PROVO, Utah — It was a double-dip night for Dave Wolverton at the Whitney Awards held on April 24 at the Provo Marriott. Wolverton not only was honored with a special Whitney for "outstanding achievement," he also walked away with a Whitney for best LDS novel published in 2009.Elder Gerald N. Lund, a former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Second Quorum of the Seventy, was also honored with a lifetime achievement award for his novels including the bestselling "The Work and the Glory" series of books.The Whitney Awards aim to honor the best Mormon novels published each year. "The very best LDS fiction is as good as anything you would find nationally," said author Robison Wells, director and founder of the Whitney Awards. "We can hold these up as examples of LDS fiction at its finest."Wolverton received the best LDS novel Whitney Award for "In the Company of Angels," a book he published himself. Wolverton, a New York Times bestselling author of science fiction and fantasy, used his pseudonym David Farland for the book that follows the heartbreaking story of the Willie Handcart Company pioneers.__IMAGE1__Wolverton told approximately 200 people about how a dream convinced him to write the book. In his dream, members of the Willie Handcart Company encouraged him to write the story.He said he woke up his wife and told her, "Mary, I saw a bunch of dead people in a dream and they want me to write a book."His wife told him that if it was the Lord's will, it would turn out ok. He responded, "Actually, I think we will probably go bankrupt ... because I'll have to publish it myself."Wolverton joked that he was either crazy or inspired. Either way he has not gone bankrupt and is almost sold out of his first printing run. "I have to thank, especially, Bodil (Baline) Mortensen, for coming to me in a dream and saying, 'Will you write our story?"" Wolverton said.The Whitney Awards also honored several authors in several other categories.The award for best novel by a new author was a tie this year. The winners were "I Am Not A Serial Killer" by Dan Wells and "Gravity vs. The Girl" by Riley Noehren .Dan Wells' novel is in the horror genre. "My book is about a kid trying to do the right thing and trying to overcome the natural man," he said."My book is not LDS-themed, but somehow you found me," said Noehren, who self-published her novel. "I'm so humbled by the award."The best romance was "Counting the Cost" by Liz Adair. In her acceptance speech, Adair dedicated her award to an uncle who had converted to the LDS Church, but died before his baptism.__IMAGE3__The best mystery/suspense novel was "Methods of Madness" by Stephanie Black. Black was surprised by her win. "It's a good thing I'm not a gambling woman or I would have lost money," she said.The best youth fiction was "The Chosen One" by Carol Lynch Williams. Williams book is about a 13-year-old girl in a fundamentalist polygamist group that resists being chosen as a wife for a 60-year-old man. "I had written the book with the intention of showing that Mormons and polygamists aren't the same," Williams said. "Whenever Latter-day Saints will ask me, 'Are there any Latter-day Saints in the book?' I'll always say to them, 'No Mormons were harmed in the making of this book.'"The best speculative fiction was "Servant of a Dark God" by John Brown. Brown was unable to attend, but left a humorous message that if he won it would prove that the end of the world was imminent.The best historical novel was "The Last Waltz" by G.G. Vandagriff. Vandagriff said she began the book about 40 years ago, but was unable to finish it due to a long-term illness. The illness, however, helped her understand how to depict a character as a survivor.The best general fiction novel was "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford. Ford was unable to attend the event.__IMAGE2__The Whitney Awards honored Elder Gerald Lund with a lifetime achievement award. Wells said the reason Elder Lund was being honored was because he paved the way for LDS fiction. "He brought LDS fiction to the mainstream LDS," Wells said. "'Work and the Glory' came on the scene and ... brought a revolution in LDS fiction. He is the bestselling LDS fiction author of all time.""I'm just the story teller," Lund said after a standing ovation. "I love to be the story teller. But the power in those books is in the power of the lives of real people."Wolverton, in addition to winning the Whitney for Best Novel of the year, was also recognized with a standing ovation for the "outstanding achievement" Whitney. Wells said that Wolverton was given this special award for his influence on LDS authors. "A lot of authors chock up their success to him and his teaching — online and at conferences, but especially at BYU," Robison Wells said.Authors that Wolverton taught include Brandon Sanderson, Stephenie Meyer, Dan Wells and others."The world needs great writers," Wolverton said. "I hope that those of you who have learned anything at all from me will certainly take the time to pass it on."The Whitney Awards were created in 2007 and are named for early Mormon apostle Elder Orson F. Whitney. Unlike previous years, there were no separate nominees for either best LDS novel or best LDS novel by a new writer. Instead, the awards were voted on from the five genre categories. The Whitney Awards are held in conjunction with the annual LDS Storymakers Writers Conference."I think that (this year's winners are) a good broad spectrum of all areas, all aspects of LDS authors," Wells said.To nominate a book for the 2010 Whitney Awards go to www.whitneyawards.com.
E-mail: mdegroote@desnews.com