Watt Key

Albert Watkins Key, Jr., publishing under the name Watt Key and Albert Key, is an American fiction author who is known for writing young-adult survival fiction.[7][8] A resident of Alabama,[9] his debut novel Alabama Moon[10] was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 2006 and was the 2007 winner of the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award for older readers. It received a 2006 Parents' Choice Award.[11][12] Alabama Moon has been translated and published in eight languages. In 2015 Alabama Moon was listed by TIME Magazine as one of the top 100 young-adult books of all time.[13][14]

Watt Key
BornAlbert Watkins Key, Jr.
(1970-10-28) October 28, 1970
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S.
OccupationWriter
Nationality American
EducationBirmingham–Southern College (BA)
Spring Hill College (MBA)
Notable worksAlabama Moon,( ISBN 978-0-374-30184-2 (1st edition hardback)[1]
Dirt Road Home,[2]
Fourmile[3]
Notable awardsE.B. White Read-Aloud Award (2007)[4][5][6]
SpouseKatie Feore Key (1994–present)
Children3

Alabama Moon was made into a 2009 feature film starring John Goodman.[15][16][17][18]

Personal life

Watt Key is a graduate of Bayside Academy in Daphne, Alabama and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Birmingham–Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama. He earned his Masters of Business Administration from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. While working as a computer programmer, he began submitting novels to publishers in New York City. When he was 34, he sold his debut novel, Alabama Moon, to publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Watt currently lives with his wife and three children in Mobile, Alabama.

Awards and honors
  • Alabama Moon (2006)
    • American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults[19]
    • ABC E.B. White Read Aloud Award, 2007[4][20]
    • ALLA Young Adult Book Award[21]
    • Auckland Council librarian's choice[22]
    • SIBA Young Adult Book Award, 2007[23][24]
    • Parents' Choice Award Winner[25]
    • California Young Reader Medal[26]
    • Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Choice Award Master List[27][28]
    • Indiana Young Hoosier Award Master List[29][30][31]
    • James Medison University Book Award List: Best Books For Young Adults[32]
    • Maine Student Book Award Master List[33]
    • Missouri Truman Readers Award Master List[34][35]
    • Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Master List for 2011[36]
    • Volunteer State Book Award Nominees[37]
    • Wildcat Book Award Nominees 2008-2009[38]
  • Dirt Road Home (2010)
    • ALLA Young Adult Book Award[21]
    • The Cybils Awards Master List[39]
  • Fourmile (2012)
    • Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year 2013[40]
    • 2014-2015 Indian Paintbrush Nominee Titles[41][42]
    • Kirkus Best Teen Books of the Year[43]
    • Indiana Young Hoosier Award Master List[44][45]
    • Maine Student Book Award Master List[46]
    • 2014-2015 MASL Readers Awards Preliminary Nominees[47]
    • The Mobile Bay Art & Music Awards (MODDYs) Master list[48]
    • South Carolina Children's Book Award Master List 2014[49][50][51][52][53]
    • Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award Master List[54][55]

Published works

Novels and collections
  • Alabama Moon, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006[56][57]
  • Dirt Road Home, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2010[58][59][60]
  • Fourmile, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2012[48][61][62]
  • Among the Swamp People, The University of Alabama Press, 2015[63]
  • Terror at Bottle Creek, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2016[64]
  • Hideout, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2017
  • Deep Water, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018
  • Bay Boy, The University of Alabama  Press, 2019
  • Beast, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2020
  • The Forgotten Coast, (as Albert Key) Penfish Press, 2021
  • The Black Hat and Other Tales of Horror, (as Albert Key) Penfish Press, 2021

Memoir, essays
  • Swamp Writer series, Mobile Bay Magazine, August 2012 - June 2014[65]
  • Bay Boy series, Mobile Bay Magazine, July 2014[66]

Screenplays
  • Alabama Moon, Faulkner-McLean Productions, 2009[67][68][69]
  • L.A. Dirt, Tundra Films, 2014[70]

