The Oregon Coast chapter of Willamette Writers offers Writers-on-Writing workshops the second Tuesday of each month, 7-8:30 p.m. in the McEntee Room of the Newport Public Library, 35 NW Nye St. Admission is free. The Writers-on-Writing series is sponsored by the Newport Public Library and the Sylvia Beach Hotel. For information, contact Sue Lick at suelick@casco.net or Dorothy Blackcrow Mack at dmack@netportnet.com.

Sue is the author of Freelancing for Newspapers and Stories Grandma Never Told me. She is a newpaper reporter/editor turned freelance writer/editor/writing teacher. She has been writing and publishing in some form since elementary school. In addition to her writing, she is a professional singer/guitarist/piano player.

Dorothy is an awarding-winning author and teacher. She is currently working on a memoir about her marriage to a Lakota spiritual leader and raising a sacred herd of buffalo, Belonging to the Black Crows, as well as writing a reservation mystery, The Handless Maiden.

The Sylvia Beach Hotel is a popular destination on the Oregon Coast. Rooms are decorated to celebrate particular authors like Mark Twain, Shakespeare, Virginia Woolf, and many others. Guests are encouraged to meet and share stories at dinner and breakfast.For reservation information, call 888-795-8422.

Oregon Book Award Finalist Elizabeth Rusch May 6 in Newport

Whether you write children's books or read favorites to grandchildren, Elizabeth Rusch offers something for everyone with her workshop talk, Listen to the Children. It includes tips for pitching writing for children as well as adults, reading aloud to toddlers by watching their body language, and exercises on getting meaningful feedback from your audience with board books, picture books, and novels. The talk is free and open to the public, part of Willamette Writers Coast Branch monthly series "Writers-on-Writing," at the Newport Public Library on Tuesday, May 6, 7-8:30pm.

Two of Rusch's books have been Oregon Book Award finalists. Generation Fix: Young Ideas for a Better World was also a Smithsonian magazine Notable Children's Book, an IRA Children's Book Award finalist, a Children's Bookwatch Reviewers Choice, and an Oregonian Junior Book Club selection.

Her second, Will It Blow? Become a Volcano Detective at Mt. St. Helens, was also a Natural History magazine Best Book for Young Readers, and a Washington Reads pick. Midwest Book Review recommends it highly as "An ideal introduction to volcanism...as engaging and entertaining as it is informed and informative."

Her picture book biography, The Planet Hunter: The Story Behind What Happened to Pluto, tells the story of astronomer Mike Brown, whose findings changed the face of astronomy, and includes a poster of the new solar system. The Oregonian states: "A terrific book…explains complex thoughts through lush drawings and simple but sophisticated language…sure to encourage curious young minds everywhere."

Her newest books is A Day with No Crayons. According to Crayola, the average American child wears down 730 crayons by his 10th birthday. Deprived of crayons, Liza's discovers a world of color all around her. Mixed-media illustrations reflect Van Gogh, Pollock, and “found art.”

Rusch has published widely for both adults and children, with articles in Parents, Parenting, Family Life, American Baby, Parents Baby, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal, Harper's, Mother Jones, Backpacker, Read, American Girl, Guideposts for Teens, The Denver Post, and The Oregonian.

She's been managing editor of Teacher, contributing editor to Child and currently, Fit Pregnancy. She leads workshops and gives talks at Portland schools and colleges as well at Duke and Berkeley; and at Willamette Writers, Chalk It Up for Literacy, and National Service Learning Conferences.

Next meeting June 3, a multi-media talk with Rebecca Harrison on nonfiction, author of Deep Dark and Dangerous: On the Bottom with the Northwest Salvage Divers.