Tag Archives: Literature

Young Nebraskans Win Writing Competition 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 29, 2022
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tessa Terry
402-471-3434
800-307-2665

Young Nebraskans Win Writing Competition

Nebraska student’s competed for the twenty-third year in the annual Letters About Literature competition. They wrote to tell an author about how books can make a difference in a young person’s life. Young Nebraska writers who wrote winning letters in the Letters About Literature competition will receive award certificates signed by Gov. Pete Ricketts at a proclamation signing ceremony on April 4th. Letters About Literature is a state-wide reading and writing promotion program. The competition encourages young people to read, be inspired, and write back to the author (living or dead) who had an impact on their lives.

This annual contest is coordinated and sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book, Nebraska Library Commission, Houchen Bindery Ltd., Humanities Nebraska, and Chapters Bookstore in Seward.

Young Nebraska writers to be honored are:

Winners
Madison Mittelstet, of Lincoln, for a letter to Tui T. Sutherland
Hugh Skretta, of Lincoln, for a letter to Joelle Charbonneau
Caroline Ahsan, of Omaha, for a letter to Khaled Hosseini

Runners-up
Alina Fathima, of Omaha, for a letter to Aubre Andrus
Andrea Nyamedi, of Omaha, for a letter to Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Isabella Beck, of Omaha, for a letter to Tara Westover

The students wrote personal letters to authors explaining how his or her work changed their view of themselves or the world. They selected authors from any genre, fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic. Winners were chosen from three competition levels: upper elementary, middle, and secondary school.

The Nebraska winners are honored at a luncheon and receive cash prizes and gift certificates. Their winning letters are placed in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors at Bennett Martin Public Library in Lincoln. For more information about the competition see http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL.html

The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at the Nebraska Library Commission and brings together the state’s readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers, educators, and scholars to build the community of the book, supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for the Book is supported by the Nebraska Library Commission.

As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”

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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.

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“Bones of Paradise” Chosen as 2022 One Book One Nebraska

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 25, 2021

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tessa Terry
402-471-3434
800-307-2665

Bones of Paradise Chosen as 2022 One Book One Nebraska

People across Nebraska are encouraged to read the work of a Nebraskan —and then talk about it with their friends and neighbors. The Bones of Paradise: A Novel (William Morrow, 2016) by Jonis Agee is the 2022 One Book One Nebraska selection.

The Bones of Paradise is a multigenerational family saga set in the unforgiving Nebraska Sand Hills in the years following the massacre at Wounded Knee—it is an ambitious tale of history, vengeance, race, guilt, betrayal, family, and belonging, filled with a vivid cast of characters shaped by violence, love, and a desperate loyalty to the land. The One Book One Nebraska selection committee enjoyed the intricate plot development and well developed characters. They felt that the novel was a compelling read and contained a variety of themes that would engage discussion on a number of topics. Jonis Agee is an award-winning author of twelve books. Her awards include the John Gardner Fiction Award, the George Garrett Award, a National Endowment for the Arts grant in fiction, a Loft-McKnight Award, a Loft-McKnight Award of Distinction, and two Nebraska Book Awards. A native of Nebraska, Agee teaches at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Libraries across Nebraska will join other literary and cultural organizations in planning book discussions, activities, and events that will encourage Nebraskans to read and discuss this book. Support materials to assist with local reading/discussion activities will be available after January 1, 2022 at http://onebook.nebraska.gov. Updates and activity listings will be posted on the One Book One Nebraska Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/onebookonenebraska.

2022 will mark the eighteenth year of the One Book One Nebraska reading program, sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book. It encourages Nebraskans across the state to read and discuss one book, chosen from books written by Nebraska authors or that have a Nebraska theme or setting. The Nebraska Center for the Book invites recommendations for One Book One Nebraska book selection year-round at http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/obon-nomination.asp.

One Book One Nebraska is sponsored by Nebraska Center for the Book, Humanities Nebraska, and Nebraska Library Commission. The Nebraska Center for the Book brings together the state’s readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers, educators, and scholars to build the community of the book, supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at and supported by the Nebraska Library Commission.

As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”

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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.    

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Upcoming Events in September

A new month brings new events! Check out the NCB calendar to see a list of literary events that are happening near you.

Due to the current pandemic, some events may have been cancelled, postponed, or shifted to an online format.

Dates, locations, and times are subject to change. Some workshops or events may charge a fee. Contact us to submit your event!

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August Literary Events

Happy first day of August! Check out the NCB calendar to keep up with literary events near you!

Due to the current pandemic, some events may have been cancelled, postponed, or shifted to an online format.

Dates, locations, and times are subject to change. Some workshops or events may charge a fee. Contact us to submit your event!

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Upcoming Events in July

A new month brings new events! Check out the NCB calendar to see a list of literary events are happening near you this month.

Due to the recent pandemic, some events may have been cancelled, postponed, or shifted to an online format.

Dates, locations, and times are subject to change. Some workshops or events may charge a fee. Contact us to submit your event!

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Upcoming Events

Check out the NCB calendar to see a list of literary events that are coming up this month!

Due to the recent pandemic, some events may have been cancelled, postponed, or shifted to an online format.

Dates, locations, and times are subject to change. Some workshops or events may charge a fee. Contact us to submit your event!

Don’t forget that June is Audiobook Month! Who doesn’t love listening to a good book every now and then? This month is all about celebrating this growing format. Let us know what you’re favorite audiobooks are!

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A Letter from our President

Dear Friends of the Nebraska Center for the Book:

What a great year for the Nebraska Center for the Book (NCB)! Thank you for your continued support of NCB and its programs. It was wonderful to see many of you at the Celebration of Nebraska Books in November!

With the close of 2019 we begin a new chapter with the NCB. One of the most notable changes is the move from a print newsletter to the online news blog. This will enable us to keep you up-to-date on NCB news and events in a timely manner. We will introduce you to members of the board, showcase One Book One Nebraska, the Celebration of Nebraska Books, and much more. 

We continue to promote Nebraska writers throughout the state. Each year the NCB celebrates One Book One Nebraska. For 2020 NCB will celebrate, All the Gallant Men by Donald Stratton with Ken Gire. It is the first memoir by a USS Arizona survivor.  Stratton grew up in Red Cloud and talks about how he ended up at Pearl Harbor and what happened after.

We encourage Nebraska youth to both read and write. NCB has received a grant from Humanities Nebraska to encourage student participation in the Letters About Literature Program. This program encourages students to write to the author who has made a difference in their life. 

Thank you for your continued support of the Nebraska Center for the Book! To all of you, who are such dedicated members of the NCB, we ask for your continued support through renewal of your membership in the Center. With a strong foundation the NCB can celebrate Nebraska and all those who read, write, or publish books that enrich our experience as we turn a page and discover new stories. 

For your convenience you are now able to join or renew your NCB membership online via PayPal.   

http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/get_involved/membership.html

We appreciate your continued support of the Nebraska Center for the Book and those in Nebraska who are reading, writing, and producing books!

Sincerely,

Nebraska Center for the Book, President

Follow us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/NebraskaCenterfortheBook

See us on the WWW! http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/index.asp

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