Northwest Voices
Brings successful writers to Lower Columbia College and the Longview Public Library to discuss their craft and read from their work. All events are free and open to the public.

Winter 2012

None currently scheduled. See below for past speakers.

For more information about Northwest Voices contact:

English Instructor

Adjunct English Instructor

Past Speakers

Winter 2012

Poet Kim Stafford
Celebrating William Stafford's Birthday
Kim Stafford is the founding director of the Northwest Writing Institute at Lewis & Clark College, and the author of a dozen books of poetry and prose, including The Muses Among Us: Eloquent Listening and Other Pleasures of the Writer's Craft, and Early Morning: Remembering My Father, William Stafford.
He is the literary executor for the Estate of William Stafford and teaches at the Sitka Center for Art & Ecology and the Fishtrap Gathering.

Fall 2011

Novelist Mary Doria Russell
Mary began her career as a paleoanthropologist with specialties in bone biology and biomechanics. Her five novels have earned eight awards and been nominated for two more.
Mary's Works:The Sparrow, and sequel, Children of God, explore the drastic consequences of the first contact of well-intentional humans with aliens on their faraway planet.
Doc, based on the historical figure Doc Holliday, four years before the famous shootout at the OK Corral.
News Story: Award-winning novelist Mary Doria Russell to speak Wednesday in Longview, The Daily News, October 10, 2011.
Learn more about Mary Doria Russell at marydoriarussell.net
Like Mary Doria Russell on Facebook

Author Jennifer Blomgren, award winning author of two children's books and a recent novel. Jennifer also illustrates her own line of greeting cards.
Jennifer's Works: Where Do I Sleep?, a tranquil bedtime poem featuring animals in their natural habitat that introduce children to the nature and geography of our region.
Where Would I Be in an Evergreen Tree?, the story of an ancient tree's life cycle and the variety of plants and animals it supports.
The Tale of Alice's Quilt, a short novel about a young girl who discovers a stack of appliquéd quilt blocks, her first connection to a distant ancestor.
See Jennifer's Twenty-Four Carrot line of greeting cards at theferngallery.com/24carrot 

Spring 2011

Local Author Peter Rock, author of My Abandonment, based on the true story of a 13-year old girl and her father who lived in Forest Park in Portland, Oregon. It explores the themes of homelessness, mental illness and living close to nature.
Learn more about Peter Rock: My Abandonment.

Winter 2011

Local Poet Lana Hechtman Ayers led an afternoon writing workshop and read from her poetry. Learn more about Lana Hechtman Ayers. Entertainment Briefs: Celebrate William Stafford's birthday with poetry workshop, The Daily News, January 26, 2011

Fall 2010

Award Winning Journalist Naseem Rakha, author of The Crying Tree, a novel about a mother's grief and how forgiveness can produce unexpected results. Naseem's stories have been heard on NPR's All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Marketplace Radio, Christian Science Monitor, and Living on Earth. Prior to journalism Naseem taught Holistic Resource Management to farmers, ranchers and tribes throughout the US and Canada.  Learn more about Naseem Rakha.
Author of 'Crying Tree' to speak, The Daily News, October 14, 2010

Spring 2010

Local author Ken Scholes
Sholes is a Writers of the Future Contest winner. His first novel, Lamentation, won the RUSA Reading List Award for Best Fantasy of 2009. His short story collection, Long Walks, Last Flights and Other Strange Journeys was a 2008 Endeavor Award finalist. Learn more about Ken Scholes.
Novelist Ken Scholes visits library Monday, The Daily News, April 14, 2010

Winter 2010

Author Jamie Ford
Ford's Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, a New York Times bestseller, is an extraordinary story of commitment and enduring hope set during one of the most conflicted and volatile times in American history.
Learn more about Jamie Ford
Library Corner: Jamie Ford's book is entertaining, relevant to today, The Daily News, February 27, 2010

This event was part of an array of activities for students and their families held during the 2010 Celebration of Literacy week, February 28 - March 6, 2010. It was sponsored by local libraries, service organizations and LCC Transitional Studies, ECED and HOFL Programs.

Poet Floyd Skloot
Skloot's fifteen books include seven collections of poetry. His Selected Poems: 1970-2005 won a Pacific NW Booksellers Award and a ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Silver Award. His most recent collection is The Snow's Music, published in 2008 by LSU Press. Skloot's awards include three Pushcart Prizes, the PEN USA Literary Award, two Oregon Book Awards, and two Pacific NW Booksellers Awards. His work has been included in The Best American Essays, Best American Science Writing, Best Food Writing, Best Spiritual Writing, Best of the Best American Science Writing, the Penguin Book of the Sonnet, and many other anthologies. Learn more about Floyd Skloot.
Portland Poet to lead free workshop Monday in Longview, The Daily News, January 20, 2010

Fall 2009

Investigative Journalist Nena Baker
Baker's recent book The Body Toxic spells out surprising answers every consumer wants to know (but chemical companies would rather you didn't). The Body Toxic is powerful argument for urgent reforms to our nation's notoriously toothless toxics laws, and a clarion for greener, cleaner chemicals in consumer products. A writing workshop was held at LCC on October 20, followed by an evening reading at the Longview Public Library.
Author, former investigative reporter Nena Baker to give writing workshop, reading at LCC, The Daily News, October 8, 2009

Spring 2009

Literary Award Winner John Daniel
Oregon's John Daniel has won many literary awards including two Oregon Book Awards in Literary Nonfiction. His latest novel,The Far Corner: Northwestern Views on Land, Life, and Literature, is a collection of personal essays. A reading was held at the Longview Public Library on May 18, and a writers workshop was held at the LCC Admissions Center on May 19, 2009.

Portland Fiction Writer Molly Gloss
Molly Gloss's recent novel, The Hearts of Horses, was this year's Cowlitz Reads choice. A writing workshop and author reading was held at the Rose Center for the Arts on March 9, 2009. See also: Molly Gloss promotional poster