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Lisa K. Strand, 608-245-3640

Michael Perry Wins Literary Prize from Wisconsin Librarians

The Literary Awards Committee of the Wisconsin Library Association has chosen New Auburn author Michael Perry’s Truck: A Love Story as the RR Donnelley Award winner for 2007. The award is the highest literary achievement by a Wisconsin author for a work written in 2006.

On the surface, Perry’s tale of restoring his 1951 pickup truck is both hilarious and heartfelt as we encounter the quirky yet endearing folks of New Auburn, Wisconsin. With wry, self-deprecating humor and rich use of metaphor, Perry lovingly portrays the people and places of his daily life, paying homage to small town America and to love found unexpectedly and all it brings.

Also chosen for their body of work were three authors designated as Notable Wisconsin Authors: Jerold Apps, Russel B. Nye, and George Vukelich.

The Literary Awards committee also selected ten books by Wisconsin authors for Outstanding Achievement. These titles, all published in 2006, are:

• Sean B. Carroll ( Madison). The Making of the Fittest: DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of Evolution.
• Maggie Dietz ( Green Bay). Perennial Fall.
• David Feige ( Madison). Indefensible: One Lawyer’s Journey into the Inferno of American Justice).
• Jane Hamilton ( Rochester). When Madeline was Young (a novel).
• David Maraniss ( Madison ). Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero.
• Patricia B. McConnell ( Madison), For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend.
• John Nichols ( Madison). The Genius of Impeachment: The Founder’s Cure for Royalism.
• Sam Savage ( Madison). Firmin: Adventures of a Metropolitan Lowlife.
• Kerry A. Trask ( Manitowoc). Blackhawk: The Battle for the Heart of America.
• Danielle Trussoni, (LaCrosse) Falling through the Earth: A Memoir.

• The RR Donnelley Award is made possible by the RR Donnelley Foundation through a grant to the WLA Foundation. The mission of the RR Donnelley Foundation is to make RR Donnelley the neighbor of choice and the employer of choice in the communities in which they operate, in part by making monetary grants to organizations serving those communities. In particular, the RR Donnelley Foundation gives high priority to activities that support the written word and promote reading and literacy.

The 2007 Literary Awards Committee members are librarians from around the state. For more information about the Literary Awards, go to http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/readers/WLAC/lac.html.

WLA unites and supports nearly 2,000 members from all types of libraries to develop and advocate for dynamic, responsive Wisconsin libraries.