ELIZABETH GEORGE AWARD

Elizabeth George

We are pleased to annouce Hedgebrook’s 2009 Elizabeth George Awards, presented to three Hedgebrook writrers-in-residence through the foundation of world-renowed mystery writer Elizabeth George.

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Young Jean Lee is an OBIE Award-winning playwright and director whose work has toured throughout the world. She is the artistic director of Young Jean Lee’s Theater Company (www.youngjeanlee.org).

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Sherri L. Smith is an award-winning author of several young adult novels.  Her first book, Lucy the Giant, was an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults in 2003.  The World War II drama, Flygirl, is her fourth novel.


Suzanne McFayden Smith’s love for writing sparked from growing up during Jamaica’s tumultuous seventies and eighties. She believes in love, laughter, fabulous shoes and creating the change she wants in the world.

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Our 2008 award winners, Parnaz Foroutan and Katy Butler embody the eclectic diversity of the writers who come to Hedgebrook.

Parnaz Foroutan

 Parnaz Foroutan, a high school literature and social justice teacher, is writing her first book: the epic story of the women in her family, from Kermanshah Province, Iran, 1900 to Los Angeles, California, present day. She writes, “This award is worth more to me that its monetary value, it is a vote of confidence, and faith in the possibility that might be read.”

Katy Butler

 Katy Butler, an award-winning writer and journalist, will spend her residency writing in a new genre.  She finds this award especially meaningful because, “a writer more sucessful than I has noticed and is supporting my work.  It’s gorgeous that Ms. George is expressing her faith in me and in Hedgebrook.”