>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

From Left to Right: Willa Schneberg "In The Margins of The World", Gina Ochsner 'The Necessary Grace to Fall', Carolyn Miller "Rising and Falling", K.P. Burke "Proof Through the Night". ().

The Oregon Book Awards author tour will touch down at the Baker County Library Sept. 11 and at the Union Hotel Sept. 12. Public readings and book signing will start at 7:30 each evening.

The 16th annual Oregon Book Awards, held on November 7, 2002, recognized writers of excellence in poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction and young readers' literature.

Each winning author received $1,000. All finalists were invited to take part in the author tour, which brings OBA finalists to public libraries and independent bookstores throughout the state.

The tour will include K.P. Burke, Carolyn Miller, Gina Ochsner and Willa Schneberg. The stop in Union is presented in cooperation with the Blue Mountain Forum.

In giving the Hazel Hall Award to Schneberg, Judge Lorna Dee Cervantes called the poems in her book, "In The Margins Of The World" (Plain View Press), "honest and deftly wrought … crisp new work from a bright new seer."

The H.L. Davis Award for Fiction was presented to Ochsner of Keizer, for "The Necessary Grace to Fall" (The University of Georgia Press). "Gina Ochsner writes with courage, confidence, and a lush poetic style that draws me into the familiar world her people inhabit," says judge Chris Offut. "These folks pulse with life — even if they're already dead — in a way that is instantly recognizable."

Also on the tour will be K.P. Burke, author of "Proof Through the Night" and Carolyn Miller, author of "Rising and Falling."

Among those recognized by this year's awards was Alfred Habegger of Enterprise, who was given the Frances Fuller Victor Award for Literary Nonfiction for "My Wars Are Laid Away in Books."

Judge Jo Ann Beard called his book, "A meticulously researched and psychologically astute examination of Emily Dickinson's life and work; as compelling as a good novel."

The book is published by Random House.

The Leslie Bradshaw Award for Young Readers was presented to Sara Ryan of Portland, for "Empress of the World" (Viking). Judge Khafre Abif noted that Ryan "offers a straight-forward voice for young adults; one that will inspire teens to keep on reading and to find themselves in books."

Also recognized were the recipients of this year's OBA Special Awards. The Stewart H. Holbrook Award for Outstanding Contributions to Oregon's Literary Life went to Carla Perry, founder and director of the monthly Nye Beach Writers' Series in Newport.

The Walt Morey Award for contributions to children's literature went to a number of people who work separately but together as local arms of the organization Ready to Learn, a literacy program of Oregon Public Broadcasting.