Featured Writers

C. Franco Calabria and Arde Johnson

Writing workshop participants at Cascade AIDS Project for adults living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

C. Franco Calabria is 63 years old and was born in New York City to an Italian immigrant family. He was in the Air Force for four years and a part of Armed Forces Radio. He earned his MA in Urban Planning at the University of Colorado and worked in San Francisco for 24 years as a contract writer for the city and county of San Francisco. In 2002, he moved to southern California and directed and produced his short story, In the Game into a film short that has been screened in the film festival circuit. He then moved to Portland and now is a film student at the Northwest Film Center. He is currently working on a documentary feature.

Arde Johnson is 67 years old and was born in Napa, California. He attended Vallejo High School and then joined the Army and was stationed in Germany. He came to the University of Oregon and earned his degree in Architecture. He also earned a degree in Fine Arts at the University of California and earned an MA in Counseling Psychology and attended the OHSU Dentistry School. After 25 years as a dentist, he retired and opened the Renaissance Chocolate Company. He has three children, five grandchildren and another on the way. He is now in the process of opening another chocolate company.

You can read more about C. Franco and Arde (pictured, right) and their writing, which is featured in our fall 2008 anthology, Now/Past/Future, and below.

The Storm Within

By C. Franco Calabria

Where he lived…brought images of children hiding away in a closet,

Huddled and frightened,

Waiting for the raging storm to blow itself out.

Darkness became light.

Silence became music.

Opening the door meant having to engage in another raging storm…Blowing its liquored breath into small faces,

Protected by hands of safety,

And fluttering eyes of angst…

Awaiting the next blow.

When the children grew into adulthood,

The raging storm continued to blow inside…

Always awaiting the sun…that never came.

Lunch With Madge

By Arde Johnson

Left my house that day in my little green Hyundai on my way down Thirty-sixth Avenue, heading to Hawthorne by way of turns left and right and right and left. I came up to the first stop sign; stop as opposed to a red light stop. I was on my way to wherever. It is beautiful this morning with the trees in various stages of articulated branches to some still full of the autumn oranges and yellows. As I am sitting at the stop which intersects Birdwing Way, I notice a raven standing in the very middle of the intersection.

It is a large raven and he or she totally ignores that I am about to roll past, and very close to that. By the way it is strutting, I am sure it is a female, and she is eagerly picking at what appears to be a candy bar, one that has been discarded by a passerby, one that did not pay attention to the litter-y laws.

I pull out into the intersection and beside the raven to shoo her out of the way and open my window to call out, Hey there, you are in the middle of the street. Expecting her to fly off, she instead turns her head in a proud manner and says to me So, go around me, can’t you see I’m eating? I replied with a very startled look on my face Well, whatever—I was just trying to keep you from getting run over.

Interview with featured writers C. Franco Calabria and Arde Johnson

Biography writer and interviewer: Rachel Bandock, Write Around Portland volunteer, pictured below with C. Franco and Arde

What brought you to writing?

AJ: I’ve always kept a journal and a lot of my artwork is in the journal. Because I was getting involved in the Cascade AIDS Project through a fitness program, I heard about the Write Around Portland workshop.

CFC: As a filmmaker, I wanted to keep writing. My ultimate goal is to write a full-length screenplay. Arde brought the workshop to my attention.

Tell us about your experience in the Write Around Portland workshop.

CFC: First of all, the [volunteer workshop] facilitator, Donnella, was so wonderful. She made us so comfortable. I enjoyed the writing prompts and there were a couple of fun games, too, and I was surprised at what came out of it. I felt safe in the group.

AJ: The facilitator is the most important part of the group. Donella had great control and always encouraged the group. She always had something complimentary to say. What Donella did was get out the group's feelings. Writing is probably one of the best [forms of] psychological counseling you can do.

What did you get out of the workshop? What does writing do for you?

CFC: I felt freer in writing down before thinking…that free flow. I was amazed at what came out. It encouraged me to keep writing. When I do have more time, I know I will work on my screenplay. The group made me feel free to do it everywhere, all of the time. The edit that comes after the free flow makes you connect the dots.

