Rita Wirkala writes fiction and poetry, translates children's stories and founded All Bilingual Press. Her novel "El encuentro" (The Encounter) was a finalist for the International Latino Book Award and the Books Into Movies Award. A native of Argentina, she has traveled extensively, deepening her knowledge of global literature. Settling in Seattle, Ms. Wirkala taught for many years at the University of Washington and now teaches creative writing with the writers' group Seattle Escribe. Underlying all of her work is a deep appreciation of the value of traditional literature and storytelling.