Thank you to this exceptionally talented team of readers, writers, dreamers, and all around phenomenal role models. Hopefully you’ll enjoy getting to know them as much as we have!
All volunteers appearing in this section will be moved over to our Volunteer Gallery at the beginning of the next month where you can catch up on anyone you might have missed!
Volunteer Spotlight September 2015
MARYANNA BRUNKHORST
What drew you to volunteer with Denver Writes?
I had been looking for an opportunity to get involved with kids around Denver in something creative. While I was taking graduate classes in Creative Writing, one of my classmates mentioned Denver Writes and then a few months later, my sister and I were having coffee at the Metropolis Cafe when I saw the Denver Writes sign for backspace. I looked up the information and thought it would be a perfect fit! I’m so glad I did – the kids’ creativity is so inspiring and it’s such a joy to be a part of!
If you could meet any author or character from a book, living or dead, who would it be?
If I could meet any author or character, I’d have to say either Paolo Coehlo or Madelaine L’Engle. Coehlo’s The Alchemist is probably the book that has had the greatest impact on my life and I’d love to just chat with him about how he came up with it. Madelaine L’Engle is similarly amazingly creative and I’d love to have a chat with her about her process as well. I think they’re both fascinating! Too bad I don’t speak Portuguese though; it might make a conversation with Coehlo difficult.
Do you have a specific writing genre you tend to enjoy reading or writing more than others?
I don’t yet have a specific writing genre, I tend to lean somewhat toward fiction or poetry over non-fiction, but other than that, I am currently dabbling in multiple types of writing. I think each different type seems to “call” to me at different times of life and I enjoy thinking about each of them.
Why do you write?
The cover of one of my writing journals from a few years ago reads “We write to taste life twice” and I think I’d have to agree. I love exploring the “whys” behind things or capturing moments. Much of my writing has been processing and therapeutic and gives me a chance to look at things from different perspectives. So, yes, I write to taste life twice. 🙂
Would you rather travel by sailboat or cruise ship and to where?
I would definitely rather travel by sailboat because then I could be a part of making the journey happen. I’ve always wanted to learn how to sail. Currently, I’m very intrigued by Latin America and the Caribbean, but honestly – any part of the world would be a delightful destination!