Alameda author and editor Julia Park Tracey annouced Monday her latest book in The Doris Diaries series: Reaching for the Moon won the grand prize at the Great Northwest Book Festival, which honors the best titles of the late winter and early spring season. Tracey released the book in 2013.

Subtitled "More Diaries of a Roaring Twenties Teen" Tracey’s biographical memoir details the true-life adventures of Doris Bailey, a teen who recovers from scarlet fever to flirt with boys, sneak sips of whiskey and bet on racehorses, breaking rules and hearts along the way. In Portland, Ore., she’s the belle of the ball, enjoying the attention of several handsome gents.

From hospital wards and petting parties to rodeos and boarding schools, Bailey faces the dawning of the Depression and her own emergence as a young adult. The stories look back at life in what’s perceived as a simpler time, often offering lessons for modern readers.

Reaching for the Moon is the second volume in The Doris Diaries which began with I’ve Got Some Loving to Do, published in 2012.

Tracey and other publishers and authors will be honored on Saturday, March 22, in a private ceremony at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood.

Tracey was the founding editor and a former publisher of the Alameda Sun. The Sun’s current publisher and longtime creative director, Eric J. Kos designed the covers for both volumes of The Doris Diaries.

For more information or to order a copy of Reaching for the Moon, visit www.facebook.com/thedorisdiaries or amazon.com.