Honor Marion Roach-Smith

Senate Resolution No. 55 BY: Senator BRESLIN HONORING Marion Roach-Smith upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the 2016 Literary Legends Award by the Albany Public Library Foundation on October 22, 2016 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize those artistic individuals whose creative talents and commitment to writing contribute to the enrichment of their community and the world, and to pay homage to a woman whose life of memoir writing stands out as an inspiration to others; and WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of certain extraordinary individuals it wishes to recognize for their valued contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among us all; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Marion Roach-Smith upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the

October 22, 2016, at the Arbor Hill/West Albany Branch of the Albany Public Library, Albany, New York; and WHEREAS, Each year, the Albany Public Library Foundation, through the Literary Legends Award, recognizes outstanding local authors, illustrators and publishers from the community who are considered leaders in the field of literature; the Gala is an opportunity to showcase their literary contributions as well as raise needed funds for special programs and services provided by the Albany Public Library; and WHEREAS, Marion Roach-Smith, a well-known contemporary non-fiction writer based in Rensselaer County who has a unique specialty of helping others write their memoirs, is being honored for her extraordinary contributions to the art of letters; and WHEREAS, Three weeks out of college, Marion Roach-Smith went to work for The New York Times; four books and countless magazine and radio essays later, the lessons she learned there - getting it right and making it short - have informed every piece she writes; and WHEREAS, Most of Marion Roach-Smith's work is now in the form of memoir writing, including her most recent book, The Memoir Project, A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text on Writing And Life, which she states is an impertinent, utterly useful book on how to write memoir, and see your life for what it really is; and WHEREAS, For 15 years, Marion Roach-Smith taught memoir writing, which is as simple and as complicated as writing what you know; she also works with writers across the globe and is a National Public Radio commentator; and WHEREAS, Marion Roach-Smith's work includes a large helping of memoir, including her books The Roots of Desire: The Myth, Meaning and Sexual Power of Red Hair, a non-fiction piece about the history and oddities of redheads and their reactions from society, and Another Name for Madness, a memoir that describes her mother's experience with Alzheimer's and the family problems that arose because of it; and WHEREAS, In addition, Marion Roach-Smith is the co-author of Dead Reckoning: The New Science of Catching Killers with Michael Baden, MD, and has written for The New York Times Magazine, Prevention, Vogue, Good Housekeeping, and The Los Angeles Times, to name a few; and WHEREAS, Marion Roach-Smith has given not only of her time and energies but also of her competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently has been designated for special honor; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when artistic creators of such remarkable talent and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Marion Roach-Smith upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the 2016 Literary Legends Award by the Albany Public Library Foundation on October 22, 2016; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Marion Roach-Smith.