The Born and the Made

***2017 Minnesota Book Award Finalist in the category of Genre Fiction*** A teacher is murdered in the small town of Copeland, a community secluded by the surrounding Heart-Shaped Forest. Miss Holly's students, Johnny, who loved her, and his sister, Cot, pursue the killer. Spande's expansive and genre-bending novel looks deep into the perspectives and lives of the residents of Copeland, a place which holds many more mysteries to be unearthed. The Born and the Made is his first novel, written over 10 years. When the novel was completed, Spande bought an isbn and handbound 5 copies. As the "publisher," he then submitted those 5 copies to the MN Book Awards, where The Born and the Made became the first handbound book ever to become a finalist, in the 29 year history of the Awards. Handbound copies available at robertspande.com. "This undeniably original book centers on a mystery in a very unique small town. The end result is a gripping read. From the handmade cover to the never ending twists in the story, this book is a deserving finalist." - Minnesota Book Awards Judge