2024 Judges’ Statements
Biography
Winner: The Ballad of Karla Faye Tucker by Mark Beaver
In The Ballad of Karla Faye Tucker, Mark Beaver combines personal memoir and a riveting true-crime narrative set far from the Atlanta suburbs of his youth. After chronicling a pair of 1983 murders in Houston, Texas, he goes on to recount how the well-publicized death-row conversion to born-again Christianity of Karla Faye Tucker, one of the crime's two convicted culprits, and her eventual execution in 1998 affected his own life and that of his Southern Baptist father. In the process, while shrewdly integrating vignettes from U.S. history into his narrative, Beaver describes how saving the convict's life became a cause célèbre among the nation's evangelicals, thus exposing fault-lines inside that sprawling community and America at large.
Finalist: Jumpman: The Making and Meaning of Michael Jordan by Johnny Smith
In Jumpman: The Making and Meaning of Michael Jordan, Johnny Smith provides an energetic yet thoughtful and amply-sourced narrative that explores the life and times of the basketball icon and, along the way, Jordan's deft navigation of the reefs of race, politics and fame in American life.
Children’s Book
Winner: You So Black by Theresa Tha Songbird
You So Black shares an important message and shares it beautifully. This is the kind of book so gorgeous you’ll want to leave it on display for others to find.
Finalist: Elodie Meets Guber the Ghost by P. E. Waring and Illustrated by Matea Anic
Our judges loved Waring’s message and the calming use of color in Anic’s illustrations. A beautiful work of art.
Detective/Mystery & Science Fiction
Winner: Murder in Drury Lane by Vanessa Riley
Vanessa Riley's "Murder in Drury Lane" is an electrifying, multi-layered murder mystery set within Regency era London's theater scene. Riley's narrative explores deep themes such as justice, betrayal, societal expectations, and the byzantine underbelly of theater politics. In Lady Abigail Worthing, Riley has created a strong, perceptive, and likeable protagonist. This is also an immaculately researched historical novel with a strong sense of place and a vivid setting. I absolutely adored this book."
Finalist: Crypto: A John Wesley O'Toole Novel by William Rawlings
William Rawlings' "Crypto" delivers an intricate, riveting mystery that explores both the complex world of cryptocurrency and the art scene. Although the plot was captivating, twisting, and suspenseful, it was really Donald Moule, as a character, who delivered the greatest mystery. Much like the protagonist John Wesley O'Toole, I found myself keen to understand Moule's psychology and worldview. Rawlings' story also takes us to some very unexpected places such as the darkest corners of digital culture. An immensely enjoyable and timely book."
First Novel
Winner: Red Clay Suzie by Jeffrey Dale Lofton
Red Clay Suzie is a triumph of observation, insight, and tenderness that teaches us to never be afraid to be who we truly are, love who we deeply love. Philbet’s no-nonsense courage and perseverance in the face of prejudice and injustice inspire both empathy and admiration as Jeffery Dale Lofton’s vivid prose carries the reader into Georgia’s complicated past. We emerge with a renewed fondness for matchbox cars, milkshakes, and those closest to us—even the most unpleasant—and with greater understanding for those who struggle to find themselves on the fringes of society.
Finalist: The Bystanders by Dawn Major
With a cast of quirky characters and a vivid rural setting, Dawn Major’s The Bystanders explores the complex social dynamics of the not-so-long-ago deep South. Animated with all the hair and neon of the 1980s, Major’s dark tale resounds with moral dilemmas, family entanglements, and rich Paw Paw accents that demand we reconsider how we react to the major and minor injustices we witness every day. The Bystanders is a gripping encounter with a troubling American reality.
History
Winner: Oconaluftee: The History of a Smoky Mountain Valley by Elizabeth Giddens
Oconaluftee: The History of a Smoky Mountain Valley by Elizabeth Giddens is a vividly narrated chronicle of a region steeped in cultural and natural significance. Giddens brings to life the rich history of Oconaluftee, a valley nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, with a blend of scholarly rigor and engaging storytelling.
