Jack Harrell, a member of the English department at Ricks College, has received the $1,000 Marilyn Brown Award from the Association for Mormon Letters for his unpublished novel, "Every Knee Shall Bow," the story of a young man who finds his way back to God after life as a prodigal.
"This novel brings a unique voice to the Mormon culture," says Marilyn Brown, president of the AML. "The language 'crackles.' If the reader gives himself to it properly, he will feel the power of it."Brown established the award to help further the careers of LDS novelists who are struggling to find a market and an audience for their work.
"Unlike many of our prominent Mormon novels that show the warts in the church, this novel shows the success of the church in blessing people's lives," says Brown.
Contacted at Ricks, Harrell said he has the manuscript with one publisher now, though another has also shown interest.
"It's a positive book, but not typical," he says. "It may make some people uncomfortable. It's a novel about a couple that moves into a ward and are there for three months before anyone knows about them, the kind of people who don't realize they should turn off the television set when the bishop comes to call."
The Marilyn Brown Novel Award is given out every two years. The next award will be in February 2002. For details about becoming eligible for the prize, write to her at 125 Hobble Creek Canyon, Springville, UT 84663 or send an e-mail to wwbrown@burgoyne.com.