The newest members of the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame have broken barriers across genres — from journalism to fiction to poetry — and all three have inspired the next generation of writers through teaching and mentoring.
The 2025 class includes Tina McElroy Ansa, novelist and founder of DownSouth Press; Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer; and Tony M. Grooms, poet, novelist, and co-founder of the Georgia Writers Association. Events will be held throughout the year at the University of Georgia Special Collections Libraries in Athens to celebrate each of the honorees.
“In their writing, this year’s Georgia Writers Hall of Fame honorees have different styles and approaches, but they share a common story in their work to uplift the next generation of storytellers,” said Katherine Stein, interim associate university librarian for special collections and director of UGA’s Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, which administers the award. “At the University of Georgia Libraries, we are honored to celebrate their legacies in writing and in mentorship, publishing, and education.”
Born in Macon, Georgia, Tina McElroy Ansa drew inspiration from her upbringing in the historic African American Pleasant Hill district, which became the fictional town of Mulberry in her novels. Her debut novel, Baby of the Family, was named a Notable Book of the Year by The New York Times and was chosen by the Georgia Center for the Book as one of the “Top 25 books Every Georgian Should Read.”
In 2008, Ansa founded DownSouth Press, a publisher based in St. Simons dedicated to amplifying Black voices. Ansa also created the Sea Island Writers Retreats to nurture literary talent in the coastal Georgia region. She received the Stanley W. Lindberg Award for her contributions to Georgia’s literary culture and remains the only two-time recipient of the Georgia Authors Series Award.
Ansa, a Spelman College graduate, passed away in September of 2024. Details will be forthcoming for an event celebrating her contribution to the literary community and her legacy in Southern Black storytelling.
Deborah Blum was raised in Athens and graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism. Her career began as a general assignment reporter before she transitioned to science writing, earning a master’s degree in environmental journalism from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
As a reporter for the Sacramento Bee, Blum wrote an acclaimed series of articles exploring the ethical conflicts between animal researchers and animal rights activists. The series, entitled “The Monkey Wars,” earned her a Pulitzer Prize, and she expanded her work to be published as her first book. Blum also wrote the best-sellers The Poisoner’s Handbook and The Poison Squad, both adapted into PBS documentaries. In addition, Blum served as a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison before becoming the director of the Knight Science Journalism Program at MIT, where she founded the digital science magazine Undark.
Blum will return to Athens this fall to join a panel discussion for the annual Food, Power, Politics Lecture, presented by the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies. The event, which will also serve as Blum’s induction into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame, will be held Sept. 23, 2025. Details about the event will be posted at libs.uga.edu prior to the event.
Anthony “Tony” M. Grooms, who retired as a professor of creative writing at Kennesaw State University in 2022, has a legacy an award-winning poet and author whose narratives delve into the complexities of race, history, and identity in America. Two of Grooms’ works Bombingham and Trouble No More, earned two Lillian Smith Book Awards, an honor administered by the Southern Regional Council, the Hargrett Library, and other partners to acknowledge the best works relating to social justice and the New South. Grooms is the recipient of numerous fellowships, including a Fulbright Scholarship.
An influential mentor, Grooms has inspired emerging writers while his novels are taught in schools for their powerful narratives on civil rights and social justice. In addition to his work at Kennesaw State University and other universities, Grooms co-founded the Georgia Writers Association and continues to support writers through the organization.
In celebration of his induction into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame, Grooms is expected to facilitate a writing workshop in the summer of 2025. Information about the event will be posted on the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame website when registration opens.
The Georgia Writers Hall of Fame honors Georgia writers, past and present, whose work reflects the character of the state, its land and people. Ansa, Blum, and Grooms join a distinguished group of more than 75 writers recognized for their literary achievements, including recipients of prestigious awards such as the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.
For updates on event details and to learn more about the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame, visit georgiawritershalloffame.org.