VOICES
WITS Digital Chapbooks 2012-2013 Vol. III
VOICES Vol. III
VOICES 2012-2013 Digital Chapbooks Vol. III Copyright 2013 Literary Arts, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This book may not be duplicated in any way—mechanical, photographic, electronic, or by means yet to be devised—without the written permission of the publisher, except in the case of a brief excerpt or quotations for the purpose of review.
Literary Arts Staff
Andrew Proctor, Executive Director Jenny Chu Lydah DeBin Susan Denning Jennifer Gurney Mary Rechner Evan P. Schneider Mel Wells
WITS Interns
Acacia Blackwell Eleanor Piper
Board Of Directors
Susheela Jayapal, Chair Betsy Amster Rick Comandich Alice Cuprill-Comas Rebecca DeCesaro Theo Downes-Le Guin Marie Eckert Robert Geddes Pamela Smith Hill Amy Carlsen Kohnstamm Frank Langfitt John Meadows Jessica Mozeico-Blair
Amy Prosenjak James Reinhart Barry Sanders Jacqueline Willingham Thomas Wood
Strunk & White Society
An honorary society of distinguished advisors Gwyneth Booth Bart Eberwein Brian Gard Diana Gerding Molly Gloss Carrie Hoops Ursula K. Le Guin Barry Lopez Julie Mancini Brenda Meltebeke Diane Ponti Michael Powell Halle Sadle Steven Taylor Steve Wynne
Digital Chapbooks Staff
Editors: Mel Wells Designer: Rebekah Volinsky Writers in the Schools is a program of Literary Arts, a community-based nonprofit literary organization whose mission is to support writers, engage readers, and inspire the next generation with great literature. For more information please contact:
Literary Arts 925 SW Washington St. Portland, OR 97205 503.227.2583 www.literary-arts.org
Contents
Writers in the Schools Support Introduction Buckethead
Liam Carmody
Una Carta A Dios Liam Carmody
Invisible
Hanna Eddings
Una Carta A Dios Hanna Eddings
El Gato
Francesca Fontana
Roberto
Francesca Fontana
Una Carta A Dios Magena Fura
La Receta para una “Sophia” Sophie Miller
Una Carta A Dios Sophie Miller
La Vida De Un Gato Iris (Rosa) Parshley
Una Receta
Iris (Rosa) Parshley
Soy una gata
Kristina Peterson
Roberto
Kristina Peterson
El gato
Robert Powers III
vii ix xiii
13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39
Como hacer un Roberto
Robert Powers III 41
La Fotografía Ruby Reed
Una Carta A Dios Ruby Reed
Solo Una Noche Liane Smith
Una Carta A Dios Liane Smith
Paciencia Y Fe
Emma Snyder
Mi Culpa
Emma Snyder
La Receta
Madeline Stapleton
Carl
Raizel O’Brian
Writers in the Schools
43 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 60
Writers In The Schools
Writers-In-Residence
Carl Adamshick, Lorraine Bahr, Carmen Bernier-Grand, Chuck Carlise, Lisa Rosalie Eisenberg, Elyse Fenton, Amanda Gersh, Cindy Williams GutiĂŠrrez, Javier Hernandez, Jonathan Hill, Hunt Holman, John Isaacson, Sara Jaffe, Ramiza Koya, Jennifer Lauck, Amy Minato, Laura Moulton, Mark Pomeroy, Ismet Prcic, Joseph Rogers, Desmond Spann, Matt Zrebski
Visiting Authors
Sherman Alexie, Nikky Finney, Stephen Greenblatt, Javier Hernandez, Anis Mojgani, Jeffrey Toobin
Participating Teachers
Amy Ambrosio, Gene Brunak, Sandra Childs, JoAnna Coleman, Stephanie D’Cruz, Jerry Eaton, Jennifer Edelson, Bianca Espinosa, Lise Flores, Stefanie Goldbloom, John Golden, Ben Grosscup, Jordan Gutierner, Emily Hensley, David Hillis, Cindy Irby, Tom Kane, Stephen Lambert, Dylan Leeman, Barb Macon, Darryl Miles, Irene Montano, Steve Naganuma, Amanda-Jane Nelson, Michele Potestio, Mary Rodeback, Alicia Smith, Kris Spurlock, Norman Stremming, Dana Vinger, Virginia Warfield, Elisa Wong, Tracey Wyatt
Participating Principals
Petra Callin, Carol Campbell, Peyton Chapman, Brian Chatard, Kelli Clark, Paul Cook, Shay James, A.J. Morrison, Vivian Orlen, Macarre Traynham, Charlene Williams
District Liaison Melissa Goff
Support The following individuals, businesses and foundations made Writers in the Schools a success in 2012-2013:
Sponsors
Lisa C. Alan Carole Alexander Sally & John Anderson Anonymous Ray & Jean Auel Cari Bacon Flick Bill Bagnall & Clayton Lloyd Kimberly Bakken LinaBeth Barber Rosemary Barrett Tom & Molly Bartlett Kim Batcheller Dianne Bocci Diane Boly Boora Architects Tom & Kristen Boothe
Gloria Borg Olds Nancy & Roderick Boutin Evie Brim Kathleen Bristow Richard L. Brown Richard T. Brown & Ruth Robbins Peggy Busick Karyle Butcher Petra Callin Claire Carder Victoria Carey Doris Carlsen Amy Carlsen Kohnstamm & Kevin Kohnstamm Christine Carr Elizabeth Carter & Cary Sneider Santha Cassell Nicole Castonguay Brent & Barbara Chalmers Peyton Chapman Clark & Susan Chipman Jan A. Christensen Joan Cirillo & Roger Cooke Olivia Clark & Dennis Mulvihill Ava Jan Clements The Collins Foundation Rick Comandich & Maya Muir Anne Conway Mary Louise & W. Bruce Cook Deborah & Jim Coonan Tom & Barbara Cooney David & Denise Corey Neale & Marian Creamer Alice Cuprill-Comas & Richard M. Short Eloise Damrosch Michael E. Davalt Cheryl & John Dawson Charles H. Deaver Rebecca & Michael DeCesaro
Becky Denham, M.D. Susan & Michael Denning Loree A. Devery & Robert J. Trachtenberg Margaret Dey David & Julie Dietzler Terrence Dolan & Catherine Blosser Theodore & Nancy Downes-Le Guin Anne Draper Veronica Duczek Paul & Francesca Duden Carol Duncan Justin Dune & Carol Sanders Jo J. Durand Heidi W. Durrow & Darryl Wash Broadway Books Ann P. Edlen Tina Edlund & Sydney Edlund-Jermain Sheila Edwards-Lienhart Sue & Ed Einowski Nancy Ellis Susan Elmer Ann & Ron Emmerson Et Fille Wines Laura Evans Kendra & David Farris Jeanette Feldhousen Myron Filene Stephanie Fine First Tech Federal Credit Union Nancy Fishman Liz Fitzpatrick Ellen Fortin & Michael Tingley Frederica Frager Jacqueline Frank Holley & Richard Franklin Richard Frantz Julie Frantz Terri Freeman Marilynn Friley The Heathman Hotel Bob Geddes Janice Geier Diana Gerding Jane Glazer Barbara Hall Philip S. Harper Foundation Virginia Harris Scott Bianca Hart Susan Hathaway-Marxer & Larry Marxer
