Asheville Museum of History announces Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award winner

Asheville Museum of History announces Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award winner

The Asheville Museum of History has announced that David Joy’s “Those We Thought We Knew” has been selected as the winner of the 2023 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. The award ceremony will take place on Thursday, April 25, at 6 p.m. at A-B Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium in Asheville, NC.

Along with David Joy, finalists Erica Abrams Locklear, Elizabeth Giddens, Jennifer McGaha, and Terry Roberts will all be honored at the event. A reception will follow at the Asheville Museum of History at the Smith-McDowell House.

The Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award, established in 1955, is presented annually by the Asheville Museum of History to recognize printed works that focus on Western North Carolina. The winner of the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award receives a prize of $1,000.

Finalists and Their Works:

• Erica Abrams Locklear: “Appalachia on the Table: Representing Mountain Food and People”
• Elizabeth Giddens: “Oconaluftee: The History of a Smoky Mountain Valley”
• David Joy: “Those We Thought We Knew” (Winner of the 2023 Thomas Wolfe Literary Award)
• Jennifer McGaha: “Bushwhacking: How to Get Lost in the Woods and Write Your Way Out”
• Terry Roberts: “The Sky Club”

More than 35 nominations were received this year, showcasing a diverse range of genres and forms from the most talented authors in Western North Carolina. Each finalist will read a short passage from their work during the ceremony.

To learn more about the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award and purchase tickets for the event, visit the official website of the Asheville Museum of History.