SEQUIM — The Fourth Friday Readings event will celebrate its fifth anniversary at The Lodge media room at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Ruth Marcus is the featured writer for February and will present a multimedia viewing and reading of her new book, “Haiku & Mandala: The Wedding of Ancient Art,” at The Lodge at 660 Evergreen Way.
Readings are on the second floor of The Lodge and are free.
Open mic readings
Writers are welcome to sign up for the five-minute open mic readings. Rehearse in advance, as readings are timed.
An author, poet and columnist, Marcus works to inspire people to turn life challenges into meaningful lessons.
For seven years, Marcus wrote one-line daily inspirations and emailed them to a national readership.
Her book “Inspiration to Open Your Heart, Awaken Your Mind and Touch Your Soul” contains 365 of the more than 3,000 inspiring aphorisms she has written.
Marcus earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology and a doctorate in religious studies.
She was an entrepreneur in San Francisco and Sausalito, Calif., for 30 years, founding two graphic design businesses, a clothing design and mail order business, and a creative art center offering classes for adults.
In addition, she taught at the Academy of Art in San Francisco.
Move in 1999
After moving to the Olympic Peninsula in 1999, she hosted the grief group for Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County and provided individual and group counseling services.
Her current passion is writing and hosting writing groups. She was instrumental in the founding of Writers on the Spit and the Fourth Friday Readings.
Every third Monday morning of the month, she hosts a free Spontaneous Writing Group at the Sequim Library.
She also offers design and consulting services to those interested in self-publishing.