Jane Heisler Betsy Henning Edward & Leah Hershey Nancy Hogarth The Holzman Foundation, Inc Terri & Robert Hopkins Mary Jo Hurley & Lynn Miller Kurt Hutton & Melissa Burch Irwin Foundation Paul & Jane Jacobsen Shay James Susheela Jayapal & Brad Miller Brita Johnson & Allen Poole Grant & Elaine Jones Lisa Jordan & Judith George Elizabeth S. Joseph Juan Young Trust Marjorie Kafoury Diane Kendall Anne Kepner Kate Kilberg Kinder Morgan Foundation Marianne King Margaret King Barbara Kingsolver Tamara & Ronald Kizziar Knowledge Universe Susan & Rick Koe Cathy Koerner BettyLou Koffel Jon & Karen Kruse Laurie LaBathe Tracy Laidley James Lain Maude Lamont Susan Lane Frank Langfitt & Mary Janet Steen Linda Larsen-Wheatley Irwin Lavenberg Ursula & Charles Le Guin Graeme & Martha Leggatt Kirsten & Christopher Leonard Shannon Leonetti Jane & Robert Lightell Anne Lipsitz Melissa Maag Kathryn Madison & Jeffrey Wertz Phillip M. Margolin Carolyn & Thomas Marieb
Linda Marshall Mary Martinez Robert Matheson Carol Mayer-Reed & Michael Reed Monique McCLean & Lars Topelmann William & Susan McConnell Pete McDowell Brad & Julie McMurchie John Meadows & Libby Barber Brenda L. Meltebeke & Scott K. Stuart Rob & Kate Melton David & Debbie Menashe Toinette & Victor Menashe Anne Mendel & Mark Henry Courtney L. Mersereau Dr. Elizabeth & Dr. Brock Metcalf Ruth & Arnold Metz Lora & Jim Meyer Kelly Middleton James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation Deidra Miner Fern Momyer Douglas & Candace Morgan Connie Morgan Margaret Morton Mona Mozeico Jessica Mozeico-Blair & Jordan Blair Multnomah County Cultural Coalition V. Annette Murphy The Nara Fund Elizabeth Neely Joanne Nehler Tom & Chris Neilsen Jennifer Neilson Johanna Nelson & James Bohem Amy Nist Katherine O'Neil & Toby Graff Jan & Steve Oliva Carol Olwell Irja Orav Mary Oschwald Jo Ellen Osterlind Pacific Northwest Law, LLP Ellen Payne Bonnie Peterson Andie Petkus Photography Nita Pettigrew Nancy Phillips Heather Pinney & George Penk
David Pollock Nancy & Dick Ponzi Portland Monthly Amy Prosenjak Michael & Alisa Pyszka Wendy Rahm Bonnie & Peter Reagan Leslie Rennie-Hill & Ken Hill Michelle Reynolds Rae Richen Robin Roberts & John L Backes Rosemarie Rosenfeld Ruth Roth Halle & Rick Sadle Janet Goetze Sanderson Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation Donna Kay Schreiner Anne Scott Sue Sell Norm & Barbara Sepenuk Natalie & Joel Serber Gail Shaloum Manya Shapiro Martha Sharman Stephen & Micky Shields R. Philip & Barbara Silver Lori Singer Shirley A. Skidmore & Ronald E. Quant Kaarin & Van Smith Marjorie M. Smith Shauna Smith Merri Souther Wyatt Barbara Spence Jean Stadamire The Standard Dennis & Ann Stenzel Katherine Stevens Lee Stewart & Chris Sherry Sharon Stewart Micah D. Stolowitz & Shauna Krieger Patricia & Marvin Straughan Greg & Martha Struxness Roslyn & Donald Sutherland Target Herbert A. Templeton Foundation Macarre Traynham Victor Trelawny Elizabeth Tsao U.S. Bancorp Foundation
U.S. Bancorp Foundation, Employee Matching Gifts Ann & Tom Usher Karen Van Vleck Alice Vaux Julie & Ted Vigeland Carolyn Vinton Nancy Walker Kristi Wallace Knight & Eric Wallace Anne Warner Emma Lee & John Weibel Wessinger Foundation Dara Wilk Carolyn Williams Charlene Williams Dr. Diane Williams Janet Williamson Jackie & William Willingham Christina & Reed Wilson Norma L. Winemiller Lynn & Paulette Wittwer Jeff & Lynn Wolfstone Tom & Marcia Wood Steven E. Wynne & Deborah J. Hewitt Linda M. Wysong Dr. Candace Young Morton & Audrey Zalutsky
Community Partners
Annie Bloom’s Books Bipartisan Café Broadway Books Girasole Pizza Glimmer Train Lewis & Clark College Multnomah County Library Oregon Public Broadcasting Portland Art Museum Powell’s Books Reed College Tabor Space Tin House University of Oregon Wordstock Workshop for Teen Artists + Writers at Marylhurst University
Introduction
Dear Reader, The Writers in the Schools program has been serving Portland’s public high school students with creative writing residencies since 1996. In recent years we’ve begun providing additional literary experiences for students off campus. To learn more about Students to the Schnitz, Verselandia! and our College Essay Mentoring Project, go to www.literary-arts.org/wits-home/projects. Last year, 1,124 students participated in semester-long writing residencies taught by local, professional writers during the school day at 11 of the city’s public high schools. Poets, playwrights, journalists, fiction writers, memoirists, and graphic novelists modeled the disciplined passion of a creative life in 44 classrooms. Residencies were planned to deepen existing curricula, and designed to meet state and national standards for the arts and language arts. During the residencies, students wrote, revised, edited, and had the opportunity to publish their writing in our print and digital anthologies. Many also shared their work throughout the city, thanks to our community partners: Annie Bloom’s Books, BiPartisan Café, Bluehour Restaurant, Broadway Books, Girasole Pizza, Portland Art Museum, Powell’s Books, and Tabor Space. You’ll find the three volumes of digital chapbooks brimming with moments both heroic and intimate. I’d like to thank our editor Mel Wells, Literary Arts’ Program Coordinator, along with WITS interns Ellie Piper, a student in the Portland State University MFA program, and Hannah Femling, a student at St. Olaf College. Our digital chapbooks are beautiful due to the work of design intern Rebekah Volinsky; thank you! A vast cadre of writers, teachers, librarians, principals, interns, volunteers, and community supporters makes our work with youth successful. If you would like to contribute to our efforts, please visit our website where you will find more information on how to give. Mary Rechner Writers in the Schools Program Director
Wilson High School
Me llamo Buckethead. Mis dueños me llaman Buckethead porque tengo un cono cerca de mi cuello. A mi me cae gordo el cono porque no puedo arañar mi cuerpo. No sé por qué tengo este deseo me arañar, pero desde hace la semana pasado, he tenido deseo de arañar. Quiero que el cono desaparezca. Estoy esperanzado de que pronto el cono va a desparecer. A fuera del cono, mi vida es tranquila y tengo dueños tan simpáticos. Mis dueños siempre me dan de comer y me siento bien cerca de ellos. Yo amo mis dueños, pero yo que me quiten mi cono.
