Audio By Carbonatix
Were there any surprises among the 2012 Colorado Book Awards winners? “I thought the judges went outside the box a little this year,” says Christine Goff of Colorado’s Center for the Book, which coordinates the contest. “Several of the nominees were self-published books, and there were several submitted as e-books, as well.” In addition to facing the challenges brought on by changes in the publishing world, those judges also had to grapple with more entries (159) in more categories (twelve) than ever before.
But when the awards were handed out in Aspen in June, their selections proved to be both eclectic and thoughtful. “Those events in Aspen were so inspiring,” Goff recalls. “You get a mix of people, and they feed on each other as they’re reading. And the talent — just the talent — that’s there: It’s not just inspiring to the audience, but also to the other writers. It makes them realize what the level of writing is among their peer group. It was so infectious; everyone had so much fun. They are all so smart and so interesting. Every one of them had something worthwhile to share.”
Expect an inspirational repeat tonight when some of the winning authors gather at 7:30 p.m. for a reception and reading at the Tattered Cover LoDo, 1628 16th Street. You’ll hear excerpts from books about the Colorado National Monument and Thomas Hart Benton, a Gangs of New York-style fiction for young readers, and a tome about everyday math for adults — and then you can talk with the authors themselves. Admission is free, and all of the books will be available for purchase (and some for signing); go to www.tatteredcover.com or call 303-436-1070 for information.
Tue., Aug. 21, 7:30 p.m., 2012
