Poet, essayist, and gardener Ross Gay has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Voice of the Heartland Award, sponsored by the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association and the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association. The award honors "individuals who exemplify the values and spirit of independent bookselling, and whose work resonates deeply with readers and communities across the region." Gay will receive the award during the Heartland Fall Forum Book Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, October 14.
GLIBA and MIBA said, "Gay's writing, infused with joy, attentiveness, and profound humanity, has had a transformative impact on readers and literary communities alike. His books--including The Book of Delights, Inciting Joy, and the National Book Critics Circle Award winning Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude--invite readers to engage with the world through generosity and wonder. Rooted in the Midwest, Gay's work consistently reflects the landscapes, voices, and daily practices of our region while also speaking to universal truths that connect us all.
"In addition to his celebrated poetry and essays, Gay has been a tireless advocate for the arts and education. As a professor at Indiana University, a founding member of the Bloomington Community Orchard, and a collaborator on numerous community based projects, he has fostered spaces where creativity and shared humanity flourish. His words and actions remind us of literature's power not just to move hearts, but to build more compassionate and connected communities."