Amid the national, international, and planetary challenges facing the 21st century, several local Northwest writers will remind us of the light and lighter side of life at the next WordFest on Tuesday, June 10, 6:00-8:00 pm, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1428 22nd Avenue in Longview.
Elmo Shade is a narrative poet who enjoys the art of storytelling. He will be reading several short pieces that range from his childhood days growing up in the South to transitioning to life in the Pacific Northwest.
Elmo is the author of the poetry chapbook, The Dark Side of White Bread: Surviving Our Fathers(Atmosphere Press, 2023), and three additional poetry collections.
He is founder of the first Poetry Open Mic in Camas, Washington, and Youth Uptown Poetry in Vancouver, and currently serves as the Poetry Moves Director for Artstra, a local nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts advocacy group in Vancouver. His work has been published in The SubjectivJournal, Pointed Circle, Nine Cloud Journal, Western Washington Poets Network Anthology, Artstra Poetry Moves, and elsewhere.
Shawn Deal will be reading “The Chosen One,” named one of the top 25 funniest monologues published in 2024: It’s not easy being the Chosen One. The greatest challenge isn’t battling monsters or saving the world from some grand apocalypse; it’s the everyday things, like having to tell your dad you resurrected him after he was killed by a monster, or admitting to him you’re dating a 300-year-old vampire.
Shawn has had a long career in teaching, acting, directing, and producing plays. He is the author of 24 plays and professional monologues that have been produced throughout the United States and in Canada and has won 16 awards in competitions. In this monologue, he explores the ‘chosen one’ genre, while making fun of it.
Alan Rose will read “We Are Compadres,” a chapter from his novel, As If Death Summoned, about how a well-intentioned team building retreat almost destroyed a staff. When a new executive director assumes the helm of the local AIDS organization, she determines the 30+ employees would benefit from a team building retreat. It’s not one of her better ideas.
Alan is the author of three published novels and one novella. His novel about the AIDS epidemic in Portland, Oregon, As If Death Summoned (Bywater Books/ Amble Press), won the 2021 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year award for the LGBTQ+ category, and was featured in the Oregon Historical Society’s exhibit, “Forty Years of HIV/AIDS in Oregon.” Alan is the book reviewer for The Columbia River Reader, and coordinates WordFest, the monthly gathering of writers and readers in SW Washington. More information at www.alan-rose.com.
An open mic will follow, including WordFest regulars Gloria Sanders on internet dating tips for ninety-year-olds, and, with the election of a new pope, retired judge Ed Putka offers some suggestions for new saints.
The monthly gathering of readers and writers meets the second Tuesday of each month, 6:00-8:00 PM, in the fellowship hall of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. The events are free and open to the public.