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Buckethead Liam Carmody
13
Buckethead
My name is Buckethead. My owners call me Buckethead because I have a cone around my neck. I don’t like the cone because I can’t scratch my body. I don’t know why I have the desire to scratch, but ever since last week I have had the desire to scratch. I want the cone to disappear. I’m hoping the cone will disappear soon. Other than the cone, my life is tranquil and I have fun owners. My owners always feed me and I feel very close to them. I love my owners, but I want them to take off my cone.
Wilson High School
Querido Dios, ¿Puedes ayúdame? Necesita ayudo con mi pelo. Cuando voy a cortar mi pelo, siempre me dan mal cortar de mi pelo. Quiero encontrar a una buena peluquera el pelo, pero es tan difícil. Por ejemplo, yo recibi un cortad de pelo hace dos días, y me cae gordo. Ahora mi pelo están muy corta, y no lo quiero eso corto. Por tres anos yo he tratado de encontrar una buena peluquera, pero no tengo suerte. Posiblemente en el futuro yo voy a encontrar una persona calificado. ¿Puedes darme una persona calificado para cortar mi pelo? Con amor, Liam
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Una Carta A Dios Liam Carmody
15
A Letter to God
Dear God, Can you help me? I need help with my hair. Whenever I get a haircut, I get a very bad haircut. I want to find a good stylist, but it is very hard. For example, I got a haircut two days ago and I hate it. Now my hair is too short and I don’t want it short. I’ve been trying to find a good stylist for three years, but have not had any luck. Maybe in the future I will find a qualified person. Can you send me a qualified person to cut my hair? With love, Liam
Wilson High School
Me llamo Julieta, pero nadie lo sabe. Para las personas en mis clases solamente soy otra persona. Para mis profesores solamente soy otro papel para leer. Para todos soy invisible. Siento tristeza cuando nadie habla conmigo en mis clases. Quisiera hablar con las chicas en mis clases y salir con amigos, pero cuando digo algo, nadie me oye. Solamente hay una persona que sabe quien soy; mi hermana. Ella es mi opuesto—todo lo sabe. Todas las noches, ella me llama y pregunta cómo estuvo mi día. Es mi mejor amiga. Me dice que necesito hablar más fuerte y hacer amigos con los otros estudiantes. Pero es temible. ¿Qué si no les gusto a las otras personas?
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Invisible Hanna Eddings
17
Invisible
My name is Julieta, but nobody knows it. For everybody else, I am just another person in the class. For my teachers I am just another paper to read. I am invisible. I am sad when nobody talks to me in class. I would like to talk to the girls in my class and go out with friends, but when I say something, nobody hears me. There is only one person who knows who I am; my sister. She is my total opposite— she knows everything. Every night she calls me in and asks me how my day was. She is my best friend. She says I need to speak louder and make friends with the other students. But that is scary. What if the other students don’t like me?
Wilson High School
Dios, Ayúdame! No tengo tiempo para hablar con mi hermana antes de que ella vaya a la universidad. Ella sale en tres días. Voy a extrañarla. Había querido pasar tiempo con ella, pero las dos tenemos muchas otras cosas que hacer. Yo tengo tarea y las clases y ella necesita prepararse para la universidad. No hay bastante horas en el día para hacer todas las cosas que quiero con ella, y solamente tenemos tres días más. Entonces, ¿ puedes ayúdame? Hay dos opciones: haz algo para que no me des tarea, ó pon uno ó dos más horas en un día. ¡Muchas gracias! Hanna
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Una Carta A Dios Hanna Eddings
19
A Letter to God
God, Help me. I don’t have time to talk to my sister before she goes to college. She leaves in three days. I am going to miss her. I wanted to spend time with her but we both have other things to do. I have homework and classes and she needs to prepare for college. There are not enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do with her, and we only have three more days. So then, can you help me? There are two options: do something so that I don’t get more homework, or put an extra hour or two in the day. Thank you! Hanna
Wilson High School
El cielo estaban gris y llovía mucho cuando me desperté esa mañana. Como cada mañana, caminé a las basuras de las casas para buscar comida. No tenía suerte muchas veces. Por mucho tiempo estaba solo. Nunca tenía un nombre o una familia, de gatos o de personas. Dormía debajo de los coches o en los tejados de las casas. Caminé a las basuras y no encontré nada, como siempre. Pude oler la comida de la gente y oir sus voces en las casas. Eran felices, y me hacían triste. Tenía hambre mientras me eché cerca de unas de las casas. De repente, vi piernas caminando por las basuras. Sus zapatos eran rosados con flores pequeños, y cuando miré para arriba, vi a una persona. A la misma vez, ella me vió y sonrió. Tuve miedo, pero ella salió rapido a su casa. No sabía si debería quedarme o salir, pero antes de hacer nada ella reapareció con un plato de leche y lo puso enfrente de mi. Ella me acarició y salió una vez más a su casa. Después de este día nunca tuve hambre, gracias a la niña. Cada mañana me dio leche, y a veces pescado, y jugaba conmigo. Un día vi sus piernas con los zapatos rosados con las piernas de una persona grande—su padre. El me trajo a la casa y ella me puso un collar. Ahora la niña es mi familia y tiene un hogar.
Carmen Bernier-Grand
El Gato Francesca Fontana
21
The Cat
The sky was gray and it rained a lot when I woke up this morning. As I do every morning, I walked towards the garbage cans of the houses to look for food. I didn’t have any luck. I was alone for a long time. I never had a name or a family of cats or people. I slept under cars or on rooftops. I walked towards the garbage cans and I didn’t find anything, as always. I could smell people’s food and hear their voices inside their homes. They were happy and it made me sad. I was hungry and I started walking towards one of the homes. All of a sudden I saw legs walking towards the garbage. The shoes were pink with small flowers and when I looked up I saw it was a person. She looked at me at the same time and smiled. I was afraid, but she left her house in a hurry. I didn’t know whether to stay or flee, but before I could do anything she reappeared with a bowl of milk and put it in front of me. She petted me and came out of her house once again. I was never hungry again after this day, thanks to the little girl. She gave me milk every morning, sometimes fish, and she played with me. One day I saw her legs and the pink shoes walk along with a big person—her father. He brought me inside the house and put a collar on me. The little girl is my family now and I have a home.
