Wednesday News: Mike Briggs dies, ALA awards, Edgar noms, beautiful US libraries
Publishing NewsAmerican Library Association / Book Awards / Edgar Awards / Libraries / Mike Briggs / Mystery Writers Association / Newberry / obituary / Patricia-Briggs10 Comments
Husband of best-selling Benton City author dies – Those of you who read Patricia Briggs or who follow her social media accounts (including her website), may be familiar with her husband, Mike, who was very involved in his wife’s career, not only serving as her research assistant, but also blogging on her website and even managing their horse ranch (that frankly impresses me more than anything!). I remember a number of times Mike posted comments at Dear Author, and he always came across as a reasonable, intelligent, and kind voice. So it was a very sad surprise to hear that Mike passed away “very unexpectedly” on Monday. All of us at Dear Author send our condolences to the Briggs family for your loss.
Mike Briggs ran the couple’s horse farm and kept the Patricia Briggs website up to date, in addition to acting as a research assistant. He previously worked as a chemist, biologist and “computer nerd,” according to the Patricia Briggs website.
Condolence cards may be sent to P.O. Box 5394, Benton City, WA, 99320. – Tri-City Herald
American Library Association announces 2017 youth media award winners – With a whopping 21 categories, the ALA has announced the winners for young people’s media, including the Newberry, Caldecott, and Carnegie Medals, four Coretta Scott King Awards, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, the Schneider Family Book Award, and even the Alex Awards, which recognize adult literature that appeals to teen readers. Lots of great books honored here.
John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature: “The Girl Who Drank the Moon,” written by Kelly Barnhill, is the 2017 Newbery Medal winner. . . . Three Newbery Honor Books also were named: “Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan,” written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan. . . ; “The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog,” written by Adam Gidwitz, illustrated by Hatem Aly . . .; and “Wolf Hollow,” written by Lauren Wolk . . .
Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African-American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults: “March: Book Three,” written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, is the King Author Book winner. The book is illustrated by Nate Powell . . . . Two King Author Honor Books were selected: “As Brave as You,” written by Jason Reynolds, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book . . . and “Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan,” written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan, a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book . . . . – ALA
MWA Announces the 2017 Edgar Nominations – Award season continues with the Mystery Writers Association’s announcement of the nominees for the 2017 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, which recognize the areas of mystery fiction, non-fiction and, television with numerous categories, including Best Novel, Best Paperback Original, Best Short Story, and Best Television Episode Teleplay. Awards will be presented in New York on April 27th.
BEST NOVEL
The Ex by Alafair Burke (HarperCollins Publishers – Harper)
Where It Hurts by Reed Farrel Coleman (Penguin Random House – G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye (Penguin Random House – G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
What Remains of Me by Alison Gaylin (HarperCollins Publishers – William Morrow)
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (Hachette Book Group – Grand Central Publishing) – MWA
The most beautiful library in every US state – So do you agree with the picks? I’m not sure my state’s pick is The Most Beautiful, but architectural awards may not be the best criteria for library lovers.
To find the most beautiful libraries in each state (and a couple bonus libraries at the end), Business Insider looked at past and current award-winners as judged by the American Institute of Architects and the American Library Association awards, and relied on our own judgment for states who have never won. – Business Insider
Just looking at those photos of beautiful libraries made my heart beat faster. Then I found myself inhaling…
My condolences to the Briggs family. Mike Briggs was a class act, and I was so sorry to hear of his passing.
Re the ALA Awards — also the Printz, which went to Congressman John Lewis’s March.
Central Library in Los Angeles is nice, but California has prettier libraries. The Encinitas Branch of the San Diego Public Library tops my list of the ones I have been to. Santa Monica’s central library is also really pretty. And there are probably others.
The Maryland library chosen, the Peabody, is absolutely gorgeous – I was hoping it was the one that would be selected. It’s actually also a venue available for events, and is open to the public, so every once in a while I pop in to ogle.
I’m very sorry to hear the news about Mike Briggs. As you note, he contributed a lot of the infrastructure that supported Brigg’s writing. A terrible loss. (I made a small donation in his memory to the local Humane Society mentioned on the FB page.)
On another note, I’m going to take my time looking at those lovely library pictures. The one for my state was nicer than I was expecting. In fact, it’s the one I got briefly locked in one evening as a teenager when I was so wrapped up reading that I missed the closing. It didn’t look like that way back then, tho. :-)
Don’t forget the adult book and media awards announced by ALA’s Reference and User Services Association on Sunday evening.
The Carnegie Medal honors the single best work of fiction and nonfiction for adults of the year: http://rusa.ala.org/update/2017/01/2017-andrew-carnegie-medal-winners/
The Notable Books List includes the 26 best works of literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry:
http://rusa.ala.org/update/2017/01/2017-notable-books-list-announced/
And the Reading List selects the best book and several shortlisted titles in eight genres:
http://rusa.ala.org/update/2017/01/2017-reading-list-announced/
(Note: Courtney Milan’s Hold Me is on the short list for Romance)
Also, Trevor Noah won the Zora Neale Hurston award for leadership in promoting African American literature:
http://rusa.ala.org/update/2017/01/trevor-noah-host-of-the-daily-show-named-recipient-of-zora-neale-hurston-award/
My condolences to the Briggs family.
I was so excited to see my public library in Washington, Renton Public Library, on the list, I was expecting Seattle’s ultra modern building. Sure, the industrial look post-renovation is cool, but the best aspect of it, which they did not mention is that the library was built over the Cedar River. One of the favorite things for people of all ages to do, is go to the library and look over the balcony at the spawning salmon. People who go to the library to read and learn, have a learning experience on the way. A few years ago when the library was slated to be closed and moved, a successful effort was made to keep the library in place. This selection, as the most beautiful library in Washington, shows that the efforts made by Renton citizens was worth all the angst and push-back. We need to have more of that kind of effort, especially now.
@Diane: That’s a great library story and makes me wish I could go there!
More condolences to the Briggs family. They seemed so happy with each other.
I also want to send my condolences to the Briggs family. Surprised and sad to hear of his passing.