NEMDA event at UMD this Sunday...

This Sunday I jon a group of nominees in the running for a book award at the Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards (NEMDA) at UMD's Marshall Performing Arts Center. While I'd like to say that my book, Cooler Near the Lake, is nominated because a juried panel selected it, I have to tell the truth. It's there because it was submitted by my original publisher and all submissions are accepted. Awards, however, in each of a number of categories will be given following an evaluation of all submissions by a panel of jurors and those awards will be announced this Sunday.

I join an outstanding group of nominees in the running for an award in the "memoir and creative non-fiction" category. This category includes some great books and wonderful authors for that jury to read and ponder. So, while I'm not expecting you to come to cheer me on or anything on Sunday, I think if you like books and would enjoy a Sunday afternoon at UMD's campus, you would enjoy this free event that includes a book fair, authors' readings, an interesting speaker and treats. It's open to the public and it's free. Here's the schedule::

Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards
Sunday, May 17 – UMD Marshall Performing Arts Center
12:30 - 3 p. m. – Book Fair - refreshments in the lobby
1:00 - 3 p. m. – Readings by nominated authors
3 p. m. – Speaker Annette Atkins/Awards presentation