New York selects state author, poet

New York officials have announced the state author and the state poet for 2008-2010.
Mary Gordon, a novelist who has written extensively on Irish-American family life, single motherhood and female identity, was selected for the Edith Wharton Citation of Merit as state author. Award-winning poet Jean Valentine was chosen to receive the state's Walt Whitman Citation of Merit as state poet.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer awarded the citations at a ceremony Monday afternoon. The writers will present readings Monday night at the University of Albany.
The awards — established in 1985 by the New York State Writers Institute_ were selected by two advisory panels of writers. The state laureates will promote poetry and fiction writing through public events. (Bron: USA Today)