Carl McColman has been named Georgia author of the year in the inspirational-religious category for his book, Befriending Silence: Discovering the Gifts of Cistercian Spirituality.

The award was presented by the Georgia Writers Association on June 4, 2016, at Kennesaw State University. It is the oldest literary awards ceremony in the southeastern United States, started by the Dixie Council of Authors and Journalists in 1964 and hosted by the GWA since 1994.

McColman was among 154 nominations in 14 categories that include both fiction and non-fiction genres.