Kathi Kamen Goldmark to receive award in ceremony planned for November 8, 2008.______________________________________________________________________The Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) has named author, musician and Rock Bottom Remainders founder Kathi Kamen Goldmark recipient of its 2008 WNBA Award. A reception in her honor will take place on Saturday, November 8th at 4:30PM in San Francisco.

Dedicated to promoting literacy, a love of reading and women’s careers in the world of books, the Women’s National Book Association presents the WNBA Award every other year to honor a living American woman who derives part or all of her income from books and the allied arts and who has done meritorious work in the world of books beyond the responsibilities of her profession. Past WNBA Award recipients include Eleanor Roosevelt, Patricia Schroeder, Nancy Pearl and, in 2006, Dr. Perri Klass, the pediatrician-author, who was recognized for her role as medical director of Reach Out and Read, a internationally recognized literacy program for children.

WNBA is honoring Kathi Kamen Goldmark for founding the Rock Bottom Remainders, a rock-‘n-roll band of literary superstars that raises money for literacy and writing-related causes. Since its first concert in 1992, the band has brought in more than $1.5M to support numerous writing, literacy and freedom of expression efforts. Stephen King, Dave Barry and Amy Tan are among its members. In 2007, the band formed The Remainders Foundation – a charitable service fund associated with the Entertainment Industry Foundation. Kathi’s efforts on behalf of literacy also extend to CDs she produces through her company, “Don’t Quit Your Day Job” Records (www.dqydj.com). For the 1998 release, Stranger than Fiction!, she cajoled 40 writers into singing their favorite songs for a good cause – the PEN Writers Special Fund.

In her professional life, Kathi is a writer and radio show producer.  She is author of the novel AND MY SHOES KEEP WALKING BACK TO YOU (2002, Chronicle Books) and co-author of MID-LIFE CONFIDENTIAL (1994, Viking) and THE GREAT ROCK & ROLL JOKE BOOK (1997, St. Martin’s). Kathi has contributed essays to several other books and is proud to have a speaking role as herself in Olivia Goldsmith’s novel The Bestseller. She also co-writes a regular advice column, “The Author Enablers,” for aspiring authors in BookPage, a nationally distributed book review publication. Kathi serves as the author liaison for the San Francisco Library Laureate’s dinner and is also one of the of the organizers of San Jose’s annual Book Group Expo. (author site: www.redroom.com/authors/kathi-kamen-goldmark)

Kathi lives in the Bay area where she performs regularly with her “real” band, Los Train Wreck, and also produces a weekly radio show called “West Coast Live,” a two-hour show on Saturday mornings broadcast in front of a live audience.

The Women's National Book Association, founded in 1917, is a national organization of women and men who work with and value books. An all-volunteer organization with nine chapters nationwide, WNBA promotes reading and the role of women in the book community. In 2007 it launched National Reading Group Month (October) to encourage and celebrate the joys of shared reading. To learn more about WNBA or the WNBA Award please visit www.wnba-books.org.     #   #   #