Each year, the YMCA's Downtown Writers Center recognizes the best books published by CNY authors through the CNY Book Awards. Awards are currently presented in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and Children's Books. Each category is judged by an acclaimed author from outside of our region, to ensure impartiality. Finalists are named each fall, and the CNY Book Awards themselves are presented live at the Awards Reception.

Learn About the CNY Book Awards Nomination Process

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Questions? Contact director Phil Memmer at (315) 474-6851 x328, or email pmemmer@ymcacny.org.

2023 WINNERS

  • Poetry: Kathryn Bratt-Pfotenhauer, for Bad Animal
  • Nonfiction: Martin A. Sweeney, for The Remarkable Life of Alfred Haskell, Jr.
  • Fiction: Mary McLaughlin Slechta, for Mulberry Street Stories
  • Children's Books: Jennifer Catney, for Filling the Manger
  • Bob Herz Memorial Award for Literary Engagement (presented by Nine Mile Press): Ed Kochian

 

2022 WINNERS

  • Poetry: Mary Gilliland, for The Devil's Fools
  • Nonfiction: Douglas Armstrong, for The Archaeology of Harriet Tubman's Life in Freedom
  • Fiction: Virgie Townsend, for Because We Were Christian Girls
  • Children's Books: Susan Keeter, with Anamboba Sunday and Abamah Rita, for Sunday's Wheels
  • Bob Herz Memorial Award for Literary Engagement (presented by Nine Mile Press): Robert Colley

 

2021 WINNERS

  • Poetry: Jessica Cuello, for Liar
  • Nonfiction: Gloria Heffernan, for Exploring Poetry of Presence
  • Fiction: Jack Wang, for We Two Alone
  • Children's Books: Corey Leonardo, for The Hedgehog of Oz
  • CNY Book Award for Significant Contributions to the Art of Writing (presented by Nine Mile Press): Stephen Butler

 

2020 WINNERS

  • Poetry: Laura Donnelly, for Midwest Gothic
  • Nonfiction: Chuck D'Imperio, for Open House
  • Fiction: Jennifer Pashley, for The Watcher
  • Children's Books: Sally Roesch Wagner, for We Want Equal Rights!

 

2019 WINNERS

  • Poetry: Paul David Adkins, for Dispatches from the FOB
  • Nonfiction: Mike Winchell, for The Electric War
  • Fiction: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, for Friday Black
  • Children's Books: Cory Leonardo, for The Simple Art of Flying

 

2018 WINNERS

  • Fiction: Robert Lennon, for Broken River
  • Poetry: Christine Kitano, for Sky Country
  • Non-Fiction: Stephen Kuusisto, for Have Dog, Will Travel

 

2017 WINNERS

  • Fiction: Jaimee Wriston Colbert, for Wild Things
  • Non-Fiction: Georgia Popoff, for The Whiskey of Our Discontent
  • Poetry: Jessica Cuello, for Pricking
  • People's Choice Award: Jeff Delbel, for The Flight of Jimmy Eagleson

 

2016 WINNERS

  • Fiction: Jennifer Pashley, for The Scamp
  • Non-Fiction: Stephanie Shirilan, for Robert Burton and the Transformative Power of Melancholy
  • Poetry: Michael Jennings, for Crossings: A Record of Travel
  • People's Choice Award: Mary Hershberger, for Sometimes I Sing