An Amsterdam native’s memoir about growing up in the former Rug City has been nominated for a National Book Award.

Stephen Haven’s book, “The River Lock: One Boys Life along the Mohawk” was nominated by his publisher, Syracuse University Press.

Haven’s father was a well-known Episcopal priest in Amsterdam years ago, Reverend Robert Haven. Stephen Haven says in an interview on my morning show on AM 1570 WVTL that part of the book explores the issues of being what he calls a “PK,” a preacher’s kid. The book is dedicated to Haven’s father.

Stephen Haven is an English professor at Ashland University in Ohio and a poet—one of his poetry books is called “The Long Silence of the Mohawk Carpet Smokestacks.”

He admits that winning the National Book Award is a long shot but who knows. Perhaps Amsterdam will be able to claim native city status for a famous author as Gloversville and Albany already do. Gloversville produced Richard Russo, whose latest book is “Bridge of Sighs.” And Albany boasts of Bill Kennedy, author of “Ironweed” and other books set in Albany.

To hear the interview with Stephen Haven, click here.