READERS CAN PICK THEIR FAVORITES FOR MINNESOTA BOOK AWARDS
by Chris Roberts, Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesota Public Radio, MN
March 1 2007

St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Book Awards is inviting readers to vote
for their favorite Minnesota book of 2006. Beginning Thursday, readers
may endorse one of 28 books that are up for awards in seven categories.

The book with the most votes wins the Readers’ Choice Award, which
will be presented at the annual Minnesota Book Awards Gala on May 5
in St. Paul.

Awards Co-Chair Stu Wilson says the Readers’ Choice Award was added
this year to generate more interest in Minnesota literature.

"We’re hoping to get people actively involved across the state in
looking at these great books and thought it would be a great way to
kind of go with ‘Peoples Choice’ ‘American Idol’, have people look
at the books and vote for their favorite."

Wilson says over the next six weeks, people will be able to choose
from 28 finalists on subjects ranging from cake baking to the Armenian
genocide.

"It’s a pretty daunting list of 28. I don’t know if anyone can get
through all 28 in the six weeks that the voting is open, but I think
if they can engage some of them and really find spectacular works
that are really their favorites, we’d really like them to take a
minute and vote for them," says Wilson.

Wilson says libraries and booksellers statewide will be promoting
the Readers’ Choice Award.

A list of Minnesota Book Award finalists and instructions on how to
vote are available at