Wilson High School
“¡La ultima y nos vamos!” nos dijo Mario, y pronto nosotros salimos del bar. No pude caminar muy bien—yo estaba muy mareado y el mundo me daba vuelta. Ibamos al coche de Mario y él empezó a conducir. Nosotros reímos y cantamos muy alto con el radio, y miré los luces de la calle que pasaban por el coche. De repente el coche se fue de la calle. Oí un grito, no sé si fue de mi. El coche se estrelló contra los árboles y no pude ver nada. Oí el vidrio de las ventanas rompiendose en pedazos. Esperé no morir. No sabía si un minuto o un hora pasó, pero finalmente abrí mis ojos. Mi cabeza me dolía mucho y había vidrio por todas partes en el coche. Llamé a mis amigos, pero ninguna persona en el coche se movió. No sabía si ellos estaban muertos pero oí las sirenas de la policía. “No puedo ir a la cárcel,” pensé, y sin un segundo pensamiento salí del coche y corrí, y esperé que mis amigos pueden perdonarme
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Roberto Francesca Fontana
23
Roberto
“One last drink and we leave!” Mario said to us, and soon after that we left the bar. I couldn’t walk very well—I was dizzy and the world was turning around me. We were going to Mario’s car and he started to drive. We all laughed and sang loudly with the radio and I looked at the lights of the street that passed by the car. Suddenly the car was off the street. I heard a scream; I don’t know if it was me. The car crashed against some trees and I couldn’t see anything. I heard the glass and the windows crash into pieces. I hoped I wouldn’t die. I don’t know if a minute or an hour went by, but I finally opened my eyes. My head hurt a lot and there was glass all over the car. I called for my friends but none of them moved. I didn’t know if they were dead but I heard the sirens of the police. “I can’t go to jail,” I thought. And without thinking about it for a second I got out the car and I ran and I hoped my friends would forgive me.
Wilson High School
Querido Dios, Tengo un pequeño dolor porque no voy a estar con mi familia por mucho tiempo más. El próximo año voy a estar en la universidad. Voy a extrañar a mis padres y mi hermanito, pero especialmente a mi gato, Mocha. Estoy emocionada por salir de la casa, pero esto también me da miedo. Espero que mi familia me envié paquetes como comida y regalos, y espero que no le den mi dormitorio con otra persona. Espero que mi familia no me olvide cuando salga de la casa. Por favor, ¡ayúdame! Gracias, Magena
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Una Carta A Dios Magena Fura
25
A Letter to God
Dear God, I’m feeling pained because I will not be with my family for a long time. Next year I will be in college. I will miss my parents and my brother, but especially my cat, Mocha. I’m excited to leave home, but it also scares me. I hope that my family will send me packages like food and gifts, and I hope they will not give my bedroom to someone else. I hope that my family will not forget about me when I leave home. Please, help me! Thank you, Magena
Wilson High School
Ingredientes: Tres tazas de alegría Una manada de risitas Una cucharada de cariño y amor Una cucharada de locura La Receta: Necesitas los ingredientes, una cacerola y un horno para hacer una “Sophia” Ponga tres tazas de alegría en la cacerola Pique la manada de risitas en pedazos pequeñas Añada las risitas a la cacerola Bata la cucharada de cariño y amor con una cucharada de locura Mezcle todo Hornee la mezcla por diez días a una temperatura muy caliente Enfrié por dos días Prueba la mezcla, si es dulce, ¡esta lista! Si no es dulce, repita la receta
Carmen Bernier-Grand
La Receta para una “Sophia” Sophie Miller
27
Recipe for a “Sophia”
Ingredients Three cups of happiness A handful of giggles A spoonful of love and affection A spoonful of craziness The Recipe: You will need the ingredients, a pan and an oven to make a “Sophia.” Put in three cups of happiness in the pan Dice a handful of giggles into small pieces Add the giggles into the pan Stir in the spoonful of love and affection with the spoonful of craziness Mix together Bake for ten days at a very hot temperature Cool for two days Taste the mixture, if it is sweet—it is ready! If it is not sweet, repeat the recipe.
Wilson High School
Querido Dios, ¡Muchas gracias por su regalo para mi! Me encanta mi mascota nueva, ¡pero no tengo espacio para una ballena! Yo sé que ella es un bebé pero necesito más espacio para cuidar a mi amorcito (la ballena). Si puedes darme dinero para comprar una piscina y comida para mi ballena…¡voy a estar más feliz! Ella no puede sobrevivir en mi baño por mucho tiempo más porque ella está creciendo tan rápido. Ella come mucho también. Muchas gracias por el regalo, ¡pero ayúdame por favor! Sophie
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Una Carta A Dios Sophie Miller
29
A Letter to God
Dear God, Thank you very much for your gift to me! I love my new pet, but I don’t have a lot of space for a whale! I know she is a baby but I need more space to take care of my little love (the whale). If you could give me money to buy a pool and food for my whale I would be very happy! She can’t survive in the bath tub for very long and because she is growing so fast. She eats a lot too. Thank you very much for the gift, but please help me! Sophie
Wilson High School
¡Hola! Mis dueños me llaman Tigre. Soy un gato naranja con rayas. Soy muy guapo. Todos los gatos y los humanos piensan eso. Me gusta mi casa, pero no me gusta la comida que mis dueños me dan para comer. La comida es muy dura y el sabor es como el papel. No puedo ir afuera, pero no necesito ir. Toda la casa es mi territorio. Puedo jugar con las serpientes (actualmente son pedazos de cuerda), las ratas (son falsas), y los pájaros (plumas en una cuerda). A veces me gusta pelear con mi hermana Cleo, pero a ella no le gusta pelear conmigo. Pienso que mi vida es perfecta y mis dueños son lo máximo.
Carmen Bernier-Grand
La Vida De Un Gato Iris (Rosa) Parshley
31
The Life of a Cat Hello! My owners call me Tiger. I am a striped orange cat. I am very handsome. All the other cats and humans think so. I like my house but I don’t like the food my owners give me to eat. The food is very hard and it tastes like paper. I can’t go out, but I don’t need to. The whole house is my territory. I can play with snakes (actually they are pieces of twine), rats (they are not real), and birds (feathers on a string). Sometimes I like to fight with my sister Cleo, but she doesn’t like to fight with me. I think my life is perfect and my owners are the best.
Wilson High School
Los Ingredientes: • Una taza de inteligencia • Una cucharada de dureza • Una media taza de seriedad • Un poquito de alegría Los Pasos: 1. Lavese las manos con agua y jabón. 2. Ponga la taza de inteligencia en una olla. 3. Bata la inteligencia hasta que esté suave. 4. Añada la cucharada de dureza. 5. Hierva la dureza y la inteligencia por diez minutos. 6. Pique la alegría en pedazos muy pequeños. 7. Ponga la alegría y la seriedad en la olla. 8. Mezcle todo en la olla bien.
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Una Receta Iris (Rosa) Parshley
33
A Recipe
The Ingredients: A cup of intelligence A spoonful of hardness Half a cup of seriousness A little bit of joy The Steps 1. Wash your hands with soap and water. 2. Put the cup of intelligence in a pot. 3. Mix the intelligence until smooth. 4. Add the spoonful of hardness. 5. Boil the hardness and the intelligence together for ten minutes. 6. Dice the joy into small pieces. 7. Put the joy and the seriousness in a pot. 8. Mix everything in the pot well.
Wilson High School
Hola, me llamo Annabelle. Soy una gata con colores grises y negros, y soy blanda. Soy más pequeña que otras gatas y las otras se reíen de mí y me hacen sentir mal por eso. Me gusta caminar todos los días por los calles para ver cosas nuevas. Cuando me acarician, yo ronroneo. Me gustan todas las personas y vivo con una familia muy amable. Ellos me dan comida todos los días. La leche es mi favorita. Ellos duermen conmigo en sus camas. Me encanta mi vida porque puedo hacer lo que quiero. Tengo muchos amigos y ellos viven por mis barrios. Me gusta dar un paseo en el parque, oler el aire fresco y ver los pájaros.
