Marlene Howard is this year’s recipient of the Stewart H. Holbrook Literary Legacy Award.
The Stewart H. Holbrook Literary Legacy Award is presented to a person or organization in recognition of significant contributions that have enriched Oregon’s literary community. Previous recipients include Kim Stafford and Paulann Petersen.
The award is named for Stewart H. Holbrook (1893-1964), who was the Pacific Northwest’s foremost storyteller and one of the nation’s most popular historians. Holbrook was the author of 35 books, including The Age of Moguls, The Columbia and Lost Men of American History. Holbrook grew up in Portland and spent the last sixteen years of his life at 2670 NW Lovejoy Street.
Oregon author Jean Auel has said, “To list everything that Marlene Howard has done for Oregon writers would take a book in itself.” 25 years ago, Marlene co-founded the Oregon Writers Colony. She also established the annual Oregon Writers Colony conference, and continues to serve on the OWC Board of Directors.
In 1998 Marlene organized fundraising to purchase the Colony House, a three-story loghouse at Rockaway Beach. The house provides a writing retreat for its members, as well as a location for workshops and writers gatherings. Marlene organized the fundraising to purchase the house, and donates her time to help with house and grounds upkeep. She is also chairing a three year OWC Capital campaign to raise funds to enlarge the Colonyhouse and make it ADA accessible by 2010.
In addition to her work with OWC, Marlene is also the co-owner and publisher of Media Weavers LLC, a regional publisher. She also served on the Pacific Northwest Writers Association board in Washington for eight years and chaired the PNWA conference for three years.
Literary Arts congratulates Marlene Howard as this year’s recipient of the Stewart H. Holbrook Award.
Tickets for the Oregon Book Awards are selling quickly! The ceremony has sold out in the past few years, so you are encouraged to buy your tickets early.
