Featured Writer

Faye Williams Penny

Writing Workshop Participant at Catholic Charities - for families relocating to Portland because of Hurricane Katrina.

Faye Penny graduated high school in New Orleans the year segregation ended – 1964. Although that next fall was Loyola University’s first year as an integrated institution, she was denied entry. She instead attended Xavier University and became a Medical Technician after graduation. She moved to Portland in 1967, where she stayed until moving back to her beloved hometown in 1989. Then came Katrina.

Though spared much of the flood damage, the hurricane itself did enough destruction to make her house unlivable. However, compared to the sudden death of her mother two years earlier, Katrina was nothing, Faye says. A visit to her daughter in Portland became a permanent stay (for now anyway; New Orleans still tugs at her), where Kaiser Permanente just hired her. She lives with her husband (her high school sweetheart), has one brother, three children, and four grandchildren. She enjoys photography, traveling, and is a self-described book-junkie.

Faye's writing, featured in our spring anthology, and interview follow. She is pictured, right.

Pre-Katrina: Post-Katrina

by Faye Williams Penny

The world seemed different on my block after hurricane Katrina. It was almost surreal. The neighborhood looked the same in some ways, but, in other ways, the difference was mind boggling.

The lawns that used to be so green, vibrant and neatly manicured were now brown, lifeless and showed uneven growth. The streets that used to be so clean, now looked like an untidy, neglected area. The white metal, standing mailbox that I loved walking out to to get my mail was now leaning to the right, about to collapse. My neighbor’s mailbox, identical in form and color, now lay on its side in my driveway. Refrigerators taped with gray masking tape now lined the street, waiting to be discarded. Personal belongings, pictures and furniture of all types sitting on the curb. No curb appeal here! Could this be my block, my home sweet home? Couldn’t be. I must be having a nightmare in the daytime!

I walked into my house and realized that even though I was fortunate not to have lost everything, like some of my relatives and friends had, I had lost my home as I had made it to be. It’s the inside that counts, the love you put into a building to make it your home. That’s what people are grieving for, years of memories made in their home.

My basket of note cars, birthday cards, and books that I kept to send to family and friends was now covered with fuzzy green mold. The gold-colored rug that I had selected with great care now was a color I didn’t recognize. It was covered with white salt-like particles, which was speckled with mold.

This was my home in its post-Katrina state. How can this room ever look the way it used to? Will the neighborhood ever come back to a block of wonderful people and children playing? Will I ever be my happy, content and settled pre Katrina self?

Crying time over! Time to go look at the other rooms!

Interview with featured writer Faye Williams Penny

Biography writer and interviewer: Joe Lino, Write Around Portland volunter

Tell us about your experience in a Write Around Portland Workshop.

I tremendously enjoyed it. I enjoyed the validation from it. People always told me I could write, but it wasn’t until this workshop that I really felt it. I’m glad to know Portland is doing this. I am grateful for the opportunity. It was an excellent workshop.

What did you get out of the workshop?

I got to meet a good [workshop facilitator]. It rekindled my belief that I could really write a book. And that we all are a wealth of information, and the only way future generations will know it is if you write it down. My uncle has Alzheimer’s, and all his vibrant life, now, can’t be told.

Had you written much before you joined the Write Around Portland workshop?

Not really. I always had a lot of unfinished journals around. The workshop focused on the discipline of writing everyday, not just in my head.

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

I think it was fantastic. You got inspired by what other people wrote. So when other people wrote about the same thing, but in a different style, I’d go, “I never thought of it that way.” You learned how to go further and do different things with it. It was wonderful.

Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others?

I’d recommend it to everyone, even little kids. In fact they ought to start with little kids.

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

That I need more discipline, but that I have a wealth of personal experience and emotion, and I think I have a knack for making people feel that emotion. It has made me think I can do anything – I could be the next Oprah Book Club Selection – I just got to write the book. There is a book in me somewhere.

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

Basically that my writing is about my experience as a Black woman that has been through a lot. I’m just a survivor who loves life. Coming from New Orleans you learn every day could be a party, it just depends on your attitude. And every day is a blessing.


