Creative Writing: 2005-2006 Winning Entries
Poetry
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Short Story
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Personal Essay
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One-Act Play
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About the Authors
Steven Bergkamp
FIRST PLACE, ESSAY: My Father's Wife
Steve Bergkamp moved to Phoenix from Hong Kong in 2000. He has an
undergraduate degree in Oriental Languages and Literature and an MBA from
Thunderbird. He plans to further his studies in English Literature at Paradise Valley
Community College under the constructive guidance of Dr. Lois Roma-Deeley.
Janet Burruel
SECOND PLACE, ONE-ACT PLAY: Goals Unmet
Janet Burruel graduated from Arizona State University in 1990 and has been
enjoying writing classes at Phoenix College since 2001. She would like to thank
Nicole DeLeon for advising "Hey, you should turn that into a play," and also
Manny Burruel, Jane Monachelli, and all the cats she's loved before.
Nancy Chamberlain
THIRD PLACE, FICTION: Reclamation
Until now, Nancy's best work has been composing letters either complementing or
complaining about service at an airline counter or department store. She grew up
with a big, crazy and gifted family and lived all over from Syracuse to Sacramento—
all of which provided rich experiences from which to write. She plans to continue
growing as a writer—practicing, studying and basking in the glow of friends and
family's compliments.
Judith Curtis
SECOND PLACE, POETRY: Building on Ruins
Judith is a former English teacher and graduate of the Phoenix College Creative Writing
Certificate program. She is a Master Gardener and a Master Watershed Steward with the
Maricopa County Extension educating the public about desert landscaping and water
conservation. Judith enjoys writing, keeping up with children and grandchildren, hiking
and playing the Native American flute.
Joseph Daigneault
HONORABLE MENTION, ESSAY: The First Order of Business
Joseph, a.k.a. "Mad Coyote Joe," is host and writer of the Emmy award winning cooking
series, The Sonoran Grill on KNXV-TV Phoenix. He is the author of four cookbooks: The
Sonoran Grill, A Gringo's Guide to Authentic Mexican Cooking, Snack Attack: Quick Recipes to
Conquer Your Cravings, and On the Chile Trail: 100 Great Recipes from Across America. He also
writes a weekly food column for The Sonoran News. Since 1991 he has been the master
of ceremonies and head judge for Tostito's Southwest Salsa Challenge, held to benefit The
Hemophilia Association of America.
Diayn Day
THIRD PLACE, ONE-ACT PLAY: In the Elevator
Biography unavailable
Rowena Dehanke
HONORABLE MENTION, ESSAY: Death and Denial
Rowena has been a full-time editor and part-time writer for over twenty years.
Her writings have appeared in Bark, Magill Book Reviews, The Tucson Citizen,
Hokubei Mainichi, Downtown News (Los Angeles), and college publications
including The Daily Californian and Asian American Women. She plans to focus on
writing stories and poetry in her free time, and take writing classes at Glendale
Community College.
Harmony Nicole DeLeon
FIRST PLACE, FICTION: Touch and Go
FIRST PLACE, ONE-ACT PLAY: Amateurs
Nicole has written fiction, poetry, and one-act plays for over twenty years. She is
currently completing a draft of her first novel, from which the piece "Touch and Go"
is taken, despite the efforts of a pit bull named Hunny and a beagle named Scout to
coerce her into giving up writing time for long walks and stomach rubs. In addition
to Larraine Herring and Jed Allen, she thanks her writers group, "The Junior Herrings."
Nicole dedicates these pieces to her husband, Mark DeLeon, for whom the sun will
never set.
Kimberly Giunta
THIRD PLACE, ESSAY: TO Shoot the Moon
Kim Giunta is a legal professional working for the Arizona Courts system. This is Kim's first
award for writing since sixth grade. She sincerely hopes she won't have to wait another
twenty-six years for the next one!
Patricia Escárcega
SECOND PLACE, FICTION: Dana Point, 1984
Patricia earned degrees in English and Political Science from Arizona State University in
2003, and hopes to enroll in a Creative Writing, MFA program in the near future. She is
currently working on a novel tentatively titled Madrugada.
Carrie Hedberg
THIRD PLACE, POETRY: Helen's Manicure
Carrie left her position as an officer in a large boat manufacturing company sixteen
years ago in order to be at home with her children (currently ages 25, 16 and 12). As
her children have grown to reach varying degrees of self-sufficiency, Carrie is working
toward fulfilling her goal of returning to school to pursue a bachelor's degree in English.
