The Connecticut Book Awards were held on October 22, 2017 at the Mark Twain House & Museum. It was a gorgeous day – a day anyone would be happy to spend picking apples at an orchard, bird watching, beach combing, or watching a football or baseball game. But no! People came to share their day and to see who the winners of the book awards would be. That is a testimony to book lovers and people who value their literature.

We were very fortunate in the presenters of each category who did a stunning job. They were sincere, funny, and gave a thumbnail sketch on each of the finalists’ books that make you want to run out and buy a copy. (We urge you to visit this page for the full finalist list and then visit your local bookseller.)

We were doubly fortunate in our keynote speaker, New York Times bestselling author Beatriz Williams. Witty, entertaining, and totally ‘gets’ Connecticut Humanities, the Connecticut Center for the Book, and an author’s struggle to produce a piece of work. Keep an eye out for her.

Best of all, people left happy, elated, and buoyed up by the thought that there are book awards again. The Connecticut Book Awards give people faith and confidence that the written word has value and is important.

So, that said, the winners are:

Poetry

Fugitives by Danielle Pieratti

Special Citation for The Banquet by Gray Jacobik

Young Readers

The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati

Nonfiction

Never Look an American in the Eye by Okey Ndibe

Fiction

Cajun Waltz by Robert H. Patton

Congratulations to all!