For readers in Georgia, this book offers a unique connection, as the history of the Smoky Mountains and the tribal nations are deeply intertwined with the broader history of the Southeastern United States. Many Georgians have ties to this region, whether through ancestry or cultural heritage, or from weekend trips for camping and hiking in this beautiful area. Oconaluftee provides a rich context that enhances the understanding of their own state’s history, making it a compelling read for those interested in the intricate tapestry of the Southern Appalachian region.
Finalist: Poor Atlanta: Poverty, Race, and the Limits of Sunbelt Development by LeeAnn Lands
Poor Atlanta: Poverty, Race, and the Limits of the Sunbelt Development by LeeAnn B. Lands offers a profound examination of the persistent issues of poverty and racial inequality in Atlanta, challenging the prevailing narrative of unbridled prosperity associated with Sunbelt cities. Lands dissects how urban development policies and economic strategies have systematically marginalized African American communities, despite the city's image as a booming metropolitan hub. Lands’ work is particularly relevant for policymakers, scholars, and residents of Atlanta who seek to understand the deeper roots of the city's challenges and envision a more equitable future. Her clear, engaging prose ensures that the complex subject matter is accessible to a wide audience, making this book a significant contribution to the discourse on race and urban development.
Inspirational
Winner: Captured By Love by Lee Ellis
It’s a touching portrayal of love’s endurance and inspirational power in the face of life’s hardest challenges.
Finalist: Hello Anxiety My Old Friend by Natalie Kohlaas
This book is an exceptional roadmap to understanding one’s anxiety, unlocking its power, and channeling it to be an effective tool that can positively impact one’s life.
Literary Fiction & Short Story Collection
Winner: Bengal Hound by Rahad Abir, Edited by Kimberley Lim
"This unique novel features a main character, Shelley, who becomes increasingly isolated as he deals with a relentless, unforgiving world. The love story is distinct, traditional yet unusual, and Roxana is both complex and heart-breaking.
The era and setting of the novel feel like full characters as well. An excerpt:
Beneath the big banyan tree, Laloo was sound asleep. Above him, a medium-sized brown cobra lay nestled on a distant branch. They both looked calm, dead to the world in the afternoon light. A lonely owl, sitting on a top branch, moved its head now and then. A deep slumber in this eerie place was possible for none but Laloo and the animals.
Bengal Hound is authentic and complex and the story-telling skills on display here are impressive. At times, the narrative becomes tight and abrupt, a mirror for what is happening with the protagonist. Overall, this is a vividly imagined, smartly edited novel."
Finalist: One Blood by Denene Millner
This spirited, blunt, ambitious novel provides for a captivating reading experience. Denene Miller has created an engaging tapestry of mothers and daughters. The world of the novel is well detailed, the characters are intricately drawn.
The writing is clear and rich:
“Yes’m,” Grace would say, bringing the bowl of peas to her nose to smell the earthiness of the dish, mixed with okra and sometimes corn, if they had it, and a little ham hock, too, if somebody pushed a baby out and filled the hands that caught it with a pull or two of the salty meat as a thank-you.
Overall, a terrific book, one with many unexpected turns.
Memoir
Winner: More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew by John Blake
John Blake’s More Than I Imagined offers a compelling take on our complicated racial inheritance, informed by Blake’s unique ancestry and career in journalism. In his moving account of his search for his birth mother and confrontations with his family, Blake reveals both how prejudice works and how it might be overcome. With deft prose and delicate insight, More Than I Imagined embodies Blake’s assertion that “facts don’t change people; relationships do.”
Finalist: The Way from Me to Us by Mike Coleman
The Way From Me to Us is a touching tribute to a lifelong gay relationship forged in the face of adversity, uncertainty, and revolutionary change in American culture. Mike Coleman excavates that courtship, a series of thirty-five love letters, and “the pink cloud of early romance” to tell the life story of that love and reveal how honestly, trust, and community can help us imagine a newer world not just for ourselves but for everyone.
Poetry Chapbook
Winner: LIFE OF THE MIND by Julia Knowlton
Julia Caroline Knowlton’s, Life of Mind, embraces the daring and self assurance one must have in the journey through womanhood. It takes the reader from the hot summers of Georgia and its “illicit” heat, to the vibrant streets of Italy and Paris. It explores loneliness and aging, love lost and love longed for. In its brevity, it is contemplative and thoughtful. As a body of work, this chapbook is impressively beautiful.
