YWA’s MESS WITH WORDS instructor is Kelly Terwilliger, a poet and storyteller who 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 In-School Programs, WILCS, and YES!YEA! Days, and teaches through Lane Arts Council.








YWA’s elementary school writing mentor is Jon Labrousse, 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 In-School Programs and Teen Outdoor Writing Camp. Check out his process-based website: www.writeanadventure.com

YWA’s creative writing mentor for middle & high school students is Carter McKenzie. Her 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 In-School Programs, Outdoor Teen Camp, and WILCS.

YWA's teen writing mentor for fantasy fiction is Nina Kiriki Hoffman. Nina 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 In-School Programs and Teen Outdoor Writing Camp.