The Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance has lauded six Down East Books authors in its 2008 Maine Literary Awards.
Eleanor Lincoln Morse, author of
"An Unexpected Forest," earned top honors in the fiction category. Thomas Mark Szelog and Lee Ann Szelog topped the Maine-themed category for
"Our Point of View: Fourteen Years at a Maine Lighthouse." Cynthia Finnemore Simonds, author of
"Superb Maine Soups," and John Christie, author of
"The Story of Sugarloaf," earned honorable mentions among Maine-themed entries.
Karel Hays earned an honorable mention among published children's books for "
The Winter Visitors. "
Finally, Carl Little received an honorable mention for his non-fiction work,
"Paintings of Maine." "Down East has been publishing books that share the story of Maine and its people for 41 years," said Down East Group Publisher John Viehman. "We are pleased that MWPA judges noted the caliber of our books and we are honored to be recognized by an organization doing so much to promote literature and the art of writing in Maine."
MWPA began the annual literary awards in 2006, in recognition of the works of Maine's published and non-published writers and poets. The nonprofit, membership-based organization promotes literature and the art of writing and is based in Portland.
Winners of the 2008 Maine Literary Awards will be honored during a reception and reading Thursday, April 3, at 7 p.m. in the Glickman Family Library, University of Southern Maine, Portland. The four
Down East books honored by MWPA, and dozens more, are available online. 
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