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Soy una gata Kristina Peterson
35
I am a cat
Hello, my name is Annabelle. I am a gray and black cat, and I am soft. I am smaller than other cats and they laugh at me and make me feel bad. I like to walk the streets every day and see new things. I purr when people pet me. I like everybody and live with a very nice family. They give me food every day. Milk is my favorite. They sleep with me in their beds. I love my life because I can do what I want. I have lots of friends and they live in my neighborhood. I like to take a stroll in the park and smell the fresh air and see the birds.
Wilson High School
Era un noche fría y mi amigo Mario vino a mi casa y yo y Carlos nos fuimos con Mario. En el auto del padre de Mario fuimos a un bar y tomamos mucha tequilla. Yo dije, “Para el coche porque tú no puedes conducir.” Él continuó y de repente chocó con dos personas y ellos y Carlos murieron. Yo grité por la policía realizando que yo estaba vivo. La policía vino y sacó a Mario fuera del carro y le puso sus manos en su cabeza. Fue un día muy triste porque mi amigo decidió beber tequilla y mi amigo Carlos está muerto. Yo tengo suerte porque no bebí tequilla y estoy vivo.
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Roberto Kristina Peterson
37
Roberto
It was a cold night and my friend Mario came to my house and Carlos and I went with Mario. We went in Mario’s father’s car to a bar and drank lots of tequila. I said: “Stop the car because you can’t drive”. He continued and suddenly he crashed into two people and they and Carlos died. I yelled for the police realizing I was alive. The police came and took Mario out of the car and put his hands over his head. It was a very sad day because my friend decided to drink tequila and my friend Carlos is dead. I was lucky because I didn’t drink tequila and I am alive.
Wilson High School
Mi casa es muy grande con mi familia y una mujer, quién es muy gorda. Tengo treinta y un hermanos y hermanas. ¡Ja! Mi tío es un perro, pero yo soy un gato gordo. Mi nombre es Esperanza pero yo soy un chico. Es mi opinión que me quieren matar porque ellas me dan comida todo el tiempo y ahora estoy muy gordo. Es muy horrible porque yo necesito quedarme en esta casa. ¡Qué horrible! Ayúdeme, por favor.
Carmen Bernier-Grand
El gato Robert Powers III
39
The cat
My house is very big with my family and a woman who is very fat. I have thirty-one brothers and sisters. Ha! My uncle is a dog, but I am a very fat cat. My name is Esperanza but I am very small. It is my opinion they want to kill me because they give me food all the time and now I am very fat. It’s terrible because I have to stay in the house. How horrible! Help me please!
Wilson High School
Robert Powers III Ingredientes: 1. Una taza de trabajador 2. Un litro de alegría 3. Un poco de inteligencia Instrucciones: Ponga una taza de trabajador en la estufa y hierva todo lo perezoso. Después, ponga un litro de alegría con el trabajador en la olla por 17 años. Al final, póngalo en la licuadora y añada un poco de inteligencia. Cuando todo se mezcle bien tendrá un muchacho, quien es muy simple y trabajador. Extra: añada una cucharada del diablo para tener un chico malo.
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Como hacer un Roberto
41
How to make a Robert
Ingredients: 1. A cup of Hard Worker 2. A liter of joy 3. A little bit of intelligence Instructions: Put the cup of Hard Worker on the stove and boil all the laziness. After that, put in the liter of joy with the Hard Worker in a pot for 17 years. Finally put in the blender and add a little bit of intelligence. When all is mixed well you will have a boy who is simple, and a hard worker. Extra: Add a spoonful of devil to have a bad boy.
Wilson High School
Soy una adolescente y no estoy muy alegre en estos momentos. Me siento emocional, irracional, y estoy enojada. La escuela es muy difícil. Mis padres no son justos. Mis amigos me enojan, y sólo quiero dormir. Quisiera que todo desapareciera en el aire, pero sé que no es posible. ¡Algunas veces quiero gritar! Entonces grito y corro, y salto y después me siento mejor. Porque mi furia se escapa, puedo estar más relajada. Ahora puedo concentrarme en las cosas que necesito hacer para no estar tan enojada y estresada todo el tiempo. Muchas personas no me entienden, pero así es la vida. Ellos no saben como soy, y qué tengo hacer cada día para que mi vida sea buena en el futuro. Esto es lo que todos me dicen: que tengo que ser inteligente, sacar buenas notas, hacer cosas que a las universidades les gustan, y mi futuro va a ser mejor. ¡Pero sólo soy una persona! Necesito más tiempo para ser niña, no adulta. Pero así es la vida, y voy a ser lo que tengo que hacer para tener una vida alegre. Y si para tener eso necesito trabajar mucho ahora, tengo que hacerlo. Y puedo hacerlo.
Carmen Bernier-Grand
La Fotografía Ruby Reed
43
The Photograph
I am a teenager and I am not very happy at the moment. I feel emotional, irrational, and I am mad. School is very difficult. My parents aren’t fair. My friends make me mad and I just want to sleep. I would like everything to disappear in thin air, but I know that is not possible. Sometimes I want to scream! Then I scream and I run and jump and then I feel better. Because my fury escapes, I can be more relaxed. Now I can concentrate on things that I need to do so that I don’t feel so angry and stressed all the time. Lots of people don’t understand me, but such is life. They don’t know how I am and what I have to do every day so that my life is better in the future. This is what everybody says: that I have to be intelligent, get good grades, do things that the university likes, and my future will be better. But I am just a person! I need more time to be a little girl, not an adult. But such is life, and I am going to do what I have to do to have a happy life. And if for that I need to work hard now, I have to do it. I can do it.
