The da Vinci Eye
Each year, the Eric Hoffer Award presents the da Vinci Eye to books with superior cover artwork. Cover art is judged on both content and style. The da Vinci Eye is given in honor of the historic artist, scientist, and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. This is an additional distinction beneath the Eric Hoffer Award umbrella.
"All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions."
"Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art."
-Leonardo da Vinci
Upon registering for the Eric Hoffer Award, a book is automatically considered for the da Vinci Eye. In the spring, the da Vinci finalists are announced. The da Vinci Eye was introduced in 2009. Recipients can be viewed below. Detailed coverage of current winners can be found in the US Review of Books.
2024
* No Evil is Wide, Randall Watson, Charles Moody (illustrator), Madville Publishing
* On Borrowed Breath, Karen Campbell Wilkinson
* The Codex of the Endangered Species Act, Vol. I, Lowell E. Baier Christopher E. Segal, Rowan and Littlefield
* The ForestGirls, Sissel Waage, Ana-Maria Cosma (illustrator), Lulu
* The Palisades, Gail Lynn Hanson, Slippery Fish Press
* Work Jerks, Louise Carnachan, She Writes Press
back to top
2023
* Horse Not Zebra, Eric Nelson, Terrapin Books
* How to Make Paper When the World is Ending, Dallas Woodburn, Koehler Books
* Nepantla Familias, Sergio Troncoso, Texas A&M University Press
* Rise, The Four Elementals, Nick Seneca Jankel, Switch On Books
* What Will I Wear to Your Funeral?, Kellie Curtain, Middle Page Publishing
* Year of the Murder Hornet, Tina Cane, Veliz Books
back to top
2022
* A Sky Full of Wings, Ksenia Rychtycka, Finishing Line Press
* Heroines Revisted, Lincoln Clarkes, Anvil Press
* How Good Food Works from Seed to Plate, Laura S. Moore, Wesley McWhorter, Joseph Novak, Don Sanders
* The Book of Calm, Nancy G. Shapiro, She Writes Press
* The Enemy of My Enemy is Me, Conor Bracken, Diode Editions
* You'll Never Find Us, Jeanne Baker Guy, She Writes Press
back to top
2021
* After the Body, Cleopatra Mathis, Sarabande Books
* And So Was Was Made & Also Honey, Amy Beeder, Tupelo Press
* Beyond Repair, Sebastian Matthews, Red Hen Press
* Gimpy, John Wilde, Bluewater Publications
* Midwest Gothic, Laura Donnelly, Ashland Poetry Press
* The Art of Wisdom, Tammy Lea Fabian, Time in the Desert
back to top
2020
* Blueberry Dreams, Calvin Earl Dallas, Stratton Press
* Hawk Parable, Tyler Mills, University of Akron Press
* Kneeling Under the Lemon Tree, Michele Lesko, Kelsay Books
* Priya Dreams of Marigolds & Masala, Meenal Patel, Beaver's Pond Press
* The Lampblack Blue of Memory, Sarah Adleman, Tolsun Books
* The Non-Exerciser's Guide to Awakening the Fitness Within, Instructor Savant Professorjohn, Growing Pains Publishing
back to top
2019
* A Last Survivor of the Orphan Trains, William Walters and Victoria Golden, Orphan Books
* A Whisper Across Time, Olga Campbell
* Blair House, William Seale, White House Historical Society
* Into That Good Night, Levis Keltner, Skyhorse Publishing
* Lucy, go see., Marianne Maili, Chez Soi Press
* Servie's Song, Heidi Tucker, The Pickled Sunflower
back to top
2018
* Driving without a License, Janine Joseph, Alice James Books
* Four Seasons of Loneliness, J.W.Freiberg, Philia Books
* Illegal, John Dennehy, Cotopaxi Publishing
* Pecking Order, Nicole Homer, Write Bloody
* Prose Architectures, Renee Gladman, Wave Books
* The Redhead, H. M. Howington, AuthorHouse
back to top
2017
* Baby X, Rebecca Ann Smith, Mother's Milk Books
* Know the Mother, Desiree Cooper, Wayne State University Press
* One Way to Ask, Daniel Ari, Norfolk Press
* The Charles W. Morgan, Andrew W. German & Daniel V. McFadden, Mystic Seaport
* The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman, Robin Gregory, Mad Mystical Journey Press
