wfn.org | Kathleen Norris Speaks at Writers Guild Luncheon

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

19-June-1997 
GA97098 
 
           Kathleen Norris Speaks at Writers Guild Luncheon 
 
                        by Eva Stimson 
 
SYRACUSE--About 200 people were treated to a reading from a "work in 
progress" by Kathleen Norris at the Presbyterian Writers Guild luncheon on 
Thursday, June 19.  The bestselling author and member of Spencer Memorial 
Presbyterian Church in Lemmon, S.D., read selections from the manuscript 
for a new book to be titled "A Vocabulary of Faith: Scary Words and 
Others."  She shared her delightfully perceptive commentaries on the words 
"Anti-Christ" and "eschatology." 
 
    Norris, author of "Dakota: A Spiritual Geography" and "The Cloister 
Walk," was honored by the Writers Guild with its 1997 Distinguished Writer 
Award.  Presenting the award was Katherine Paterson, another award-winning 
Presbyterian author best known for her children's books.  She introduced 
Norris by noting, "Books by this author are ones you feel compelled to buy 
and give to your friends." 
 
    Calling herself "an evangelist for poetry," Norris began her 
presentation by reading two poems by writers whose work she admires, as 
well as one of her own. 
 
    The Writers Guild also presented its 1997 James W. Angell Award to Bard 
Young for his book "The Snake of God," published by Black Belt Press in 
Montgomery, Ala.  The Angell Award honors new writers and is presented each 
year to the Presbyterian author with the best first book. 
 
    Young, an editor at Vanderbilt University Press, is an elder at First 
Presbyterian Church in Dixon, Tenn.  His book explores the image of the 
snake in its biblical and mythic forms through stories from the author's 
childhood in Alabama. 
 
    The Old Editors Award for the best one-liner went to Kathy Bostrum for 
the following submission: "Jesus died to take away your sins, not your 
mind." 
 
    Special recognition was given to John Buchanan, moderator of the 1996 
General Assembly, "for his affirmation and support of the art of writing." 
Buchanan arranged for "poetry breaks" during last year's plenary sessions, 
so that Ann Weems and other Presbyterian poets could read their poetry to 
commissioners. 

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