River of Memory wins Washington State Book Award

William D. Layman has won the Washington State Book Award for River of Memory (General Nonfiction). Layman, a resident of Wenatchee, is guest curator of an exhibit of the same name for the Wenatchee Valley Museum.

From the Introduction: “In a sense, two Columbia Rivers flow through our lives - the river we see today and the natural river that gave rise to the spectacular sights and thunderings of such places as Celilo and Kettle Falls. To know either has always presented major challenges. The river’s rugged physical character prevents knowing by slicing through inaccessible mountain ranges, vast stretches of unpopulated roadless areas, and extreme landscapes before emptying into the sea.”