By Taylor Koekkoek, BA ’13 (English)

In Koekkoek’s debut story collection, he shares nine tales of Americans living on the margins of society. Largely set in the rural Pacific Northwest, his work covers challenging themes such as substance abuse, societal alienation, and self-destructive relationships, while weaving in an appreciation for beauty in all things, even the most grotesque. Koekkoek’s work has appeared in prestigious literary journals such as The Paris Review, and he was recently interviewed by the Los Angeles Times.

By Margie Keck Smith, MS ’92 (communication disorders and sciences)

Smith’s second book, Frayed Edges, tells the story of six high school classmates whose friendships become frayed and torn over time. Tragedy, deliberate lies, and suspected murder lead to distrust and anger among the group. When they reunite in New Orleans, everything comes to a head and hard questions get answered. Read Smith’s recent interview with The Centralia Chronicle.

By Wagih Abu-Rish, MA ’68 (journalism)

Abu-Rish’s novel Nad of Nadide’ is a story of love and political intrigue. After a painful separation from his ex-lover, Palestinian Fareed falls for Nadide’, the daughter of a ruling Turkish general. Conflicts rise between Fareed and Nadide’s father, as well as her father’s political enemies. Will Nadide’ follow her heart, or will personal grudges and political interests win out?

by Putsata Reang, BA ’95 (magazine journalism, English)

This deeply moving memoir explores inherited trauma, love, and life debt. When she was just 11 months old, Reang’s family fled war-torn Cambodia, finding sanctuary in the Philippines before immigrating to the US. Reang narrowly survived their escape and spent many following years of her life living to please and make her mother proud. When she came out to Ma as a lesbian in her twenties, Ma thought it was just a phase. When at the age of forty, she told Ma she was marrying a woman, it broke their bond in two. Ma and Me is the winner of the 2023 Pacific Northwest Book Award and a finalist for the 2023 Lesbian Memoir/Biography Lambda Literary Award. Check out Reang’s recent interview with UO Today.

By Kamala Bremer, BA ’78 (psychology), MS ’84 (public affairs); Rosalyn McKeown-Ice, MA ’77 (geography), PhD ’86 (geography); Deb Jackson Brewer; Maradel Krummel Gale, JD ’74; Saro Hendrickson; Jesse Jean Reeder, MUP ’78 (urban and regional planning); and Sally Sharrard, BA ’68 (journalism), MA ’79 (geography)

From Chicken to Eagle is a story of seven courageous women who took a wilderness adventure in 1979, a time when women were testing their mettle in society and in the wilderness. This collection of short memoirs chronicles the ways these seven women found meaning, purpose, and enjoyment in their personal and professional lives.

By Earl Anderson, MA ’67, PhD ’70 (English)

At age twenty-three, Goran Bixo emigrated from Sweden to northern Minnesota, where he repaired tracks for the streetcar company and studied English. He was popular as a vocalist, having been taught by his father, Bengt Bixo, the “Violin King of Morsil.” In letters home, Goran recounts his experiences as an immigrant, displaying his wit and optimism during times of adversity. The documents in Anderson’s book have circulated in the family for years and now a century later, are being shared with the world.

By Josephine Woolington, BA ’13 (journalism, political science)

Woolington’s Where We Call Home invites readers to reconnect with the natural world through essays that blend science and prose. In this debut work, she turns back the clock to review the events that have challenged Pacific Northwest wildlife over the years. By examining the past and acknowledging hard truths, we can understand that our impact on the Earth is deeper and far more significant than we imagined. Woolington takes an empathetic, collective approach through interviews with local educators, Indigenous leaders, scientists, and artists. Check out Woolington’s recent interview with The Oregonian.

By Karen A. Foss, BA ’72 (Romance languages), MA ’73 (speech); Sonja K. Foss, BA ’72 (Romance languages), MA ’73 (speech: rhetoric and communication); and Alena Amato Ruggerio

Featuring twenty contemporary feminists from diverse arenas including Lizzo, Margaret Cho, Jacinda Adern, Shonda Rhimes, and Malala Yousafzai, Feminism in Practice uses feminism as a blueprint for exploring change strategies. The book defines over twenty types of feminism and is organized around five primary objectives: proclaiming identity, naming a problem, enriching a system, changing a system, and creating an alternative system. This practical handbook gives readers a toolkit to create change in their lives and the world.

by Garren Strong, BS ’07 (business administration)

Innovation University is a 460-page hardbound book that narrates the rise of the Oregon Ducks football team and its impact on sport culture through innovation, product, and storytelling. Former coaches, athletes, and industry-leading influencers give readers a front-row seat to how Oregon Football was transformed from an underwhelming program to one of the biggest brands in the country. The book is now available for preorder.

By Leland Ryken, PhD ’68 (English)

In this collection of 50 devotionals and creeds by figures such as Augustine, John Calvin, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, literary expert Leland Ryken introduces readers to insightful selections of their classic writings. Each entry contains a devotional passage from a historical figure, analysis by Ryken, and a concluding Bible passage.