Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence
1 appearances
-
Edition 1 (2007) Winner
Olympia Vernon
オリンピア・ヴァーノン
Olympia Vernon
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1973-05-22 （Bogalusa, Louisiana, United States）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Bogalusa, Louisiana → Mount Hermon, Louisiana → Osyka, Mississippi → Magnolia, Mississippi (South Pike High School) → Hammond, Louisiana (Southeastern Louisiana University) → Baton Rouge, Louisiana (Louisiana State University) → Salem, Oregon (Willamette University)
Career
- Occupations
- Novelist, Author, Writer in Residence
- Active Years
- 2002-
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Louisiana University | — | Criminal Justice | BA | 1995-1999 | United States |
| Louisiana State University | — | Creative Writing | MFA | 2000-2002 | United States |
Southeastern Louisiana University
Criminal Justice
Degree:
BA
Period:
1995-1999
Year of Graduation:
1999
Country:
United States
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Louisiana State University
Creative Writing
Degree:
MFA
Period:
2000-2002
Year of Graduation:
2002
Country:
United States
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award | Eden | — | The American Academy of Arts and Letters | 受賞 |
| 2005 | Louisiana Governor's Award for Professional Artist of the Year | — | — | State of Louisiana | 受賞 |
| 2007 | Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence | A Killing In This Town | — | Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence | 受賞 |
Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award
2004
Work:
Eden
Organization:
The American Academy of Arts and Letters
Result:
受賞
Louisiana Governor's Award for Professional Artist of the Year
2005
Organization:
State of Louisiana
Result:
受賞
Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence
2007
Work:
A Killing In This Town
Organization:
Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Eden
2002 Novel (Southern literature, Gothic elements)Set in a small Louisiana town, the novel explores complex family relationships and how past violence casts a long shadow on the present, addressing trauma, community dynamics, and memory.
familyviolencetraumaSouthern community
Logic
2004 NovelA novel that examines how an individual's choices and the 'logic' behind them conflict with family and community, emphasizing character study and psychological depth.
choicemoralitycommunity
A Killing In This Town
2006 Novel (crime / social drama)Through a murder in a town, the novel exposes residents' relationships and ingrained community problems, questioning individual guilt and communal responsibility.
guilt and responsibilitycommunityjustice
Bibliography
- Eden (2002)
- Logic (2004)
- A Killing In This Town (2006)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Realist depiction with elements of Southern GothicPsychological focus on character interiority
- Recurring Motifs
- family secretsthe legacy of past violenceland and memory
Legacy
Olympia Vernon has been recognized as an important voice in early-21st-century Southern American literature, receiving multiple literary awards. Her works, focusing on family, violence, and community, are remembered for their contribution to contemporary Southern literature.
Trivia
- Grew up in a family with seven children.
- Studied criminal justice at university before pursuing creative writing and earning an MFA.