Feted poets read their work

Rikki Ducornet and Rae Armantrout are featured readers at this month’s Northwind Reading Series, set to take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 8 at Northwind Arts Center, 701 Water St.

Ducornet is the author of nine novels, three collections of short fiction, two books of essays and five books of poetry. She has received both a Lannan Literary Fellowship and the Lannan Literary Award for Fiction. She was also honored with the Bard College Arts and Letters award and, in 2008, an Academy Award in Literature.

Her work is widely published abroad, and, also an artist, she has exhibited her art and illustrated books. Her collected papers, including prints and drawings, are in the permanent collection of the Ohio State University’s Rare Books and Manuscripts Library.

Her artwork is in many permanent collections and she is one of the artists featured in the “Surrealist Encyclopedia,” soon to be published in London by Bloomsbury Books.

Armantrout’s most recent books were published by Wesleyan University Press. In 2010, her book “Versed” won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and The National Book Critics Circle Award. She also was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2007.

‘A Night of Poetry and Music’

Poets and singers join forces for a house concert at RoseWind Common House this Friday. “A Night of Poetry and Music” features blues poet Gary Lilley, jazz-tinged Americana songwriter jean mann and poet-singer Margo Lauritzen. The concert begins at 7 p.m., Friday, March 9 at 3131 Haines St.

Lilley has taught, written and performed his works for many years in Port Townsend. A prize-winning poet, creative writing teacher and blues musician, originally from Sandy Cross, North Carolina, he was a longtime resident of Washington, D.C., where he was a founding member of the Black Rooster Collective. He received the D.C. Commission on the Arts Fellowship for Poetry in 1996 and again in 2000, and earned an MFA in poetry from Warren Wilson College in 2002. Lilley is the author of four poetry collections: “Alpha Zulu,” “Black Poem,” “The Reprehensibles” and “The Subsequent Blues.”

Songwriter jean mann performs originals and arranged cover tunes on tenor and acoustic guitars, ukulele and harmonica, all to accompany an arresting, texture-laden vocal style. With seven CDs, she has toured nationally since 2000, and made her European debut in 2014.

Seattle native Margo Lauritzen has been making music since she first recorded herself on a Walkman Pro in the early ’90s and crafted bits of melody and poetry into song. She has been in numerous bands and produced an original musical called “A Warehouse Dream,” which she revived last year for its 20th anniversary. She is embarking upon her first solo tour this March and said she is happy to be stopping in Port Townsend.

The RoseWind Common House is a shoes-off, fragrance-free facility. Admission is by donation. Light snacks provided, BYOB. For more information, email margolauritzen@gmail.com.

‘She Tells Sea Tales’ celebrates 5th anniversary

The Northwest Maritime Center hosts its fifth year of “She Tells Sea Tales,” a program celebrating women in the maritime industry.

The program begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 10 at 431 Water St. Proceeds fund the Girls Boat Project, an ongoing program of the Northwest Maritime Center.

Presenters include Kaci Cronkhite, Carol Hasse, Cait Miller, Bonnie Obremski, Sue Schaeffer, Kate Starling and Ava Veitenhans. There is also art by K Robinson displayed and music performed by Ace Spragg. Tickets are available at 2018shetellsseatales.eventbrite.com.

County kids invited to write poems for publication

Jefferson County kids ages 12-18 are invited to get together and write original poetry to be published in “Streams of Thought,” an East Jefferson County teen poetry anthology.

The writing session takes place from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14 at the Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave., Port Hadlock.

Teens may submit an original poem or poems showcasing their life, relationships, humor, loss or other subjects. Poems are to be compiled and published, then made available for local schools, and added to the library’s own collection.

Poets included in the anthology are to receive their own copy. There are to be examples of a wide variety of poetry styles to help participants decide what style suits them, along with time for questions and discussion. Students can bring a poem they have written to share.

Entry forms may be picked up at the customer service desk; or to submit an entry online, visit jclibrary.info/index.php?id=656.

The deadline for submitting poetry is Wednesday, March 28. Any county resident in grades 6-12 can apply and may submit as many as two original poems. Collaborative entries are permitted. Poems must fit on letter-size (8.5-by-11-inch) paper. Students can also include a drawing, painting or photograph to accompany their poem.

Quinn reads from debut novel

Join author Anna Quinn at Jefferson County Library at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21 as she reads from her debut novel, “The Night Child,” which examines the impact of traumatic childhood experiences and the fragile line between past and present. The Jefferson County Library is located at 620 Cedar Ave, Port Hadlock.