I'll be talking about the life and times of World War II fighter ace Alex Vraciu in two locations over the next couple of weeks. At 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 28, I'll be speaking to the Waryears Military Discussion Group, which meets at the Clay Township Government Center, 10701 North College Avenue, Indianapolis.
At 7 p.m. on Monday, November 8, I'll be appearing at the Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth Street, Columbus, Indiana. Copies of the book Fighter Pilot: The World War II Career of Alex Vraciu will be available for purchase at both talks. Autographs are free.
"I can write better than anybody who can write faster, and I can write faster than anybody who can write better." A.J. Liebling
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Indiana Author Award
I was lucky enough to be named the regional winner of the 2010 Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Author Award this past Saturday in a ceremony at the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. I felt fortunate to have won, especially after meeting and talking with the two other finalists, Andrew Levy of Butler University and Colleen Coble.
Here's what the news release had to say:
Three authors with ties to Indiana were awarded the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award this evening at a gala awards dinner at the Central Library in downtown Indianapolis. Announced as a winner earlier this summer, Indiana resident Scott Russell Sanders was presented his award as the National Author recipient, while Ray Boomhower received the Regional Author award and Greg Schwipps received the Emerging Author award.
Public nominations were submitted from across the state and eligibility included any published writer who was born in Indiana or has lived in Indiana for at least five years. An eight-member, statewide Award Panel selected the winners in three categories and finalists from the pool of nominated authors:
• National Author - $10,000 prize: a writer with Indiana ties, but whose work is known and read throughout the country. National authors were evaluated on their entire body of work. Winner: Scott Russell Sanders
• Regional Author - $7,500 prize: A writer who is well-known and respected throughout the state of Indiana. Regional authors were evaluated on their entire body of work. Winner: Ray Boomhower; Finalists: Colleen Coble and Andrew Levy
• Emerging Author - $5,000 prize: A writer with only one published book. Emerging authors were evaluated on their single published work. Winner: Greg Schwipps; Finalists: Douglas Light and Micah Ling
In its second year, this award recognizes the contributions of Indiana authors to the literary landscape in Indiana and across the nation. The Award is a program of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation, and is funded by the generosity of The Glick Fund, a fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation.
“Through the generosity of the Glick’s, the Indiana Authors Award has become an exciting and important program for our city and state,” said Danny R. Dean, President of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation. “We are grateful for the Glick’s and our sponsors, as well as our Award Panel, who reviewed a significant number of nominations and books in a short time and then faced some tough decisions. On behalf of the Library Foundation, congratulations to all the nominees and winners!”
National Author recipient Sanders had congratulatory remarks, as well. “The other two winners of Glick Indiana Authors Awards this year have enriched our understanding of life in this state – Ray Boomhower through his wide-ranging historical writing and Greg Schwipps through his compelling first novel,” said Sanders. “I am delighted to join them, as well as the other finalists and the hundreds of guests here at the Central Library, in celebrating Indiana’s literary tradition. We’ve been drawn together by a love of books and by a commitment to public libraries – not only books but also music, films, photographs, and other expressions of human creativity are freely available to anyone who chooses to read or listen or look.”
Here's what the news release had to say:
Three authors with ties to Indiana were awarded the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award this evening at a gala awards dinner at the Central Library in downtown Indianapolis. Announced as a winner earlier this summer, Indiana resident Scott Russell Sanders was presented his award as the National Author recipient, while Ray Boomhower received the Regional Author award and Greg Schwipps received the Emerging Author award.
Public nominations were submitted from across the state and eligibility included any published writer who was born in Indiana or has lived in Indiana for at least five years. An eight-member, statewide Award Panel selected the winners in three categories and finalists from the pool of nominated authors:
• National Author - $10,000 prize: a writer with Indiana ties, but whose work is known and read throughout the country. National authors were evaluated on their entire body of work. Winner: Scott Russell Sanders
• Regional Author - $7,500 prize: A writer who is well-known and respected throughout the state of Indiana. Regional authors were evaluated on their entire body of work. Winner: Ray Boomhower; Finalists: Colleen Coble and Andrew Levy
• Emerging Author - $5,000 prize: A writer with only one published book. Emerging authors were evaluated on their single published work. Winner: Greg Schwipps; Finalists: Douglas Light and Micah Ling
In its second year, this award recognizes the contributions of Indiana authors to the literary landscape in Indiana and across the nation. The Award is a program of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation, and is funded by the generosity of The Glick Fund, a fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation.
“Through the generosity of the Glick’s, the Indiana Authors Award has become an exciting and important program for our city and state,” said Danny R. Dean, President of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation. “We are grateful for the Glick’s and our sponsors, as well as our Award Panel, who reviewed a significant number of nominations and books in a short time and then faced some tough decisions. On behalf of the Library Foundation, congratulations to all the nominees and winners!”
National Author recipient Sanders had congratulatory remarks, as well. “The other two winners of Glick Indiana Authors Awards this year have enriched our understanding of life in this state – Ray Boomhower through his wide-ranging historical writing and Greg Schwipps through his compelling first novel,” said Sanders. “I am delighted to join them, as well as the other finalists and the hundreds of guests here at the Central Library, in celebrating Indiana’s literary tradition. We’ve been drawn together by a love of books and by a commitment to public libraries – not only books but also music, films, photographs, and other expressions of human creativity are freely available to anyone who chooses to read or listen or look.”
Monday, October 4, 2010
Indy Author Fair Oct. 9
Saturday, October 9, will be a big day for authors in Indianapolis. From 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library's Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis, will host the Indy Author Fair. The fair includes programs on how to publish and market books, as well as an opportunity to obtain signed copies from more than 40 talented Indiana authors.
I will be at the Indy Author Fair along with the other nominees for the 2010 Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award, which will be presented at a gala dinner on Saturday evening at the library. From 11 a.m. to noon I, along with the other nominees, will discuss our writing and connection to Indiana in a special "Meet the Authors" program in Clowes Auditorium. After the program, the nominees, along with other Hoosier writers, will sign copies of our books from noon to 2 p.m. in the Simon Reading Room and R.B. Annis West Reading Room. A complete list of the authors involved in the signing is here.
I am a Regional Finalist for the Indiana Authors Award, along with fellow nominees Andrew Levy and Colleen Coble. I'll have a full report on the day's activities in a future posting.
The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award is a program of the IMCPL Foundation and is made possible by The Glick Fund, a fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation.
I will be at the Indy Author Fair along with the other nominees for the 2010 Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award, which will be presented at a gala dinner on Saturday evening at the library. From 11 a.m. to noon I, along with the other nominees, will discuss our writing and connection to Indiana in a special "Meet the Authors" program in Clowes Auditorium. After the program, the nominees, along with other Hoosier writers, will sign copies of our books from noon to 2 p.m. in the Simon Reading Room and R.B. Annis West Reading Room. A complete list of the authors involved in the signing is here.
I am a Regional Finalist for the Indiana Authors Award, along with fellow nominees Andrew Levy and Colleen Coble. I'll have a full report on the day's activities in a future posting.
The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award is a program of the IMCPL Foundation and is made possible by The Glick Fund, a fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation.