Josephine Woolington receives First Last Award for Nonfiction from Literary Arts

Ooligan Press and Josephine Woolington’s collection of essays titled “Where We Call Home: Lands, Seas, and Skies of the Pacific Northwest,” won the prestigious Frances Fuller Victor Award for General Nonfiction. The awards celebrate outstanding works of literature by Oregon authors, and Josephine Woolington’s inclusion in this esteemed list is a testament to the exceptional quality of her writing.

“Where We Call Home” sheds light on the diverse flora, fauna, and natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest and encourages readers to approach these wonders with a more collective understanding in the face of a rapidly changing world. Through interviews with local educators, Indigenous leaders, scientists, and artists from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Haida Nation, the Yakama Nation, the Makah Tribe, and beyond, we are invited to decenter our singular perspective in favor of a more empathic, collective approach.

The Oregon Book Awards recognize not only the literary merit of the work but also its impact on the literary community.

Josephine Woolington, with her distinctive voice and storytelling prowess, has crafted a work that resonates with readers on a profound level. The book’s selection as a finalist for the Oregon Book Awards reflects her dedication to the craft and their ability to create a meaningful and engaging narrative.

“In a series of beautiful essays on the foraging western bumble bee, the stunning sandhill crane, the long-lived yellow-cedar, and more, Where We Call Home takes us on a journey to explore the natural histories of ten native species in the Pacific Northwest. It is a powerful meditation on the past, present, and possible future of this land, its inhabitants, and our own relationship with nature.”
— Lauren E. Oakes, author of “In Search of the Canary Tree: The Story of a Scientist, a Cypress, and a Changing World”

Josephine Woolington is a writer and musician based in her hometown of Portland. She previously worked at several newspapers in Oregon, and received an award for best education coverage from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association during her time at Eugene The Register-Guard. Her work has appeared in Oregon Humanities and High Country News. In addition to journalism, she’s a musician and music educator. She’s toured nationally and internationally with different artists, and she writes, records and performs her own music as well. She earned two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Oregon in journalism and political science and received the school’s highest award for excellence in journalism. Her artistic, mindful perspective and curiosity about all living things guide her creative endeavors.

Ooligan Press is a student-run trade press rooted in the Pacific Northwest dedicated to cultivating the next generation of publishing professionals. It prioritizes literary equity and inclusion. Ooligan Press strives to publish culturally relevant titles from local, marginalized voices in order to make literature accessible and redefine who has a place within its pages.