Nominations open for Kay Sexton award

Nominations are open for the next Kay Sexton Award, presented to a person or organization making important contributions to Minnesota's literary community.

Nomination forms are available at thefriends.org/mba_sexton_award.html or by calling 651-366-6497.

Previous winners include Patrick Coleman, acquisitions librarian at the Minnesota State Historical Society; Carolyn Holbrook, founder of SASE: The Write Place, and Marly Rusoff, founder of the Loft Literary Center.

Nomination deadline is Jan. 14. The award will be presented April 16 at the Minnesota Book Awards celebration.

Also ...

• Twin Cities cartoonist Lars Martinson will release his new graphic novel in December. "Tonoharu: Part Two" continues the story of a young American who moves to Japan to teach English. The book is published by Pliant Press/Top Shelf, and Martinson will sign books along with two other graphic novel artists at 4 p.m. Dec. 4 at Big Brain Comics, 1027 Washington Av. S., Mpls.

• "Merit Badges," a novel by Kevin Fenton, will be published in January by New Issues Press. It was the winner of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs award for first novel. Fenton, an MFA graduate of the University of Minnesota, lives in St. Paul.

• "The Enchanted Buffalo," a fairy tale by L. Frank Baum, author of "The Wizard of Oz," has been published by the South Dakota State Historical Society Press. The story stems from Baum's time in South Dakota, and is based on American Indian legends. It has been illustrated by Oglala Lakota Donald F. Montileaux.

• "War Stories: Volume II," by Al Zdon, has been published by Moonlit Eagle, underwritten by the Minnesota American Legion. The large-format paperback book contains stories and photos about Minnesota veterans in World War II, Vietnam, Afghanistan and other battles. All proceeds from sales will go to American Legion youth programs.