Writing gives me a couple of things: 1) A cathartic way of working through a problem and expressing my feelings and 2) It allows me to create characters.

AJ: The time you spend at the workshop [two hours per week for ten weeks], it’s a commitment. You go and just write, a free-for-all. Typically, you don’t have or make the time on your own, but at the workshop you have the set two hours that makes you, lets you, write. It’s very important. I learn, different than at a writing “class,” people are more free to express themselves and reveal themselves than, say, in a graded “class.” Everyone in the workshop has a story.

How was your experience writing in a group? Sharing with others? Hearing other people’s stories?

CFC: At first, I wasn’t sure, then after we pledged ourselves to confidentiality [through our group guidelines], I felt freer. The group's stories inspired some of the feelings I put into my own. There are people I still keep in contact with [from the workshop].

AJ: One of the things I learned is that everyone can write, if given the opportunity. They say “I can’t write.” But, if guided, like in the workshop, they can. I learned I am very thankful.

Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others?

CFC: No doubt about it.

AJ: Unequivocally.

Can you tell us a little about your pieces in Now/Past/Future, the Write Around Portland anthology? [writing above]

CFC: It’s feelings and emotions from childhood that were [previously] undiscovered.

AJ: Animals factor into a lot of my writing. Animals express a lot of what human beings feel and how they react. It’s very whimsical, but they get the story. Then they go out and see the raven and wonder.

What did the workshop help you learn about yourself as a writer?

CFC: A lot of feelings that I’ve held back came out in characters and cathartic pieces.

AJ: It allowed me to discover that I can write.

Is there anything you would like to tell your readers about your writing?

CFC: The Storm Within was only one of many pieces that don’t necessarily describe me as a person. There are other pieces that are comedic that I have yet to write. I am definitely not a “Debbie Downer.”

AJ: My writing is the best way for me to deal with conflict. I want to pass on “WRITE!” I have given many blank journals to people. I say, “PASS IT ON!”


