2026 W.Y. Boyd Literary Novel Award Winner- Robert Inman for the book "Villages"

CHICAGO — Villages by Robert Inman is the winner of the 2026 W.Y. Boyd Literary Novel Award “for excellence in military fiction.”  The book was published by Livingston Press, an imprint of The University of West Alabama in 2025.

The W.Y. Boyd Literary Novel Award honors the best American military fiction set in a period when the United States was at war.  The $5,000 award and citation, donated by author W.Y. Boyd II, recognizes the service of veterans by encouraging the writing and publishing of outstanding war-related fiction.

Villages immerse readers in the turbulent aftermath of 21-year-old Jonas Boulware’s military service in the Middle East. It paints a vivid portrait of a returned soldier haunted by unresolved trauma–both from his time at war and from his upbringing.

The potency of the narrative's voice, plot, characters, setting and tone binds together its raw, evocative exploration of trauma and Jonas’s arduous physical and mental path to healing.

Inman is able to draw connections among the many members of Jonas’s own personal village across various conflicts, roles and cultural identities, each with their own personal demons and inner storms. Inman demonstrates the theme of forgiveness through Jonas’s estranged parents; Lieutenant, a Black Vietnam War veteran; Doc, a mentor and friend; Ben, a troubled student; and Lyric, a folksinger, who each affect Jonas in their own way as he loosens the grip of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that has been plaguing him since his return from war.

The jury found Jonas’s story deeply relatable and authentic, making it a clear winner. The author’s commitment to giving a voice to recent war veterans gives this work a powerful, universal appeal for both veteran and civilian readers.

The W.Y. Boyd Award Jury is delighted to have selected this work as its 2026 winner.

Members of the W. Y. Boyd Literary Jury are Chair Beth McGuire, Ph.D., Librarian, Maxwell and West Elementary Libraries, Greensburg, Pennsylvania; Kristin Buxton, Head of Science Liaisons, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon; Jessica Hayden, Coordinator of Technical Services, Berea College, Berea, Kentucky; Rodney Lippard, Ed.D., Director, Torreyson Library at the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas; Poppy Louthan, Public Services Librarian, King County Library System, Woodinville, Washington.

Applications for the 2027 W.Y. Boyd Literary Novel Award must be submitted by February 28, 2027. Guidelines and forms are available on the ALA website.

About the American Library Association
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