The Whitney Awards

I belong to a writers association called LDStorymakers, Inc. It's a pretty remarkable group of nearly 60 authors (and growing) who have banded together to, among other things, do what they can to increase the quantity and quality of LDS fiction.

Today marks a milestone for LDS literature: LDStorymakers is announcing the 2007 Whitney Awards, the definitive awards program for LDS authors! Here's a link to the site on which you'll find information explaining who we are and what we hope to accomplish with the Whitneys. Fiction by LDS authors has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. Our desire is to encourage and reward that growth by recognizing those authors who entertain, inspire, and enlighten us.

Please take a few minutes to browse the site. Or, if you already know what we're about, head directly to the nomination form to make sure your favorite books are submitted for a Whitney Award.

If you want the explanation without clicking away from my blog, here's more info.

The Whitneys are an awards program for LDS fiction, and are sponsored by the LDStorymakers. One of the most commonly repeated quotes among LDS authors is from Orson F. Whitney: “We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own.” As it is the goal of LDStorymakers to increase the quantity and quality of LDS fiction, it's only reasonable that the Storymakers should also honor those authors who excel and continually raise the bar.

The Whitney Awards honor novels in the following categories: Romance/Women’s Fiction, Suspense/Mystery, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Historical, Novel of the Year, and Best Novel by a New Author. Novels can be nominated by any reader (via the Whitney Awards website or by mail), and nominees are voted on by an academy of industry professionals, including authors, publishers, bookstore owners, distributors, critics, and others.

The Whitney Awards are sponsored and endorsed by LDStorymakers, Inc., the authors guild for the LDS market.

Okay, now that you know a little bit, go browse the site for the full story. Please think about nominating a book published in 2007 by your favorite LDS author. I'm not in the running yet this year, but who knows what will happen before December 31st!