The Alice B Readers Award
Encyclopedia
The Alice B Readers Award is given annually to living writers of lesbian
fiction whose careers are distinguished by consistently well-written stories about lesbians. Named for Alice B. Toklas
, the award is given once, only, in appreciation of career achievement. In addition to the medal, each recipient is given a lapel pin and a significant honorarium.
The Award was founded by Roberta "Sandy" Sandburg who died aged 72 on June 16, 2009. Sandy envisioned the Alice B Awards a decade or so ago, and in 2004 decided to make the awards a reality by committing funds from "an anonymous donor." A lifelong reader who was passionate about lesbian fiction, Sandy wanted to thank and reward the authors who had given her so much joy, and she did so by establishing the Alice B fund and gathering a group of women who became the Alice B Readers Appreciation Committee.
In addition to Alice B Medals, the Committee often awards Alice B Lavender Certificates to up-and-coming authors who do not yet have a body of work.
, author of many novels including Lover, once wrote: "Between the time of Sappho and the birth of Natalie Clifford Barney
lies a 'lesbian silence' of twenty-four centuries." It wasn't until the 1970s and the establishment of Naiad Books (after the Stonewall-riots in 1969), that books by, for, and about lesbians began to be regularly published. Still, it was a long hard road with little recognition and to this day, considerable difficulties and discrimination face authors of lesbian works.
The Alice B Award is one small contribution toward overcoming discrimination. As Martha Nell Smith so cogently wrote:
The Alice B Award exists to honor and recognize forerunners of modern lesbian fiction including such luminaries as Ann Bannon
, Jane Rule
, Marijane Meaker, Katherine V. Forrest
, and Lee Lynch as well as to the new voices who are providing information, entertainment, and enlightenment to lesbians around the world.
At least two Medals are given out annually. Selections are made from lists compiled by the committee members’ all-time favorite living authors currently publishing and those who have not published in more than five years.
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
fiction whose careers are distinguished by consistently well-written stories about lesbians. Named for Alice B. Toklas
Alice B. Toklas
Alice B. Toklas was an American-born member of the Parisian avant-garde of the early 20th century.-Early life, relationship with Gertrude Stein:...
, the award is given once, only, in appreciation of career achievement. In addition to the medal, each recipient is given a lapel pin and a significant honorarium.
The Award was founded by Roberta "Sandy" Sandburg who died aged 72 on June 16, 2009. Sandy envisioned the Alice B Awards a decade or so ago, and in 2004 decided to make the awards a reality by committing funds from "an anonymous donor." A lifelong reader who was passionate about lesbian fiction, Sandy wanted to thank and reward the authors who had given her so much joy, and she did so by establishing the Alice B fund and gathering a group of women who became the Alice B Readers Appreciation Committee.
In addition to Alice B Medals, the Committee often awards Alice B Lavender Certificates to up-and-coming authors who do not yet have a body of work.
Significance of the Award
Historically, lesbians have rarely had their voices heard in the fiction or nonfiction of modern society, (except perhaps as footnotes in medical journals regarding pathology). As Bertha HarrisBertha Harris
Bertha Harris was an American lesbian novelist. Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, she moved to New York City in the 1960s. She is highly regarded by critics and admirers, but her novels are less familiar to the broader public.-Career and published works:She is best known for her stylistically...
, author of many novels including Lover, once wrote: "Between the time of Sappho and the birth of Natalie Clifford Barney
Natalie Clifford Barney
Natalie Clifford Barney was an American playwright, poet and novelist who lived as an expatriate in Paris....
lies a 'lesbian silence' of twenty-four centuries." It wasn't until the 1970s and the establishment of Naiad Books (after the Stonewall-riots in 1969), that books by, for, and about lesbians began to be regularly published. Still, it was a long hard road with little recognition and to this day, considerable difficulties and discrimination face authors of lesbian works.
The Alice B Award is one small contribution toward overcoming discrimination. As Martha Nell Smith so cogently wrote:
"The trajectory of lesbian literature for the first two-thirds of the twentieth century can be described as a movement from encrypted strategies for expressions of the love that dare not speak its name to overtly political celebrations of woman-for-woman passion that, by the late 1960s, refused to be denied, denigrated, or expunged."