References
  1. Alabama Moon by Watt Key. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2006. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-3743-0184-2.
  2. Dirt Road Home by Watt Key. Square Fish. 2011. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-3743-0863-6.
  3. Fourmile by Watt Key. Square Fish. 2014. p. 256. ISBN 978-1-2500-3995-8.
  4. "E. B. White Read Aloud Award Winners: Alabama Moon by Watt Key". American Booksellers Association. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  5. "Book awards: E.B. White Read Aloud Award by the Association of Booksellers for Children: Alabama Moon by Watt Key". LibraryThing. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  6. "E.B. White Read Aloud Award- 2007 Winner for Older Readers: Alabama Moon by Watt Key". Duluth Public Library. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  7. Rigby, Jessica Sawyer (7 July 2014). "Red Clay Readers to examine Watt Key's 'Alabama Moon'". Alabama Media Group. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  8. Rigby, Jessica Sawyer. "Author- Key, Watt". Richland Library. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  9. "Prize Winning Alabama Author On Talk-Circuit Thursday". Mobile County Alabama. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  10. "Alabama Moon- Watt Key". Minuteman Library Network. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  11. Alabama Moon, Parents' Choice. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  12. Paddock, Jennifer. (June 26, 2007) Writers in residence Garden & Gun Magazine. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  13. , TIME Magazine. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  14. "Time's 100 Best Young-Adult Books- Results: Watt Key- Alabama Moon". Sporcle, Inc. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  15. Scott, Mike (5 May 2011). "Locally shot 'Alabama Moon' an earnest, but clunky, adaptation". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  16. "Alabama Moon DVD event". Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  17. "Alabama Moon (2011)". Movieweb. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  18. "2009 World Premiere of "Alabama Moon" at Alabama Theatre, Birmingham, AL". Brown Paper Tickets. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  19. "2008 ALA Book Awards- Best Books For Young Adults 2008- Fiction: Alabama Moon by Watt Key". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  20. "Winner of the 2007 E.B. White Read Aloud Award For Older Readers: Alabama Moon by Watt Key". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  21. "Alabama Author Awards from the Alabama Library Association Young Adult: Watt Key. Dirt Road Home (2012) and Alabama Moon (2008)". Jefferson County Library Cooperative. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  22. "Librarian's choice: Alabama Moon - Watt Key". Auckland Council. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  23. "2007 SIBA Book Award Winners: Alabama Moon by Watt Key". SIBA. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  24. "Hart's book among finalists for award: Alabama Moon by Watt Key". Salisbury Post. 13 May 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  25. "Parents' Choice Awards: Books: Fiction- Alabama Moon, Fall 2006 Fiction". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  26. "California Young Reader Medal: Fiction- 7th-12th Grade TEEN- Key, Watt. Alabama Moon". Orange Public Library. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  27. "Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award- Cumulative Master List 1988-2015: Alabama Moon by Watt Key (2009)" (PDF). Rebecca Caudill. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  28. "Alabama Moon by Watt Key" (PDF). Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  29. "Alabama moon / Watt Key: Awards note: Young Hoosier Book Award, 2008-2009, 6-8 Nominee". The Indianapolis Public Library. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  30. "Indiana Young Hoosier Award Nominees 2008-2009- Middle Grades 6-8 Books: Alabama Moon". School Book Center, Inc. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  31. "Young Hoosier Book Award: Key, Watt. Alabama Moon". FCV Library Media Center. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  32. "Book Award List: Best Books For Young Adults: Alabama Moon - Watt Key" (PDF). James Medison University. p. 14. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  33. "Maine Student Book Award- 2007-2008 Reading List: Key, Watt. Alabama Moon. Farrar, Straus, & Giroux". Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  34. "2008-2009 Truman Final Nominees List: Key, Watt. Alabama Moon. Square Fish". The Missouri Association of School Librarians. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  35. "The Truman Readers Award Nominees for 2008-2009: Alabama Moon by Watt Key". Joplin Public Library. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  36. "Key, W. (2006). Alabama Moon. (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)" (PDF). Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  37. "Volunteer State Book Award Nominees: Key, Watt. Alabama Moon". Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  38. "Alabama Moon - Watt Key". Hillcrest Middle School. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  39. "Young Adult Fiction: Dirt Road Home by Watt Key" (PDF). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  40. "Best Children's Books of the Year 2013: Fourmile by Watt Key" (PDF). Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  41. "2014-2015 Indian Paintbrush Nominee Titles: Fourmile- Watt Key" (PDF). Indian Paintbrush Book Award. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  42. "Indian Paintbrush Book Award Book Lists: Key, Watt- Fourmile". Campbell County Library. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  43. "Best Teen Books of 2012: Fourmile by Watt Key". Kirkus. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  44. "YHB Nominees: Fourmile by Watt Key". Greencastle Community Schools. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  45. "Announcing the 2014-2015 Young Hoosier Book Award Nominees- Middle Grades: Fourmile by Watt Key" (PDF). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  46. "Maine Student Book Award Ballot 2013-2014: Fourmile By Watt Key" (PDF). Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  47. "2014-2015 MASL Readers Awards Preliminary Nominees: Fourmile by Watt Key". The Missouri Association of School Librarians. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  48. "The Mobile Bay Art & Music Awards (MODDYs): Fourmile by Watt Key". Mod Mobilian. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  49. "2014-15 SC Junior Book Award Nominees: Fourmile by Watt Key" (PDF). South Carolina Association of School Librarians. p. 8. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  50. "South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominees 2014-2015: Fourmile by Watt Key". Richland Library. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  51. "2014-15 SC Junior Book Award Nominees: Fourmile by Watt Key". School World. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  52. "South Carolina Junior Book Award Program 2014-2015: Fourmile by Watt Key". Dillon Middle School. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  53. "South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominees: Fourmile by Watt Key". Berkeley Middle School. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  54. The 2013-2014 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award List: Key, Watt. Fourmile. ISBN 978-0-3743-5095-6. Retrieved 25 February 2015. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  55. "Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Master List 2013–2014: Fourmile, Watt Key" (PDF). Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award List. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  56. Watt Key (3 August 2010). Alabama Moon. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR). ISBN 978-1-4299-8765-3.
  57. Newberry, Jenny. "Who Are the Main Characters in the Book "Alabama Moon"?". Film Festivals portal & social network. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  58. Watt Key (6 December 2011). Dirt Road Home. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0-3126-7435-9.
  59. Watt Key (6 December 2011). Dirt Road Home (eBook). Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-1-4299-3335-3.
  60. Watt Key (6 December 2011). Dirt Road Home (Hardcover). Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
  61. Key, Watt (September 2015). Fourmile, Watt Key. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 978-0-8173-1885-7. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  62. Maloney, Jenny. "Fresh Meat: Fourmile by Watt Key". CriminalElement.com. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  63. Key, Watt (September 2015). Among the Swamp People: Life in Alabama's Mobile-Tensaw River Delta by Watt Key. ISBN 978-0-8173-1885-7. Retrieved 27 February 2015. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  64. Watt Key (January 2016). Terror at Bottle Creek. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 9780--3743-7430-3.
  65. "Swamp Writer: The Trailer Park- text by Watt Key, illustration by Kelan Mercer". Mobile Bay Magazine (February 2013). Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  66. "A kid's best friend- text by Watt Key". Mobile Bay Magazine (August 2014): 76. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  67. "Alabama Moon: Movie Synopsis". The Dove Foundation. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  68. "Key, Watt Biography". MoviesPictures.org. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  69. "Books to Movies & TV in 2011- Movie Title: Alabama Moon, Director: Tim McCanlies". EarlyWordBooks.com. 23 December 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  70. "L.A. Dirt (2014)- 101 min: January 2014 (USA)". IMDb. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
Book reviews
Bibliography
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