Lauren Kessler
Encyclopedia
Lauren Kessler is an American
author
, as well as Director of the Literary Nonfiction Program and Professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon.
Kessler is the author of five works of narrative nonfiction including Dancing with Rose (renamed Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer’s in its paperback edition), which won the Pacific Northwest Book Award and was named a Best Book of 2007 by Library Journal
. Her Oregon Book Award-winning book, Stubborn Twig, was chosen to be the book all Oregon reads in celebration of the state’s 150th birthday. She is also author of Washington Post best-seller Clever Girl: Elizabeth Bentley, the Spy Who Ushered in the McCarthy Era, a biography of Elizabeth Bentley
, and the Los Angeles Times best-seller and Oregon Book Award
finalist The Happy Bottom Riding Club
, a biography of aviatrix Florence Pancho Barnes
. David Letterman
, in playful competition with Oprah, chose The Happy Bottom Riding Club as the first (and only) book for “Dave’s Book Club.” Kessler appeared on his show twice.
Kessler's journalism and essays have appeared in The New York Times magazine, The Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine, O magazine, newsweek.com, Salon, The Nation and Oregon Quarterly. She contributes articles on the craft of writing for Writer's Digest magazine. She is a national speaker and workshop leader.
Kessler is also the founder and editor of http://etude.uoregon.eduEtude, an online magazine devoted to new and emerging voices in literary non-fiction. She currently directs the graduate program in literary nonfiction at the University of Oregon in Eugene.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, as well as Director of the Literary Nonfiction Program and Professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon.
Kessler is the author of five works of narrative nonfiction including Dancing with Rose (renamed Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer’s in its paperback edition), which won the Pacific Northwest Book Award and was named a Best Book of 2007 by Library Journal
Library Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
. Her Oregon Book Award-winning book, Stubborn Twig, was chosen to be the book all Oregon reads in celebration of the state’s 150th birthday. She is also author of Washington Post best-seller Clever Girl: Elizabeth Bentley, the Spy Who Ushered in the McCarthy Era, a biography of Elizabeth Bentley
Elizabeth Bentley
Elizabeth Terrill Bentley was an American spy for the Soviet Union from 1938 until 1945. In 1945 she defected from the Communist Party and Soviet intelligence and became an informer for the U.S. She exposed two networks of spies, ultimately naming over 80 Americans who had engaged in espionage for...
, and the Los Angeles Times best-seller and Oregon Book Award
Oregon Book Award
The Oregon Book Awards are presented annually by Literary Arts, Inc. for "the finest accomplishments by Oregon writers who work in genres of poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction, drama and young readers literature." -History:...
finalist The Happy Bottom Riding Club
Happy Bottom Riding Club
The Happy Bottom Riding Club, more formally known as the Rancho Oro Verde Fly-Inn Dude Ranch, was a dude ranch restaurant and hotel operated by Pancho Barnes on the site of current-day Edwards Air Force Base in southern California's Antelope Valley, in the southwestern part of the United...
, a biography of aviatrix Florence Pancho Barnes
Pancho Barnes
Florence Lowe "Pancho" Barnes was a pioneer aviator, the founder of the first test pilots union and the owner of the Happy Bottom Riding Club, a bar and restaurant. She broke Amelia Earhart's air speed record in 1930...
. David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
, in playful competition with Oprah, chose The Happy Bottom Riding Club as the first (and only) book for “Dave’s Book Club.” Kessler appeared on his show twice.
Kessler's journalism and essays have appeared in The New York Times magazine, The Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine, O magazine, newsweek.com, Salon, The Nation and Oregon Quarterly. She contributes articles on the craft of writing for Writer's Digest magazine. She is a national speaker and workshop leader.
Kessler is also the founder and editor of http://etude.uoregon.eduEtude, an online magazine devoted to new and emerging voices in literary non-fiction. She currently directs the graduate program in literary nonfiction at the University of Oregon in Eugene.
Education
- Ph.D., University of Washington, 1980
- MS, University of Oregon, 1975
- B.S.J., Northwestern University, 1972