Wilson High School
Dios, Yo creo que no voy a tener comida para el invierno. Estoy muy triste porque mi familia necesita comer, pero yo no puedo encontrar más nueces. ¡El árbol en donde vivimos es grande, y hay muchísimas hojas! Pero ya no puedo encontrar unas nueces. ¡Yo creo que las otras ardillas que estan en el bosque son ladrones, dios! Es por eso que estoy escribiéndole. Yo necesito que los árboles produzcan más fruta, por favor. Por favor y gracias, Tomás la Ardilla
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Una Carta A Dios Ruby Reed
45
A Letter to God
God, I don’t think I am going to have food in the winter. I am very sad because my family needs to eat, but I can’t find any nuts. The tree where I live is very big and there are lots of leaves! I think the other squirrels in the forest are thieves, God! That is why I am writing to you. I need the trees to produce more fruit, please. Please and thank you, Thomas the Squirrel
Wilson High School
Salimos del bar muy tarde esa noche. La luna brillaba fuerte en la oscura de la noche. Carlos todavía estaba cantando la última canción que oímos antes de salir. Fue una canción horrible, pero Mario y yo empezamos a cantar también, teníamos que vivir el momento. Cuando llegamos al coche dejé de contar porque sabía que Mario no podía conducir. Nadie podía conducir. Tenía que decir algo. “Mario, no debes conducir ahora,” le dije con cuidado. “No te preocupes, Roberto. Yo puedo hacerlo.” él me respondió. “¿Debemos esperar hasta la mañana? Sería más seguro,” yo sabía que él no quería esperar, pero todavía esperaba que estuviera de acuerdo conmigo. “No, Roberto. Yo puedo conducir ahora. Tengo que devolver el coche esta noche. Puedes esperar aquí si quieres, pero Carlos y yo nos vamos.” Yo sabía que era peligroso y estúpido, pero no tenía otra opción; tenía que ir. En el coche podía ver que Mario estaba enojado. Manejó tan rápido que no pude ver nada afuera; él no pudo controlar el coche. De repente, vi una luz que brillaba muy fuerte como el sol y todo desapareció. La luz quemó mis ojos cuando me despertó. Después de unos minutos, pude ver que estaba en una sala blanca con una ventana grande. La mañana había llegado. Me dolía todo el cuerpo. No sabía donde estaba; no recordé nada. Cuando mis padres entraron, corrieron a mi lado. “¿Qué pasó? ¿Dónde estoy?” les pregunté. “Estás en el hospital. Estuve un accidente...” me dijo mi madre. Cuando oí esas palabras pude ver el bar, la luna, Mario, y Carlos. “¿Dónde están Mario y Carlos? ¿También están aquí?” Vi la expresión en la cara de mi madre y sabía que no quería oír su respuesta. “Mario está en el cárcel...” ella me dijo con cuidado. “¿Y Carlos?” “Roberto, fue un accidente horrible. Carlos no sobrevivió. Había tres personas en el otro coche, y ellos se murieron también. Lo siento mucho, Roberto.” Recordé todo y, en este momento, quería morir también.
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Solo Una Noche Liane Smith
47
Just One Night
We left the bar very late at night. The moon was shining bright in the dark of the night. Carlos was singing the last song that we heard before we left. It was a terrible song, but Mario and I started to sing too. We had to live the moment. When we got to the car I stopped singing because I knew Mario couldn’t drive. Nobody could drive. I had to say something. “Mario, you shouldn’t drive now,” I said cautiously. “Don’t worry, Robert. I can do it,” he answered. “Shouldn’t we wait until tomorrow? It would be safer.” I knew he didn’t want to wait, but I hoped he would agree with me. “No, Robert. I can drive now. I have to take the car back tonight. You can wait here if you want, but Carlos and I are leaving.” I knew it was dangerous and stupid, but I didn’t have another option; I had to go. In the car I could tell that Mario was mad. He drove so fast that I couldn’t see anything outside. He couldn’t control the car. All of a sudden, I saw a light as bright as the sun and everything disappeared. The light burned my eyes when I woke up. After a few minutes I could see I was in a white room with big windows. Morning had arrived. My entire body hurt. I didn’t know where I was; I couldn’t remember anything. When my parents arrived they ran to my side. “What happened? Where am I?” I asked. “You are in the hospital. You were in an accident…” my mother said. When I heard these words, I could see the bar, the moon, Mario, and Carlos. “Where are Mario and Carlos? Are they here too?” I saw the expression on my mother’s face and I knew I didn’t want to hear the answer. “Mario is in jail…”she said carefully. “And Carlos?” “Roberto, it was a terrible accident. Carlos didn’t survive. There were three people in the other car; they died too. I am very sorry, Robert.” I remembered everything, and at that moment, I wanted to die too.
Wilson High School
Querida Dios, No creo en ti pero no tengo nadie en mi vida con quien puedo hablar. Necesito hablar con alguien porque no puedo seguir viviendo así. Estoy sola en este mundo. Cuando me despierto cada mañana pienso en todo lo que he perdido. No quiero hablar de lo que pasó pero necesito tú ayuda. Si tú eres como todos dicen, yo sé que tú entenderás. Me siento como la lluvia que cae del cielo y llega a la tierra perdida y sola. No quiero vivir en las noches nada más, quiero estar con el sol donde la luz llena cada minuto con algo nuevo. Yo sé que no creo en ti, pero eso puede cambiar. Yo quiero esperanza para el futuro pero no tengo eso ahora. Yo sé que no puedes cambiar el pasado pero, por favor, ayúdame porque no quiero seguir viviendo así. Tú representas la única esperanza que tengo. Por favor ayúdame.
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Una Carta A Dios Liane Smith
49
A Letter to God
Dear God, I don’t believe in you but I have nobody in my life to talk to. I need to talk to someone because I can’t go on living like this. I am alone in the world. When I wake up every morning I think of everything that I have lost. I can’t talk about what happened but I need help. If you are like everybody says, I know you will understand. I feel like the rain that falls from the sky and reaches earth lost and alone. I don’t want to just live at night. I want to be with the sun where light fills every minute with something new. I know I don’t believe in you, but that can change. I want hope for the future but I don’t have that now. I know you can’t change the past but, please, help me because I can’t keep on living like this. You represent the only hope I have left. Please help me.
Wilson High School
Sé mucho sobre este mundo en que vivimos. También tengo ideas para mejorarlo, pero no puedo comunicarlas a nadie. Estoy en las nubes, y no quiero bajarme. Creo que todos necesitan subir a mi nivel pero algunas personas no quieren ni pueden hacer esto. Estoy llena de tristeza porque nadie entiende lo que siento y quiero, no solamente para mí pero también para toda la gente. Pero, soy inteligente, y también tengo la capacidad de reparar este problema. Sé que es difícil cambiar rápidamente. Sólo necesitamos: tiempo, paciencia, y fe. Podemos cambiar, ¡lo sé! Tengo fe, y necesito compartir esta fe con todos.
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Paciencia Y Fe Emma Snyder
51
Patience and Faith
I know a lot on the world we live in. I also have ideas to make it better, but I can’t communicate with anybody. I am on the clouds, and I can’t get down. I think that everyone needs to come up to my level but some people don’t want to or they can’t do it. I am full of sadness because nobody understands what I feel and want, not only for me but for all of the people. But, I’m intelligent, and I also have the capacity to fix this problem. I know! I have faith and I need to share the faith with everybody.
Wilson High School
Me siento responsable por esto. Conozco al dueño de ese bar, y creo que si hubiese convencido a Mario a no beber mucho y también a no conducir, todo lo que pasó no hubiese pasado. Yo sé que no puedo beber alcohol. Bebía mucho durante la prepa, y no creía que había consecuencias en mis acciones. Algunas personas están muertas, y es mi culpa. ¿Qué puedo hacer? Mario es un buen amigo y no necesita esta culpa. ¿Qué va a pasar con la universidad? Nadie me quiere ahora, yo creo. Estoy lleno de crimen y tristeza. No puedo continuar.
Carmen Bernier-Grand
Mi Culpa Emma Snyder
53
My Fault
I feel responsible for this. I know the owner of the bar, and I think that if I had convinced Mario not to drink so much and also not to drive, everything that happened wouldn’t have happened. I know that I can’t drink alcohol. I drank a lot during high school, and I didn’t think there would be consequences for my actions. Some people are dead, and it is my fault. What can I do? Mario is a good friend and doesn’t need to feel guilty. What is going to happen with college? Nobody wants me now, I think. I am full of crime and sadness. I can’t go on.
