Creative Writing: 2007-2008 Winning Entries
Poetry |
Fiction |
Personal Essay |
One-Act Play |
About the Authors
Janet Burruel
first place, poetry: Mending
Janet Burruel graduated from Arizona State University in 1990 and has been enjoying writing classes at Phoenix College since 2001. This is her first poetry award. She would like to thank her poetry teacher, Jed Allen, husband, Manny Burruel and friend, Jane Monachelli for their encouragement and support. She also thanks all of her cats, past and present, for their soul-mending abilities.
Tenacity Nicole Chadbourne
honorable mention, poetry: Hawai'i
second place, fiction: Versailles to Vladivostok
Tenacity is an artist and writer influenced by her work at a local hosipital and life in the city. She would like to thank her wonderful family for their encouragement and editorial support.
Mary J. Dige
third place, poetry: Goodbye Comfort Zone
Classes at Scottsdale Community College, work-shopping, writers' groups, recognition and awards polish Mary's passion to express herself through the written word. Mary gratefully thanks her English professor, Sandra Desjardins, for pushing her out of the comfort zone of short stories into poetry writing.
Rose M. Fields
second place, poetry: The Wagon is Ready
Rose M. Fields, a graduate of Baylor University, worked 25 years as a medical research scientist and is a co-author of scientific papers in various journals and in a text book. Her creative writing pieces have been published in Paradise Review and in Passages. Rose thanks Dr. Lois Roma-Deeley for encouragement and guidance provided in her stimulating creative writing classes at Paradise Valley Community College.
Andrew Gosse
first place, essay: Embracing the Sirens
Andrew is a psychology major currently enrolled at Mesa Community College, with a goal of pursuing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology and working with troubled teenagers and broken families. He would like to thank his English professor, Mrs. Linda Evans, who insisted that he enter Embracing the Sirens into this competition and to Pastor Ryan Darrow, who has nurtured his interest in psychology.
Melissa Harker
third place, fiction: A Most Unusual Event
Melissa is an honors student majoring in anthropology at Mesa Community College. She is on the Dean's List and a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She loves to write and is currently working on several children's books. In her spare time Melissa likes to read, play guitar and take care of her two pets.
Jerry Kessler
honorable mention, fiction: Fear
Jerry has lived in Phoenix since 1966 and is a roadway designer for the Arizona Department of Transportation. He took his first creative writing class last year and Fear is his first short story.
Diana Koontz
honorable mention, essay: Por Amor de la Nińa
honorable mention, poetry: I Had Never Slept with a Bayonet Under My Pillow
Diana is a social work major and plans to become an advocate for battered and abused women and children. She wishes to dedicate I Had Never Slept with a Bayonet Under My Pillow, to the long-ago Vietnam Veteran friends who gave their images, and to Dr. Lois Roma-Deeley, whose practiced "eye" and straight-talk helped make this achievement possible.
Zona Rowand Lawrence
third place, one-act play/scripts: At Last—Friends
As a published poet, Zona won the grand prize at the 2004 International Society of Poets and Writers Convention for her sestina, About Chocolate. She is published in several books including, Time Pieces, Inspiration and PV Review. Zona holds a bachelor of arts degree in theatre from Arizona State University. Zona is married, has six children, 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She enjoys traveling, golf, and painting.
Lynne Marino
honorable mention, fiction: Fly Boy
Lynne tried everthing she could do to keep from writing, including collecting graduate degrees in completely unrelated fields. Several years ago, she decided to scratch the itch and began taking creative writing courses through Phoenix College and Glendale Community College. She is married, has two children, works part-time, and writes nearly every day.
Tammy McLeod
second place, essay: We Were Kansans
Tammy has long desired to be a writer despite the pursuit of a non-literary career. She took a fiction workship in Boulder, Colorado in the eighties where she had to good fortune to study with Kate Grenville. This fall's participation in Mark Visquesney's creative writing class at Phoenix College is the official re-start of her writing adventure. In her day job, Tammy is the Chief Customer Officer of Arizona Public Service. She is married and has three children.
Sarah McWilliams
honorable mention, poetry: American Sahara
Sarah grew up in Wyoming and has written poems and short stories all her life. She is finishing her cerification to teach high school English and continues to write in her spare time. Sarah loves reading, hiking and the West.
James Mungin II
third place, essay: Pac Jams in Miami
James is studying audio production technology at Mesa Community College where he is also on the football team. He was the 2006 Vice President for the National Achiever's Society of South Florida and named Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the Tournament of Champions in Miami, Florida. He is also listed in Who's Who Among High School Students, 2005–07.
Rodney Pickens
honorable mention, fiction: The Silent Woods
Rod is an engineer and takes creative writing classes at Glendale Community College as a hobby.
David Taylor
honorable mention, essay: Helicopters and Picnics
Biography unavailable
Sapphire Trickett
first place, fiction: Postcards
Sapphire is currently studying at Estrella Mountain Community College with hopes of pursuing a career in writing and publishing.
Anissa Villegas
honorable mention, essay: Homemade Halloween Costumes
Anissa is a proud mother of a three-year-old, Magenta and a loving wife. She attended South Mountain Community College in Fall 2007 and transferred to Grand Canyon University in Spring 2008 where she is pursuing a Bachelors degree in political science and marketing. Anissa's life focuses on her family and education. She is often inspired by both as her Making a Halloween Costume exhibits an expressive collision of the two.
Richard Williamson
second place, one-act play/scripts: Poolboys
Richard has been writing short stories and scripts since the seventh grade and has hopes that it will carry him to Hollywood. He graduated from Scottsdale Community College in fall, 2007 with a major in screenwriting. Currently, he is participating in an internship at Disneyworld, where he is continuing his writing. Richard would like to thank Sandra Desjardins for encouraging him to enter this competition.
Pasha Yamotahari
first place, one-act play/scripts: Tęte á Tęte
It is with the guidance of his mentors and friends at Scottsdale Community College theatre arts and the inspiration provided by the passionate collaborative work in theatre, that this play has come to fruition. Pasha plans to pursue a Master's in Dramaturgy and Directing. He looks forward to competing at the Kennedy Center Americn College Theatre Fesival and showcasing the outstanding collaborative work of all theatre artists.
