Five Minnesota writers have won McKnight Artist Fellowships for Writers, announced (and administrated) by the Loft Literary Center of Minneapolis. Four awards are in poetry/spoken word, and one is in literature for young children.

Debra Frasier of Minneapolis received the fellowship for children's writing, selected from 38 applicants. Frasier is both a writer and an illustrator and the author of "On the Day You Were Born," and many other books. Runners-up were Linda Glaser of Duluth, Lynne Jonell of Plymouth, Laura Purdie Salas of Maple Grove and Constance Van Hoven of Mendota Heights.

The four winners in poetry/spoken word, chosen from a group of 125, are Kirsten Dierking of Arden Hills, Susan Carol Hauser of Bemidji, Michael Larson of Winona and Elisabeth Workman of Minneapolis. Honorable mentions went to Sean Hill of Bemidji, and Tim Nolan, Mike Rollin and Christine A. Sikorski of Minneapolis.

Each fellowship carries a $25,000 grant, funded by the McKnight Foundation.

LAURIE HERTZEL