25 March 2011
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Ex-pat Sandra wins Whidbey Island Writers comp
Ex-pat Writing Magazine subscriber Sandra Pollard, who now lives on Whidbey Island, Washington State, won third place in the Whidbey Island Writers’ Association Spirit of Writing Contest 2010. ...
Ex-pat Writing Magazine subscriber Sandra Pollard, who now lives on Whidbey Island, Washington State, has won third place in the Whidbey Island Writers’ Association Spirit of Writing Contest 2010.
‘This was my first attempt at a US competition,’ she says, ‘although I have been a runner-up and shortlisted in two British writing competitions, including Writers’ News. I have also had a number of articles and short stories published in UK magazines, including The Lady, My Weekly, People’s Friend and Best of British.
‘The brief for the essay competition was to write “an informational, persuasive or descriptive piece”. As a certified marine naturalist, I chose to write about why I work on a whale watch boat.
‘I have just completed my second season on one of the whale watch boats operating around the beautiful San Juan Islands. Many people don’t realise that the southern resident killer whales, which spend the summer months in the Salish Sea, are on the Endangered Species List.
Visitors, who come from across the globe, are often deeply moved by the experience of seeing their first whale. In addition to talking to people about the lives of the whales, I try to educate them about the health of the oceans and encourage them to watch all marine mammals in their natural environment.
‘We are lucky to have a strong writing community on Whidbey Island – including bestselling author, Elizabeth George.
‘Along with other prizewinners, I will receive a copy of Spirit of Writing 2010, a soft-cover anthology of winning works. I and the other winners took part in literary readings at libraries throughout January 2011, and will be recognised at the Whidbey Island Writers’ Conference Book-signing Reception on 2 April.’
‘This was my first attempt at a US competition,’ she says, ‘although I have been a runner-up and shortlisted in two British writing competitions, including Writers’ News. I have also had a number of articles and short stories published in UK magazines, including The Lady, My Weekly, People’s Friend and Best of British.
‘The brief for the essay competition was to write “an informational, persuasive or descriptive piece”. As a certified marine naturalist, I chose to write about why I work on a whale watch boat.
‘I have just completed my second season on one of the whale watch boats operating around the beautiful San Juan Islands. Many people don’t realise that the southern resident killer whales, which spend the summer months in the Salish Sea, are on the Endangered Species List.
Visitors, who come from across the globe, are often deeply moved by the experience of seeing their first whale. In addition to talking to people about the lives of the whales, I try to educate them about the health of the oceans and encourage them to watch all marine mammals in their natural environment.
‘We are lucky to have a strong writing community on Whidbey Island – including bestselling author, Elizabeth George.
‘Along with other prizewinners, I will receive a copy of Spirit of Writing 2010, a soft-cover anthology of winning works. I and the other winners took part in literary readings at libraries throughout January 2011, and will be recognised at the Whidbey Island Writers’ Conference Book-signing Reception on 2 April.’
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