Patti Murphy was recently recognized in the 79th Annual Writer’s Digest international writing competition for her feature article, “Memories of Minidoka.” Murphy’s article was selected to be among the top 50 magazine features submitted from around the world. This year’s competition received more than 13,000 total entries into various writing categories.
“Memories of Minidoka” is a story about Idaho’s World War II Japanese internment camp in Jerome and the thousands of Japanese-Americans who were forced to live there during the war. The article was originally published in Sun Valley Magazine and then reprinted in the Boise Weekly. It previously won First Place for Serious Magazine Feature Writing in the 2009 Idaho Press Club Awards, and the Excellence Award for Feature Writing in the 2010 Capital City Communicators IMPACT competition.
Murphy has written for numerous local, regional and national publications, including the Idaho Statesman, New York Times, Sun Valley Magazine, Boise Weekly, Twin Falls-Times News, Oregon Coast Magazine, Northwest Travel Magazine and others. She also does business writing including websites, brochures, video scripts and more. She is currently working on a book of “momisms,” which are quotes that Idahoans remember their mothers saying. The book will be published in 2011 and proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the Women’s and Children’s Alliance in honor of its 100thanniversary.
