About the Awards

The Georgia Author of the Year Awards celebrates the best literature by Georgia writers.

Georgia Writers Association assumed responsibility for the Georgia Author of the Year Awards (GAYA) shortly after its founding in 1994. The awards were first given in 1964 by the Dixie Council of Authors and Journalists. Published authors from Georgia are eligible for nomination. Awards in a variety of categories are announced and presented in June at the GAYA ceremony.

Prominent winners of the GAYA include Malcolm Tariq for his poetry collection Heed the Hollow (2019); Ruby Lal, for her biography Empress (2018); Nic Stone for her novels Dear Justyce (2020) and Jackpot (2019); Natasha Trethewey for her memoir Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir (2020); Judith Ortiz Cofer, for her essay collection Woman in Front of the Sun (2000); Kaitlin B. Curtice for her inspirational book Native: Identity Belonging, and Rediscovering God (2020); John Lewis for his graphic memoir March: Book Three (2016); poet Sharan Strange won a lifetime achievement award from the organization in 2018.

2025 Georgia Author of the Year Awards Announcement

Our winners and finalists for the 2025 Georgia Author of the Year Awards have been announced. Congratulations to all of the recipients! Read the judge’s statements here for these exceptional works by Georgia Authors.

Pierre De Coubertin's photo against a navy blue and gold-trimmed background.
A reflection of two women with black hair, against a yellow, green, and red background.
A green jungle and mountains with a yellow sky.
A navy blue and black square joined together with the following in white text, "A Night in the Country"
A woman staring off to the left and encased in a light orange starry layer.
A black girl looking off to a black family sitting on a red picnic blanket in front of a blue ocean.
Jimmy Carter and two men standing with a gray statue.
A woman in blue and purple ski gear standing on a gray and white mountain.
A beige background with icons of red, blue, and yellow puzzle pieces.
A blonde child wearing blue headphones and levitating.
A brown house surrounding by darkened trees and grass, and a sunset orange sky.
A group of green leaves on a yellow background.
A painting of a teal ocean and beige sand,
A blonde man sitting on the ground and surrounded by images of brown and blue eyes.
Three black individuals wrapped up in green and red foliage, a red moon, and a red skeleton key.