, at the Northland Country Club. The program featured writer William Kent Krueger as speaker, and guests were treated to refreshments, a book fair, and a cash bar. The event was free and open to the public.
Duluth Mayor Emily Larson read a proclamation declaring May 24 as Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards Day, recognizing that the Awards "celebrate the history, natural environment, beauty, culture, and vitality of the Arrowhead region in a variety of literary genres."
Prizes were awarded in five competitive categories: (1) Fiction, (2) Poetry, (3) Children's Literature, (4) Memoir, and (5) Nonfiction. The winner in each category received a $200 cash prize.
Author Barton Sutter once again emceed the awards presentation. See the full list of winners and titles chosen for honorable mention.
Past winners in each category were on hand to present the awards, including Ellie Schoenfeld for Poetry, Beatrice Ojakangas for Memoir, William Kent Krueger for Fiction, Polly Carlson-Voiles for Children's Literature, and inaugural winner Sam Cook for Nonfiction. Cook won the inaugural award in 1988, for his book Quiet Magic.
NOTE: Nominations for the 31st NEMBAs, honoring books published in 2018, will be accepted beginning November 1, 2018.