2021 Oregon Literary Fellow for Young Readers

I’m deeply honored to be named a 2021 Oregon Literary Fellow and Edna L. Holmes Fellowship in Young Readers recipient. This Fellowship provides support to authors at all stages of their career in order to develop or complete literary projects. As a resident of Oregon, I’ve benefited greatly from Literary Arts and their workshops, talks, and literary events. I’ve applied for this Fellowship every year for the past few years, always holding tight to the hope that my writing would connect with the judges. This year, it did.

To know a stranger read my writing and connected with it is such a freeing, validating thing. Writing is hard and can be isolating in many ways. Having someone who doesn’t know you (or isn’t related to you) say, “Yes, this is promising,” means more than words can express. This Fellowship is like invisible hands offering support, providing strength to keep going; encouraging me to continue dreaming up stories and writing them down.

My heartfelt thanks to Oregon Literary Arts and to the judges for this incredible opportunity. I’m delighted to continue writing my stories, knowing you have my back.

Massive congratulations to all the 2021 Fellowship recipients!