Sequim Gazette staff
Fifty-six local poets from sixth grade to 90 years old with the Rainshadow Poetry Competition read their winning poems at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 26, on the main stage of Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave.
“We definitely have a cross-section of our community participating in this poetry event,” says co-event planner Ruth Marcus.
Authors were chosen from a list of applicants to appear in the 6-inch by 9-inch anthology with a cover by Deborah Sterk with the Blue Whole Gallery.
The idea for the competition stemmed from the death of writer Jim Fisher on Nov. 2, 2014. He was a professor at Peninsula College and Marcus and Judy Duncan decided two weeks later to create the competition in his memory.
“Jim has contributed amazing support to writers in our community,” Marcus said. “He encouraged writers and brought light-hearted humor and wit to his classrooms and literary events in the community.”
When Fisher was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in September 2013, he announced his intention to write poems and share his cancer experience with the plan to publish one final book.
His final poem was completed two days before his death and the book, “The Big Casino/ Posthumorous Poems,” was published two weeks after his death. Ann, his wife, gifted the book to his friends at his life celebration.
The competition coincides with National Poetry Month and some of Fisher’s poems will be read by friends. Along with Marcus and Duncan, Kathy Purcell, Gwuinifer Carradine and Heidi Hansen helped coordinate the event.
Admission to the reading is free with a request for donations to support Olympic Theatre Arts.
The Rainshadow Poetry Anthology will be available at the event for purchase for $9.95 and “The Big Casino” will be available for $11.95. With any questions, contact Rmarcus@olypen.com.
Winning poets
Winners of the Rainshadow Poetry Competition include:
Sally Albiso, Deborah Lander Apple, Cheryle Hoskins Bigelow, Jeanine Cardiff, Howard Chadwick, Nyla Dartt, Julie Dawson, Risa Denenberg, David Drake, Jon Eekhoff, Gail E. Elliott, Lily Engeset, Robert Fletcher, Nancy Fowler, Christoffer Frick, Joan Gill, Sharon R. Gilmour, Emily Glen, Hannah Gloor, Sharon Goddard, Dora Green, Tudi Haasl, Stirling Kent Hall, Laurey Hansen-Carl, Olivia Hare, Sally M. Harris, Wendy Hoffman, David T. Hoopes, Maggie Jamison, Mary Jill Klay, Robert Komishane, Paula Lalish, Janet M. Lucas, John Merton Marrs, Melissa McBride, Donna McDaniel, Trudy McFarland, Doug McInnes, Keith Moul, Thomas Pitre, Teya Priest Johnston, Juanita Ramsey-Jevne, Robert Robertsen, Niki Robison, Tim Roos, Norman Schaefer, Emma Shogren, Kimberly Snow, Jane Stewart, Carlyn Syvanen, Mia Underwood, Scott C. Underwood, Marcia Van Cleve, Ella Ventura, Deborah Wiese, Timothy Wilkinson.
