Below are the links to the YouTube video and audio podcast files.
On March 18, 2015, Washington State Poet Laureate Elizabeth Austen and award-winning poet Michelle Peñaloza read about being both "Saint and Sinner," including discussions with God and the heartbreak / footache of walking from Capitol Hill to the Renton Highlands. Afterward, Elizabeth shared tips on presenting work orally and Michelle described how she went about creating a unique poetry collaboration. The mother/son pair of Linda and Carsten Sabee of Carmilia's Boutique read Favorite Poems: "The cat's song" by Marge Piercy (Linda), and "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley (Carsten). This event was sponsored by Poets & Writers, Inc.
Below are the links to the YouTube video and audio podcast files.
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On February 18, 2015, writer Jennifer D. Munro and poet Sarah Steinke delved into "Humor and the Body," by musing on topics ranging from the hazards of bubble baths in motel rooms and how to explore abundance and destitution. Later, they answered questions in a discussion moderated by poet Susan Rich. Alison Kennedy of M3 Bodyworks shared a Favorite Poem: "Herbal Wrap" by Sharon Olds. This event was supported by Poets & Writers, Inc. Below are links to the YouTube video and podcast audio of the evening. Going to the YouTube website will allow you to click through a timeline. The audio playlist consists of two files---the reading and the Favorite Poem---and can be downloaded or streamed from the Internet Archive. Enjoy! On January 21, 2015, authors Frances McCue and Jennie Shortridge kicked off 2015 with WordsWest. Frances read new poems written for the evening. Jennie plunged into the new year by reading selections from her current novel-in-progress. They then fielded questions about being "arts instigators," supporting the literary community through the non-profit Seattle7Writers, and writing while working, parenting, and pushing through tragedy. JennaRose Garriton of Twilight Gallery & Boutique shared a Favorite Poem, William Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper." This event was supported by Poets & Writers, Inc. Below are the YouTube video and podcast audio of the evening. The audio files are in two parts. In Part 1, Frances and Jennie alternated reading short selections (beginning with Jennie); in part 2, they engaged in a discussion moderated by poet Susan Rich. By request of the reader, the Favorite Poem was not recorded. On November 19, 2014, authors Kate Lebo and Molly Wizenberg captivated a capacity crowd of 50 by presenting selections of their work and discussing the crafts of writing and cooking. Thanks to Kate and Molly's food donations, and those from Vashon restaurants Anu Rana's Healthy Kitchen and Snapdragon Bakery and Cafe, we raised $195 for West Seattle Food Bank. Although Kate and Molly have 2014 book releases---Kate's Pie School and Molly's Delancey---both stepped off the book-promotion trail to read personal, contemplative work. Kate chose "The Poet's Guide to Huckleberry Picking" (published in no. 19 of High Desert Journal, where you'll also find an interview with Kate and her recipe for huckleberry pie). Molly revisited posts from her award-winning blog Orangette about the intersection of scent, daily life, and memory ... and overcoming a revulsion for oysters. As part of the Favorite Poem Project, Jessie Rey Howard of Delridge Grocery Co-Op shared Pablo Neruda's "Poetry" in Spanish and English. Below are the YouTube video of the evening as well as the audio files. Kate and Molly alternated reading (beginning with Molly), then came Jessie Rey, and then came an interview/discussion. Enjoy! On October 15, 2014, the second edition of WordsWest Literary Series featured "Politics & Poetics with Rick Barot and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha." Rick read poems that spanned his career, including from his forthcoming 2015 collection Chord and from a draft written only hours before the event. Lena's selections included the wartime courtesy call of "Running Orders" and the hunger strike of "Water and Salt." It was a "braided" reading, with each poet taking the microphone several times. The reading was followed by a Q & A facilitated by poet Susan Rich about how Rick and Lena approach volatile subjects through their art. Jessica Bloch of Northwest Art and Frame dedicated her Favorite Poem, Eugene Field's "The Sugar-Plum Tree," to her mother. Here's the YouTube video of the entire evening. At YouTube, you can click to the beginning of each poem: Barot "Tarp," "On Gardens," "The Girl Carrying a Ladder," "The Wooden Overcoat," "After Darwish"; Tuffaha "Middle Village," "Immigrant," "Editorial," "Running Orders," "Water and Salt." The audio tracks split the presentation into three parts: Part 1 (poems); Part 2 (Q & A); and the Favorite Poem. On September 17, 2014, the inaugural edition of the WordsWest Literary Series launched with "An Evening with Karen Finneyfrock and Elissa Washuta." Karen read poetry and prose, including from her recently released novel Starbird Murphy and the World Outside. Elissa read selections from her 2014 memoir My Body Is a Book of Rules. Emma (E.M.) Epps of Pegasus Book Exchange shared the first-ever "Favorite Poem," an excerpt from Juvenal's first satire. Karen and Elissa alternated reading throughout the evening, creating an intertwined "Living Anthology." Here's the YouTube link for the entire evening in high-definition. If you go to YouTube, you can click on links that will move you on the timeline to the beginning of each selection read by the presenters. The audio-only tracks split the presentation into three parts: Part 1 (which Karen kicks off); Part 2 (which Elissa kicks off); and the Favorite Poem (E.M. Epps - intro by Susan Rich). |
WordsWest Literary SeriesHere's where you'll find information about our past events. For a complete list of past featured writers, favorite poems, and sponsors, consult our "About" page. Archives
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