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Kennesaw, GA — Rome author Raymond L. Atkins has been named a 2009 Georgia Author of the Year for his first novel, The Front Porch Prophet. Atkins, a longtime resident of Rome, is a columnist and writer whose articles have appeared in numerous publications, including The Rome News Tribune, Memphis Downtowner Magazine, Savannah Magazine, and Maintenance Technology Magazine. His short stories have appeared in Christmas Stories from Georgia, Christmas from a Child’s Eyes, The Lavender Mountain Review, The Old Red Kimono, and The Blood and Fire Review.

The Front Porch Prophet was published by Medallion Press in August, 2008, to critical acclaim. Midwest Book Review called it “an intriguing and clever tale, highly recommended for community library fiction collections.” Literarlly noted that “Atkins’ writing is impeccable and he is clearly in his element with this wonderful piece of Southern fiction.” Previous accolades for The Front Porch Prophet include the 2009 Independent Publisher Book Award Gold Medal for Best Southeastern Fiction, a Nomination for the 2009 Southeastern Booksellers Award and a Nomination for the 2009 Independent Publisher Book Award for Best Popular Fiction. The book is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other fine booksellers.

The 45th annual Georgia Author of the Year Awards ceremony and banquet was held June 13th at the KSU Center in Kennesaw. The awards are presented by the Georgia Writers Association in several categories, including First Novel, Poetry, Fiction, and Lifetime Achievement. This prestigious award is considered to be the oldest literary award in the Southeast and has been awarded to such notables as Terry Kay, Steve Berry, and Judith Ortiz Cofer.

For more information, visit the Georgia Writer’s Association website at http://www.georgiawriters.org. Atkins’ second novel, Sorrow Wood, will be released on August 1, 2009, by Medallion Press. It is available for pre-order at Amazon. Also, please visit Raymond's website.