Northeastern Minnesota Book Award (NEMBA)
The Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards (NEMBA) recognize books that represent northeastern Minnesota in the areas of history, culture, heritage, or lifestyle. The award is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Duluth Public Library and by the UMD Library, in collaboration with Lake Superior Writers, with additional support from Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Northern Lights Books & Gifts, and UMD Stores. For purposes of the Awards, northeastern Minnesota includes the following counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Pine and St. Louis.
Reading teams select a winner and one honorable mention in each of six categories: (1) Art/Photography, (2) Fiction, (3) General Nonfiction, (4) Children's Literature, (5) Poetry and (6) Memoir/Creative Nonfiction. The winning author in each category receives a cash prize of $300. The winning author and the honorable mention in each category receive a plaque.
The awards celebration on May 17, 2009 - including a book fair, readings by nominated authors, featured speaker, and awards presentation - is free and open to the public. Lake Superior Writers will be collaborating with the UMD Library to present a writing workshop, the NEMBA book fair, and selected readings.
For more information, visit the NEMBA website or call 218-726-7889.
The 20th annual awards were presented at a public celebration on May 18, 2008.
Fiction,
Poetry, Drama
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Winner: |
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Honorable Mention: |
| Nonfiction, Memoir | |
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Winner: |
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Honorable Mention: |
| Art, Photography | |
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Winner: |
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Honorable Mention: |
| Children's Literature | |
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Winner: |
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Honorable Mention: |
For more information, call Brenda Bonnema at 218-726-6843 or visit the NEMBA web site.
Previous
NEMBA Winners:
2007 - Zoe's Good-bye written
and illustrated by Mary Schlangen (Fiction, Poetry, Drama)
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Salmela: Architect by Thomas Fisher, with photographs by
Peter Bastianelli-Kerze (Nonfiction, Art, Scholarship
2006 - The North Shore written by Gunnard Landers (Fiction,
Poetry, Drama)
-
Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence written by
Matthew Sanford (Nonfiction, Memoir)
-
Fearless John: The Legend of John Beargrease written by
Kelly Emerling Rauzi, illustrated by Mila Horak (Children's Literature)
2005 - Zoe's Good-bye written and illustrated by Mary Schlangen
(Fiction, Poetry, Drama)
- Salmela:
Architect by Thomas Fisher, with photographs by Peter Bastianelli-Kerze
(Nonfiction, Art, Scholarship)
2004 - Ojibwe Tales: Stories of the Ojibwe People by Art
Przybilla (Fiction, Poetry, Drama)
-
Minnesota's Iron Country: Rich Ore, Rich Lives by Marvin
Lamppa (Nonfiction, Art, Scholarship)
2003 - Uncommon Light: A Collection of Poems by Jeanine
Lamoureus Emmons, Gladys Koski Holmes, Kathleen McQuillan, Stephanie
Stevens, Sheila Packa (Fiction, Poetry, Drama)
- V
Is for Viking: A Minnesota Alphabet by Kathy-jo Wargin (Nonfiction,
Art, Scholarship)
2002 - Borealis by Jeff Humphries, illustrated by Betsy
Bowen (Fiction, Poetry, Drama)
- The
Art of the Canoe with Joe Seliga by Jerry Stelmok, illustrated
by Deborah Sussex
(Nonfiction,
Art, Scholarship)
2001 - Schooners, Skiffs & Steamships:Stories along Lake
Superior's Water Trails by Howard Sivertson
2000 - John Blair and the Great Hinckley Fire by Josephine
Nobisso
1999 - 50 Circuit Hikes by Howard Fenton
1998 - Cold Comfort by Barton Sutter
1997 - Just Above Water by Louis Jenkins
1996 - Silent Words by Joan Drury
1995 - The Duluth Portfolio by Craig and Nadine Blacklock
1994 - The Illustrated Voyageur by Howard Sivertson
1993 - Walking the Rez Road by Jim Northrup
1992 - The Grand Portage Story by Carolyn Gilman
1991 - North Writers: A Strong Woods Collection edited
by John Henricksson
1990 - Gunflint: Reflections on the Trail by Justine Kerfoot
1989 - The Winter Room by Gary Paulsen
1988 - Quiet Magic by Sam Cook
A complete list of winners and honorable mentions and of previous years' nominees are available on the NEMBA web site.
