Literary celebration, and Clark Awards, set for May 20

St. Petersburg Press will honor and celebrate the literary life of the city with the fifth annual State of the Word event, Wednesday, May 20 in the Neri Event Room at the Lealman Exchange Community Center, 5175 45th Street N.

A highlight of the event is the Roy Peter Clark Awards, bestowed by veteran writing coach Clark, honoring “journalists, novelists, poets, booksellers, librarians and others who have contributed to the literary life of the city.”

Clark, the author of several world-renowned books on writing, joined the staff of the then-St. Petersburg Times in 1977, and taught writing at the Poynter Institute for nearly 40 years.

“It’s my mission to learn something new about reading or writing every day,” he said. “I can’t do that by myself. I need to be part of a community that cares about the written word. I need to help writers understand how much they are appreciated.

“Right here. Right now. In our own town. A city of writers.”

The 2026 honorees are:

Monsignor Robert Gibbons, pastor of St. Paul Catholic Church. This honoree belongs to a new category created by Clark. “When we think of the most influential readers, writers, and storytellers, we should remember leaders of our religious communities. A voracious reader of news, literature, and history, Msgr. Gibbons has informed thousands of parishioners and visitors to his parish through his homilies, his written reflections on Scripture, and his family history. He has served as a priest in the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg for 45 years.”

Monica and Jon Kile, “the power couple of St. Pete writers. Along with their two creative children, the Kiles ignite the spark of literacy wherever they go. Jon is a versatile author and essayist who never misses an opportunity to encourage the community of St. Pete writers. Monica is a well-known marathon runner, preservationist, tour guide, and popular historian who in her writing has revealed the hidden narratives of the Sunshine City. Her book St. Petersburg: A Walk Through History is a literary version of her walking tour, a time-travel exploration of the city’s most interesting and historic places.”

Rachel Knox, author and bookseller. “Knox gained attention from publication of her recent book, her first, Anywhere Else, a series of critical essays on Florida life and culture, with lots of attention to her native St. Petersburg. I thought I understood this state until I read Rachel’s remarkable book. I will never look at a sunset, or a lizard, or a margarita the same way again.”

Megan Kotsko, owner of The Story Garden bookstore. “With 20 years of experiences as a language arts teacher in the Pinellas County schools, Megan Kotsko turned out to be the perfect person to create a new bookstore devoted to the literacy of young children. I visited the store one morning, and was drowned in a sea of tiny children and parents engaged in story time. The energy was like a rock concert.”

Marc Topkin, baseball beat writer for the Tampa Bay Times. Says Clark: “No reporter over the last three decades has had more bylines in the Times than Topkin. His work goes far beyond balls and strikes, wins and losses. He has been called upon to address social, political, and economic issues such as changes in ownership, plans for a new stadium, and the destruction of the roof of Tropicana Field. The number of his stories exceeds 12,000.”

Paul Wilborn, author, executive director of the Palladium Theater. “Wilborn’s career in St. Pete and Tampa reveals his many sides, from news columnist, to musician, to cultural czar, and most recently to award-winning novelist. His third work of fiction, The Everlasting Life of Charlie Wall brings to life one of the most famous and notorious organized crime figures in the history of Tampa. When this book becomes a movie, Paul will probably win an Oscar for performing the musical score!”

St. Petersburg Press director Amy Cianci will be among the speakers at the Lealman event, and many of the Press’ authors will be in attendance.

“State of the Word” will include music, light food and a cash bar. Tickets are free, with a suggested donation to support literacy efforts in Tampa Bay. RSVPs are appreciated.

Limited VIP packages are available for $100 (per ticket) and include two drink tickets, two St. Petersburg Press books signed by the author, a St. Petersburg Press T-shirt and priority seating.

St. Petersburg Press and the St. Pete Catalyst are owned by the St. Petersburg Group.