Elizabeth Austen, state poet laureate, will perform free readings Friday and Saturday in Vancouver in observance of National Poetry Month.
Her public presentations will be at 6 p.m. Friday at Vancouver Community Library, 901 C St., and 2 p.m. Saturday at Cascade Park Community Library, 600 N.E. 136th Ave.
Austen’s debut collection, “Every Dress a Decision,” was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. She produces literary programming for KUOW radio, a Seattle NPR affiliate, and is a communications specialist and educator at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
She moved to Washington in 1989; at the time she was a stage actor, avid hiker and occasional writer of poetry. After a transformative trip to the Andes region in her early 30s, Austen focused her efforts on poetry. Her work explores ways the personal and political intersect, and touches on issues such as women’s societal roles, courage, spirituality and the natural world.
The state poet laureate position was established in April 2007 by the Washington Legislature. The poet laureate is sponsored by Humanities Washington and ArtsWA.
