The MFA Whidbey Student Community at Northwest Institute of Literary Arts

The Student Choice Contest mailbox is now closed. Click here.

Interview with Jennie Shortridge on writing When She Flew, by MFA student Sandra Sarr.

Congratulations to Mercedes M. Yardley of Las Vegas, NV., winner of the August Student Contest.

STORMLIGHT
The last time that I saw her
it was noonlight.
It lit her hair
her smile
the backs of her knees
under her school uniform.
We’d meet later, she had said.
We’d go to a movie,
maybe a walk.
Her knee socks refracted light
and gave off rainbows.
READ MORE …

The Student Choice Contest mailbox is now open. Click here.

Congratulations to Anne-Katrin Gnauck of Germany, winner of the July Student Contest.

WAY TO HEAVEN
And after months of suffering
From the dark hole dug in his chest
Officially being diagnosed
As a form of severe depression
By the local psychotherapist
Ernest solemnly made the decision
To end his meaningless little life
READ MORE …

NILA graduate Christine Myers is a Finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association 2010 Literary Contest in the category Non-Fiction/Memoir.

Congratulations to Sandy Green of Fairfax, Virginia, Student Choice Contest winner for June.

STALKER

Cold eyes,
from somewhere in the night,
stare at her past the bedroom window,
Her heart swells and smothers her lungs

but that’s okay because she can’t remember how to breathe.
What should she do?
Lean over,
grab the phone on the night stand,

and punch 9-1-1?
That won’t work,
She’s sure the telephone lines have been cut.
She could make a flying leap to her purse hanging in the kitchen, READ MORE …

Book Review and Interview of Ana Maria Spagna’s Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus: A Daughter’s Civil Rights Journey, by MFA student Janet Buttenwieser.

The Fall Northwest Institute of Literary Arts (NILA) residency schedule (August 13-22, 2010) is now posted. Click here for more information.

Book lists now available for fall semester.

Congratulations to our May Student Choice Contest winner:
Natalie Kaye of Toronto.

noir

A lit cigarette beckons,
Blood red stilettos hasten

The dim lamppost betrays
midnight overcoat
crimson lipstick
and a glint

2009 Graduates Christine Myers, Ann Beman, Joe Ponepinto and Kelly Davio show off their Whidbey Walks walking sticks.

Review of Peter Bacho’s new book Leaving Yesler, plus an interview with the author, by Whidbey Alumnus Sharon Mentyka.