Awards and Honors

Writers and Artist Residencies Honors: Residencies are available for writers and artists all over the world. A big to salute all my fellow artists who encouraged me as I worked on my first middle grade novel, and inspired me to move forward on the three-part series. My residencies to date:

2024: The Rock Retreat Gibraltar (British Overseas Territory). Co-founder Sarah Odedina and Harry Potter series editor. Currently with Pushkin Press, London
2024: Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing: Poet & Author Fellowship.
2023: L’Expressoir Artist Residency, France
2021: Dorland Mountain Arts Colony, Temecula, CA
2018: Write on the Door County, Fish Creek, WI
2015 and 2016: Noepe Center for the Literary Arts, Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.
2017: CAMAC Centre d’Art, Marnay-sur-Seine, France.

In 2024, Lora was awarded her second mentor in the #Startwith8Hollywood program. Founded by Women of Color Unite, this program is intended to increase representation in the various careers of Hollywood. Lora is pursuing an adaptation for her Stupendous Adventure series, on stage or screen.

Lora was awarded the 2021 Wisconsin Writers Association Jade Ring Award in nonfiction for her essay, The Bill of Rights, One College-educated Negro Man, and a 1955 Protest by 39 White Wauwatosa Women.

I’m honored that my novel, The Stupendous Adventures of Mighty Marty Hayes received winner recognition (honorable mention for writing in the middle reader category) in the 2019 Eric Hoffer Book Awards. My book designer, Ian Wade and I also received finalist recognition and the da Vinci Eye award for book design. In late 2019, Lora also received finalist status in the Best Book Awards.

Lora holds a number of news awards from her journalism career. In addition, she has won:

Essay Awards:

2021 Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA) Jade Ring Award & inclusion in Creative Wisconsin Anthology: 2021 Jade Ring and Student Writing Contest Winners
2016 Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA) Jade Ring award & inclusion in 2017 Creative Wisconsin Literary Journal

Screenwriting Awards:

• American Accolades Screenwriting Competition Awards
• Dreambuilder Celebration Awards
• Cynosure Screenwriting Awards
• Cyclone Entertainment Annual Screenwriter’s Project
• Telluride Indiefest
• Ohio Independent Screenplay Awards

Other Honors:

• Selected for U.S. Department of Education 22-person 4th grade writing assessment panel fall 2017, Atlanta, Ga.
• Harvard Business School-Dynamic Women in Business conferences (2013, 2014 and 2016).

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