Marcus Island Writers
The Marcus Island Arts Council is proud to present an evening of readings by our own Marcus Island poets and writers.
Master of Ceremonies: Jerry Walter
Mary Royce Short Story: Home Again
Kelly Ronstein Five poems
Don Armiston Short Story: Palmer’s Store
Ethel Kwan Three poems
Intermission
Olivia Lalonde Novel Excerpt: Paradise Installed
Rick Tayce Four poems
Joy Markham Short Story: Bamboo Morning
Larry Joseph Short Story: Blue Moon
Marcus Island has long been known as a haven for writers. In a recent survey, the Marcus Island Arts Council determined that over 100 published writers live on the Island—that’s close to 10% of the adult population! This evening of readings by our local writers is the first of several that will be scheduled over the coming year. For information about tickets to upcoming readings, contact the Marcus Island Arts Council at 206-555-2454.
Author Biographies
Royce, Mary: Mary is a novelist, editor, teacher and journalist. In 2012, she established the international literary journal Island Passages. She has published in several literary journals and her first novel, On the Mountain, was shortlisted for the New Writers Award sponsored by the Trent Foundation. Her second novel, Going Strong, will be published in March 2016 by Great Pulp Press.
Ronstein, Kelly: Following a successful career in television production, Kelly is writing fiction full time and has published poems and short stories in several literary journals. On Marcus Island, Kelly is president of the Marcus Island Arts Council and an active member of several community groups. She and her husband and two children live on a farm and raise llamas on Marcus Island.
Armiston, Don: Don’s work has been dramatized on PBS and appeared in several literary magazines. His adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure was produced by the Eugene Theatrical Society and was awarded Best New Play of the Year. Don spent twenty years as an advertising executive before writing Finding Mario, his first novel, to be published in June 2017. He divides his time between Marcus Island and Seattle.
Kwan, Ethel: Ethel has taught Creative Writing at Western Washington University for thirty years and delivers workshops and readings in schools and libraries across the country. She has written three picture books and fifteen novels for children. Three of her novels have won literary awards for excellence. The Best Day Ever, her first novel for adults, will be published in May 2017.
Lalonde, Olivia: Olivia taught high school for thirty years in Boulder Colorado. When she retired, she moved with her husband to Marcus Island where she has settled down to follow her passion and write fiction full time. Her work has appeared in several literary magazines and in 2014, she won the PBS Short Story Contest for her story In My Mind.
Tayce, Rick: Rick studied writing and editing at Oregon State University and presents annually at Rancho Spa in Mexico and the Portland International Writers Conference. Rick grew up in New York and moved to Marcus Island just a year ago. He loves writing and looking out to sea.
Markham, Joy: As the director of the Marcus Island Writing Collective, Joy specializes in helping writers find their voice. She has published four chapbooks and is the coeditor with John Janzen of Seattle Writes of an anthology of poetry and short stories published by Kelvin Press launching in March 2017. Joy leads workshops on creativity and writing and is a frequent collaborator. Her writing appears in numerous US publications in print and online.
Joseph, Larry: Larry is the author of Helium (stories, 2008), Best Ways (novella, 2010), and The Triangle Mysteries (novel, 2015). The Triangle Mysteries was nominated for several prestigious literary awards and won the New Writers Trust fiction prize. Larry teaches fiction writing online through Seattle University from his waterfront home on Marcus Island.
Sponsors: Island Books and the Marcus Island Journal