Two with Minnesota roots are finalists

Two Minnesota writers among the finalists for the National Book Award.

By LAURIE HERTZEL, Star Tribune

Last update: October 14, 2009 - 6:46 PM

The National Book Awards finalists were announced Wednesday, and Minnesota is looking pretty good.

T. J. Stiles, born in Foley, Minn., and educated at Carleton College in Northfield, is a finalist in nonfiction for "The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt," published by Alfred A. Knopf.

And Adrienne Mayor, raised in Hopkins, educated at the University of Minnesota, is also a finalist in nonfiction for her book, "The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy," published with Princeton University Press. Mayor is a visiting scholar at Stanford University in California.

Stiles, who also lives in California now, says he was notified Tuesday, and that it was very hard to keep the news under his hat for 24 hours. Mayor says it's very exciting, and she is looking forward to meeting Stiles at the awards ceremony in November. (It's quite likely that Stiles is looking forward to meeting her, too.)

OTHER FINALISTS IN NONFICTION

David M. Carroll, "Following the Water: A Hydromancer's Notebook"; Sean B. Carroll, "Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origins of Species," and Greg Grandin, "Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford's Forgotten Jungle City"

FINALISTS IN FICTION

Bonnie Jo Campbell, "American Salvage"; Colum McCann, "Let the Great World Spin"; Daniyal Mueenuddin, "In Other Rooms, Other Wonders"; Jayne Anne Phillips, "Lark and Termite," and Marcel Theroux, "Far North."

FINALISTS IN POETRY

Rae Armantrout, "Versed"; Ann Lauterbach, "Or to Begin Again"; Carl Phillips, "Speak Low"; Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon, "Open Interval," and Keith Waldrop, "Transcendental Studies: A Trilogy."

YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE

Deborah Heiligman, "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith"; Phillip Hoose, "Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice"; David Small, "Stitches"; Laini Taylor, "Lips Touch: Three Times," and Rita Williams-Garcia, "Jumped."

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Here are some of Books Editor Laurie Hertzel's favorite sites and blogs. Got a literary link to share? E-mail Laurie.

Twin Cities Literary Scavenger Hunt Home page for the scavenger hunt, which runs now through Dec. 26.
Reading Minnesota A blog that features Minnesota writers, illustrators, publishers, bookstores, and reviewers.
Talk of the Stacks An author series from the Library Foundation of Hennepin County.
Poets & Writers The website for Poets and Writers Magazine--podcasts, author interviews, and writing resources.
Creative Writing A place to keep apprised of writing competitions in the United States.
Gather Minnesota Readers The Website for Minnesota Public Radio's books blog.
The Loft Literary Center The Website for the Loft, a local place for writers and readers.
Good Reads A way to track what you're reading, and what your friends are reading.
Lost Manuscripts Just what it sounds like - a blog (sporadically updated) devoted to missing and destroyed manuscripts.
Maud Newton Very hip, reviews, links, a little attitude.
bookreporter.com A plethora of online book reviews and reading guides.
Rain Taxi Rain Taxi Review of Books.