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  • Kelly O

...local poet (and 2012 Stranger Genius shortlister) Kary Wayson. Along with the other House writer-in-residence, novelist Peter Mountford, Wayson will be available for free appointments to give advice to local writers. She is also expected to finish her next book, which is a long poem, during the residency. If you'd like to learn more about Wayson, you should read Christopher Frizzelle's excellent profile from last year. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Wayson at readings and literary events around town; these residencies tend to do a great job of coaxing local writers out into the community. The full press release is after the jump.

SEATTLE, WA—Hugo House announced that poet and teacher Kary Wayson has been selected as the organization’s newest writer-in-residence.

A longtime member of Seattle’s literary community, Wayson has been widely published and honored locally as well as nationally — from a Stranger Genius Award nomination and a 4Culture grant to a Pushcart Prize and publication in “The Best American Poetry 2007” anthology. She has taught in a number of capacities, from middle-school guest teaching to serving as an assistant poetry instructor at the University of Washington — and, of course, as an instructor at Hugo House as well. Her first book, “American Husband,” which won the Ohio State University Press/The Journal Award, was published in 2009 by the Ohio State University Press.

"Kary Wayson's poetry combines fresh insights with undercurrents of emotion, all carried forward with the propulsive rhythm of a poet who deeply inhabits language,” Executive Director Tree Swenson said. “We are delighted she will be carrying out a larger role at Hugo House.”

In her new position as writer-in-residence, Wayson will hold office hours, a time during which she’ll be available to mentor and assist writers of all levels who are seeking advice on their poetry, publication, or other concerns. The appointments are free of charge.

“Starting with Maryanne Allegretto, the high-school English teacher who took it upon herself to support and nurture my teenage scribblings 
 the support of my mentors has meant the whole world to me,” Wayson said. “As a teacher today, I am still a student, and I understand that often what the student wants most from a class is the teacher's attention, undivided by others. As writer-in-residence I can happily give that.”

Wayson will also use her residency to complete her manuscript in-progress, a long poem tentatively titled “The Lives of the Artists,” which has already garnered the Crazyhorse/Linda Hull Memorial Poetry prize.

Joining prose writer-in-residence Peter Mountford, Wayson’s term begins Sept. 15 and runs through June 2014 with an option to renew for an additional year. Wayson will begin taking appointments Sept. 15.

About the Hugo House writer-in-residence program
The writer-in-residence program is one of the longest running programs at Richard Hugo House, beginning in 1999 with novelist Rebecca Brown. The writers-in-residence are selected on their capacity as writers and teachers and their ability to engage the writing community and act as ambassadors for Hugo House. Past Hugo House writers-in-residence include Ryan Boudinot, Ed Skoog, David Wagoner, and Emily White.

About Kary Wayson
Wayson’s poems have appeared in Crazyhorse, Poetry Northwest, Alaska Quarterly Review, The Nation, Narrative, FIELD, Filter, "The Best American Poetry 2007" and the 2010 Pushcart Prize anthology. Kary was a 2003 Discovery/The Nation award winner, and her chapbook, “Dog & Me,” was published in 2004 by LitRag Press. Her book, “American Husband,” won the Ohio State University Press/The Journal Award in 2009. A 2012 The Stranger Genius Award nominee, Kary lives and works in Seattle.