Oregon Book Awards authors Nick Dybek, John Larison and Emily Whitman visited Lake County, Oregon as part of the Oregon Book Awards Author Tour. The tour started in Silver Lake and Christmas Valley on October 3 and travelled to Paisley and Lakeview on October 4 and 5.
On Thursday, October 3, Emily Whitman, winner of the 2019 Oregon Book Award in Children’s Literature for The Turning, visited North Lake School in Silver Lake. Emily gave a presentation to 3rd through 5th graders. Emily talked about seals, selkies and how she comes up with ideas for writing.
That evening, Emily was joined by fiction finalists John Larison, author of Whiskey When We’re Dry, and Nick Dybek, author of The Verdun Affair, for a reading at the Christmas Valley Boosters Hall in Christmas Valley. The authors read selections from their work, took questions and signed books.
On Friday, October 4, the authors travelled to Paisley where they visited with community members at the Paisley Town Hall, and then went on to Lakeview. Emily Whitman visited Fremont/Hay elementary school in Lakeview, where 120 students gathered to hear her.
That evening, the authors read and discussed their work at the Lakeview Library.
The last event was a free fiction workshop led by John Larison on Saturday morning.The workshop included writing prompts and a discussion of what makes a compelling introduction for a work of fiction.
Tour partners for the Lakeview tour included the Lake County Library District, North Lake School and Fremont/Hay Library. The Oregon Book Awards Author tour brings Oregon Book Awards author to 5-7 towns around Oregon every year, for school visits, workshops, and readings.
