These locally acclaimed novelists, poets, essayists, and storytellers come together to read from their own works-in-progress, and inspire the same craft and performance skills they teach in the classroom.

Laura Gamache earned an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Washington, where she directed the Writers in the Schools MFA Internship Program for 10 years. She has published two chapbooks: “Never Enough” in 2017 and “Nothing to Hold Onto” in 2005. Her poems and teaching essays have appeared in many print and on-line journals and anthologies, including WA129 in 2017.

Matt Gano is the voice and lyrical drive behind ENTENDRES, a Seattle based hiphop project. He represented Seattle at the National Poetry Slam multiple years, is a former Seattle Grand-Slam champion, and has performed poetry across the United States touring nationally renowned venues, including NYC’s famous Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe. He has taught creative writing residencies internationally at the Hong Kong School of Creativity, and in Seoul Korea for the Youth Creativity Summit.

Evelin Garcia is a poet and independent Spanish tutor. She received a degree in Public Relations and Communications in her native country, El Salvador. She is the author of two self-published books, Corazon Guerrero and Poemas para una tarde de domingo. She is also part of Seattle Escribe, a group of Spanish-speaking authors in Seattle. Evelin was twice selected to be part of the Poetry on Buses Project, and recently selected to be part of the first anthology of Seattle Escribe.

Ramon Isao is a recipient of The Tim McGinnis Award for Fiction, as well as fellowships from Artist Trust and Jack Straw Cultural Center. His writing appears in The Iowa Review, Ninth Letter, Hobart, Short Run Comics Anthology, and The American Reader, and his screenplay credits include Zombies of Mass Destruction and Grow Op (in which he co-stars). He has an MFA from Columbia University, and he is an Assistant Fiction Editor at New Orleans Review.

Greg Stump has been working as an artist, writer, and teacher in Seattle for two decades. He is a longtime contributor to The Stranger,a former critic and journalist for The Comics Journal,and the co-creator (along with David Lasky) of the acclaimed comic book series Urban Hipster. In 2015, Fantagraphics Books published his debut graphic novel Disillusioned Illusions. Stump teaches also teaches at Seattle University, where he has been an adjunct lecturer since 2006.

Ann Teplick is a poet, playwright, and prose writer with an MFA in creative writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. For twenty-three years, she’s been a teaching artist in Seattle public schools; Hugo House; Coyote Central; and Pongo Teen Writing, at King Co. juvenile detention and the Washington State psychiatric hospital. She has received funding from Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, 4 Culture, Artist Trust, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She is also a Hedgebrook and Jack Straw alumna.

This event is free and open to the public.