2018 Washington State Book Awards

The Washington State Book Awards (WSBA) honor up to eight titles by Washington authors: one work each of fiction, poetry, biography/memoir, and history/general nonfiction for adults; one picture book for children, one book each for early readers (ages 6-8), middle readers (ages 9-12), and young adults (ages 13-18). The book awards call attention to and raise awareness of books that exemplify the best writing in the state during the previous year. The 2018 awards are for work published in 2017.Finalists will be announced by end of August, 2018.For the Awards Ceremony and Reception: We’ll begin the evening in the Microsoft Auditorium for the awards ceremony where we’ll announce the winners and hear brief readings from the winning titles. A reception, book sales and signing will follow in the Central Library Living Room on Level 3. Both the awards ceremony and the reception are free and open to all. University Book Store will have books available for purchase during the reception and author signing.Judges for Books for Adults:Kelly Evert, Manager, Village Books (Bellingham)Zola Mumford, Librarian, North Seattle CollegeBrian Soneda, retired librarian (former director of Mount Vernon City Library)Dusty Waltner, Director, Dayton Memorial Library (Columbia County Rural Library District)Judges for Books for Youth:Sheri Boggs, Youth Collection Development Librarian, Spokane County Library DistrictTom Brown, Librarian, Seattle Public SchoolsRaina Sedore, Youth Services Librarian, Timberland Library SystemThe Washington Center for the Book, a partnership of the Washington State Library and The Seattle Public Library, administers the annual Washington State Book Awards given for outstanding books published by Washington authors and to bring attention to the quality of writing being produced in Washington. Books are judged on literary merit, lasting importance and overall quality of the publication.