July 20, 2017 — Northwest Institute of Literary Arts Poetry Alums
The Northwest Institute of Literary Arts Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA program (2005–2016) was a unique, freestanding program—not housed at a university—created for and by writers. It was a close community, nurtured by writers, editors, agents, and students who traveled twice a year to Whidbey Island (the Fort Casey Conference Center, 2005–2009, and then the Captain Whidbey Inn, 2010–2016) to share knowledge, experience, and camaraderie. These residencies, vibrant celebrations of the written word, were followed by online classes that continued during the academic semesters.Reading for NILA Poetry Alums are Marie Hartung, Sarah Jones, Margo Lauritzen, and Carolyne Wright
Marie Hartung writes from her living room recliner in the small-ish town of Monroe, Washington in between hanging out with her two sons. She graduated with an MFA in poetry and nonfiction in 2016 and works as a real estate agent. Her work has appeared in Slab, Third Wednesday, Cordite Review, Perceptions Literary Magazine, River Poets Journal, and Raven Chronicles.
Sarah Jones is a poet living in Seattle. Before joining the Poetry Northwest staff, Sarah was an editorial intern with C&R Press. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Entropy, The Normal School, New Ohio Review, Raven Chronicles, City Arts, Yes, Poetry, and many other places. Her website is www.sarahjonespoet.com.
Margo Lauritzen writes songs, poems, plays, and musicals. Her work is both autobiographical and otherworldly, sprinkled with equal parts etherealness and humor. Her work is a seance hosted by Dorothy Parker, with a soundtrack provided by Lorde and Portishead.
Carolyne Wright coedited the award-winning anthology, Raising Lilly Ledbetter: Women Poets Occupy the Workspace (Lost Horse Press, 2015). Awards include Fulbright, NEA, and Instituto Sacatar (Brazil) fellowships. She teaches for Hugo House, the Antioch University Los Angeles MFA program, and for the NILA Whidbey Writers Workshop for its entire 2005–2016 existence.