Phyllis M. Washburn

Phyllis has always enjoyed writing; first as a student and much later in life when the relationship with Sam and the other mute swans became a major part of daily life. What started as writing captions for Ralph's swan photographs soon became a burning desire to share the unique adventures that happened when Sam accepted Ralph and her as part of his natural world.

Phyllis has been published in local and national periodicals; won first place in a National League of American Pen Women Haiku poetry contest; won Honorable Mention in the Genre Short Story category of the 75th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition; is leader of the Wordsmyths writer critique group, and visited local elementary schools speaking on writer critique groups and swans. She is a member of the National League of American Pen Women and the Cape Cod Writers Center.

In this issue, Phyllis shares her poem, Beach Visit