The Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards will expand in 2020 to honor more Indiana authors in more categories, shine a spotlight on the state’s literary community and deepen connections between writers and readers.
Glick Philanthropies has invited Indiana Humanities to power and grow the awards to bring more attention to works by Hoosier authors across the state and nation.
“Indiana Humanities has demonstrated that it can reach across the state with innovative approaches to engage Hoosiers in conversations about things that matter,” said Marianne Glick, chair of the Glick Family Foundation and daughter of Eugene and Marilyn Glick. “We’re excited to leverage their network, energy and creativity to increase the impact of the Indiana Authors Awards.”
Created in 2009 as a vision of Eugene and Marilyn Glick, the Indiana Authors Awards will not be awarded in 2019 but will re-emerge in 2020 as a biennial awards program honoring books written by Hoosier authors in the previous two-year period. The programming will build on the successful Indiana Authors Awards guided by The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation for the past 10 years.
“From inspirational slam poetry to world-shaping sci-fi, from insightful young adult fiction to thought-provoking essays, the Indiana literary scene is so expansive that it makes sense to have the awards reflect this vast range of work,” said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of Indiana Humanities. “We are grateful to Glick Philanthropies for giving us this opportunity to introduce more readers to the state’s authors and let the world know about the exciting books they’re writing.”
Among the new initiatives will be:
- More awards in more categories, to better honor the breadth of writing in Indiana, from fiction and nonfiction, to graphic novels and genre fiction, to poetry and drama, to books for young readers, teens and adults. Nominations for the 2020 awards will open Oct. 21.
- More opportunities for Hoosiers, especially students, to meet and interact with authors. The Novel Conversations Speakers Program, which features Indiana Authors Awards winners, will expand to include writing workshops. Applications are now open to book an author talk or writing workshop in 2020. Learn more at www.indianahumanities.org/indianaauthorsawards.
- A communications blitz after each round of awards to increase awareness and excitement among Hoosier readers. Among other things, every library in the state will receive posters, bookmarks, and other materials to create displays and programming around selected books.
- Starting in 2021, a statewide “rock star” tour, featuring one of Indiana’s high-profile literary all-stars. Over an intensive week every other fall, thousands of Hoosiers will have the opportunity to hear from a favorite writer and connect with other readers.
- A new monthly book review column, offered to newspapers around the state and posted online, that will help readers find their next great Hoosier read. Each review will be written by an Indiana author.
Full details for the expanded Indiana Authors Awards and related programming will be announced Oct. 21 at the Indianapolis Artsgarden.
The event, dubbed “Write Now: A Celebration of Indiana Literature,” will reveal more about what Indiana Humanities is doing to support the community of Indiana readers and writers and give Hoosiers the opportunity to mingle with other supporters of the literary arts. Sign up to attend the event at https://writenowindiana.eventbrite.com/.
To keep up with the Indiana Authors Awards, including deadlines, winners and other news, Hoosiers also can sign up for the authors awards newsletter at http://www.indianahumanities.org/indianaauthorsawards and follow the Indiana Authors Awards on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.