Award winning poet to speak at Cathlamet Library on Friday

Washington State Poet Laureate, Elizabeth Austen will appear at Cathlamet Public Library Friday, February 27, at 2 p.m., to give a poetry reading and talk about poetry.

As the Washington State Poet Laureate for 2014-16, Elizabeth Austen is traveling to all 39 counties, offering writing workshops and giving readings.

Her debut collection, Every Dress a Decision (Blue Begonia Press, 2011) was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. She’s also the author of two chapbooks, The Girl Who Goes Alone (Floating Bridge Press, 2010), Where Currents Meet (Toadlily Press, 2010) and an audio CD, skin prayers.

Her poems have been featured on The Writer’s Almanac and Verse Daily, in the Los Angeles Review, Bellingham Review and Willow Springs. She is noted for her engaging public performances of poetry, and has been featured at Poets House in New York City, Minneapolis's The Loft, the Skagit River Poetry Festival, Spokane's Get Lit!, Seattle's Cheap Wine and Poetry and Bumbershoot, among others.

Austen produces poetry programming for NPR-affiliate KUOW 94.9, earned an MFA at Antioch University Los Angeles, and teaches at Richard Hugo House. She makes her living at Seattle Children’s Hospital, where she also offers poetry and reflective writing workshops for the staff.