Upcoming Events, Press & Reviews, Awards & Accolades

Here you’ll find some recent and upcoming news and events. Click here to view some special thanks.

Karen Hitchcock 6/19/26 Karen Hitchcock 6/19/26

Junk to Jewels Podcast with Georgette Beck

Georgette and Lauren discuss Lauren’s deeply personal and moving memoir, Everything Changes Everything. Listen to this unscripted conversation to learn more.

Karen Hitchcock 6/12/26 Karen Hitchcock 6/12/26

1st Place, Features Writing SFJ

2026 1st Place Winner, Features Writing from the Society for Features Journalism.

Karen Hitchcock 6/11/26 Karen Hitchcock 6/11/26

From Lydia Smith, Documenatarian

Praise from Lydia Smith, award-winning documentarian on the Camino.

Karen Hitchcock 6/11/26 Karen Hitchcock 6/11/26

Winner, 2026 Best of the West Project Reporting

2026 1st Place Winner, Features Writing from the Society for Features Journalism.

Karen Hitchcock 6/8/26 Karen Hitchcock 6/8/26

Author Event

REI sponsored events in Eugene (6/18) and Bend (7/14).

Karen Hitchcock 5/23/26 Karen Hitchcock 5/23/26

Author Event

Thanks to the Portlandia chapter of American Pilgrims for the invitation to speak to your group!

Karen Hitchcock 5/22/26 Karen Hitchcock 5/22/26

Author Event

Reading and signing at Indie bookseller, Grass Roots Bookstore in Corvallis, OR

Karen Hitchcock 5/21/26 Karen Hitchcock 5/21/26

Book Review

“A Really Long Walk: A book, the Camino and musings” by Jim Arnold. Book review in Eugene Weekly.

Karen Hitchcock 2/27/26 Karen Hitchcock 2/27/26

Podcast

Kate Hanley’s interviews Lauren Kessler. Available on all major podcast platforms. Episodes (3) February 2026.

Special thanks to all these supporters!

Tsunami Books, Eugene, OR
Grass Roots, Corvallis, OR
Powell’s Books, Portland, OR
Broadway Books, Portland, OR
REI in Bend, OR
REI, Eugene, Oregon
Kate Hanley, Finding the Throughline Podcast
Third Place Books, Seattle
Cloud & Leaf, Manzanita, Oregon
Roundabout Books, Bend, Oregon
Blue River Library, Blue River, Oregon
Eugene Public Library, Eugene, Oregon
Newberg Public Library, Newberg, Oregon
American Pilgrims on the Camino, Portlandia chapter

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Revolutionary Reads (Washington State Libraries) selection 2024 (Free: Two Years, Six Lives, and the Long Journey Home)
Winner, Oregon Book Award for literary nonfiction, 2023 (Free: Two Years, Six Lives, and the Long Journey Home)
Winner, Nautilus Award, Criminal Justice (Free: Two Years, Six Lives, and the Long Journey Home)
Winner, New England Book Award (memoir), 2016 (Raising the Barre).
“Best of the Northwest” selection, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, 2015 (Raising the Barre)
"Everyone Reads" selection, 2009. Oregon Sesquicentennial. (Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese American Family chosen by Oregon Library Association and the Oregon 150 committee to be the book for all Oregonians to read in celebration of the state’s 150th birthday).
Winner, Oregon Book Award, 2008 (Dancing with Rose: Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer’s).
Winner, Pacific Northwest Book Award, 2007 (Dancing with Rose: Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimers).
Selected Best Books 2007 (Library Journal), Notable Book June 2007 (BookSense) Dancing with Rose.
Finalist, Oregon Book Award, 2004 (Clever Girl: Elizabeth Bentley, the Spy who Ushered in the McCarthy Era).
Finalist, Oregon Book Award, 2001 (The Happy Bottom Riding Club: The Life and Times of Pancho Barnes).
Winner, Oregon Book Award for literary nonfiction, 1994 (Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese American Family).