February WordFest celebrates Northwest voices

Three Northwest writers will read from their works at WordFest on Tuesday, February13, 6:00-8:00 pm, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1428 22nd Avenue in Longview.

Roots is K.A. (Krysten) Ralston’s second collection of poems in which she celebrates the beauty and chaos of the natural world and how it so often mirrors the workings of the human heart. Her poems speak to love, heartbreak, healing, motherhood, and mental health.

The Longview poet graduated from WSU Vancouver with a degree in English and creative writing. Her work has been featured in the Salal Review, the Salmon Creek Journal, and the Columbia River Reader. You can connect with Krysten at karalston.com or via social media on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. 

D. Randall Faro is a retired Lutheran preacher and motivational speaker. His experiences in the killing fields of Vietnam and apartheid-gripped Namibia, global travels in some two dozen countries, and decades of working for peace with justice in North America provide the context for his novels. He lives with his wife of 57 years in Olympia, WA.

Gunnar is the second installment in the Jedediah Bazo series. It picks up where Bazo ended, with Gunnar and his daughter wondering how they are going to put their lives back together after the horrific events of the previous half year. Elements of Gunnar’s past invade his attempt at fashioning a new start with Tuyen in the Portland, Oregon area. Instead of the peaceful life he seeks, it becomes a fight for survival as the effects of child sex-trafficking impacts their lives.

Sally Jones began penning poetry and stories when she was 11 years old and she has never lost her enthusiasm for writing. During her a 38-year career in 9-1-1 communications, and as a long-time volunteer for domestic violence shelter programs, she wrote professional reports, grants, manuals, and media releases. During this time, she also continued writing poems, a number published in college and local literary publications. At WordFest, Sally will read a poetry selection in keeping with thoughts of love for Valentine’s Day week.

An open mic will follow the presentations.

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.