In 2021, Lora was awarded inclusion into the current cycle of the #Startwith8Hollywood program. Founded by Women of Color Unite, this is an international Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility program intended to increase access to Hollywood’s entertainment careers.
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
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:
- 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.
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).