Local wins first prize in Redwood Writer’s annual poetry contest

Sonoman Rebecca Lawton has won first place in the Redwood branch of the California Writers Club’s recent poetry contest. Lawton’s poem “Journal” was inspired by her experiences as a river guide in the Grand Canyon and the journals she kept during her 10-year tenure there.
“I am stunned that I won.  It’s been a long time since I’ve submitted poetry for a contest and I’m truly excited – especially given the fact that the poem is about a place I so dearly love,” said Lawton.
The poetry contest was, in part, a celebration of the California Writers Club centennial celebration. It was open to all residents living in Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Solano, Lake, and Mendocino Counties.  More than fifty entries were received and all winning submissions were previously unpublished works that were judged on clarity, originality, and cohesion.  The winning poets will read their entries at the pre-conference dinner event on October 23.
As an author, Lawton has a passion for exploring and writing about the natural West.  Her book of essays on the river guiding life, Reading Water: Lessons from the River (Capital) was a San Francisco Chronicle Bestseller and ForeWord Nature Book of the Year finalist.  Her prose and poetry have been published in Orion, Sierra, The San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, Shenandoah, Standing Wave, THEMA, the acorn, More Magazine, and other outstanding magazines.  She received the Ellen Meloy Fund Award for Desert Writers and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize in nonfiction and poetry.
Her winning poem “Journal” is published here with permission from Lawton and the Redwood Writers.  The poetry contest was organized by the Redwood Writers 2009 Conference Committee and judged by Terry Ehret, Sonoma County Poetry Laureate Emeritus and Mike Tuggle, Sonoma County Poetry Laureate.