Sarah Braunstein, author of “The Sweet Relief of Missing Children,” has won the Book Award for Fiction from the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance.

Braunstein’s debut novel tells the intertwining stories of three young people who go missing. Her award is one of 19 announced today by the alliance as part of the 2012 Maine Literary Awards.

In addition to Braunstein, honorees included Paul Doiron, who won the Book Award for Crime Fiction for “Trespasser,” which follows the adventures of a fictional Maine game warden. The mystery is a follow-up to “The Poacher’s Son,” which was nominated for an Edgar Award.

Colin Woodard won the Book Award for Nonfiction for “American Nations,” which explores the history of North America’s rival cultural regions. Woodard is also a reporter for Maine Today Media.

Carl Little, author of “Eric Hopkins: Above and Beyond,” won the John N. Cole Award for Maine-themed Nonfiction.

For a complete list of winners, go to mainewriters.org/news.html