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TAKE A Writing Workshop SIGN UP for Write Around Portland News WRITING RESOURCES	Publications & Writers Featured Writer Faye Williams Penny Writing Workshop Participant at Catholic Charities - for families relocating to Portland because of Hurricane Katrina. Faye Penny graduated high school in New Orleans the year segregation ended – 1964. Although that next fall was Loyola University’s first year as an integrated institution, she was denied entry. She instead attended Xavier University and became a Medical Technician after graduation. She moved to Portland in 1967, where she stayed until moving back to her beloved hometown in 1989. Then came Katrina. Though spared much of the flood damage, the hurricane itself did enough destruction to make her house unlivable. However, compared to the sudden death of her mother two years earlier, Katrina was nothing, Faye says. A visit to her daughter in Portland became a permanent stay (for now anyway; New Orleans still tugs at her), where Kaiser Permanente just hired her. She lives with her husband (her high school sweetheart), has one brother, three children, and four grandchildren. She enjoys photography, traveling, and is a self-described book-junkie. Faye's writing, featured in our spring anthology, and interview follow. She is pictured, right. Pre-Katrina: Post-Katrina by Faye Williams Penny The world seemed different on my block after hurricane Katrina. It was almost surreal. The neighborhood looked the same in some ways, but, in other ways, the difference was mind boggling. The lawns that used to be so green, vibrant and neatly manicured were now brown, lifeless and showed uneven growth. The streets that used to be so clean, now looked like an untidy, neglected area. The white metal, standing mailbox that I loved walking out to to get my mail was now leaning to the right, about to collapse. My neighbor’s mailbox, identical in form and color, now lay on its side in my driveway. Refrigerators taped with gray masking tape now lined the street, waiting to be discarded. Personal belongings, pictures and furniture of all types sitting on the curb. No curb appeal here! Could this be my block, my home sweet home? Couldn’t be. I must be having a nightmare in the daytime! I walked into my house and realized that even though I was fortunate not to have lost everything, like some of my relatives and friends had, I had lost my home as I had made it to be. It’s the inside that counts, the love you put into a building to make it your home. That’s what people are grieving for, years of memories made in their home. My basket of note cars, birthday cards, and books that I kept to send to family and friends was now covered with fuzzy green mold. The gold-colored rug that I had selected with great care now was a color I didn’t recognize. It was covered with white salt-like particles, which was speckled with mold. This was my home in its post-Katrina state. How can this room ever look the way it used to? Will the neighborhood ever come back to a block of wonderful people and children playing? Will I ever be my happy, content and settled pre Katrina self? Crying time over! Time to go look at the other rooms! Interview with featured writer Faye Williams Penny Biography writer and interviewer: Joe Lino, Write Around Portland volunter Tell us about your experience in a Write Around Portland Workshop. I tremendously enjoyed it. I enjoyed the validation from it. People always told me I could write, but it wasn’t until this workshop that I really felt it. I’m glad to know Portland is doing this. I am grateful for the opportunity. It was an excellent workshop. What did you get out of the workshop? I got to meet a good [workshop facilitator]. It rekindled my belief that I could really write a book. And that we all are a wealth of information, and the only way future generations will know it is if you write it down. My uncle has Alzheimer’s, and all his vibrant life, now, can’t be told. Had you written much before you joined the Write Around Portland workshop? Not really. I always had a lot of unfinished journals around. The workshop focused on the discipline of writing everyday, not just in my head. How was your experience writing in a group? Sharing with others? Hearing other people’s stories? I think it was fantastic. You got inspired by what other people wrote. So when other people wrote about the same thing, but in a different style, I’d go, “I never thought of it that way.” You learned how to go further and do different things with it. It was wonderful. Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others? I’d recommend it to everyone, even little kids. In fact they ought to start with little kids. What did the workshop help you learn about yourself as a writer? That I need more discipline, but that I have a wealth of personal experience and emotion, and I think I have a knack for making people feel that emotion. It has made me think I can do anything – I could be the next Oprah Book Club Selection – I just got to write the book. There is a book in me somewhere. Is there anything you would like to tell your readers about your writing? Basically that my writing is about my experience as a Black woman that has been through a lot. I’m just a survivor who loves life. Coming from New Orleans you learn every day could be a party, it just depends on your attitude. And every day is a blessing.	"I just believe in myself more." Write Around Portland Participant Provide a writer with a journal, pen, bus tickets, and Anthology. Featured Writer Faye Williams Penny
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