Former Auburn football player set to receive 2026 Harper Lee Award

Three decades after gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated as an Auburn football player, Ace Atkins has established himself in the arts world as one of Alabama’s top authors.

Last month, the Monroeville Literary Festival announced Atkins as the winner of the 2026 Harper Lee Award which recognizes the lifetime achievement of a writer either born in the state or strongly connected to it.

“I’m thrilled and honored to share that I’ll be receiving the prestigious Harper Lee Award at next year’s ceremony. The highest literary honor from the state of Alabama. Excited to be in the company of Winston Groom, Daniel Wallace, Carolyn Haines, Gay Talese, Tom Franklin, and Fannie Flagg. Cheers to all my wonderful readers who keep me going. This one is for you!”

Ace Atkins on social media

Keep reading to learn more about Atkins career + find out when the award presentation will be next year.

Ace Atkins

Before he started his career as a writer, Atkins played a vital role during the Tigers 11-0 season in 1993. He was on the cover of SI, shown above, celebrating a sack of future Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel.

But after graduation, Atkins became a journalist. He worked for the Tampa Tribune but in 1998, he released his first novel: Crossroad Blues.

Some of his best known works include:

• Nick Travers series
• Quinn Colson series
• Spenser series
• Wicked City
• White Shadow

“I’m beyond honored and thrilled to be receiving this award. Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird have always represented ordinary Southerners standing up and doing the right thing to fight for social justice. From my books Wicked City, inspired by the true tale of Phenix City, Ala.; to my stories about Quinn Colson and fictional Tibbehah County, Mississippi; these are ideas and themes I always wanted to embrace in my work.”

Ace Atkins

Atkins also recently received the Richard Wright Award for excellence in Southern Literature and is a member of the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame.

Monroeville Literary Festival

The Monroeville Literary Festival will present the 2026 Harper Lee Award to Atkins at the Old Courthouse Museum in Monroeville on Feb. 27, 2026.

Previous winners include:

• E.O. Wilson
• Winston Groom
• Rick Bragg
• Fannie Flagg

Atkins was previously a featured writer at the Monroeville Literary Festival, which is held annually at the end of of February.

The awards dinner will be a part of the 2026 festival which runs Feb. 26-28.

The festival, a project of the Monroe County Museum, will bring best-selling writers and readers together in the Literary Capital of Alabama. Most events take place in the courtroom of the Old Courthouse Museum, famous as the setting of To Kill a Mockingbird.

All readings, discussions and award ceremonies are free, but advanced paid tickets are required for the awards dinner and Saturday lunch.

Want more like this in your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest Alabama news.