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Michigan Author Award
Michigan Author Award
Michigan Author Award
The Michigan Author Award was established in 1992 with the intention of recognizing significant Michigan authors with a lifetime achievement award. Previously developed by the Michigan Library Association, the award is now facilitated by the Library of Michigan and Michigan Center for the Book. The Michigan Author Award Work Group members consist of an assemblage of librarians, both public and academic, from across the state. Over the years the award has been given to a diverse collection of writers working in a variety of genres and styles.
Recent Michigan Author Award Recipients
Qualifications/Eligibility
Anyone is eligible to submit a nomination. The author must meet the following qualifications to be considered eligible for the award:
- The author must either be a current resident of Michigan, a long-time resident of Michigan recently relocated or an author whose works are identified with Michigan because of subject matter and/or setting in Michigan.
- The author's work may be in the form of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, or any other literary format the Michigan Author Award Group finds acceptable.
- The author must have a body of work encompassing at least three published titles for adults, teens, or children.
- Authors who self-publish are eligible for consideration, as long as their work is available in libraries.
- The author must be living at the time of the nomination.
- The author must have a publishing career spanning a minimum of five years.
To learn more about the award, contact the Library of Michigan at Librarian@Michigan.gov.
The nomination period of the 2025 Michigan Author Award is not yet open. Stay tuned for updates as to when authors may be nominated for the 2025 Michigan Author Award.
Past Michigan Author Award Recipients
- 2023-2024 Anne-Marie Oomen
- 2022 Michael Zadoorian
- 2021 Larry Massie
- 2020 Mitch Albom
- 2019 Jaimy Gordon
- 2018 Beverly Jenkins
- 2017 Doc Fletcher
- 2016 Jacqueline Carey
- 2015 David Small
- 2014 Jim Harrison
- 2013 Laura Kasischke
- 2012 Bonnie Jo Campbell
- 2011 Gary Schmidt
- 2010 John Smolens
- 2009 Dave Dempsey
- 2008 Tom Stanton
- 2007 Sarah Stewart
- 2006 Steve Hamilton
- 2005 Christopher Paul Curtis
- 2004 Patricia Polacco
- 2003 Diane Wakoski
- 2002 Nicholas Delbanco
- 2001 Thomas Lynch
- 2000 Janie Lynn Panagopoulos
- 1999 Jerry Dennis
- 1998 Gloria Whelan
- 1997 Loren Estleman
- 1996 Elmore Leonard
- 1995 Janet Kauffman
- 1994 Nancy Willard
- 1993 Charles Baxter
- 1992 Dan Gerber