Florida State University Libraries recently hosted the Abitz Family Dinner, a prestigious event recognizing the outstanding achievements of the 2023 Florida Book Award winners.
The Florida Book Awards is the nation’s most comprehensive statewide book awards program. The 18th annual competition featured 170 eligible publications submitted across 11 categories for books published in 2023.
Andrew Frank, director of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Center at FSU, delivered the keynote presentation. As an ethnohistorian specializing in the history of the Florida Seminoles and the Native South, Frank is no stranger to the power of storytelling. His topic “Writing as Collaboration: Reading as Listening” centered around an exploration of the interconnectedness of literature and community.
“Authorship, much like history itself, is a collaborative endeavor,” Frank said. “The best writing occurs when we embrace a rich tapestry of influences and interactions. Just as societies shape each other, authors draw from collective wisdom, cultural contexts and the contributions of others. Writing is a communal act, woven together by threads of shared experiences and ideas.”
Keith Simmons, executive director of the Florida Book Awards, shared his enthusiasm during the awards ceremony and acknowledged the hard work of the jurors, who read through 170 entries during his first year with the Florida Book Awards.
“Florida continues to produce internationally recognized books,” Simmons said. “As part of that recognition, we are constantly seeking ways to celebrate and connect authors with eager audiences inside and outside of Florida.”
Dean of University Libraries Gale Etschmaier congratulated the winners during the event. She emphasized the profound importance of books as vehicles for sharing stories and connecting people across time and space. Her words reinforced the importance of literature.
Several recipients of the Florida Book Award, including authors Lauren Groff, Kweku Abimbola and Jacki Levine, also participated in the Word of South festival, a cultural event held in Tallahassee from April 26 to 28 that celebrates art and literature.
Profiles of the 2023 award winners will appear in the summer edition of FORUM Magazine, published by Florida Humanities.
The event is made possible by the generous support of Shirley and Wayne Wiegand. This gift serves as a lasting testimonial to the appreciation of reading held by Shirley Wiegand’s parents, H. Roland and Norma Abitz.
For a complete list of winners, visit floridabookawards.org. Details about the 2024 Florida Book Awards will be released later this summer.
Award highlights:
Gerald Ensley Developing Writer Award: Presented to Rebecca Renner for her remarkable work, “Gator Country.”
Gwen P. Reichert Gold Medal for Young Children’s Literature: Medeia Sharif received this esteemed award for her delightful book, “Frizzy Haired Zuzu.”
Jean Lowrie Gold Medal for Older Children’s Literature: Taryn Souders was recognized for her captivating work, “The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle.”
Phillip and Dana Zimmerman Gold Medal for Florida Nonfiction: Phillip Hubbart’s impactful book, “From Death Row to Freedom: The Struggle for Racial Justice in the Pitts-Lee Case,” received this prestigious honor.