Graduate of BGSU creative writing program nominated for National Book Award

A short-story collection by a graduate of Bowling Green State University's Creative Writing Program has been nominated for the National Book Award in Fiction.

Jean Thompson, a 1973 graduate who now lives in Illinois, is author of "Who Do You Love: Stories," published by Harcourt Brace.

The 50th annual National Book Awards will be presented Nov. 19 in Manhattan. The winners, chosen from 881 submissions by panels of writers, will receive $10,000 each.

In addition, Oprah Winfrey will receive a special gold medal at the ceremonies for her contribution to reading from the National Book Foundation, sponsor of the awards program.

A native of Chicago, Thompson has spent most of her life in Illinois. Except for two brief leaves, she has taught English at the University of Illinois since graduating from BGSU.

Thompson said that at BGSU she worked with Philip O'Connor, co-founder of the University's Creative Writing Program, "who gave all of us in the workshop the tough edge you need to both write and survive in a competitive publishing world."

"Who Do You Love: Stories" is Thompson's fifth book. Each story in the book explores a different kind of emotional bond. Ben Arnoldy, writing for the "Christian Science Monitor," notes, "Thompson presents many barriers to love, but all are toppled by the omnipotence of human empathy. The book brings readers along through the same transitions from judgment to empathy."

Katherine Dieckmann, writing for the "New York Times Book Review," said, "OverallŠThompson impresses as an astute observer of cloaked feelings and stalled dreams, one who possesses such assurance that it's surprising to realize that she's published two previous short-story collections and remained largely unrecognized."

Other books nominated for the National Book Award in the fiction category include "House of San and Fog" by Andre Dubus III, "Plainsong" by Kent Haruf, "Hummingbird House" by Patricia Henley and "Waiting" by Ha Jin.

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