For the past three decades, the Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards have recognized books that substantially represent the history, culture, heritage and lifestyle of northeastern Minnesota. In 2021, longtime award coordinators at the Kathryn A. Martin Library at the University of Minnesota Duluth announced that due to staffing changes, the university library would no longer organize the awards. In early 2022, Twin Ports-based nonprofit, the Lake Superior Writers, announced that it would be the new NEMBA coordinators.

The nomination period opened in February, inviting submissions of books published in 2020 and 2021 in six different categories: Fiction, Poetry, Non-Fiction, Memoir, Children’s Literature, and Art/Photography. In each category with three or more nominations, a Winner and an Honorable Mention will be selected, honoring authors, publishers, poets, photographers and illustrators with a cash prize and a plaque.

The nominated books will be reviewed by reading teams for each category. Volunteer readers applied to join the teams in the spring and will read and evaluate the books throughout the summer and early fall. The winners and honorable mentions will be announced in early October.

In previous years, the winners were announced at an in-person awards ceremony. Due to the change in award organizers and the uncertainties of COVID, there will be no public event for presenting the awards this year.

This year, 38 books were nominated for NEMBA. Due to a lack of nominations in the category, there will be no award given for Art/Photography this year.

2022 Northeastern Minnesota Book Award Nominees

Fiction
American Gospel: A Novel by Lin Enger, published by University of Minnesota Press
Carnival Lights by Chris Stark, published by Modern History Press
Kulkuri (Vagabond) and Other Short Stories by Mark Munger, published by Cloquet River Press
Rainy Lake Rendezvous by Janet Kay, self-published
The Wolf’s Trail by Thomas D Peacock, published by Holy Cow Press
Waterfall: A Novel by Mary Casanova, published by the University of Minnesota Press
Where the Deer Dream by Sarah Bamford Seidelmann, self-published
Whistling Pirates by Dean L. Hovey, published by Skyhorse Publishing

Poetry
Homes by Moheb Soliman, published by Coffee House Press
PA by Peggy Trojan, published by Kindle Direct Publishing
Roze & Blud by Jayson Iwen, published by University of Arkansas Press

Non-Fiction
100 Things to Do in Minnesota Northwoods Before You Die by Julie Jo Larson, published by Reedy Press
Duluth: An Urban Biography by Tony Dierckins, published by Minnesota Historical Society Press
Gichigami Hearts: Stories and Histories from Misaabekong by Linda LeGarde Grover, published by University of Minnesota Press
John A Spelman III, Artist and Printmaker: From Appalachia to Minnesota’s North Shore by Scott Husby & Tracey Cullen, published by Cook County Historical Society
Loon Lessons: Uncommon Encounters with the Great Northern Diver by James D. Paruk, published by University of Minnesota Press
Minnesota’s Geologist: The Life of Newton Horace Winchell by Sue Leaf, published by University of Minnesota Press
Minnesota’s Natural Heritage: Second edition by John R. Tester, Susan M. Galatowitsch, Rebecca Montgomery, John J. Moriarity, published by University of Minnesota Press
The Rare and Remarkable: Stories from the Past by Cheryl Reitan writer/editor with 10 students and 1 staff member contributors, published by the University of Minnesota Duluth
The Science of Stephen King by Meg Hafdahl & Kelly Florence, published by Skyhorse Publishing

Memoir
A Private Wilderness: The Journals of Sigurd F. Olson by Sigurd F. Olson (deceased), edited by David Backes, published by University of Minnesota Press
Duck and Cover by Mark Munger, published by Cloquet River Press
If I Felt Alone by Elaine Osborne, published by Page Publishing
The View From Split Rock: A Lighthouse Keeper’s Life by Lee Radzak with Curt Brown, published by Minnesota Historical Society Press

Children’s Literature
A Common Thirst by Gary Boelhower author, Sarah Brokke Erickson illustrator, published by Beaver’s Pond Press
Begin with a Bee by Liza Ketchum, Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Phyllis Root; illustrations by Claudia McGehee, published by University of Minnesota Press
Big Yellow: Firefighting Superstar by Polly Carlson-Voiles author, Consie Powell illustrator, published by Legacy Bound
Do You Hoot? by Richard Hoeg, published by 365 Days of Birds Press
Little Loon Finds His Voice by Yvonne Pearson, author; Regina Shklovsky illustrator, published by The Collective Book Studio
One Summer Up North by John Owens, published by University of Minnesota Press
Ruby Hears a Knock! by Susan Larson Kidd, author; Richard Hoeg, photographer, published by Happy Endings Publishing
Secrets of the Loon by Laura Purdie Salas, author; Chuck Dayton, illustrator, published by Minnesota Historical Society Press
Sunken by Kathy Groth, published by Lake Superior Publishing
The Fire by Thomas D Peacock, author; Anna Granholm, illustrator, published by Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing
The Little People and the Water of Life by Ronda Snow, author; Eloy Bida, illustrator, published by Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing
The Littlest Voyager by Margi Preus published by Margaret Ferguson Books: Holiday House
The Silver Box: An Enchantment Lake Mystery by Margi Preus, published by University of Minnesota Press
Waabooz miinawaa Nigig by Liz Grantholm, author, Anna Granholm, illustrator, published by Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing