POETRY READING

Ruth Zwald was named poetry winner for her collection Bones and Breath.  The judge described Ruth’s work in this way:  Ruth “takes us on a spiritual journey that begins with the death of her father and concludes with what she believes it will be like ‘when it is my turn to go. . . .She joins her ancestors with this collection of poems, preserving their bones and stories through poetry.”

Words have always been a focus in Ruth’s life.  From high school forensics to a spoken word choral group in college, to her professional life as pastor and social worker — words have been honored.  Ruth grounds on her farm in West Michigan, and has became a student of indigenous spirituality.

Melissa Seitz is the winner in creative nonfiction, for her memoir Brain Aura Blues.  The judge described Melissa’s work in this way:  Seitz writes with “remarkable humor and candor, investigating…