I’ve long nurtured the dream of writing fiction. It started when I was about 7 and I announced over dinner one evening that I wanted to be an author. My stunned parents who really just wanted me to eat my green beans nodded their heads politely and asked about my day at Alisal Elementary School. While the need to earn a living slowed down the realization of my dream, my hopes remained a silent companion all these years.
When I saw “prose” in the title of the 5th Annual Poetry, Prose and Arts Festival, I picked up a brochure at Towne Center Books. I read over the pamphlet with great curiosity: for my area interest there were a couple of workshops and a contest to test the waters on my prose.
Just reading the contest entry instructions made me queasy, but I bravely packaged up a sample of my work, completed the registration form for the conference and sent my packet in by the deadline. Entering the contest was a great leap of faith for me: I had never written prose and I envisioned the judges doubled over with laughter at my attempt. I consoled myself by focusing on the workshops and reminding myself no one would know I entered the contest.
When April 1 finally arrived, I packed my note pad and a new pen and headed off to the Festival at the CarrAmerica Building. With sponsors including the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council, the city of Pleasanton, CarrAmerica Reality Corporation, the National Endowment for the Arts, Herald/ANG Newspapers and A&M Printing, the day-long event promised to draw talented poets and writers from across California.
Founded in 2002 by City Poet Laureates Charlene Villella and Jim Ott, Cultural Arts Council President David Wright and Pleasanton’s Civic Arts Manager Andy Jorgenson, the Festival aims to provide an affordable, accessible, high-quality and diverse literary event to foster local talent.
While the celebration of the written word does include prose workshops and contests, poetry remains at its heart. Local prose writers have more alternatives to develop their craft in the area, and the organizers want to remain true to supporting the needs of aspiring bards.
Many attendees were veterans of the event, including Connie Hanstedt of Dublin. She has been coming to the event for four years and took honorable mention in this year’s adult poetry contest. She usually attends the poetry sessions, but tried a prose workshop this year to support work on her memoir.
“I thought the exercises were fun,” Hanstedt said of the prose workshop taught by Cindy Fisher-Luck of Writers Way Coaching. “Sometimes you need an unusual prompt to get yourself writing again.”
As for the likelihood that she will come again to the Festival, Hanstedt confided, “I’m a lifer.”
That’s music to the ears of conference organizers. According to former Poet Laureate Kirk Ridgeway who is also co-chair of this year’s event, the attendance has grown every year. In its inaugural year, about 40 poets attended the Festival. This year, more than 120 people registered before the event started. With Pulitzer Prize winning author and screenwriter Michael Chabon slated to appear at next year’s event on Saturday, March 31, the 2007 Festival could easily surpass this year’s attendance figures.
After the morning session, Festival attendees had the chance to mix and mingle with local authors. The lunchtime “Authors’ Row” drew an additional 50 people to listen to music, view a visual arts display and meet and greet local writers. A variety of local authors were on hand to sign books including, Simon Reed, author of “The Bizarre Killing of Michael Malloy”; Linda Ridgeway, author of “Pieces of Times”; John Wranovics, author of “Chaplin and Agee: The Untold Story of the Tramp, the Writer and the Lost Screen Play”‘ and children’s book author Sarah Wilson, who penned a favorite in my household, “Nap in the Lap”.
After the brief lunch, attendees headed back into the conference rooms for additional workshops, followed by a Question and Answer session with former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins.
The day wrapped up with an awards banquet attended by 200 people. Collins and current Pleasanton Poet Laureate Cynthia Bryant awarded more than $1,260 to winning submissions in the poetry and prose contest.
It turns out I wasn’t the only one to enter the competition. A total of 245 entries were received in seven categories. The five judges–Joan Garcia, Patricia Wellingham-Jones and Theresa Whitehall in the poetry contest and Lynn Carey and Penny Warner for the prose competition–had their work cut out for them.
When the winners were announced, I was delighted and relieved to know that my entry wasn’t mocked: I took second place in the adult prose category. After listening to the talent in the workshops, I know this is a tremendous honor. And I think I, too, may be a “lifer” at the event.
And the winners are…
The following poets and writers placed in the 5th Annual Poetry and Prose Writing Competition. Congratulations to all the winners.Poetry – Adult
First – “Cedar Songs/Left Behind” by Linda BoydenSecond – “Harvest” by Ellen Gray
Third – “My Father’s Justice” by Robert Aquinas McNally
Honorable Mentions – “Ancestor” by Norma King Green, “Pale Eyes, Empty” by Linda Boyden and “Of This I am Certain” by Connie Hanstedt.
Prose – Adult
First – “The Sea” by Megan LeeSecond – “Market in Anqing” by Julie Nostrand
Third – “Chances” by Blanche Abrams
Honorable Mentions – “The Willy Game” by Robert Eastwood, “Honeymoon in Folsom” by Shannon Brown and “Tess” by Howard Yeilding
Poetry – Youth ages 4-7
First ñ “The Husky in Colorado” by Isabel BrooksSecond – “Valentine’s Day” by Isabel Brooks
Poetry – Youth ages 8-10
First – “Bike” by Kathryn Harlan-GranSecond ñ “Writing in the Dark” by Kathryn Harlan-Gran
Third – “Night” by Kathryn Harlan-Gran
Honorable mentions – “Dog” by Jon Ng and “The Boy Who Lost His Head” by Jon Ng
Poetry – Youth ages 11-12
First – “I am A Star” by Sarah Akenhead-YorkSecond – “Money” by Sarah Akenhead-York
Third – “Addicted” by Sarah Akenhead-York
Honorable mention – “Creation” by Caroline Fortini
Poetry – Youth ages 13-19
First Place – “Your Old White T-Shirt Waits” by Lauren Emily JohnsonSecond – “Arctic” by Patty Fang
Third – “Atmosphere Ice” by Krista Kutlik
Honorable mention – “The Lion” by Patty Fang, “Ring of the Divine” by Jane Kimball and “Harbor” by Patty Fang
Prose – Youth ages 13-19
First – “The Smiles of Tomorrow” by Mike ChenSecond – “Walking Miles” by Mike Chen
