A book by one of Benicia’s past poet laureates and published by Benicia Literary Arts is a finalist in two categories of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

Lois Requist’s book, Late Harvest Green, an Idaho Farm Family Through the 20th Century, by Lois Requist, has been named a finalist in the categories of Ebook fiction and general fiction/novels of less than 80,000 words in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. These awards are the largest international awards for independent publishers, according to an announcement from Benicia Literary Arts. They were established to recognize exceptional independently published books in more than 70 different categories. Winning book authors are invited to the Gala Awards Reception in Washington, D.C., and receive gold award stickers for their books, which become listed in various catalogs and receive possible consideration by various literary agents.

Courtesy photo

Late Harvest Green book cover

Late Harvest Green, edited by Mary Eichbauer and others, was published in 2018 by Benicia Literary Arts. Its cover is from a painting by Susan Street and was adapted for the book by Tom Stanton, Benicia’s current poet laureate. “I’m thrilled that the book has received this recognition and appreciative of Indie Books for honoring publications by independent authors and publishers,” Requist said. “It’s hard to get attention in a world dominated by large publishers.”

Requist is a native of Idaho, although she has lived most of her adult life in California. This book’s story is largely taken from childhood memories and impressions of her home in Nampa, Idaho. The author has published two other books, Where Lilacs Bloom, and RVing Solo Across America Without a Cat, Dog, Man, or Gun. She’s also published poetry, short stories and nonfiction articles, and writes the column “The Village Voice” for Carquinez Village, a duty she shares with Judie Donaldson.

Benicia Literary Arts publishes work it considers to be of high literary merit. Since its inception in 2012, it has published The Long Blue Room, a book of poetry by Joan Gelfand, “With a Dream so Proud, The Life of Stephen Vincent Benet, by Donnell Rubay, and the last four anthologies of the First Tuesday Poetry Group, led by the poet laureate. Late Harvest Green and other publications by Benicia Literary Arts are available at Bookshop Benicia and other stores and online at Amazon.com. Benicia Literary Arts’ website is www.benicialiteraryarts.org.