Wilson High School
Ingredientes: 1. Un poco de verdad 2. Una tasa de trabajo 3. Una cucharada de peligro Instrucciones: • Primero, en una olla, ponga un poco de verdad en la estufa y mezcle por una hora. • Calenté el horno a 300 grados, ponga una tasa de trabajo en la olla y póngala en el horno. • Finalmente añada una cucharada de peligro con la verdad y trabajo en la olla y cubrala con la tapa. • Después de tres horas, en el horno, enfrié por treinta minutos. • ¡Ahora, cómalo!
Carmen Bernier-Grand
La Receta Madeline Stapleton
55
The Recipe
Ingredients: 1. A bit of truth 2. A cup of work 3. A spoonful of danger Instructions: • First, in a pot, put the bit of truth on the stove and mix for an hour. • Heat the oven at 300 degrees, put the cup of work in the pot and put it in the oven. • Finally add the spoonful of danger with the truth and work in the pot, cover with a lid. • Leave in the oven for three hours, cool for thirty minutes. • Now eat it!
Wilson High School
MOLLY: Hey Carl! I was just in the area, and I thought I would drop by. Wanna hang out? CARL: You know that this is not fair to me. MOLLY: What? Why? I am here for completely innocent reasons. CARL: Molly…don’t put me into this position. MOLLY: I don’t understand. Carl, come on, it’s cold outside, can I come in and we can talk about it? Don’t worry, we won’t do anything that would upset her. CARL: Okay…why don’t you sit over there. MOLLY: I have always loved your house, Carl, it is just so cozy! Of course, a lot of that is because you are here. CARL: Molly, stop it. You are a good friend, but I am dating Alice and I love her! MOLLY: Carl, things can always change. Besides… Gets up and walk towards Carl We don’t need to tell her about us. It can be our little secret… CARL: MOLLY!! Stop it! There has never, and will never, be an “us.” There is, however, and will always be a “me and Alice.” So stop, just stop. Sighs You should leave now. MOLLY: Fine. Molly opens the door to leave, but when she opens it she finds Alice walking towards the house. Alice sees her, quickens her pace, and comes to the door. ALICE: Glaring You! MOLLY: I was just leaving. Bye… ALICE: Umm, yeah, no. Carl told me all about you, Molly. MOLLY: Yeah, I am just going to leave now. ALICE: STOP! Everyone freezes.
Hunt Holman
Carl Raizel O’Brian
57
ALICE: Quietly and sternly Molly, we are going to talk. Now. Normally Who do you think you are? You are not hot, smart, funny, and your personality sucks! He is mine! He is not interested in you! So quit chasing him around sarcastically like a poor little puppy dog who hasn’t eaten in a year and has been kicked out into the cold with nobody to love you. Well, guess what, hon: you are not wanted here! You are needy and possessive! And, okay, fine, I am little possessive too, but you are possessive of stuff that is not your possession! So pick up your sorry ass and walk out that door now, and DO NOT come back, or I swear I will do you so much damage that you will look like a kicked-out starved puppy. Got it? CARL: Hold on! Everyone! Alice, come on, that’s a little harsh. Molly, don’t take this to mean anything, but Alice, she is not that bad. Yes, she is possessive, and needy, but you don’t need to be so harsh. ALICE: Hey! I have given you so much time to get rid of her! She needs to be taken care of. CARL: Okay, Alice, we are not in the mob or anything, gosh. ALICE: Oh, shut up Carl! Sighs Okay, sorry, sweetie, you’re not the one I am mad at. MOLLY: Okay, I am going to leave now…. ALICE and CARL: in unison Oh, no you’re not. ALICE: HA! That was so funny, how we said it together. We are such a united front! Ha! CARL: Yeah, that was great. But back to you, Molly, I don’t want to be mean, but what Alice said is right. You need to just stop talking to me if you can’t control yourself. Okay? MOLLY: Okay… but, Carl? Can I ask for one thing from you before I go, and we never speak to one another again? CARL: You can ask. But, I can’t promise you I will do anything. MOLLY: Can I have one kiss from you before I go to never see you again? ALICE and CARL: in unison NO!!!! Startled, Molly quickly scurries out. END OF PLAY
Writers-in-Residence 2012-2013 Carl Adamshick is a poet who recently won the Walt Whitman Award and the Oregon Book Award for his collection of poems, Curses and Wishes. Lorraine Bahr is an award-winning actress, playwright, and director. She teaches Acting at Portland State University, Washington and Oregon high schools, and at Young Musicians & Artists; she is co-founder and Associate Artistic Director of Sowelu Ensemble Theater in Portland. Lorraine is also a regular performer for Portland Playhouse. Her produced plays include Life Alone, Bottomless, Count Time, Charlie Stone, and Live Nude Fear. Her monologue, “Eight Break-ups” has been published in Poetry Northwest. Carmen Bernier-Grand is the author of eight books for children and young adults. Her César: Yes, We Can! ¡Sí, se puede! and Diego: Bigger Than Life have been Oregon Book Awards finalists. Those biographies and her Frida: ¡Viva la vida! Long Live Life have received Pura Belpré Author Honor Awards. Bernier-Grand also teaches writing in the Whidbey Island Writers MFA program. In 2008, the Oregon Library Association’s Children’s Division gave her the Evelyn Sibley Lampman Award for her significant contributions to the children of Oregon in the field of children’s literature. In 2010, she received an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship to research her book Picasso: I the King, Yo, el rey, published in 2012. Her latest book, Alicia Alonso: Prima Ballerina, received starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher’s Weekly. She lives with her husband, Jeremy Grand, and Maltese dog, Lily, in Portland, Oregon. Chuck Carlise was born in Canton, Ohio, on the first Flag Day of the Jimmy Carter administration, and
has lived in a dozen states and two continents since. He is the author of two chapbooks, A Broken Escalator Still Isn’t the Stairs (Concrete Wolf Poetry Series 2011) and Casual Insomniac (Bateau 2011; “Boom Contest” winner). He recently completed his PhD at the University of Houston, where he was awarded the 2012 InPrint/Paul Verlaine Poetry Prize and served as Non-Fiction Editor of the journal Gulf Coast. His poems and essays appear or are forthcoming in Southern Review, Pleiades, DIAGRAM, Best New Poets, and elsewhere. He currently lives in Portland, Oregon, and Santa Cruz, California, where he teaches part time at UCSC.
Lisa Rosalie Eisenberg is a cartoonist and illustrator. Her comics have appeared in the anthologies Papercutter, So…Buttons, Bearfight!, Digestate, Runner Runner, and The Strumpet. Since 2008 she has self-published the series I Cut My Hair, a collection of fiction and nonfiction comics. She is a teaching artist with Young Audiences and a Comics Certificate Program Advisor at the Independent Publishing Resource Center. Lisa has also taught comics classes at Open Meadow Middle School, Stumptown Comics Fest, and Caldera. Elyse Fenton is the author of
the award-winning poetry collection Clamor. She has published poetry and nonfiction in The New York Times, Best New Poets, American Poetry Review, and Pleiades, and has been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered. She received a BA from Reed College and an MFA from the University of
Oregon and has worked in the woods, on farms, and in schools in the Pacific Northwest, New Hampshire, Mongolia, and Texas. She currently teaches at Portland Community College.
