Charlotte author Cheris Hodges is a finalist for the second annual Jessie Redmon Fauset Book Award is for her novel “Rumor Has It.”   

Presented by the L.A. Leimert Park Book Fair, the winner will be announced at an awards luncheon in Los Angeles on July 31.  

“I got an email from my publisher,” said Hodges, “and they were like ‘Oh congratulations! You’re a finalist for the award!’”  

Published in the spring, “Rumor Has It” has proved exceedingly successful for Hodges, and she’s thrilled with the reader response.  

In its ninth year, the Leimert Park Village Book Fair continues to promote education and literacy.  Other fiction finalists include “The Honey Spot” by L. Divine, “Bad Blood” by Mary Monroe, “Delicious Foods” by James Hannaham, “God Help the Child” by Toni Morrison, and “Disgruntled” by Asali Solomon.  

“I saw the caliber of authors and I was like ‘Wow!’” said Hodges. “It’s such an honor. I’m very excited.”   

Considered one of the most intelligent female writers of the Harlem Renaissance, Jessie Redmon Fauset provided a major female African American voice during that time in American history. In addition to her four novels, she wrote poetry, essays, and served as an editor.

The awards recognize the highest caliber of general fiction, non-fiction, poetry as well as the spoken word, children and young readers as well as youth, teen and young adults. 

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