* The Last Cadillac, Nancy Nau Sullivan, Walrus Publishing
back to top
2016
* Fresh Tastes from a Well-Seasoned Kitchen, Lee Clayton Roper, MLC Publishing
* Jewels of Allah, Nina Ansary, Revela Press
* Journeys, Karen Roberts & Dana Simpson, Tim Hauf Photography
* Skin Music, Dennis Hinrichsen, Southern Indiana Review Press
* The Wynona Stone Poems, Caki Wilkinson, Persea Books
* Timeless Vietnam, C?nh Tang, Red Rock Press
back to top
2015
* Artist Spaces, Tina Freeman and Morgan Molthrop, University of LA at Lafayette Press
* Beautiful Evil Winter, Kelly K. Lavender
* Folly Beach Dances, Sheree K. Nielsen & Russell A. Nielsen, Ocean Spirit Photography
* The Family Cannon, Halina Duraj, Augury Books
* The Year of Living Virtuously (Weekends Off), Teresa Jordan, Counterpoint Press
* Tweeting da Vinci, Ann C. Pizzorusso, Da Vinci Press
back to top
2014
* A Slant of Light, Laurence Carr and Jan Zlotnik Schmidt (editors), Codhill Press
* A Song of Praise for Shifu, Susan J. Byrd, The Legacy Press
* Distance of Touch, Kristina Freeman, Booklocker
* Paddling to Winter, Julie Buckles, Raven Productions
* So Long Polyester, Deborah Rise McMenamy, Labello Press
* The Expedition, Jason Lewis, Billy Fish Books
back to top
2013
* Detroit's Historic Places of Worship, Marla O. Collum & Barbara Krueger, Wayne State University Press
* Greetings from Below, David Philip Mullins, Salt Publishing
* Kidnapping, Murder, and Management, Lynn Dorrough, Trafford Publishing
* Mary Chesnut's Illustrated Diary, Mary Boykin Chesnut, Martha M. Daniels, and Barbara E. McCarthy, Pelican Publishing Company
* Michigan's Historic Railroad Stations, Michael H. Hodges, Wayne State University Press
* The World Eve Left Us, Boston Teran, High Top Publishing
back to top
2012
* Beyond Suiseki, Manette Gerstle, Water Stone Press
* Letters in Cardboard Boxes, Abby Slovin, Abby Slovin
* Married into It, Patricia Frolander, High Plains Press
* One Pink Line, Dina Silver, Createspace
* The Plume Hunter, Renee Thompson, Torrey House Press
* Tornado Warning: A Memoir of Teen Dating Violence and Its Effect on a Woman's Life, Elin Stebbins Waldal, Sound Beach Publishing
back to top
2011
* Crossing with the Virgin, Ferguson, Price, & Parks, The University of Arizona Press (cover by Leigh McDonald)
* Life in a Jar, Jack Mayer, Long Trail Press (cover by Winslow Colwell)
* Lucky Fish, Aimee Nezhukumatahil, Tupelo Press (cover by Howard Klein)
* Moonlight Memoirs, Maggie Mei Lewis, Good Times Press (cover by Melody Lea Lamb)
* The Hesitant Hour, R.P.Weissner, AuthorHouse (cover by Lida Chaulet &
R. P. Weissner)
* The University of Gravel Roads, Rene Cormier, Renedian Adventures (cover by Chris 'Swani' Swanson)
back to top
2010
* Baby Owl's Rescue, Jennifer Keats Curtis, Sylvan Dell Publishing (cover by Laura Jacques)
* Beyond UFOs, Jeffrey Bennett, Princeton University Press (cover by C. Alvarez-Gaffin)
* Searching for Soul, Bobbe Tyler, Swallow Press (cover by Beth Pratt)
* The Culture of Excess, J.R.Slosar, Ph.D., ABC CLIO/Praeger (cover by Karen Quigley)
* Then, Something, Patricia Fargnoli, Tupelo Press (cover by Howard Klein & Brian Jecker)
* Voyeur, Rich Murphy, Gival Press (cover by Mark Johnson, Matt Murphy & Ken Schellenberg)
back to top
2009
* A Road More or Less Traveled, Stephen Otis & Colin Roberts, Sunnygold Books (cover by Ben Brezina)
* Cloisters, Kristin Bock, Tupelo Press (cover by William Kuch)
* Faces of the Earth, Elizabeth Searls Almy, Wishflower Press (cover by Charlotte L. Searls)
* Leaving My Found Eden, Ron L. Zheng, Literary Road Press (cover by Ron L. Zheng)
* The Enduring Journey of the USS Chesapeake, Chris Dickon, The History Press (cover by Marshall Hudson)
* Tough Boy Sonatas, Curtis L. Crisler, Boyds Mills Press (cover by Floyd Cooper)
back to top
|
