We are happy to present the winners of the 2021 Merrimack Valley Magazine Awards. This spring, the top picks in all categories were chosen by our readers via our online voting platform. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and congratulations to all the winners.

Book by Local Author — Fiction & Poetry
“This Is No Time to Quit Drinking,” by Stephen O’Connor
Author Stephen O’Connor’s 2020 comic novel, “This Is No Time to Quit Drinking,” is a multilayered story chock full of clever humor and quirky characters. Set in Lowell, it features Bartley Hannigan, a middle-aged high school teacher doing his best to cope with the demands of his job while dealing with the death of his father and inheriting a haunted farmhouse in the process. 

Book by Local Author — Nonfiction
“A Kitchen Witch’s Guide to Recipes for Love & Romance,” by Dawn Aurora Hunt
Dawn Aurora Hunt is the founder of Salem-based food company Cucina Aurora. A proponent of what she calls “spiritual nutrition,” Hunt advocates for mindful culinary experiences. In her latest cookbook, avocado chocolate mousse, turmeric-ginger bone broth, spicy fried oysters, and red rose velvet cake are all on the menu.

Virtual Performance Programming or Museum/Gallery Experience
Merrimack Repertory Theatre
This season, the Merrimack Repertory Theatre is celebrating 42 years as the Merrimack Valley’s professional theater. The MRT maintains a commitment to new plays and strives to fulfill its mission — to “create remarkable new and contemporary plays that bring joy to our art form while engaging, entertaining and enriching our community.”
50 East Merrimack St.
Lowell, Mass.
MRT.org

Stop by next week for the winners of the ‘Milestone’ category.

The 2021 MVMAs are sponsored by: