23rd annual Minnesota Book Award winners announced

Photo by shutterhacks

​Last weekend the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library hosted the "Oscars" of local literature. Ten winners were announced in categories ranging from children's lit, to poetry, to memoir and creative nonfiction. Those receiving awards included poet Lightsey Darst, graphic design artist Michael Hall, and journalist Laurie Hertzel, who took the readers' choice for News to Me: Advenutures of an Accidental Journalist.

Also honored at this year's celebration was Carol Connolly, who was awarded the Kay Sexton Award for her constant commitment to the local writing scene over several decades.

For a complete list of winners, take a look after the jump. Award for Children's Literature: Michael Hall, My Heart Is Like a Zoo (Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins)

Award for General Nonfiction: Michael Nordskog and Aaron W. Hautala, The Opposite of Cold: The Northwoods Finnish Sauna Tradition (University of Minnesota Press)

Award for Genre Fiction: Wendy Webb, The Tale of Halcyon Crane (Henry Holt & Company)

Award for Memoir & Creative Nonfiction: Bonnie J. Rough, Carrier: Untangling the Danger in My DNA (Counterpoint)

Award for Minnesota: Mary Lethert Wingerd, North Country: The Making of Minnesota (University of Minnesota Press)

Award for Novel & Short Story: John Reimringer, Vestments (Milkweed Editions)

Award for Poetry: Lightsey Darst, Find the Girl (Coffee House Press)

Award for Young People's Literature: Pete Hautman, Blank Confession (Simon & Schuster)

The Readers' Choice Award: Laurie Hertzel, News to Me: Adventures of an Accidental Journalist (University of Minnesota Press)

Kay Sexton Award: Carol Connolly