The 2009 Columbus Literary Award Winners Are Announced

Thurber House and the Greater Columbus Arts Council are proud to announce local writers David Culwell, Jaime Lee Moyer and Stephanie Harrison are the winners of the 2009 Columbus Literary Awards. They were presented their award at a reception at Thurber Center on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (See pictures below.)

The biennial Columbus Literary Awards – sponsored by the Greater Columbus Arts Council and administered by Thurber House – recognize the most outstanding literary works produced by Franklin County writers in the genres of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Each winner receives an award of $5000 to encourage his or her writing career.

Culwell, who received the award in the poetry category, won the 2008 Thomas Merton Prize for Poetry of the Sacred. His fiction and poetry have appeared in numerous publications. He is the editor of a trade publication.

Moyer has published more than 80 poems in the last four years but won the Columbus Literary Award in the fiction category for Delia’s Shadow. She has been nominated for the Rhysling Award for the past three years.

Harrison, who won the award in the nonfiction category, has published short fiction in many journals. She is the editor of the anthology Adaptations: From Short Story to Big Screen, and her articles on adapting stories for film have appeared in magazines such as Poets & Writers. She teaches English to Speakers of Other Languages in Columbus.

Here are a few snippets from the reception:
 
GCAC President Milt Baughman giving opening remarks.

Poetry winner David Culwell discussing his work with a guest.

Fiction winner Jamie Lee Moyer captivates
the audience with her winning excerpt.

Fiction judge Brian Strause and nonfiction
winner Stephanie Harrison talk about the business.

The 2009 Columbus Literary Award Winners!
Left to right: Stephanie Harrison (non-fiction),
David Culwell (non-fiction), Jamie Lee Moyer (fiction).

For more information about the Columbus Literary Awards, please visit Greater Columbus Arts Council website: www.gcac.org.