Rehoboth Beach Writers' Guild members recognized by Delaware Division of the Arts

The Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild announced that three of its members have received recognition from the Delaware Division of the Arts for their writing. Sherry Chappelle received a fellowship as an emerging writer in poetry; Jen Epler was awarded an honorable mention in the category of fiction, and Victor Letonoff received a fellowship as an emerging writer of creative nonfiction.

The fellowships for emerging writer carry with them a $3,000 stipend. In addition to giving a public reading of their work at the Biggs Museum in Dover, the emerging writers will be offering at least one reading of their work in a venue of their choice during 2016.

Chappelle began writing poetry more than a decade ago, after a long career in education. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies and journals, online and print. "Salmagundi," her chapbook, won the 2011 Dogfish Head Poetry Prize, and her work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She loves the interplay of sound and sense, and the infinite challenge in crafting poems.

Also a member of Coastal Writers, Chappelle is the longtime facilitator of the Browseabout Book Club. When not writing or reading, she sings in the soprano section of the Southern Delaware Chorale and the a cappella group Mixed Blessings.

Epler is a member of the Rehoboth Beach Writers' Guild and is active in other area writing and critique groups. She is currently working on a novel, and enjoys writing short fiction and creative nonfiction. Her short stories appear in "The Boardwalk," "The Beach House" and "Beach Days."  Her prose piece “Secret Admirer” won first place in Delaware Literary Connection’s 2015 Spring Prose and Poetry Contest and was published in The Broadkill Review. She resides in Wilmington and Rehoboth.

Letonoff is a sergeant in the Rehoboth Beach Police Department, where he has worked since 2001. His first published essay, “Suicide By Cop,” appeared in the July 2013 issue of Delaware Today and went on to win first place for a Feature Article from the Delaware Press Association and second place for a Feature Article from the National Federation of Press Women.

His second published article, “Answering the Call,” was published in the April 2014 issue of Delaware Beach Life and later received an Award of Merit in the annual competition of the International Regional Magazine Association.

Before becoming a police officer, Letonoff worked full-time as a sculptor and blacksmith. He is currently working on essays to comprise a book about the life of a police sergeant in a small resort town. He frequently reads excerpts of his work at the guild’s monthly Night of Songs and Stories.

For more information, go to www.rehobothbeachwritersguild.com.