2013 Judges

Poetry Judge

Bruce Dethlefsen, Wisconsin’s Poet Laureate, judged this year’s poetry entries. His collection Breather (Fireweed Press) won an Outstanding Achievement award from the Wisconsin Library Association. He also has two chapbooks, A Decent Reed and Something Near the Dance Floor, and his poems were featured twice on The Writer’s Almanac. His latest collection of poetry, released last fall from Cowfeather Press, is Unexpected Shiny Things. He plays bass, harmonica, and drums and performs original music with poetry as Obvious Dog.

To learn more about Dethlefsen and read selections of his poetry, visit brucedethlefsen.com.

Fiction Judge

Emilie Coulson, a Fish Creek native who now lives in California, judged this year’s fiction entries. She is the co-author, with Katie Dahl and James Valcq, of Victory Farm, an American Folklore Theatre musical. For the past five years, she has worked at 826 Valencia, running writing programs for public school teachers and students in San Francisco.

Her work most recently appeared in Open the Door, an anthology of lesson plans published by McSweeney’s and the Poetry Foundation.

Non-fiction Judge

Justin Isherwood, whose humorous and thought-provoking non-fiction essays have graced pages of the Pulse for years, judged this year’s non-fiction entries.

Isherwood is an award-winning writer, a Wisconsin farmer, humorist, author and contributor to numerous collections and publications including: Badger CommonTater, Isthmus, and Newsday. He is an essayist for the radio program, BookMarks & Art, airing on a CBS affiliate in central Wisconsin. His books include: Christmas Stones & the Story Chair, Book of Plough, Farm Kid, and most recently, Pulse.

Photography Judge

Len Villano, Photography Director for the Peninsula Pulse and Door County Living, judged this year’s photography entries.

Villano has been capturing stunning images of the people and landscapes of Door County for years. An artist, musician, recording engineer and producer, Villano left a promising career in architecture years ago to devote his life to capturing the beauty of nature on film. Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary is now the focus of Villano’s photography work.

To view Villano’s photography, visit doorcountyphotos.com or lenvillanophotography.com.