inspire

Brent Martin has been selected as a finalist for his book “George Masa’s Wild Vision: A Japanese Immigrant Imagines Western North Carolina“

Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy, Brent Martin, has once again been selected, from a pool of talented authors, for his George Masa story that was published earlier this year.

Just a mere 2 weeks after the announcement of receiving the Thomas Wolf Memorial Literary Award, the Southern Environmental Law Center published the following press release on their website.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) announced the finalists for the 2023 Phillip D. Reed Environmental Writing Award today. The work of this year’s finalists explores a wide array of environmental topics; ranging from environmental injustices faced by Southern communities to the challenges our region faces as it deals with the realities of climate change to the importance of environmental conservation. 

Presented each year, the Reed Award celebrates writers who achieve both literary excellence and offer extraordinary insight into the South’s natural treasures and environmental challenges.  

The award recognizes writers in two categories: the Book Category for works of nonfiction (not self-published) and the Journalism Category for newspaper, magazine, and online writing published by a recognized institution such as a news organization, university, or nonprofit group. Winners of the award will be announced in early February 2023. 

Book category finalists:  

• Corban Addison, Wastelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial 
• Dan Chapman, A Road Running Southward 
• Brent Martin, George Masa’s Wild Vision: A Japanese Immigrant Imagines Western North Carolina 
• Annie Proulx, Fen, Bog & Swamp 
• Bland Simpson, North Carolina: Land of Water, Land of Sky    

Journalism category finalists: 

• Isabelle Chapman, CNN, “Gambling ‘America’s Amazon’” 
• Cameron Oglesby, Southerly & Scalawag (collection), “This plan is a lie. How biogas could do more harm than good for the hog industry” and “N.C. releases general biogas permit despite environmental justice concerns”
• Tom Perkins, The Guardian (collection), “Cancer Fears Plague Residents of U.S. Region Polluted by ‘Forever Chemicals” and “Fury over ‘forever chemicals’ as US states spread toxic sewage sludge” 
• Annie Proulx, The New Yorker, “Swamps Can Protect Against Climate Change, If We Only Let Them” 
• Krishna Sharma, The Bitter Southerner, “Catfish & the Quarry: A Grassroots Victory for Environmental Justice in Rural GA” 

###

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 200, including more than 100 attorneys, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. southernenvironment.org

Reed Environmental Writing Award 

SELC annually presents the Reed Environmental Writing Award for outstanding writing in memory of Phillip D. Reed, a founding trustee of SELC who helped guide our organization through the early years before his untimely death in 1993. A talented attorney committed environmental activist, and editor of the widely read Environmental Law Reporter, Phil was known for his ebullient spirit and inquiring intellect. 

By recognizing top writing about the environment, SELC hopes to raise public awareness of the South’s natural treasures and environmental challenges that foster better conservation and protection of our environment. 

We’re very excited for Brent on another well deserved recognition. “George Masa’s Wild Vision” can be purchased on the Alarka Expeditions website, Amazon, or from a handful of bookstores located in Western North Carolina.

If you’re interested in learning more about this award, please contact: