Yvonne Higgins Leach

Yvonne Higgins Leach is the author of Another Autumn (WordTech Editions, 2014). Her poems have appeared in many journals and anthologies. A native of Washington state, she earned a Master of Fine Arts from Eastern Washington University. She spent decades balancing a career in communications and public relations, raising a family, and pursuing her love of writing poetry. Now a full-time poet, she splits her time living on Vashon Island and Spokane, Washington.

For more information, visit yvonnehigginsleach.com.

Here are some of Yvonne’s memories from her time in the program:

“I was in the EWU MFA program from 1983-1989, and was fortunate enough to study poetry under Jim McAuley and Bill O’Daly. I learned a tremendous amount from both of them. I also took a few fiction courses from the esteemed John Keeble. During my time in the program, I was honored to be part of the poetry editorial staff of Willow Springs. I also functioned as a TA of English Composition for two years and taught Creative Writing 101 the second year. I lived on the lower South Hill during those years and commuted to campus in my little Toyota Starlet. I remember a few winters the snow being as high as the windows of my car. I put myself through the graduate program by waiting tables and working the bar at the then Black Angus (now Anthony’s).”