OXFORD — Oxford resident Neil White, author of the memoir In the Sanctuary of Outcasts (Morrow/HarperPerennial), won the Southeastern Outstanding Author Award in nonfiction from the Southeastern Library Association (SELA). The award was announced during a ceremony at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas on September 28, 2010.

The SELA awards committee described In the Sanctuary of Outcasts as “powerful, deeply moving, and inspiring.” Jim Cooper, SELA awards chairperson added, “Neil White joins an elite list of distinguished Southern writers recognized by the Southeastern Library Association. He certainly is a deserving recipient of the 2010 Outstanding Author Award for Nonfiction.”

Former SELA Outstanding Author winners include Eudora Welty, Ernest Gaines, Willie Morris, Rick Bragg, Ann Patchett, Sue Monk Kidd and Pat Conroy.

Since its publication in the summer of 2009, In the Sanctuary of Outcasts has received accolades from Books for a Better Life, the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, and the Barnes & Noble “Discover Great New Writers” program.

In response to the SELA award, author Neil White said, “I’m surprised and honored — and especially grateful this story is being singled out by a group of wonderful readers like librarians.”

The 2010 SELA Outstanding Author Award in fiction went to Ron Rash of North Carolina for his short story collection Burning Bright (Ecco/HarperCollins).

SELA is the trade organization for libraries in twelve Southern states.

Thursday, July 29, 2010, 7-8:30 pm, Baton Rouge, LSU Cox Academic Ctr for Student Athletes Auditorium, (doors open at 6:30)

Neil White will read from, speak about and answer questions from the audience about his memoir In the Sanctuary of Outcasts. Come early, more than 400 attendees are expected. Characters from the book will “step off the page” to greet the audience.

For more information and maps, visit readonebook.org

Every book has mistakes. Mine has a very damaging one. It’s just two words, but it goes counter to everything In the Sanctuary of Outcasts is about. In the Epilogue, I mention that Harry shares the Carville facility with juvenile offenders.  I recently discovered nothing could be further from the truth.

The young men and women who share Carville with the remaining residents are “at risk” teens participating in the Youth Challenge Program — a voluntary program for teens who want to improve their lives (serious criminal activity actually prevents participation).

So, in my ignorance, I stigmatized a group of young people who need the opposite — love, encouragement and praise for their commitment to turning their lives around.

I hope the participants, teachers, administrators of the Youth Challenge Program will accept my deepest apology.

Neil White

Author, In the Sanctuary of Outcasts

For more information on the program, click here

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Call 662-323-2844 for more information

Author Signings/Events

Wednesday, June 2, 5:00 pm signing, 5:30 reading, LeMuria Books, Jackson, MS

Thursday, June 3, Noon, Reed’s GumTree Books, Tupelo, MS

Thursday, June 3, 5:00 pm signing; 5:30 presentation, Square Books, Oxford, MS

Thursday, June 10, 6-8 pm, Page & Palette, Fairhope, AL

Saturday, June 12, 5-7 pm, Bay Books, Bay St. Louis, MS

Tuesday, June 15, 11:30 am, Hancock County Library, Bay St. Louis, MS

Thursday, June 17, 6:00 pm, Madison County Bar Association, MS

Friday, June 18, 3:00 pm,  Yoknapatawpha Writing Workshop, Oxford, MS

Friday, July 23, 5:00 pm, Bookmart, Starkville, MS

Thursday, July 29, 6:00 pm, LSU campus, Baton Rouge “One Book, One Community”

March 11, 2010, Florence, Alabama, University of North Alabama Honors College, Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, 5:30 p.m. signing; 6:00 p.m. reading

March 16, 2010, Amory, Mississippi, Lunching with Books, Amory Municipal Library, Noon

March 24, 2010, Huntsville, Alabama, Church of Nativity, Episcopal, Lenten Series, 6:00 p.m.

March 27, 2010, New Orleans, Louisiana, Tennessee Williams Festival, Royal Sonesta Grand Ballroom, 11:30 a.m.

February 8, 2010, Junior League of Birmingham Luncheon, Birmingham, AL

February 9, 2010, Browning Club (private),  Oxford, MS

February 12, 2010, Bookmark Interview (Alabama public radio), Jacksonville, AL

February 12-13 , 2010, On the Brink Book Conference, Jacksonville, AL

February 20-21, 2010, Our Home Universalist Unitarian Church, Ellisville, MS

February 24, 201,  Lenten Series Speech, Oxford-University Methodist Church, Oxford, MS

February 26-28, 2010, Perth Writers Festival, Perth, Australia