Celebration: 43rd Annual Northern California Book Awards

The 43rd Annual Northern California Book Awards recognize the best published works of 2023 by Northern California authors and California translators state-wide.

Presented by the Northern California Book Reviewers, Poetry Flash, and San Francisco Public Library, with our community partners Mechanics' Institute Library and Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter. 

The Fred Cody Award for Lifetime Achievement and Service will be presented to a distinguished member of the Northern Californian literary community. The winning Northern California authors will speak and briefly present their books. 

Eligible books are divided into categories: Fiction, General Nonfiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, and Children's Literature (Younger Readers, Middle Grade, Young Adult). The California Translation Awards in Poetry and Prose will honor works of translation by translators based in California. 

The Northern California Book Reviewers, editors and book reviewers, select the awards. 

History of the Northern California Book Awards

Since 1981, the Northern California Book Reviewers, a volunteer group of book reviewers and book review editors, have honored the work of Northern California authors. One of the group's founders was Fred Cody, proprietor of the famed independent bookstore in Berkeley. The NCBR created an award in his name to honor a lifetime of achievements and distinguished service to the literary community. The Fred Cody Award for lifetime achievement is presented every year to a member of the literary community. Previous recipients include Jack Hirschman, Sandra M. Gilbert, Daniel Ellsberg, Judy Grahn, Susan Griffin, Willis Barnstone, Adam Hochschild, Kay Ryan, Michael Pollan, Al Young, Andrew Hoyem, Diane di Prima, Orville Schell, Philip Levine, Ronald Takaki, Francisco X. Alarcón, Carolyn Kizer, Ishmael Reed, Maxine Hong Kingston, Robert Hass, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Malcolm Margolin, Adrienne Rich, Wallace Stegner, Kay Boyle, William Everson, Alice Walker, Gary Snyder, Jessica Mitford, Tillie Olsen, M.F.K. Fisher, Robert Duncan, Nancy J. Peters and Tamim Ansary.

The award ceremony will take place from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., followed by a book sale, signing, and a meet-and-greet mingle.

Nominated books will be available for purchase at the event.