Coastal writers share their craft in Newport

Newport author Cynthia Jacobi

Discover the craft behind local writing when Willamette Writers Coastal Chapter presents Central Coast Spotlighters at Newport Public Library this Saturday, April 18.

The program will feature dual presentations from Oregon Coast authors Rod Scher and Cynthia Jacobi, along with publicist and illustrator Molly Gorman Dumas.

Scher will open the event with a look at his varied career, which began with teaching high school English and journalism before moving into publishing as an editor with Harcourt. His presentation will explore his work in magazine writing and book publishing, including his latest title, “Ship of Lost Souls: The Tragic Voyage of the Steamship Valencia.”

Dumas studied fine art with noted Chicago artists and has developed a distinctive style in hand-pulled linocut prints, painting and drawing. Her work as a commissioned illustrator for Scher’s books focuses on coastal landscapes and maritime themes, and her art is also featured at the Freed Gallery in Lincoln City.

In the second hour, Jacobi will present excerpts from her book “I Know About These Things,” combining poetry and visual elements in a presentation shaped by her experiences on the Oregon Coast. An award-winning poet and visual artist, she is a member of the Oregon Poetry Association and Willamette Writers and has served on the boards of Writers on the Edge and the Northwest Poets’ Concorde. Her work has appeared in publications including “Verseweavers,” “The Grace of Oregon Rain” and “Just Imagine: Oregon Horizons.”

A question-and-answer session and book signing will follow the presentations.

Saturday’s program runs from 2 to 4 pm at Newport Public Library, located at 35 NW Nye Street. For more information, go to willamettewriters.org.