Debbie Okun Hill has been writing for over 30 years but has only been focusing on poetry since 2003. She is an experienced journalist/communication specialist, previously employed at two rural newspapers as well as The Winnipeg Art Gallery, Lakehead University in Thunder Bay and Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. As a freelance writer, she wrote media releases, advertorials for local magazines and had work published in such international publications as Chicken Soup for the Soul and other inspirational books. Three of her short stories have won prizes in different contests.

In addition to reading and writing, she loves to promote the work of other writers. Since the Fall 2005 she has co-hosted Spoken Word, a monthly open mike session for poets and storytellers in the Sarnia-Lambton area and was named The Ontario Poetry Society's Member of the Year, 2007 for her volunteer work with the organization. She has read her work in 10 different Ontario locations: Ameliasburgh, Brighton, London, Oakville, Sarnia, St. Catharines, Toronto, Whitby, Windsor, and Wyoming and has been invited to read in such Canadian cities as Fredericton, Hamilton, Calgary, and Vancouver.

Born/raised on the prairies, Debbie earned a Diploma in Applied Arts, Creative Communication Program from Red River Community College and has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lakehead University. From 2001 to 2005, she returned to her studies and completed on-line college courses on creative writing and poetry and also attended workshops offered by Brian Henry. She now gardens words full-time in rural southwestern Ontario.

Memberships:
Writers in Transition (WIT), 2002 - Present
The Ontario Poetry Society, 2004 - Present (Vice-President Jan. 2007 -Dec. 2010)
Canadian Poetry Association, 2006 - Present
Associate Member, League of Canadian Poets, 2009 - Present

In 2010, she judged TOPS Emerging from the Shadows Poetry Contest, compiling the results in the chapbook Emerging Stars, Beret Days Press, 2010, ISBN 978-1-897497-42-5 21 pages.

Chapbooks in Print:
Swaddled in Comet Dust: A Collection of Award-winning Poems, The Stanza Break Chapbook Series #27, Beret Days Press, 2008, ISBN 978-1-897497-10-4 24-pages

Coming Soon: More Comet Dust: Another Collection of Award-winning Poems, Beret Days Press.

Writing Awards for Poetry

*2007 Ted Plantos Memorial Award

*1st place, The Ontario Poetry Society's (TOPS) No Matter What Shape Your Poem is Contest 2005 and The Lah Dee Dah Dee Dah Poetry Contest 2009

*Winner of The Ontario Poetry Society's Most Popular Poem (Verse Afire May 2008) Award

*2nd place, Canadian Poetry Association (CPA) Annual Membership Poetry Contest 2006

*2nd place in Adult Category, 2007 Dan Sullivan Memorial Poetry Contest

*3rd place in Individual Poem Category, Writers' Federation of New Brunswick (WFNB) 2010 Literary Competition

*3rd place in Adult Category, 2006 Toward the Light Poetry Contest

*Shortlisted in FreeFall 2008 Prose and Poetry Contest

*Finalist in the West End Writers 2009 Writing Contest

*Honourable Mention, Ascent Aspirations Magazine Anthology Five Poetry Competition 2008

*Honourable Mention for Poetry, Big Pond Rumours Poetry Contest Summer 2006

*Honourable Mention, The Binnacle's Annual Ultra-Short Competition 2010

*Honourable Mention, Canadian Poetry Association (CPA) Annual Membership Poetry Contest in 2006 and 2007

*Judges Selections, Canadian Author's Association (Niagara Branch) The Saving Bannister anthology contests in 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009

*Judges Selections, Cranberry Tree Press Themed Poetry Anthology Contests in 2006, 2007, and 2008

*Honourable Mention/Runner Ups in the following contests organized by The Ontario Poetry Society: Simply Good Poetry Contest 2005; In the Mood Poetry Contest 2005; The Arborealis Prize for Poetry Contest, 2008; The Lah Dee Dah Dee Dah Poetry Contest 2009; The Male, The Female and The Mail Poetry Contest, 2009; The Open Heart 3 Poetry Competition 2008; The Open Heart 4 Poetry Competition 2009; and The Writes of Freedom poetry chapbook anthology contest 2004.