RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce that 12 finalists have been selected for the 28th Annual Virginia Literary Awards, the Commonwealth’s premier event honoring Virginia authors and their contributions to literature. 

The finalists were chosen by an independent panel of judges from more than 200 nominations. The winner in each category will be announced during a gala celebration at the Library of Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. In addition to the award and distinguished recognition, winners in each category will receive a monetary prize of $2,500.

“The Virginia Literary Awards celebrate the depth and diversity of Virginia’s extraordinary literary landscape,” said Librarian of Virginia Dennis T. Clark. “We’re proud to recognize outstanding Virginia authors and works that illuminate the Commonwealth’s rich stories.”

The 2025 Virginia Literary Awards finalists are: 

FICTION
ISABEL BANTA | Honey
CHRISTOPHER TILGHMAN | On the Tobacco Coast
JOHN VERCHER | Devil Is Fine

NONFICTION
JUSTENE HILL EDWARDS | Savings and Trust: The Rise and Betrayal of the Freedman’s Bank
ERIKA HOWSARE | The Age of Deer: Trouble and Kinship With Our Wild Neighbors
EARL SWIFT | Hell Put to Shame: The 1921 Murder Farm Massacre and the Horror of America’s Second Slavery

POETRY
REMICA BINGHAM-RISHER | Room Swept Home
JENNIFER CHANG | An Authentic Life
JANUARY GILL O’NEIL | Glitter Road

CHILDREN’S VIRGINIA LITERARY AWARD (in partnership with William & Mary Libraries)
KWAME ALEXANDER | Black Star
CARTER HIGGINS | Round and Round the Year We Go
JOANNA LAPATI | Guts for Glory: The Story of Civil War Soldier Rosetta Wakeman

The finalists for the Library’s People’s Choice Awards for fiction and nonfiction, announced in a previous news release, will also be recognized. 

Presented by Dominion Energy and supported by Carole and Marcus Weinstein, the Virginia Literary Awards is an annual gala celebration that includes a cocktail reception, dinner and awards ceremony. The ticketed event and a silent auction raise support for the Library’s conservation, education and community outreach initiatives.

For information on tickets, sponsorship or other ways to support the 28th Annual Virginia Literary Awards Celebration honoring Virginia authors and friends, visit lvafoundation.org/literaryawards or call 804.692.3813.

Find related images here: 
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/7hni15rfckg1hexd8bgrx/AMoxHLwd4tToT9tiTcCbPls?rlkey=ntfqfcy2yibsmjlafgr5xy8d1&dl=0

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ABOUT THE VIRGINIA LITERARY AWARDS 
Hosted by award-winning author Adriana Trigiani, the 28th Annual Virginia Literary Awards Celebration will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, with nominated authors, presenters and special guests. Dominion Energy and Carole and Marcus Weinstein are the presenting sponsors for this annual event, which attracts all who enjoy the written word and support literature. The Literary Awards festivities kick off on Friday, Sept. 19 with the Art in Literature: The Mary Lynn Kotz Award at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. 

ABOUT THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA 
The Library of Virginia is the leading source of information on Virginia’s history, government and people. The Library’s collections, containing more than 134 million items, document and illustrate the lives of both famous Virginians and ordinary citizens. Our online resources draw nearly 2 million website visits per year, and our on-site records, exhibitions and events bring in thousands of visitors annually. The Library is located in downtown Richmond near Capitol Square at 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Learn more at www.lva.virginia.gov.