Venice woman named Senior Poet Laureate for the state
Last Modified: Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 12:00 a.m.
In 1998, her daughter gave her a copy of "The Writer's Market," a writer's guide to getting published. Inspired not only by the gift but by her daughter's knowledge of her writing, she began to submit her work.
That was almost 10 years ago, and since that time, Sherin-Zauner has had more than 600 pieces published nationally and internationally as well as three collections of poetry, "As the Gorse Blooms," "The Butterfly Garden" and "Turtle Tracks." Her writing has appeared in several magazines and a handful of poetry anthologies.
She has received more than 250 awards, including the 2003 and 2004 United Poets Laureate Award and the Pearl Swear Award.
Earlier this year, Sherin-Zauner had another award added to her mounting list of accolades when the Angels Without Wings Foundation named her the "2007 Florida Senior Poet Laureate."
AWOW is a national organization that recognizes the work of writers and poets age 50 and older. The organization has held the Poet Laureate competition annually for the last 15 years. A panel of 12 judges sifted through the submissions of more than 500 candidates, deciding winners for each state. Sherin-Zauner will hold the Florida position for a year and is encouraged to visit schools and attend special events throughout the year to read her work. All this from someone who has had no formal training in the art of writing poetry.
Drawing influence from some of her favorite poets, such as Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost, she writes mostly free verse.
"Some poets are adept at rhyme and rhythm set in traditional forms: sonnets to villanelles. While I have produced some work in such patterns, I am better able to express my thoughts and emotions best in free verse," Sherin-Zauner said.
Dickinson, much like Sherin-Zauner, did not write poetry initially for publication.
"For me, poetry is the expression of a soul inspired by personal reactions as well as observation of others' reactions to life experience written in memorable language."
"Gorse Blooms," for instance, was inspired by a trip to Ireland. Gorse is a genus of flower native to Europe and North Africa which blooms most heavily in spring. "The Irish have a saying that 'When the gorse blooms, love is in bloom.' The book was a reaction to spring and the beauty I saw in the country," she said.
Her success as a writer has inspired her to help others who would otherwise never try their hand at writing. She takes joy encouraging others to pursue their creative endeavors.
Originally, Sherin-Zauner specialized in speech pathology and has taught at colleges throughout the northeast and Florida, including the Venice campus of Manatee Community College.
"I have taught all ages of students, but I have to say that I enjoyed teaching at the community college level the most," Sherin-Zauner said.
She eagerly recalled the story of a student: She "was so nervous to give her first speech that she broke out in hives all over, she said she couldn't do it. I said, 'Honey, if you listen to what I have to say, and trust me, by the time this semester is over you won't want to leave the stage.'
"You know what? The last speech she did, she nailed it and she told me, 'You were right, I didn't want to stop.' It was wonderful."
As positive as those experiences were, Sherin-Zauner has no intention of returning to teaching. Between her duties as a poet laureate, her writing, social engagements and spending time with her husband, she stays busy.
A short collection of her work titled "Just Croutons" is set to be published in December. Her next major book is expected out in mid-2008.
This story appeared in print on page Poet finds a winning voice
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