NEMBAs on Sunday

This weekend the “Overburden” road show will be working without a net as the missus and I head south to Duluth for the Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards at UMD. I am one of scads of nominated authors in the creative nonfiction/memoir category (it’s not a juried nomination system; they let anyone in, even me). I was, however, informed that I have been “selected” to be one of the authors to participate in the reading that occurs prior to the awards ceremony. So I’ll get stage time either way.

Check out the list of nominees and see what you think. I know several of the other authors and I grew up reading Jim Heffernan’s columns. Normally I’d say that it’s an honor just to be nominated but my publisher was the one who nominated me, on the logic that it would help sales. So let’s just say that it’s an honor just to read my stuff into the microphone the way I always do. Sunday calls for a little razzle dazzle, though. If I don’t win the award you can be darn sure I’ll win the fight in the parking lot afterward. That’s how we rolls north of Hermantown, baby.

If you’re interested in checking out the author fair, reading or awards ceremony come on down! We’ll have an “Overburden” table at the fair.

Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Marshall Performing Arts Center

12:30 – 3 p.m. Book fair / refreshments in the lobby

1-3 p.m. Readings by nominated authors

3:30 p.m. Speaker Annette Atkins / Awards presentation

And if you haven’t read “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” yet you are missing the sensation that the Star Tribune recently described as “published.”