SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Officials with the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards announced besides winning a $5,000 cash prize and a hand-crafted limestone award, the 2024 winning authors were each given the opportunity to make a $500 donation to an Indiana library of their choice.

A total of 11 libraries were chosen to receive the donations.

Officials say the donation can be used to support each library's mission through programs, collection development, or any other needs the library may have.

Tess Gunty, author of The Rabbit Hutch, was born and raised in South Bend and studied English with an honors concentration in creative writing at the University of Notre.

As a 2024 Indiana Authors Award winner, Gunty, the fiction writer winner, selected the St. Joseph County Public Library to receive the donation.

Libraries selected and winning authors:

• The Oaks Academy Pre-K Educational Center Library, Indianapolis — Janna Matthies, Children’s winner
• Library at the Kheprw Institute, Indianapolis — Maurice Broaddus, Middle Grade winner
• Georgetown Branch, Allen County Public Library — Kekla Magoon, Young Adult winner
• The University Library at Indiana University Indianapolis — Edward Fujawa, Nonfiction winner
• Allen County Public Library — George Kalamaras, Poetry winner
• Martinsville Branch, Morgan County Public Library — Brittany Means, Debut winner
• Delphi Public Library — Rebecca McKanna, Genre winner
• Kennedy Branch, Muncie Public Library — Jennifer Blackmer, Drama winner
• Southwest Branch, Monroe County Public Library — Tony Brewer, Literary Champion honoree
• Glendale Branch, Indianapolis Public Library — Susan Neville, Lifetime Achievement honoree

“Libraries often act as a gateway to a journey of lifelong reading,” said Marianne Glick, chair of the Glick Family Foundation and daughter of Eugene and Marilyn Glick, founders of the Indiana Authors Awards. “It’s always a distinct pleasure to support the meaningful work that libraries do, and to open the doors for more readers throughout the state.”

The winners were chosen from more than 50 shortlisted works with officials saying the winning submissions were written by a diverse collection of authors who all have deep connections to Indiana.

You can learn more about Indiana Authors Awards here.