State Poet Laureate to Visit Chewelah Library

Washington State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield is scheduled to speak at the Chewelah Library Friday, May 8 at 6 p.m.

Sheffield is serving as the 2025-27 Washington State Poet Laureate. He is from the Wenatchee Valley and is the author of “Not for Luck,” which was selected for the Wheelbarrow Books Poetry Prize, and “Through the Second Skin,” which was runner-up for the Emily Dickinson First Book Award.

He also is co-editor of “Cascadia Field Guide: Art, Ecology, Poetry,” which won a 2024 Washington State Book Award.

Sheffield said he was the first in his family to attend college and is now on the English faculty at Wenatchee Valley College. He also serves as poetry editor for Terrain.org.

In addition to his writing, Sheffield has taught northwest nature writing for the past 20 years, sharing his interest in the outdoors with students.

The Chewelah appearance is presented with support from the Chewelah Arts Guild, ArtsWA, Libraries of Stevens County, and Humanities Washington.

The Washington State Poet Laureate program is sponsored by Humanities Washington and the Washington State Arts Commission, with support from Gov. Bob Ferguson.