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TAKE A Writing Workshop SIGN UP for Write Around Portland News WRITING RESOURCES	Publications & Writers Featured Writers C. Franco Calabria and Arde Johnson Writing workshop participants at Cascade AIDS Project for adults living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. C. Franco Calabria is 63 years old and was born in New York City to an Italian immigrant family. He was in the Air Force for four years and a part of Armed Forces Radio. He earned his MA in Urban Planning at the University of Colorado and worked in San Francisco for 24 years as a contract writer for the city and county of San Francisco. In 2002, he moved to southern California and directed and produced his short story, In the Game into a film short that has been screened in the film festival circuit. He then moved to Portland and now is a film student at the Northwest Film Center. He is currently working on a documentary feature. Arde Johnson is 67 years old and was born in Napa, California. He attended Vallejo High School and then joined the Army and was stationed in Germany. He came to the University of Oregon and earned his degree in Architecture. He also earned a degree in Fine Arts at the University of California and earned an MA in Counseling Psychology and attended the OHSU Dentistry School. After 25 years as a dentist, he retired and opened the Renaissance Chocolate Company. He has three children, five grandchildren and another on the way. He is now in the process of opening another chocolate company. You can read more about C. Franco and Arde (pictured, right) and their writing, which is featured in our fall 2008 anthology, Now/Past/Future, and below. The Storm Within By C. Franco Calabria Where he lived…brought images of children hiding away in a closet, Huddled and frightened, Waiting for the raging storm to blow itself out. Darkness became light. Silence became music. Opening the door meant having to engage in another raging storm…Blowing its liquored breath into small faces, Protected by hands of safety, And fluttering eyes of angst… Awaiting the next blow. When the children grew into adulthood, The raging storm continued to blow inside… Always awaiting the sun…that never came. © C. Franco Calabria and Write Around Portland Lunch With Madge By Arde Johnson Left my house that day in my little green Hyundai on my way down Thirty-sixth Avenue, heading to Hawthorne by way of turns left and right and right and left. I came up to the first stop sign; stop as opposed to a red light stop. I was on my way to wherever. It is beautiful this morning with the trees in various stages of articulated branches to some still full of the autumn oranges and yellows. As I am sitting at the stop which intersects Birdwing Way, I notice a raven standing in the very middle of the intersection. It is a large raven and he or she totally ignores that I am about to roll past, and very close to that. By the way it is strutting, I am sure it is a female, and she is eagerly picking at what appears to be a candy bar, one that has been discarded by a passerby, one that did not pay attention to the litter-y laws. I pull out into the intersection and beside the raven to shoo her out of the way and open my window to call out, Hey there, you are in the middle of the street. Expecting her to fly off, she instead turns her head in a proud manner and says to me So, go around me, can’t you see I’m eating? I replied with a very startled look on my face Well, whatever—I was just trying to keep you from getting run over. READ MORE... © Arde Johnson and Write Around Portland Interview with featured writers C. Franco Calabria and Arde Johnson Biography writer and interviewer: Rachel Bandock, Write Around Portland volunteer, pictured below with C. Franco and Arde What brought you to writing? AJ: I’ve always kept a journal and a lot of my artwork is in the journal. Because I was getting involved in the Cascade AIDS Project through a fitness program, I heard about the Write Around Portland workshop. CFC: As a filmmaker, I wanted to keep writing. My ultimate goal is to write a full-length screenplay. Arde brought the workshop to my attention. Tell us about your experience in the Write Around Portland workshop. CFC: First of all, the [volunteer workshop] facilitator, Donnella, was so wonderful. She made us so comfortable. I enjoyed the writing prompts and there were a couple of fun games, too, and I was surprised at what came out of it. I felt safe in the group. AJ: The facilitator is the most important part of the group. Donella had great control and always encouraged the group. She always had something complimentary to say. What Donella did was get out the group's feelings. Writing is probably one of the best [forms of] psychological counseling you can do. What did you get out of the workshop? What does writing do for you? CFC: I felt freer in writing down before thinking…that free flow. I was amazed at what came out. It encouraged me to keep writing. When I do have more time, I know I will work on my screenplay. The group made me feel free to do it everywhere, all of the time. The edit that comes after the free flow makes you connect the dots. Writing gives me a couple of things: 1) A cathartic way of working through a problem and expressing my feelings and 2) It allows me to create characters. AJ: The time you spend at the workshop [two hours per week for ten weeks], it’s a commitment. You go and just write, a free-for-all. Typically, you don’t have or make the time on your own, but at the workshop you have the set two hours that makes you, lets you, write. It’s very important. I learn, different than at a writing “class,” people are more free to express themselves and reveal themselves than, say, in a graded “class.” Everyone in the workshop has a story. How was your experience writing in a group? Sharing with others? Hearing other people’s stories? CFC: At first, I wasn’t sure, then after we pledged ourselves to confidentiality [through our group guidelines], I felt freer. The group's stories inspired some of the feelings I put into my own. There are people I still keep in contact with [from the workshop]. AJ: One of the things I learned is that everyone can write, if given the opportunity. They say “I can’t write.” But, if guided, like in the workshop, they can. I learned I am very thankful. Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others? CFC: No doubt about it. AJ: Unequivocally. *Can you tell us a little about your pieces in Now/Past/Future,* the Write Around Portland anthology? [writing above] CFC: It’s feelings and emotions from childhood that were [previously] undiscovered. AJ: Animals factor into a lot of my writing. Animals express a lot of what human beings feel and how they react. It’s very whimsical, but they get the story. Then they go out and see the raven and wonder. What did the workshop help you learn about yourself as a writer? CFC: A lot of feelings that I’ve held back came out in characters and cathartic pieces. AJ: It allowed me to discover that I can write. Is there anything you would like to tell your readers about your writing? CFC:** The Storm Within was only one of many pieces that don’t necessarily describe me as a person. There are other pieces that are comedic that I have yet to write. I am definitely not a “Debbie Downer.” AJ: My writing is the best way for me to deal with conflict. I want to pass on “WRITE!” I have given many blank journals to people. I say, “PASS IT ON!”	"Write Around Portland has expanded my abilities, expanded my ideas and most of all, expanded my circle of friends. " Paula Nielson, Write Around Portland Participant Provide a writer with a writing journal, pen, bus tickets, and an anthology. Featured Writers C. Franco Calabria and Arde Johnson Click here to read about past featured writers.
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