Georgia author awards announced

The 49th Annual Georgia Author of the Year Awards were announced recently. The awards honor Georgia authors who have published either commercially or independently. Previous notable winners have included former President Jimmy Carter, U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and playwright and novelist Pearl Cleage. Here are this year’s winners.

First novel: Kimberly Brock for “The River Witch.” Novel: June Hall McCash for “Plum Orchard.” Poetry: Dan Veach for “Elephant Water.” Biography: Joseph Crespino for “Strom Thurmond’s America.” Inspirational (religious): J. Steve Miller for “Near Death Experiences as Evidence for the Existence of God and Heaven” and Inspirational (secular): Patricia Martin Holt for “Committee of One: Making a Difference, One Life at a Time.”

Memoir/autobiography: Joseph Scott Morgan for “Blood Beneath My Feet.” History: Steven Davis for “What the Yankees Did to Us: Sherman’s Bombardment and the Wrecking of Atlanta.” Specialty book: Ren and Helen Davis for “Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery: An Illustrated History and Guide.”