The Winner of the Laura Ingalls Wilder 2024 Award for Historical Literary Fiction – “Fresh News Straight from Heaven: A Novel Based on the True Mythology of Johnny Appleseed” by Gregg Sapp

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award Committee for excellence in historical fiction is please to present its 2024 Award to: “Fresh News Straight from Heaven: A Novel of the True Mythology of Johnny Appleseed” by Gregg Sapp.

Gregg Sapp, an Ohio native now living in Tumwater WA, is also the author of the novel, “Dollarapalooza—or The Day Peace Broke Out in Columbus" and the seven novels in the “Holidazed” series of satires, each centered around a different holiday.

Sapp observed, “I am grateful and thrilled to have my novel, “Fresh News Straight from Heaven,” recognized as the first winner of the new Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for Excellence in Literary Historical Fiction. It is especially timely in the year 2024, during which Johnny’s 250th birthday is being celebrated.

“Johnny Appleseed is a beloved historical figure. And rightly so. However, he was not the saintly pacifist, tree-hugger, animal-lover and benevolent eccentric commonly portrayed. Indeed, he was also a squatter, a derelict, and the subject of a lot of vicious gossip. He lived on a raucous frontier during violent times. In “Fresh News Straight from Heaven,” I endeavored to characterize Johnny’s story with respect to the harsh realities of his world, the complexities of people’s attitudes toward him, and the wild tales they told about him. It wasn’t always pretty. But it’s part of what makes him such an enduring character.

“I especially appreciate that the new award honors realistic historical literary fiction. It is entirely possible to depict the authentic attitudes—and yes, biases—of historical actors within the context of their times while remaining sympathetic to those harmed by unjust beliefs. Indeed, to do less is to unfairly denounce past actors for being products of their times, or to sanitize their stories through the perspective of contemporary sensibilities. Historians would be quick to denounce such falsehoods. So should writers of historical fiction.

“Thanks to the Committee for this award. And remember, September 26th, 2024 is Johnny Appleseed Day, and his 250th birthday. It would be an excellent excuse for having a piece of apple pie.”

For more information, see Gregg Sapp’s web page at www.sappgregg.net, or Evolved Publishing’s page, https://evolvedpub.com/books/fresh-news-straight-from-heaven/