contributor bios
Carolyn Caines is a third-generation resident of the Longview/Kelso area. She is a retired teacher, mother of three, and grandmother of seven. She has written and published poetry for many years and has recently taken up acrylic painting and collage. "My Father is the original Creator artist and as long as I am blessed with another day, I'll be working on another poem or painting."
Anne-Marie Carr is a mother, wife, teacher, and artist originally from Scotland. She moved here in 2012 and enjoys the lovely art community here in the Longview area. Studying ceramics at LCC was one of her "at home" places where she felt she was just meant to be. Painting is a passion of hers, and she feels very lucky that she gets to share this with her Kelso High Art students. She loves to share art activities with her sons; their playful and adventurous way of learning inspires her.
Ray Cooper is lucky enough to reside in the hills outside of Kelso in Cowlitz County and has been a member of the LCC art department faculty for over 20 years. He found inspiration for his painting “The Gravity of the Matter” after doing some armchair research on the NASA website and thinking about the relationship of dark matter and how, in a black hole, the force of gravity is so strong that light does not escape.
Zoe Cox is a first-year Running Start student here at LCC. She has lived in the small town of Toutle, WA her entire life and she has always loved drawing and painting people. She has many other passions like swimming, fashion, design, travel, and writing; though, for now, she plans to pursue a career in the art field.
L. Creager lives in the Pacific Northwest because she loves the mountains, large bodies of water, cloudy days, and rain. She is an avid reader, a mother, and a healthcare professional. “Flower Wars” is her first published poem.
Bethany Fischer graduated from LCC in 2019 and she recently moved to Vancouver, Washington after living in Cowlitz County for 9 years. She writes poetry in her free time as an outlet and coping mechanism. Bethany was heavily inspired by Jenny Joseph's poem "Warning,” and after she saw that misogyny would still follow her, even into old age.
Remy Frey grew up in the Lower Columbia Region and appreciates all the area has to offer. She has always been involved in the community by volunteering and participating in local clubs and organizations. She is happy to begin her college career at LCC this year. The biggest inspiration for her artwork comes from her passion for wildlife and nature. She is also inspired by her observations and experiences with animals in general.
Trinity Harrison has been at Lower Columbia College for over two years and has been submitting her work to the Salal Review during the last two years as well.
Mary Herbert moved to the Lower Columbia region in 2014 and has been teaching math at LCC since. She chose the topic of her particular piece so that she could incorporate the different techniques she has learned.
Natalie Higgins is a local student from the Cowlitz County region, and she is currently attending LCC earning her associates degree.
Serena Hunt is a second-year Running Start student here at LCC. Serena has a habit of doubting her creativity. Her drawing "Headspace" helped her understand that sometimes things can be messy and still beautiful!
Marc Imlay is a retired chiropractor, acupuncturist, and meditation instructor. He's led interpretive nature walks for the past 27 years at Soos Creek Park in Kent, WA. Marc has written poetry since high school, in spurts, with decades in between. He recently self-published his first poetry book, Pilgrimages To A Bullfrog Buddha, on Amazon Kindle. His other creative interests include partner dancing (24 years) and playing bass guitar in a duet with his wife. Marc has lived on Coal Creek Road in Longview for the past 8 years.
Debi Larson was raised in Longview and attended Lower Columbia College through the Running Start program. Now living in a place that is the antithesis of Longview, she still visits from time to time to appreciate all that LCC has to offer. She loves monarch butterflies, the story of their migration, and the chrysalis a caterpillar will form to transform into a butterfly. She points out that “while the chrysalis may look black and dead, it is on the verge of rebirth.”
Robert E. Larson grew up in Southwest Washington and spent some formative years at LCC where he learned lessons that helped him develop into a productive member of his community. He admires his memories of being a student, and he remembers the gorgeous scenery of the region.
Michelle Lee is a student at LCC who plans to transfer to WSU to study Digital Technology & Culture. She enjoys writing and using her experience and vision to create a real take on what she interprets by using symbolism and metaphors in poetry. She writes passionately about anything that comes to mind, and she believes that LCC has helped her to become a better writer and person.
