Here are 10 decorated authors who will be at Tucson Festival of Books

Some are so talented that they’ve been recognized nationally as recipients of the most prestigious book awards.

At 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 11 in the Modern Languages Building on the University of Arizona campus, Beth Harrison of the National Book Foundation will introduce five National Book Award finalists: Leslie Harrison, Lisa Ko, Min Jin Lee, Nancy Maclean and Erica Sanchez.

Until then, here are 10 book festival authors who have won some of the most brag-worthy book prizes.

LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON

Besides being a New York Times best-selling author for young adult novels, Anderson has been a finalist for a National Book Award twice.

Anderson has also been a recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Anne V. Zarrow Award, both for young-adult literature.

Anderson’s book “Speak,” which was one of the National Book Award finalists, won the Golden Kite Award, Edgar Allan Poe Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.

“Speak” tells the story of Melinda Sordino, a high school student who called the cops on a summer party. She becomes friendless soon after, but then realizes that the real problem is something she’s been shutting out for a while. She was raped by a fellow high school student at the party she busted.

See Laurie Halse Anderson at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, and 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 11.

JOHNNY BOGGS

Boggs is a winner of the Spur Award of the Western Writers of America. But he hasn’t won once, nor has he won twice. He’s won seven times and has been a finalist a dozen more.

Boggs’ stories specialize in the American West, including travel, environmental issues, history, fashion, and everything in between.

In 2003, he also won a Western Heritage Wrangler Award for Outstanding Western Novel for his book, “Spark on the Prairie: The Trial of the Kiowa Chiefs.” If that’s not enough, he’s also won and been the finalist of many awards in his current home of New Mexico.

See Johnny Boggs at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 10.

BILLY COLLINS

In 2013, the Wall Street Journal called Collins “America’s favorite poet.” This comes years after he was dubbed poet laureate of the nation from 2001 to 2003. The poet laureate position is appointed by the librarian of Congress to serve as the official poet of the country. In other words, it’s a pretty big deal.

During his time as national poet laureate, Collins wrote a poem to memorialize the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Collins also served as poet laureate in New York state from 2004 to 2006.

After his “America’s favorite poet” designation, Collins was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2016.

See Billy Collins at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 11.

JULIA GLASS

In 2002, Glass struck gold when she won the National Book Award for fiction for her book “Three Junes.”

She is also a recipient of the Binghamton University John Gardner Fiction Book Award. Book awards aside, Glass has also received fellowships from various organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York Foundation for the Arts.

Glass’ newest book is entitled “A House Among the Trees.” In the book, children’s book author Mort Lear dies in his home. He happened to leave all of his belongings to his assistant, who is forced to honor his last wishes while simultaneously tackling obstacles from Lear’s other loved ones.

See Julia Glass at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, and 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 11.

STEVE HAMILTON

Hamilton has become one of the most popular authors in the mystery genre, where two of his books have made it to the list of New York Times best-sellers.

Among his many accolades, Hamilton is one of two authors who have won Edgar Allan Poe awards for both best novel and best first novel.

His book, “The Lock Artist,” won one of the Edgar awards. The book also won a CWA Steel Dagger for best thriller in the United Kingdom. Among many other awards, the book has won an Alex Award, which is an annual award given to the 10 best books that appeal to young adults.

“The Lock Artist” follows a young man who has not spoken in 10 years, but can open any kind of lock — a padlock, a locked door, or even a secured safe.

See Steve Hamilton at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 11.

JUAN FELIPE HERRERA

Like Billy Collins, Herrera is also a poet. He received the honor of being a United States poet laureate from 2015 to 2017 and was California’s poet laureate in 2012.

In addition to many collections of poetry, Herrera has also published young adult novels, children’s books, and short stories. His children’s book, “The Upside Down Boy,” was so well-liked that it was turned into a musical and his other children and young adult books have won awards such as an Ezra Jack Keats Award and the Americas Award.

Herrera was also a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle prize.

See Juan Felipe Herrera at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 10 and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 11.

JERRY SCOTT

Scott is not only a writer and a storyteller, but he’s best known for being the cartoonist behind comic strips “Zits” and “Baby Blues.”

Scott has won many awards for his cartooning, including the National Cartoonists Society’s Best Comic Strip of the Year — three times. He also won Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year in 2001.

Additionally, Scott’s fame hasn’t been limited to only the United States. He has won several awards overseas, including a Max and Moritz Award in Germany.

And though it isn’t an official award, it’s worth it to mention that Scott is one of only four cartoonists to have two comic strips run in more than 1,000 newspapers worldwide.

See Jerry Scott at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, and 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 11.

AMY TAN

Tan is the writer of several fiction novels, including one of her most popular: “The Joy Luck Club,” which was made into a movie in the early ’90s and was a finalist for a National Book Award in 1989. The book was also a finalist for a National Book Critics Circle Award that same year.

In addition to her notable nominations, Tan has won a Bay Area Book Reviewers Award, Commonwealth Gold Award and Best Book for Young Adults from the American Library Association. She also won an honorable mention by the Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature.

Tan’s most recent book is a memoir that takes readers through her childhood and family life.

See Amy Tan at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 10.

MICHAEL WALLIS

Wallis is a journalist, author and historian of the American West.

Wallis has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize three times, in addition to being nominated for a National Book Award. He also received the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award and a John Steinbeck Award. Wallis also worked on the documentary film “Boomtown,” which won him an Emmy Award.

He has been inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame of America, in addition to various halls of fame throughout Oklahoma.

Fun fact: Wallis was the voice of the sheriff in Disney’s “Cars” movies.

See Michael Wallis at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 11.

JACQUELINE WOODSON

Woodson’s book “Brown Girl Dreaming” truly took home the gold. Woodson was a recipient of a 2014 National Book Award, a Coretta Scott King Award, a John Newbery Medal, the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work and a Sibert Medal. The award-winning book tells the story of Woodson’s childhood.

Woodson has also won many awards for her other young-adult and children’s books, including the American Library Association’s award for best book for young adults and a Josette Frank Award.

See Jacqueline Woodson at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, and 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 11.