Willamette Writers 2017 Annual Award Winners – Come See Them at the Conference

Please join us in congratulating our Annual Award winners for 2017 and come meet them at the conference!

Christopher Moore Willamette Writers Lifetime Award WinnerJoining us as our Lifetime Achievement Award winner is Christopher Moore the hilariously provocative author of many fantastic novels including: Lamb, Practical Demonkeeping, Fluke and the upcoming Noir. The Philadelphia Inquirer raved, “Moore’s storytelling style is reminiscent of Vonnegut and Douglas Adams.” We are looking forward to Moore’s keynote talk, “A Life in Letters,” on Friday evening at the conference.

Our Distinguished NW Writer Award goes to the inimitable Lidia Yuknavitch, author of the widely acclaimed and newly-released, Book of Joan as well as The Chronology of Water, Dora: A Headcase and The Small Backs of Children which Kirkus called “a brave and affecting novel.”

Warren Easley Willamette Writers Up and Coming AwardOur Up and Coming Writer Award goes to long-time member and prolific author, Warren Easley, author of the entertaining and thrilling Cal Claxton series of mysteries which started with a bang in Matters of Doubt. Warren won the 2014 Kay Snow Award for fiction and his novels are as smooth as a nice pinot which makes it particularly fitting that his most recent Blood for Wine is set in the vineyards of Oregon. Publisher’s Weekly recommended it as a  “…tale of cultural conflict, politics, and  murder with a likable hero at its heart.”

Finally, the recipient of our Humanitarian Award this year is New Avenues for Youth whose work with the homeless, tutoring and helping teens, reaches many at-risk young people. The award is offered to New Avenues for Youth for its laudable support to a deserving and overlooked part of our society.

We are thrilled that all three authors as well as New Avenues for Youth are scheduled to appear at the conference (barring any last-minute emergencies). Please see the website for days and times for presentations, classes, signings, etc.