ATHENS, Ga. – David Bryant and George Davidson, two staff members in the University of Georgia’s Sea Grant Program, have been named best children’s authors by the Georgia Writers Association for their book, Georgia’s Amazing Coast.
The book, published by the UGA Press, is a collection of 100 short, self-contained features about the flora, fauna and natural history of Georgia’s coast. Each page includes a full-color illustration by Georgia Sea Grant artist Charlotte Ingram and fact-filled commentary by Bryant and Davidson on coastal wildlife – from fifty-foot-long northern right whales to single-cell plankton.
“The book began as an illustrated feature series for coastal newspapers,” Bryant explained, “and the UGA Press saw its potential as a book. George and I were flattered to receive this award, though we think the most striking thing about the book are Charlotte Ingram’s illustrations, which were outside the scope of the writing award.”
Bryant is director of communications for the Georgia Sea Grant Program. He formerly worked as a producer for the NPR affiliate station WUGA-FM, where he originated such award-winning shows as “Berlin Calling” and “Islam and the West.”
Davidson is a writer and editor for Georgia Sea Grant. He is also a musician and a self-taught artist whose prints and shadow boxes have been widely published and exhibited.
Hugh Ruppersburg, assistant dean in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, was also recognized by the Georgia Writers Association for After O’Connor in the anthology category.
The Georgia Writers Association is a nonprofit organization that works across the state to encourage and strengthen the proficiencies of writers in both the creative and the business aspects of the writing life through meetings, workshops, conferences, contests and other events.
For more information on Georgia’s Amazing Coast, visit http://www.ugapress.uga.edu/books/shelf/0820325333.html. For more information on the Sea Grant Program, visit http://www.marsci.uga.edu/gaseagrant/.
