By Makiia Lucier, BA ’97 (public relations)
 

Winner of the 2025 Oregon Book Award for Young Adult & Middle Grade Literature, Dragonfruit is the latest novel by UO alum Makiia Lucier. Inspired by Pacific Island mythology, this sweeping fantasy tells a powerful coming-of-age story. Lucier is the acclaimed author of Year of the Reaper, the Tower of Winds duology, and A Death-Struck Year. Her work has appeared on NPR’s Books We Love and the American Library Association’s Best Fiction for Young Adults. Born and raised in Guam, Lucier now lives in Portland, Oregon, with her family. 

 

Margie Keck Smith, MS B ’92
 

Margie Keck Smith’s third novel, Dust and Dreams, she brings to life the stories of four generations of women—her grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother—through richly imagined historical fiction. Keck Smith turned to writing after retiring from a career as a speech language pathologist. Inspired by her mother, who wrote nonfiction history and was lifelong advocate for learning, Keck Smith hopes to honor her mother’s legacy by continuing the enjoyment of writing.

By Raye Hendrix, PhD ’24 (English)
 

Originally from Alabama, writer and disability scholar Raye Hendrix explores themes of place, loss, and resilience in What Good Is Heaven, their debut poetry collection. Published in September 2024 by Texas Review Press, the collection was selected to represent Alabama in the Southern Poetry Breakthrough Series, honoring standout first collections from Southern authors. In March 2025, What Good Is Heaven was awarded the prestigious Weatherford Award for Best Appalachian Poetry. Hendrix, a 2024 PhD graduate from the University of Oregon, began working on the collection during their time in the program. They now continue to write, teach, and create across disciplines, drawing from the complex landscapes of their Southern roots.

By Cristen Hemingway Jaynes, JD ’07

Cristen Hemingway Jaynes, American writer and editor—and granddaughter of literary icon Ernest Hemingway—offers a deeply personal and illuminating travelogue in Ernest’s Way. Retracing the global footsteps of her great-grandfather, Jaynes blends historical exploration with intimate family narrative to reveal new insights into Hemingway’s life and work. Known for her thoughtful engagement with themes of identity, inheritance, and mental health, Jaynes also advocates for women’s issues and mental health awareness. In addition to Ernest’s Way, she is the author of The Smallest of Entryways, a collection of nine short stories exploring addiction, self-realization, and transformation. 
 

By Guy Maynard, BS ’84 (journalism) 
 

UO alum and retired university editor, Guy Maynard, released his third novel, Ash Valley, on February 28, completing his Risk of Being Ridiculous trilogy. The series follows a young revolutionary’s journey from anti-war and civil rights protests in Boston to the mountains of Southern Oregon, where he and others pursue a communal back-to-the-land experiment. Ash Valley continues this compelling story of idealism, community, and transformation. Maynard’s work blends historical insight with rich storytelling, reflecting his deep connection to both activism and the Oregon landscape. 
 

By Scott F Parker, BS ’04 (general science, philosophy) 
 

Scott F. Parker’s How to Run is a series of short essays, meditations, and poems that redefine running as a joyful, intuitive act of creative expression rather than a performance metric. With a focus on spontaneity and connection to the body and nature, Parker invites readers to experience running as a path to personal insight and freedom. The book will be released on June 17. 
 

By Daniel Levitin, MS ’93, PhD ’96 (psychology) 
 

In I Heard There Was a Secret Chord, renowned neuroscientist Daniel Levitin explores the powerful ways music can heal and transform the brain and body. Combining science, history, and personal stories, Levitin reveals music’s therapeutic potential across physical and mental health. The book was named one of Smithsonian's 10 Best Science Books of 2024. Learn more about Levitin’s work.

 

By Daniel Levitin, MS ’93, PhD ’96 (psychology) 
 

Music as Medicine delves into the science behind music’s healing effects and offers practical insights on how to use music intentionally to improve well-being. Daniel Levitin blends cutting-edge research with accessible advice to show how music can be a tool for therapy and health.

By the Plein Air Sound Collective 
 

Released May 2, 2025, Weathering Steel is the Plein Air Sound Collective’s debut album of site-specific music. The group of composers, performers, and producers—including University of Oregon alum Abby Kellems, BM ’21 (music Composition)—treats physical space as an active partner in musical creation, fostering deep collaboration and a heightened awareness of sound’s relationship to environment. Recorded at the Tank Center for Sonic Arts, the album features composed and improvised works that explore the Tank’s extraordinary acoustics through acoustic instruments, electronics, voice, and found objects.

Produced by Michael Hall, BA ’10 (history) 
 

Generation Freedom, which premiered on PBS in May 2025, is the debut feature documentary from Portland-based filmmaker and University of Oregon alum Michael Hall. The film explores the growing movement of professionals leaving traditional jobs to pursue entrepreneurship, spotlighting real-world stories of people seeking financial and time freedom. With insights from leading voices like Pat Flynn, Lisa Congdon, John Lee Dumas, and Aaron Draplin, Generation Freedom examines how the pandemic, corporate culture shifts, and personal values are reshaping the future of work. Hall’s work reflects his passion for storytelling that educates, empowers, and inspires change. 
 

Feature film adapted from the memoir of Lidia Yuknavitch, BA ’89, PhD ’98 (English) 
 

Lidia Yuknavitch’s The Chronology of Water has been adapted for the big screen—directed by Kristen Stewart and starring Imogen Poot and Jim Belushi. The movie debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May and follows the story Yuknavitch, offering an unflinching exploration of trauma, addiction, loss, and ultimately, survival and creative rebirth. Known for her raw honesty and lyrical prose, Yuknavitch’s memoir of the same name invites readers into a deeply personal narrative that confronts pain while celebrating resilience and the transformative power of storytelling. The cinematic debut of The Chronology of Water movie is forthcoming.