Finalist: Cold Remembered: and other poems by David R. Altman
David Altman’s, Cold Remembered, presents an Incredible offering of poems in both form and content. The opening poem, Picking Up My Crying Father At The Airport and the gut wrenching title poem, Cold Remembered, display Altman’s dexterity when engaging the reader. Later poems in the collection reflect a skilled and disciplined poet who meticulously demonstrates mastery of rhythm and rhyme. Altman’s versatility offers the reader a potpourri of verse, and he does so with great knack and artistry.
Poetry Full-Length Collection
Winner: Tender Headed by Olatunde Osinaike
Osinaike explores gender dynamics, especially masculinity, with a deft hand. This is a collection that is at once assured and experimental. Each poem is also a testament to the strength found in vulnerability, making this debut a compelling read. This book is a poignant exploration of personal and collective memory, resonating deeply with anyone who has ever grappled with the complexities of selfhood and heritage.
Finalist: The Anxiety Workbook by Christina Olson
Funny and insightful, Olson’s poetry captures the anxieties of our age with a perfectly tuned ear. Drawing from a wide range of subjects and influences, The Anxiety Workbook entertains on every page. Olson’s voice is somehow ours and not ours at the same time, a brilliant rendering of the anxieties we face in our everyday life gathered together in one place, rendered in a startling new language.
Romance
Winner: A Laird without a Past by Jeanine Englert
A Laird Without a Past transports us back in time with beautiful scenes of crackling hearths, ancient Scottish lochs, and midnight skies sprinkled with stars. The very reason this book is a winner is contained in this sentence: “A breeze ruffled his hair and he spread out his arms, opening his palms to the sun almost as if he were a man in prayer asking for deliverance.” This book was quite simply soulful, deep, and lovely from start to finish.
Finalist: Reunited with the Children's Doc by Susan Carlisle
Reuniting with the Children’s Doc dealt with some serious themes that defied the stereotypes sometimes associated with the genre and proved that romance can tackle serious topics not only with creativity but sensitivity, research, and care.
Specialty
Winner: Black on Black: On Our Resilience and Brilliance in America by Daniel Black
Daniel Black’s first book of essays is a necessary and accessible analysis of Black experiences in the United States. Known for his breathtaking fiction writing, Black’s foray into essays is equally powerful. He writes, “Each word is an invitation to believe a new thing, a different thing, a more marvelous, transformative thing that invites them to remove their mask and exist unashamed.” Black on Black highlights Black’s masterful storytelling, his voice at times gentle and other times more commanding and direct. Black’s storytelling stands in as a refreshing approach to traditional scholarship, using stories from his life and popular culture to craft eloquent and critical insights into race, identity, and agency. Part memoir, part cultural commentary, and all unapologetically from Black’s thoughtful perspective, Black on Black is a critical intervention in thinking about the complexities of Black identities and experiences in America.
Finalist: Egg Rolls & Sweet Tea: Asian Inspired, Southern Style by Natalie Keng
Natalie Keng’s cookbook fuses the Asian food diaspora with the American South. As much as I enjoyed flipping through Keng’s multiple recipes – I might muster up the courage to try the Spicy Pig Ear Salad – I really enjoyed the appetizing bits of storytelling from Keng’s childhood in Smyrna, Georgia for why each recipe was special to her and how to perfect it. The recipes are easy to read and encourage even the most novice cook to give them a try. A must-have cookbook for anyone with a diverse palate and curiosity about the South’s expansive culinary landscape.
Young Adult
Winner: Into the Light by Mark Oshiro
Into the Light is a captivating story with a poignant exploration of identity, resilience, and the journey to find one's truth. With lyrical prose and unforgettable characters, this novel illuminates the power of self-discovery and the courage to embrace one's authentic self.
Finalist: Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker
Blood Debts, immerses readers in a thrilling world with dark secrets and the bonds of family. With gripping suspense and heart-pounding action, this novel explores the power of destiny and the sacrifices we make for those we love.