Chalayn Noelle Nagunst is a wife, artist, and sometimes teacher from SW Washington. She is inspired by trees, mountains, and all that the PNW has to offer.
Dayle Olson is on the board of The Writers Guild of Astoria and is a member of Willamette Writers. Her work has been featured in the Columbia River Reader, The Chinook Observer, and others. She makes her home in the river town of Cathlamet with her husband and an opinionated cat.
Katy Olson is Kelso High School graduate and current Longview resident. She currently works at Mark Morris High School. Katy is always inspired by the things nature teaches her, and her poem is a way to crystallize the experience.
Jayla Price is a student at LCC and worked as an editor for The Salal Review in 2021. She is also a slam poet and competed in the National Poetry Slam in Denver, Colorado in 2017. She writes about the human experience, trauma, grief, and finding joy in the bodies that we have.
Sami Robinson was born and raised in the Lower Columbia region, and she currently resides in Kelso, WA. Sami is a student at LCC. Sami's poem reminds us that certain things can be portrayed as perfect, but in all reality, if you look a little closer, you can see the flaws.
Hannah Rose, a.k.a. The Crooked Crow, is a poet and illustrator inspired by nature, fairy tales, and the human condition. She enjoys creating a sense of atmosphere and emotion using intriguing images that cause the viewer to linger. She received her Bachelor of Arts at Western Washington University, and her work has been featured internationally. She currently works out of a cozy studio in the woods of Castle Rock.
Brenda Sargent was an LCC student in the mid-'80s when Huey Lewis and Cindy Lauper were all the rage. Brenda enjoyed workshopping her writing, and she had a poem and story printed in the art magazine back then. She is now a technology coach for Kelso School District, and most of her writing is technical in nature. Occasionally, though, she'll get inspired to write for fun.
Piper Simmons was born and raised in the Midwest but made her way to the Lower Columbia Region in 2017, and her stepfather, Chris Tower, is an instructor at Lower Columbia College. While here, she has felt more connected to what makes her happy and to her values; this has inspired a series of collages that reflect her sense of self.
Amanda Sirois Boyer is an adjunct faculty member at LCC who enjoys telling stories in the short form of poetry.
Max Smee has spent his life living in this area and has been an LCC student for over a year. He has spent a lot of time on campus, learning from the people here through classes, employment, and community events. In his artwork “Open Spaces,” he exaggerated shadows and light to create a dramatic look.
Suzanne Snow works at Lower Columbia College at Head Start/Early Head Start/ECEAP. Flowers inspire her paintings, and the practice of creating something that reminds her of the beauty all around is an important part of her well-being toolkit.
Jeneaka Spencer is a student in LCC's teaching program. She enjoys being creative in lessons and connecting with kids. She has always loved art, and she plans to continue that passion as an artist and teacher by continuing to make time for her art.
Molly Starr has a little home nestled in her tiny slice of heaven in the Lower Columbia region. Together with her husband and two young children, they raise a small herd of dairy goats on Wishing Starr Farm where the goats live harmoniously on the lush native grass and brows that the PNW provides.
Deena Ochoa Stevenson is a second year student at LCC and lives in Vancouver. She creates writing pieces based on her own life experiences, as well as those around her. She enjoys creating yarn art and winning the video games that her husband introduced her to, at his dismay.
Brittney Trickey grew up in Longview and spent her summers in Oregon, and now her heart belongs to both. She has always felt as though she was split into two: who she is, and who she allows others to see. She has decided to be more honest about, well, herself, and about the hard things she tries to keep hidden. Sharing her writing is how she plans to do that.
M. Alyssa Van Cleef is a first-year Running Start student at LCC and is hoping to earn her associate's degree. She moved often when she was young but has lived in Washington for most of her life. She has always had a passion for writing, and her dream job would be a journalist.
Haily Wilson was born and raised in Longview and is an art student at LCC; she has been making art for as long as she can remember. She loves sea life and planets and decided to combine the two. She also loves drawing birds.
Anne-Marie Carr is a mother, wife, teacher, and artist originally from Scotland. She moved here in 2012 and enjoys the lovely art community here in the Longview area. Studying ceramics at LCC was one of her "at home" places where she felt she was just meant to be. Painting is a passion of hers, and she feels very lucky that she gets to share this with her Kelso High Art students. She loves to share art activities with her sons; their playful and adventurous way of learning inspires her.
Ray Cooper is lucky enough to reside in the hills outside of Kelso in Cowlitz County and has been a member of the LCC art department faculty for over 20 years. He found inspiration for his painting “The Gravity of the Matter” after doing some armchair research on the NASA website and thinking about the relationship of dark matter and how, in a black hole, the force of gravity is so strong that light does not escape.
Zoe Cox is a first-year Running Start student here at LCC. She has lived in the small town of Toutle, WA her entire life and she has always loved drawing and painting people. She has many other passions like swimming, fashion, design, travel, and writing; though, for now, she plans to pursue a career in the art field.
L. Creager lives in the Pacific Northwest because she loves the mountains, large bodies of water, cloudy days, and rain. She is an avid reader, a mother, and a healthcare professional. “Flower Wars” is her first published poem.
Bethany Fischer graduated from LCC in 2019 and she recently moved to Vancouver, Washington after living in Cowlitz County for 9 years. She writes poetry in her free time as an outlet and coping mechanism. Bethany was heavily inspired by Jenny Joseph's poem "Warning,” and after she saw that misogyny would still follow her, even into old age.
Remy Frey grew up in the Lower Columbia Region and appreciates all the area has to offer. She has always been involved in the community by volunteering and participating in local clubs and organizations. She is happy to begin her college career at LCC this year. The biggest inspiration for her artwork comes from her passion for wildlife and nature. She is also inspired by her observations and experiences with animals in general.
Trinity Harrison has been at Lower Columbia College for over two years and has been submitting her work to the Salal Review during the last two years as well.
Mary Herbert moved to the Lower Columbia region in 2014 and has been teaching math at LCC since. She chose the topic of her particular piece so that she could incorporate the different techniques she has learned.
Natalie Higgins is a local student from the Cowlitz County region, and she is currently attending LCC earning her associates degree.
Serena Hunt is a second-year Running Start student here at LCC. Serena has a habit of doubting her creativity. Her drawing "Headspace" helped her understand that sometimes things can be messy and still beautiful!
Marc Imlay is a retired chiropractor, acupuncturist, and meditation instructor. He's led interpretive nature walks for the past 27 years at Soos Creek Park in Kent, WA. Marc has written poetry since high school, in spurts, with decades in between. He recently self-published his first poetry book, Pilgrimages To A Bullfrog Buddha, on Amazon Kindle. His other creative interests include partner dancing (24 years) and playing bass guitar in a duet with his wife. Marc has lived on Coal Creek Road in Longview for the past 8 years.
Debi Larson was raised in Longview and attended Lower Columbia College through the Running Start program. Now living in a place that is the antithesis of Longview, she still visits from time to time to appreciate all that LCC has to offer. She loves monarch butterflies, the story of their migration, and the chrysalis a caterpillar will form to transform into a butterfly. She points out that “while the chrysalis may look black and dead, it is on the verge of rebirth.”
Robert E. Larson grew up in Southwest Washington and spent some formative years at LCC where he learned lessons that helped him develop into a productive member of his community. He admires his memories of being a student, and he remembers the gorgeous scenery of the region.
Michelle Lee is a student at LCC who plans to transfer to WSU to study Digital Technology & Culture. She enjoys writing and using her experience and vision to create a real take on what she interprets by using symbolism and metaphors in poetry. She writes passionately about anything that comes to mind, and she believes that LCC has helped her to become a better writer and person.
