Miriam Gershow's debut novel, The Local News, was published in February 2009 by Spiegel & Grau. Her short stories have appeared in The Georgia Review, Black Warrior Review, Gulf Coast, Nimrod and Quarterly West among other journals. She teaches writing at the University of Oregon and Portland State University, and lives in Eugene with her husband, baby and a spoiled cat.

Cecelia Hagen has poems in a variety of journals and websites, including Poet & Critic, Northwest Review, Caffeine Destiny, Pedestal, and Natural Bridge. Her work has won awards from Literary Arts and the journal Passager. She has taught writing at the UO’s Super Summer program and for YWA, as well as at Willamette University. Currently she teaches memoir writing to adults, occasional classes for YWA, including its Teen Outdoor Camp, and the WILCS program.

Nina Kiriki Hoffman has sold more than two hundred stories and a number of novels. Her works have been finalists for the Nebula, World Fantasy, Mythopoeic, Sturgeon, and Endeavour awards. A STIR OF BONES, a young adult fantasy novel, made the American Library Association list of books for the teen reader, and the New York Public Library list of books for teens. Nina lives in Oregon and has cats.  Nina also works with YWA's After-School Writing Workshops and Teen Outdoor Writing Camp.

Jon Labrousse is a published, award-winning poet who's busy writing adventure stories for young people. Jon has a B.A. in English, an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, and is an Oregon Certified English teacher. He lives in Eugene, Oregon, with his wife and two children, and rides his bicycles as much as humanly possible. Jon also works with YWA's After-School Writing Workshops and Teen Outdoor Writing Camp. Check out his process-based website: www.writeanadventure.com

Louisa Lindsay-Sprouse, the founding director of Young Writers Association, shares literature based curricula developed for YWA programs.  Called a visionary in arts education, she has received numerous awards for significant contributions to the cultural life of the community. Louisa has provided literary arts explorations, as both leisure time enrichment and vital learning in classrooms, for teacher groups and intergenerational groups, as well as to teachers-in-training at the University of Oregon. Experienced in addressing educational standards, Louisa has aligned curriculum to benchmarks in Oregon’s arts standards for Oregon Public Education Network and for Lane Education Service District. She also publishes youth, and produces a poetry spot of mixed age writers for public radio. Louisa is a storyteller/poet who simply finds pleasure in sharing her love for words, imagination and the adventure of learning. Louisa has also taught in YWA’s Lively Lit Camps and YES! YEA! Days and for Umpqua Valley Arts Association.



 
Carter McKenzie's work has appeared in a number of publications, including Chain, Fireweed, Raising Our Voices: an anthology of Oregon poets against the war, and Dona Nobis Pacem: Grant Us Peace. She is the author of Naming Departure, a chapbook of poetry published by Traprock Books. In 2007 she and three other poets co-founded the poetry collective Airlie Press, whose forthcoming titles include Carter’s book Out of Refusal, which will be published in October 2010. Carter also works with YWA's After-School Writing Workshops, Outdoor Teen Camp, and WILCS program.

Eularee Smith is the Executive Director for Upstart Crow Studios, writing original scripts and music for youth theatre productions. Her monthly column appears in several Oregon newspapers. Her freelance experience includes writing feature articles for magazines, newspapers, blogs and public relations.  Eularee has led script writing intensives for YWA's Teen Outdoor Camp.

Kelly Terwilliger, poet and storyteller inspires and intrigues kids throughout Eugene and beyond. Gaze upon her hats and be amazed. Listen to her tales and be transported. Kelly is a professional teller and writer of stories. She has been telling stories in classrooms and libraries and at community events for the past eight years, and is a member of the National Storytelling Network. She holds a Master's degree in English Literature and is a published poet and children's writer. One of her stories has been made into a picture book and a second is due to be published soon. Other stories have appeared in Spider Magazine, and her poems have appeared in many literary magazines. She has also recently published a collection of poems, and meets regularly with local poets to work on new ones. Kelly also works with YWA's YES! YEA! Days and WILCS and teaches through Lane Arts Council.

 

Tim Volem is a retired high school English teacher who now has the leisure to write poetry and play guitar more frequently. He has published poems in the English Journal, Tiger's Eye, and Carapace and has occasionally participated in local poetry readings. He is also active in the blues-in-the-schools program being offered by Eugene's Rainy Day Blues Society.  Tim has led poetry writing intensives for YWA's Teen Outdoor Camp and also works with the WILCS program.

Yvonne Young is a retired elementary teacher and a professional storyteller extraordinaire.  Her love of language and writing will inspire your students to tell and write stories.  Yvonne's DVD Two Goats on a Bridge: Stories to Promote Peace and Protect the Planet recently won a Storytelling World Honor Award. Yvonne also works with YWA's YES! YEA! Days and teaches through Lane Arts Council and Umpqua Valley Arts Association.