Amanda Gersh is a South African-born writer of fiction and humorous nonfiction. Her stories have appeared in Tin House, One Story, Open City, The Believer, and The Mississippi Review. Writing as Amanda Howells, she is the author of a Young Adult novel, The Summer of Skinny Dipping (Sourcebooks, 2010). Amanda has an MFA from Columbia University and has taught fiction writing at PSU and Gotham Writers’ Workshop. Poet-dramatist Cindy Williams Gutiérrez collaborates with musicians, thespians, and visual artists. Her collection, the small claim of bones, is forthcoming from Bilingual Press/Editorial Bilingüe (Arizona State University). Poems and reviews appear in Borderlands, Calyx, Harvard’s Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, UNAM’s Periódico de poesía, Portland Review, and Rain Taxi. Her CD, “Emerald Heart,” re-imagines Aztec poetry accompanied by pre-Hispanic music. Her plays have been produced by Miracle Theatre Group and Insight Out Theatre Collective. Cindy earned an MFA from the University of Southern Maine.
Javier Hernandez is a journalist. He most recently worked as a staff reporter for the New York Times,
where he wrote about everything from the unknown risks of government cancer-screening programs to the lives of nighttime beach wanderers. A graduate of North Eugene High School, he studied government and music at Harvard. He has appeared on national and international news programs, and his work has been quoted by US President Barack Obama.
Jonathan Hill is a graphic novelist cartoonist, and illustrator. His first graphic novel, Americus, a collaboration with MK Reed, has garnered a handful of accolades including YALSA 2012 Best Graphic Novel for Teens Nominee, ABC New Voices 2011 Title, Graphic Novel Reporter Best of 2011, and the 2012 Carla Cohen Free Speech Award. He currently freelances, teaches comics classes at the Oregon College of Art and Craft, and is working on his next graphic novel, The Searchers. Hunt Holman is a playwright whose Willow Jade premiered at Portland Playhouse and received a 2010 Drammy Award for Outstanding Original Script. His other plays include Spanish Girl, which premiered offBroadway at Second Stage Theatre in their New Plays Uptown Series and was published in the anthology New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2003. His play Gun Club was developed in Cherry Lane Theater’s Obie award-winning Mentor Project and later premiered at Hypothetical Theater, and his play The Dawn Patrol received a staged reading at Williamstown Theater Festival. Hunt graduated from Columbia University’s School of the Arts. John Isaacson is a cartoonist and writer whose comics and journalism have appeared in the Willamette Week, The East Bay Express, The Santa Barbara Independent, and the Side B and Bridge Project anthologies. His first graphic novel, Do It Yourself Screen-Printing, was published in 2007. He currently self-publishes a mini-comic, Feedback, which reviews concerts by local bands in comic form. Sara Jaffe is a fiction writer whose short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including Paul Revere’s Horse, NOON, Fourteen Hills, and Encyclopedia. She is co-founder and co-editor of New Herring Press, a purveyor of innovative prose chapbooks, and also edited The Art of Touring, an anthology of writing and visual art by touring musicians, available from Portland’s Yeti Publications. She received her MFA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Ramiza Koya’s fiction and nonfiction have appeared in publications such as Washington Square Review,
Lumina, and Catamaran, and she has been a fellow at both MacDowell Colony and Blue Mountain Center. She has both a BA and an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College, and has taught in Spain, the Czech Republic, and Morocco. In addition to teaching composition courses, she also works as a freelance writer and editor. She is currently an adjunct instructor at Portland Community College.
Jennifer Lauck is a three-time Oregon Book Awards finalist and has penned three memoirs, including the New York Times bestsellers Blackbird, Still Waters, and Found (March, 2011). She has a collection of essays titled Show Me the Way, worked nearly ten years as an investigative reporter in TV news, and has a BA in journalism from Montana State University. Lauck received her MFA in creative writing from Pacific Lutheran University in 2011. Amy Minato is author of a memoir, Siesta Lane, published in 2009 and a poetry collection, The Wider
Lens, published in 2004. Her poetry has appeared in Wilderness Magazine, Poetry East, Windfall, Cimarron Review, and The Oregonian Poetry Corner, and has been recognized with a 2003 Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship. She teaches creative writing independently and through Fishtrap, Breitenbush, Sitka, and Opal Creek.
Laura Moulton is the founder of Street Books, a bicycle-powered mobile library that serves people who live outside in Portland, Oregon (streetbooks.org). She has taught writing in public schools, prisons, and teen shelters, and is an adjunct professor at Marylhurst University and Lewis & Clark College. Her social art practice projects have involved postal workers, immigrants, prisoners, and students. She earned an MFA from Eastern Washington University. For more information, visit lauramoulton.org. Mark Pomeroy grew up in northeast Portland. He has received an Oregon Literary Fellowship for
fiction and a residency at Caldera Arts. His short stories, poems, and essays have appeared in Open Spaces, The Wordstock 10, Portland Magazine, The Oregonian, the Waco Tribune-Herald, and What Teaching Means: Stories from America’s Classrooms. A former classroom teacher, he holds an MA in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. He lives with his family in northeast Portland, where he’s at work on a novel.
Ismet Prcic is a Bosnian-American writer, teacher, and theater artist. His debut novel, Shards, won an L.A. Times Book Prize for First Fiction and was a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Ismet is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship for fiction in 2010. His work has appeared in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Bat City Review, Faultline, Prague Literary Review, and elsewhere. He is an adjunct instructor of theater arts at Clark College. Joseph Rogers is an award-winning writer whose work has been published in places such as Pindeldyboz, Opium, Bridge, Verb, Exquisite Corpse, and Painted Bride Quarterly. He has an MFA from Brooklyn College, where he taught fiction for five years before heading west. When he's not teaching at Portland Community College, he writes stories and songs that are rarely performed. Desmond Spann is on a mission to motivate and inspire positive changes in people's lives while having
a crapload of fun. Under the name DLUXTL (TL=The Light) he performs spoken word, plays keyboard with Hip-Hop fusion band Speaker Minds, emcees (rap), and produces. He has dedicated his life to creating more passionate people who express themselves freely. Desmond uses rap, poetry, and performance as vehicles to encourage students to be bold in finding their unique voice.
Matt Zrebski is a multi-award winning playwright, composer, script consultant, teaching artist, and producer-director whose career has been defined by new play development. As an Artistic Director, he
mounted over 40 world premieres, and has had several of his plays produced, including Texting the Sun, 1 ½, Big Sis, and Ablaze. As the Resident Teaching Artist at Portland Center Stage, he teaches playwriting through Visions and Voices, and is on staff for Acting Academy at Oregon Children’s Theatre. Zrebski holds a BFA in Theatre from the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University.