Chalayn Noelle Nagunst is a wife, artist, and sometimes teacher from SW Washington. She is inspired by trees, mountains, and all that the PNW has to offer.
Dayle Olson is on the board of The Writers Guild of Astoria and is a member of Willamette Writers. Her work has been featured in the Columbia River Reader, The Chinook Observer, and others. She makes her home in the river town of Cathlamet with her husband and an opinionated cat.
Katy Olson is Kelso High School graduate and current Longview resident. She currently works at Mark Morris High School. Katy is always inspired by the things nature teaches her, and her poem is a way to crystallize the experience.
Jayla Price is a student at LCC and worked as an editor for The Salal Review in 2021. She is also a slam poet and competed in the National Poetry Slam in Denver, Colorado in 2017. She writes about the human experience, trauma, grief, and finding joy in the bodies that we have.
Sami Robinson was born and raised in the Lower Columbia region, and she currently resides in Kelso, WA. Sami is a student at LCC. Sami's poem reminds us that certain things can be portrayed as perfect, but in all reality, if you look a little closer, you can see the flaws.
Hannah Rose, a.k.a. The Crooked Crow, is a poet and illustrator inspired by nature, fairy tales, and the human condition. She enjoys creating a sense of atmosphere and emotion using intriguing images that cause the viewer to linger. She received her Bachelor of Arts at Western Washington University, and her work has been featured internationally. She currently works out of a cozy studio in the woods of Castle Rock.
Brenda Sargent was an LCC student in the mid-'80s when Huey Lewis and Cindy Lauper were all the rage. Brenda enjoyed workshopping her writing, and she had a poem and story printed in the art magazine back then. She is now a technology coach for Kelso School District, and most of her writing is technical in nature. Occasionally, though, she'll get inspired to write for fun.
Piper Simmons was born and raised in the Midwest but made her way to the Lower Columbia Region in 2017, and her stepfather, Chris Tower, is an instructor at Lower Columbia College. While here, she has felt more connected to what makes her happy and to her values; this has inspired a series of collages that reflect her sense of self.
Amanda Sirois Boyer is an adjunct faculty member at LCC who enjoys telling stories in the short form of poetry.
Max Smee has spent his life living in this area and has been an LCC student for over a year. He has spent a lot of time on campus, learning from the people here through classes, employment, and community events. In his artwork “Open Spaces,” he exaggerated shadows and light to create a dramatic look.
Suzanne Snow works at Lower Columbia College at Head Start/Early Head Start/ECEAP. Flowers inspire her paintings, and the practice of creating something that reminds her of the beauty all around is an important part of her well-being toolkit.
Jeneaka Spencer is a student in LCC's teaching program. She enjoys being creative in lessons and connecting with kids. She has always loved art, and she plans to continue that passion as an artist and teacher by continuing to make time for her art.
Molly Starr has a little home nestled in her tiny slice of heaven in the Lower Columbia region. Together with her husband and two young children, they raise a small herd of dairy goats on Wishing Starr Farm where the goats live harmoniously on the lush native grass and brows that the PNW provides.
Deena Ochoa Stevenson is a second year student at LCC and lives in Vancouver. She creates writing pieces based on her own life experiences, as well as those around her. She enjoys creating yarn art and winning the video games that her husband introduced her to, at his dismay.
Brittney Trickey grew up in Longview and spent her summers in Oregon, and now her heart belongs to both. She has always felt as though she was split into two: who she is, and who she allows others to see. She has decided to be more honest about, well, herself, and about the hard things she tries to keep hidden. Sharing her writing is how she plans to do that.
M. Alyssa Van Cleef is a first-year Running Start student at LCC and is hoping to earn her associate's degree. She moved often when she was young but has lived in Washington for most of her life. She has always had a passion for writing, and her dream job would be a journalist.
Haily Wilson was born and raised in Longview and is an art student at LCC; she has been making art for as long as she can remember. She loves sea life and planets and decided to combine the two. She also loves drawing birds.