NEW YORK — The Authors Guild Foundation’s 31st Annual Benefit packed The Plaza Hotel’s Grand Ballroom in a celebration of writers and the power of the written word on Tuesday, May 9.
The Guild paid tribute to three honorees, including Roxana Robinson, the recipient of The Authors Guild Foundation Preston Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community. presented by Pulitzer Prize winning author Elizabeth Strout.
Robinson is the author of ten books, nine works of fiction and the biography of Georgia O’Keeffe. She lives in Cornwall and has contributed columns to this newspaper.
Others honored were Christopher Finan, the recipient of The Authors Guild Foundation Award for Defending Free Speech and Expression, and Angie Thomas, the recipient of The Authors Guild Foundation Award for Literary Activism
Robinson underscored the power of writing when she said, “In a democracy we needed to know the truth about civic life, public life, and it was writers who set down those truths. Their stories have informed us what it means to be human.”
“Through their written work and their bold advocacy, each of tonight’s honorees has demonstrated the critical importance of the written word and the dire need to protect it. We honor their courage and passion, more important than ever in this unsettling period of growing book censorship and intolerance,” said Mary Rasenberger, CEO of the Authors Guild and Authors Guild Foundation.
“Chris, Angie, and Roxana exemplify the mission of the Authors Guild and the Authors Guild Foundation to advance the rights of today’s writers and foster an ongoing commitment to the artistic and educational benefits that a vibrant American literary and creative culture offers,” she added.
