AWARDS & PRESS
AWARDS
Excellence in Teaching Award, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Education, 2013
Piedmont Laureate for Children’s Literature, 2013
Junior Library Guild Selection, 2025 (Rodeo Hawkins and the Daughters of Mayhem)
Audie Award Finalist, 2017 (The Wooden Prince)
Brightly Great Middle Grade Books to Read, 2016 (The Wooden Prince)
AAUW North Carolina Juvenile Literature Award 2012 (The White City)
Amazon Best Book of the Month, May 2012 (The Prince Who Fell from the Sky)
North Carolina Children’s Book Award nominee, 2012 (The Nine Pound Hammer)
Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award nominee 2012 (The Nine Pound Hammer)
AAUW North Carolina Juvenile Literature Award 2010 (The Nine Pound Hammer)
New York Public Library Best Children’s Book 2009 (The Nine Pound Hammer)
The News & Observer Tar Heel of the Week, March 2012
SELECT INTERVIEWS & PRESS
Chapel Hill Magazine feature story, Sept. 18, 2017
WUNC Public Radio, Interview on The State of Things, July 5, 2017
UNC-TV North Carolina Public Television, Educational video for Rootle, June 20, 2017
Barnes & Noble Kids Blog, “Summer Reading” featured post, May 15, 2017
UNC-TV North Carolina Public Television, North Carolina Bookwatch Interview, March 17, 2017
Heifer International, “How Can I Help Kids Love Reading?” blog interview, April 27, 2016
WUNC Public Radio, Interview on Morning Edition, April 8, 2016
The News & Observer, “Boys Take the Spotlight,” March 26, 2016
The News of Orange, “Community unites to honor one of our own,” June 6, 2012
News & Observer, “Teacher, author feeds kids’ imaginations,” Tar Heel of the Week, March 18, 2012
The Herald Sun, “Good vs. evil at 1893 World’s Fair,” August 28, 2011
UNC-TV North Carolina Public Television, Interview on North Carolina Bookwatch, Sept. 17, 2010
WUNC Public Radio, Interview on The State of Things, August 19, 2010 and August 25, 2009
The Herald Sun, “Readers along for the ride in Bemis’ latest adventure” Aug. 20, 2010
Tor.com, “American Mythology: The Nine Pound Hammer,” February 23, 2010.
Publisher’s Weekly Children’s Bookshelf, “Hammer’ Time,” September 10, 2009
PRAISE FOR JOHN’S BOOKS
“Bemis is a natural storyteller. He doesn’t write down to his readers, which is perhaps why [The Wolf Tree] is as engaging for adults as it would be for the target audience of ages 9 to 12.” — Herald Sun
“Original and fresh.” — Voice of Youth Advocates
“Pinocchio’s growth is sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes heartwarming, and bound to entrance readers.” — Booklist (The Wooden Prince)
“Young readers will find this reimagined adventure an exhilarating and insightful journey.” — Kirkus Reviews (The Wooden Prince)
“Pinocchio gets a new look in this curious, complex novel of betrayal, rebellion, and loyalty. . .the world-building is impressive, and the captivating setting will likely attract fantasy, steampunk, and adventure fans alike.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (The Wooden Prince)
“Flying lions, fiery salamanders, chimera, sylphs, gnomes, men with wings, and an enormous sea monster all play roles in this fantastical retelling of Pinocchio.” — School Library Journal (The Wooden Prince)
“In a masterful re-imagining of Pinocchio, John Claude Bemis weaves an enchanting, thrilling adventure for middle-grade readers.” — Children’s Book Council (The Wooden Prince)
“A steampunk collision of heroes, mermaids, pirates, and good old-fashioned Americana . . . Bemis’ debut will shock and amaze.” — Booklist (The Nine Pound Hammer)
“A fascinating and magical view of America as a wondrous place, where the tall tales have hints of being real.” — Tor.com (The Wolf Tree)
“With The Clockwork Dark series drawing to a close, author Bemis has saved the best for last…With a plot as intricate as the Machine at its center and a page-turning pace, this unique, ambitious American fantasy comes to a satisfying end that would please even John Henry.” — Kirkus Reviews (The White City)
“A thoughtful fantasy, rich in characterization and drama, with a unique language that is simultaneously ancient and familiar.” — Booklist (The Prince Who Fell from the Sky)
“An original story blending creation myth with post-apocalyptic and animal-fantasy traditions.” — Kirkus Reviews (The Prince Who Fell from the Sky)
PRAISE FOR JOHN AS A SPEAKER
“Innovative and compelling teaching. John Claude Bemis occupies, through his own questing evolution as a teacher, that hybrid niche of the author-educator, awakening the same passionate curiosity in students that moves him to write.” — Dr. G. Williamson McDiamid, Dean of the School of Education, UNC-Chapel Hill
“John brought his book and aspects of American alive for our students with a lively and entertaining program and did what has become increasingly difficult in our video age, inspired them to read!” — Dr. Rhonda Zayas-Palmer, librarian, Ravenscroft School
“A masterful job of sharing his love of literature and writing. But John also succeeded beautifully in presenting the concept of living a creative life - of how to find your passion and share it with others. That’s got to be a 21st century success skill” — Cris Crissman, PhD, NC State University
“I continue to see and hear the impact of Mr. Bemis’ visit with our students and teachers.” — Donna Cook, principal, Rea View Elementary
“John’s perspective helped my kids make so many connections with their reading and writing!” — Bethany Baker, teacher at Burlington Day School
PRAISE FOR JOHN’S WRITING WORKSHOPS
"John's editing services are terrific. With his help, I was able to eliminate key flaws in my manuscript. I went from being unagented to getting published by one of the majors." — author Andrew S. Chilton, The Goblin's Puzzle
“John is a master at helping writers develop story ideas into clear and compelling plots with deeply-drawn characters and captivating narratives. His enthusiasm is purely infectious.” — author Michelle Leonard, Brave New Girls
“Whether you have an MFA in creative writing or just grabbed a laptop and started tapping out your first novel, your writing could be better. John Bemis can help you get there.” — author John Klekamp, Wicked South: Secrets and Lies
“John is one of the most prepared writing teachers I’ve ever known. I guarantee students will come away with tangible results and ideas around their work. And, perhaps most importantly, John’s classes are just plain fun!” — Dee Stribling, Poet Laureate of Hillsborough, North Carolina
“I wrote two manuscripts that never left the rough draft phase. I realized what I was missing from my brainstorming process when I took John’s class. He helped inspire my imagination and I came up with an idea in his workshop that has become my third novel. I love it so much that editing is fun!” — Laura Shank
“John has a special focus on creativity—ways to tap into it and mine it for ideas in your own work. John brings to his classroom a combination of professionalism and big-heartedness that keeps me coming back to his classes year after year.” — Amy Kurtz Skelding