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Local Author Wins Awardby KRISTEN ARMSTRONG, Staff Writer |
| Looking for a good mystery novel with a
local twist? Give “The Chase” by Middleburg author Jan Neuharth a read. Recently recognized as a Notable Winner of the 2007 Eric Hoffer Award in the category of commercial fiction, Neuharth's murder mystery follows Doug Cummings, a lawyer and horseman from Middleburg, on his path to find out who was responsible for his near-death vehicle accident. “The setting - old money on a Virginia foxhunt - is not only worthy of exploration, but executed in such a convincing manner that the reader is blessed with a page-turner set in a unique world,” said the award's panel of judges. The award, created in memory of philosopher Eric Hoffer, seeks to honor short prose and books of significant merit. “It feels great [to be awarded],” Neuharth said in a recent interview. “I guess as an author, it's a helpful measure of at least the literary world's reaction to your writing, but the most important reaction is readers' reactions, which has been the most rewarding thing about writing.” “The Chase” also has been selected as a finalist in ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards in the mystery category, as well as the Library of Virginia Literary Award in the fiction category. “The Chase” is Neuharth's second novel in the Hunt Country Suspense Series (“The Hunt” being the first). A third book is currently in the works. Readers interested in “The Chase” can find it nationwide at tack shop, specialty shops, bookstores and via the Web site at www.huntcountrysuspense.com. |