BY ANNA FRIEDRICHSEN, LAKE VOICE STAFF Duluth is home to a large community of writers.
Sheila Packa is a 58-year-old Duluth writer with an extensive list of writing accomplishments.
Packa grew up on the Iron Range and moved to Duluth in 1990, where she now teaches at Lake Superior College in the English Department. Besides teaching, she also has her hands full with several writing projects.
“I do poetry and fiction and I just wrote a play,” Packa said. “I write all the time. Every day”.
Packa has four books of poems published and has received numerous awards throughout her writing career.
“I have a Loft McKnight Fellowship award, one in poetry and one in prose. I’ve been recognized by the northeastern Minnesota book program for a couple of programs I did. I have a lesbian writers award,” Packa said.
Packa, having once been married to a man, said she has not been discriminated in the writing community for her sexual orientation.
“There are many GLBT artists and writers, perhaps even a higher percentage in the arts world than in the general population. One benefits from an outsider status. It gives you the ability to see the world in a new way, and it gives you more empathy for others who are different,” Packa said.
Despite stigmas often associated with the GLBT community and opportunities they have, Packa and other GLBT members are widely accepted in the writing community.
“I am proud to be a member of the GLBT community in Duluth and everywhere. These are people who are not afraid to be who they are. They are courageous and creative”.
Packa has always had a niche for writing.
“I was always interested in writing and literature. Since I can remember. I used to write stories in fourth grade and share them with my teacher,” Packa said, laughing at the memory of her youth.
As far as what Packa writes about, she likes to stay close to home.
“My last book of poems is about the Iron Range and it uses some of the history and stories of the people that live there,” Packa said.
With the original intent to write about her Grandma, Packa ended up discovering stories and information that led her to write about the community, specifically two women doctors working in the Iron Range.
Packa has also received two career opportunity grants as well as other awards and recognition that can be found listed on her website.
“I’ve been lucky to sometimes get my work placed in magazines and publications. I sold some poems to an academic agency for high school academic testing,” Packa said.
Packa often does readings and has facilitated over 40 writing groups in the Duluth community.
Right now Packa is working with the Minnesota orchestra and will have some of her work used in a performance of theirs in February 2016.
“The Minnesota Orchestra will present the world premiere of Finnish composer Olli Kortekangas’ Migrations, with the YL Male Voice Choir and mezzo Lilli Paasikivi singing text [that I wrote],” Packa said.
Tickets for the show are still available for purchase here.
With the company of her spouse, her son, and her dog, Packa’s home life is far from unusual. Besides writing Packa enjoys a lot of the things Duluth is known for: outdoor activities, arts and entertainment, and food.
“I love hiking. I have a little kayak—I love that. I like to be outdoors. I like to go to films and movies. I like cooking and trying new things,” Packa said.
You can find Packa’s work at any bookstore. To learn more about Packa and her accomplishments, check out her website http://www.sheilapacka.com/.
This article is the first in a series about writers in Duluth. If you are a writer or have someone in mind to be featured in an upcoming article, contact Anna Friedrichsen at fried581@d.umn.edu.