The Alice B Award exists to honor and recognize forerunners of modern lesbian fiction including such luminaries as Ann Bannon
Ann Bannon
Ann Bannon is an American author who, from 1957 to 1962, wrote six lesbian pulp fiction novels known as The Beebo Brinker Chronicles. The books' enduring popularity and impact on lesbian identity has earned her the title "Queen of Lesbian Pulp Fiction"...
, Jane Rule
Jane Rule
Jane Vance Rule, CM, OBC was a Canadian writer of lesbian-themed novels and non-fiction.-Biography:Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Jane Vance Rule was the oldest daughter of Carlotta Jane and Arthur Richards Rule. She claimed she was a tomboy growing up and felt like an outsider for reaching six...
, Marijane Meaker, Katherine V. Forrest
Katherine V. Forrest
Katherine V. Forrest is an American writer.Forrest is best known for her eight novels about lesbian police detective Kate Delafield. The character was the very first lesbian police detective in the American lesbian mystery genre and is described as "Miss Marple with k.d...
, and Lee Lynch as well as to the new voices who are providing information, entertainment, and enlightenment to lesbians around the world.
The Alice B Awards Committee
The Alice B Awards Committee is an anonymous group of avid lesbian readers. The award is made possible by an anonymous donor. The donor and committee share a common goal: to reward and thank writers of lesbian fiction for their contribution to the lesbian community, culture, and identity.At least two Medals are given out annually. Selections are made from lists compiled by the committee members’ all-time favorite living authors currently publishing and those who have not published in more than five years.
2008
- Ann BannonAnn BannonAnn Bannon is an American author who, from 1957 to 1962, wrote six lesbian pulp fiction novels known as The Beebo Brinker Chronicles. The books' enduring popularity and impact on lesbian identity has earned her the title "Queen of Lesbian Pulp Fiction"...
- Kim Baldwin
- Cate Culpepper
- Lauren Wright Douglas
- Jennifer L. Jordan
- Val McDermidVal McDermidVal McDermid is a Scottish crime writer, best known for a series of suspense novels starring her most famous creation, Dr. Tony Hill.-Biography:...
- Joanna RussJoanna RussJoanna Russ was an American writer, academic and feminist. She is the author of a number of works of science fiction, fantasy and feminist literary criticism such as How to Suppress Women's Writing, as well as a contemporary novel, On Strike Against God, and one children's book, Kittatinny...
- Therese Szymanski
2007
- Alison BechdelAlison BechdelAlison Bechdel is an American cartoonist. Originally best known for the long-running comic strip Dykes To Watch Out For, in 2006 she became a best-selling and critically acclaimed author with her graphic memoir Fun Home.-Early life:...
- Gerri Hill
- Lori L. LakeLori L. LakeLori L. Lake is an Oregon writer, teacher, speaker, and author of mystery, drama, romance, and general fiction, most of which is about lesbian protagonists...
- Lee Lynch
- Marijane Meaker
- Jane RuleJane RuleJane Vance Rule, CM, OBC was a Canadian writer of lesbian-themed novels and non-fiction.-Biography:Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Jane Vance Rule was the oldest daughter of Carlotta Jane and Arthur Richards Rule. She claimed she was a tomboy growing up and felt like an outsider for reaching six...
2011
- Amy Briant for Shadow Point
- Nat Burns for Two Weeks in August
- Gina Noelle Daggett for Jukebox
- D. Jackson Leigh for Bareback and Long Shot
- Kristin Marra for Wind and Bones
- Amy Dawson Robertson for Miles to Go
2010
- DL Line for On Dangerous Ground
- Colette Moody for The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin
- Carsen Taite for truelesbianlove.com
2009
- Del Robertson for Taming the Wolff
- Gill McKnight for Falling Star and Green-eyed Monster
2008
- L-J Baker for Broken Wings
- Catherine Friend for The Spanish Pearl
- Nairne Holtz for The Skin Beneath
2005
- Jaime Clevenger for The Unknown Mile
- Gabrielle Goldsby for The Caretaker's Daughter
- C. Paradee for Deep Cover
External links
- Bella Books which assumed the mantle from Naiad Books.
- GLBTQ.com Literary Section
- http://www.alicebawards.org/sandy.html about the founder of the award.