Karla Martalock
HONORABLE MENTION, ESSAY: Educating Young Girls in West Africa
From June 2002 to August 2004, Karla was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mauritania, West
Africa, where she worked as a teacher and mentor to women and young girls. Prior to
joining the Peace Corps, she traveled to over twenty countries throughout Asia, Africa and
South America. Karla is currently working toward a degree in Nursing, and would like to
work in underserved communities both here and abroad. Other interests are photography,
music, and international cuisine.
Holly Nipperus
FIRST PLACE, POETRY: Nature: From the Cutting Room Floor
Holly has had a longtime love for literature, especially poetry, and has enjoyed
studying it in and out of the classroom. Currently, she works full-time and is attending
Arizona State University pursuing a bachelor's degree in English. She loves dark
chocolate, kindness, rock & roll, baking, having a good laugh, and spending hours on
writing and re-writing.
Hanna Norris
HONORABLE MENTION, POETRY: I've Got a Darkness
A native of Stupsk, Poland, Hanna moved to Arizona with her family in 1988. She
graduated from Paradise Valley Community College in 2005 with an Associate of Arts
degree with High Distinction. Hanna currently serves as editor for the Puma Press and
plans to transfer to Northern Arizona University in Fall of 2006. She enjoys painting,
writing, and drinking coffee.
Debra Ozolnieks
SECOND PLACE, ESSAY: Missing Pieces
First of all, Debra is a mother, the ideal personification of the core of who she is in her
truest form. She is also an employee who values her work environment and business
associates. Debra is also a full-time student studying English and Creative Writing who
has found extreme satisfaction amongst the stress and challenges of balancing single
parenting, work and school.
Shelley Reddy
HONORABLE MENTION, FICTION: Beyond Borders
Shelley has lived with her family in Gilbert for the past nineteen years. Interested in
books and stories of all types from a young age, she began writing in 1997. Currently
a student at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, she plans to earn her bachelor's
degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University and eventually
work with children's literature. Shelley's interests include, music, horseback riding,
cooking, movies, and air hockey.
Rachel Robins
HONORABLE MENTION, FICTION: Revolve
Rachel is the President of Estrella Mountains Writer's Club. As a designer and
webmaster for the club's companion website, Thoughtwired.net, her responsibilities
include the care and maintenance of the Club's online writing resources and the
site's archive of EMCC's student writings. Currently working on the first of a twelve
book series, she hopes to be working as a full-time writer by the end of 2006. Rachel's
interests include graphic and web design, French, and making life more interesting.
Barbara Sheerin
HONORABLE MENTION, POETRY: Entering Puckerbrush Nevada, August 2005
Barbara Sheerin lives in Phoenix and is a recent graduate of Paradise Valley
Community College with an Associate of General Studies Degree and three
Certificates of Completion in the Fine Arts program. She has been published in four
anthologies, magazines and The Arizona Republic. Her work recently appeared in the
International Library of Poets anthology, The Silent Journey and a chapbook, From
the Belly of the Sun. Her first book, From a Lonely Island, came out in Fall 2004. She is a
contributing member of the Arizona State Poetry Society.
Cynthia Vale
HONORABLE MENTION, FICTION: On Which Side We Swam
Cynthia finds writing as introspective and somewhat messy, wrecking her for days for
one reason or another. It doesn't come easy to face the shadow, her character's or her
own, cast as long and deep as she's willing to look. She graduated from Arizona State
University with a B.S. in Industrial Technology but continues to take writing classes.
Other interests include wine making and triathlon.
Benjamin Villanueva
HONORABLE MENTION, ONE-ACT PLAY: The Field of the Lark
Benjamin is currently a senior at Northwest Christian High School where he is senior
class president and a member of the National Honor Society and Honors Choir. After
graduation, Benjamin plans to attend college and major in Business Administration.
He enjoys dancing, singing, writing, and playing guitar.
Diane White
HONORABLE MENTION, POETRY: My Abuelita
Diane is a clinical coordinator at Gentiva Rehab Without Walls, a rehabilitation facility for
individuals with traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Her life's goal is to be of service
to people through her career and volunteer activities at the American Heart Association,
Spanish support groups, and a local meditation group. She hopes her writing will help
increase awareness of different cultures and abilities. My Abuelita is the first poem that
she submitted into a writing contest since her decision in 2005 to re-explore her interest
in writing.
