Asheville – The Asheville Museum of History announced the opening of nominations for the prestigious Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award, which has recognized outstanding literary contributions since 1955. The award, established by the Louis Lipinsky family, includes a $2,500 cash prize and is aimed at celebrating authors with ties to western North Carolina.
Eligibility and Submission Guidelines
Due to disruptions caused by Hurricane Helene, the museum did not present an award for 2024. This year’s award will encompass all publications released between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2025. Catherine Frank, director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville, was appointed to chair the award panel.
To qualify for nomination, works must be first editions of fiction, nonfiction, drama, or poetry. Authors must either be natives of western North Carolina or have resided in the region for at least 12 months prior to the award’s closing date. Additionally, works that focus on or are set in western North Carolina are also eligible. The region includes the Qualla Boundary and 23 counties such as Buncombe, Haywood, and Watauga.
Nominators are required to submit a cover letter along with three copies of the nominated work by July 31, 2025. The nomination letters must specify the publication date, the author’s birthplace or residence, and the setting of the work.
A Celebration of Literary Excellence
An awards ceremony and reception honoring the finalists and the recipient of the 2024-2025 Award will take place in early December 2025. The Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award has a rich history, with its first recipient being Wilma Dykeman for her work “The French Broad.” Other notable winners include Robert Morgan, Gail Godwin, and Charles Frazier. David Joy received the 2023 award for his novel “Those We Thought We Knew.”
Katie Ritchie, Visitor Services and Development Manager at the Asheville Museum of History, expressed excitement about this year’s nominations. She stated, “We look forward to celebrating the literary talents that reflect the rich culture of western North Carolina.” Ritchie emphasized that the award aims to honor both established and emerging voices in literature.
For more information about the nomination process and eligibility criteria, interested parties can visit the Asheville Museum of History’s website or contact Steven Nickollof at education@ashevillehistory.org.