2021 Literary Awards Event Videos

2021 Literary Awards Event Videos


The Virginia Literary Awards were held virtually this year with a week of author conversations and special events beginning Tuesday, October 12, 2021. Anchoring the week was the Library of Virginia Literary Awards Celebration on Saturday, October 16, with our nominated authors, presenters, special guests, and honoree Michael Paul Williams, 2021 Commentary Pulitzer Prize Winner.

Nonfiction Panel — Tuesday, October 12

Author, former Library of Virginia Fellow, and 2016 Library of Virginia Nonfiction Award winner Kristen Green moderated a conversation with Nonfiction Award finalists Chip Jones, Ryan Smith, and Nicole Myers Turner.




Fiction Panel — Wednesday, October 13

Author, 2018 Library of Virginia People's Choice Fiction Award winner, and Library of Virginia Foundation Board member Brad Parks moderated a conversation with Fiction Award finalists Rachel Beanland and Brian Castleberry.




Poetry Panel — Thursday, October 14

Writer, teacher, and poetry contributor to The New Yorker Anna Scotti rounded out the author conversations with Poetry Award finalists Bill Glose, Annie Kim, and Kiki Petrosino.




Art in Literature: The Mary Lynn Kotz Award — Friday, October 15

The Library of Virginia and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts presented the Art in Literature: The Mary Lynn Kotz Award to Gaylord Torrence for his book, Continuum: Native North American Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.




Virginia Literary Awards Celebration — Saturday, October 16

Award-winning author Adriana Trigiani returned as host for the 24th Annual Virginia Literary Awards Celebration.






2020 Literary Awards Event Videos



Fiction Panel — Tuesday, October 13

Bathanne Patrick, writer, editor, and freelance book reviewer for the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times, moderated a panel with the Fiction Award finalists Angie Kim, Tara Laskowski, and Christopher Tilghman.




Poetry Panel — Wednesday, October 14

Poet Laureate of Virginia Luisa A. Igloria moderated a conversation with Poetry Award finalists Lauren K. Alleyne, David Huddle and Benjamin Naka-Hasebe Kingsley.




Nonfiction Panel — Thursday, October 15

Traci Thomas, host of the podcast The Stacks, rounded out the author conversations with Nonfiction Award finalists Tressie McMillan Cottom, Andrea L. Dennis, Mary M. Lane, and Erik Nielson.




Art in Literature: The Mary Lynn Kotz Award — Friday, October 16

Philip J. Deloria's book Becoming Mary Sully: Toward an American Indian Abstract is this year's winner. Deloria was recognized and spoke about the book during this virtual event in partnership with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.




Literary Awards Celebration — Saturday, October 17

Award-winning Virginia author Adriana Trigiani hosted the virtual Literary Awards Celebration on Saturday, where the winners were announced, including the annual People's Choice Awards. The Library also honored famed author, historian, and featured speaker Douglas Brinkley.


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