Professional Writing Assistant Professor, Mary Anna Evans, won the Oklahoma Book Award in Fiction for her novel, "The Physicists' Daughter." This honor was awarded during the 34th Annual Oklahoma Book Awards on April 22 in Oklahoma City.
"The Physicists' Daughter" is a historical novel set in WWII-era New Orleans, featuring Justine Byrne, a factory worker who discovers possible sabotage in her workplace. Evans drew inspiration for the story from an intriguing character she envisioned - a woman who was a scientist during a time when such a thing was almost unimaginable. "Writing fiction is all about information control—how are you going to let your story unspool naturally, while withholding enough information to entice the reader to keep turning the pages?" Evans continued, "And it seemed to me that a woman who was well-versed in physics in 1944 was a kind of secret weapon." After visiting the National WWII Museum in New Orleans and seeing where the boats used on D-Day were built, Evans knew she had found the perfect setting for her character.
When asked about her win, Evans responded, "Oklahoma has many, many wonderful novelists, so all of the finalists are phenomenal writers... I feel happy that the judges thought my work was worthy of the award, but I also feel rueful that we all didn't win. Being familiar with the other finalists and with their work means that I am deeply honored to receive the award."
As an assistant professor at Gaylord College, Evans finds her work as an educator influences her writing. "Teaching is an activity that requires you to think carefully and deeply about your subject. I am lucky to spend time among brilliant students and colleagues, talking about books," she said.
Evans began work on "The Physicists' Daughter" in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. After submitting the proposal, the novel was accepted within a week and had to be finished within a year. She is now preparing for the publication of the sequel, "The Traitor Beside Her," scheduled for release in June 2023.
In addition to her recent win, Evans' co-edited the book, "The Bloomsbury Handbook to Agatha Christie," which was nominated for an Edgar Award, an Agatha Award, and is shortlisted for the HRF Keating Award in the UK.
