Now here’s a well-deserved honor: San Francisco author and musician Kathi Kamen Goldmark will receive the 2008 Women’s National Book Association Award for her contributions to literacy and freedom of expression. From this week’s announcement:

WNBA is honoring Kathi Kamen Goldmark for founding the Rock Bottom Remainders, a rock-‘n-roll band of literary superstars that raises money for literacy and writing-related causes. Since its first concert in 1992, the band has brought in more than $1.5M to support numerous writing, literacy and freedom of expression efforts. Stephen King, Dave Barry and Amy Tan are among its members…

Kathi’s efforts on behalf of literacy also extend to CDs she produces through her company, “Don’t Quit Your Day Job” (www.dqydj.com). For the 1998 release, Stranger than Fiction!, she cajoled 40 writers into singing their favorite songs for a good cause – the PEN Writers Special Fund.

Of course, Kathi also is one of the California authors who generously contributed to My California: Journeys by Great Writers, the bestselling narrative anthology that benefits writing programs for children and the California Arts Council. She’s the author of And My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You.

Past WNBA Award recipients include Eleanor Roosevelt, Patricia Schroeder, Nancy Pearl. and Dr. Perri Klass, the pediatrician-author recognized for her work with Reach Out and Read. Kathi receives her award on Nov. 8 in San Francisco.