—Public Domain Illustration
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
Don't see
your poetry event listed in Medusa? That's probably because you didn't
send it in! It's such a shame to invite poets to read for you, and
then fail to advertise them.
So try to get your message out in a timely
manner—and that includes
sending it to kathykieth@hotmail.com!
Here's what's coming up in our area.
(Click on visuals to enlarge them.)
SUBMISSIONS & DEADLINES:
•••Sacramento Poetry Center wants to include your events in the new digital Poet News! Send information about your literary events, including readings, reading series, workshops, lectures and so on. Also accepting submissions of poetry, reviews of collections of poetry, articles about poetry and poets, interviews with poets and literary writers, and essays relevant to poetry. The deadline for submissions is the 20th of the month prior to the publication date. Also seeking volunteer editors and copy editors—if you’re interested in this, please contact them at spcog97@gmail.com. For more info about Poet News, see https://www.facebook.com/sacpoetrycenter/.
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•••It's time for another VOICES from Cold River Press (www.coldriverpress.com/). Submit your POETRY, SHORT FICTION, ESSAYS, PHOTOGRAPHY, ARTWORK, PROSE, FLASH FICTION and whatever various and sundry iconography you might have to VOICES 2023. This year's theme is DAHLIAS, GODS & MERMAIDS. Deadline for submissions is June 18, 2023. Targeted publication date is September, 2023. Please submit your files in either PDF or DOC format. Submissions submitted in the body of an email will be rejected; please send as an attachment. If submitting artwork or photography, please submit in 300 DPI, image should not be smaller than 6" x 9" and sent as a PDF; other files will be rejected. Please send submissions to submissions@coldriverpress.com and include a short bio, no longer than 250 words.
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•••19th Annual Voices of Lincoln 2023 Poetry Contest: Five contest categories include the five W’s. Presented by the Poets Club of Lincoln. Maximum of 3 poems. Adult and Youth categories. Entry form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w8tsAcfsxrBs7yh5Xt31jSXTzZJ63sie/view?usp=share_link/. Info: Alan Lowe at slolowe@icloud.com/. Deadline: July 20 (the earlier you submit, the better).
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UPCOMING POETRY READINGS & WORKSHOPS:
Scroll down to the bottom of this column for
on-going weekly or monthly workshops
and read-arounds.
•••Thurs. (6/1), 6pm: Arts and Culture El Dorado presents a reading of writings from the Ekphrastic Workshop with Lara Gularte which was held on May 25, based on original works by Sigrid Benson and Marisa Sayanc, plus the release of a chapbook of those writings. Switchboard Gallery, 525 Main St., Placerville, CA.
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•••Thurs. (6/1), 7pm: Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis presents Mary Mackey
at John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 1st St., Davis, CA. Open mic after the
readers (one chosen text or four minutes); sign up before 6:50pm. Host: Dr. Andy Jones. Please mask your vaccinated selves before entering the Gallery.
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•••Thurs. (6/1), 8pm: The very-long-running (22 years!) Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Café and Juice Bar,
1414 16th St., Sacramento, CA, presents featured readers plus, of
course, Luna’s famous open mic (sign-ups at 7:30pm, begins at 8pm). $2
cover or one drink minimum. Info: www.facebook.com/JMpoetryunplugged AND/OR www.lunascafe.com/calendar.html/.
Contacts: lunas@lunascafe.com; 916-441-3931. Proof of vaccination
required for entrance to all events. Park at garage at 17th St. between L
and Capitol.
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•••Sat. (6/3), 5pm: West Trestle Review presents its monthly Silver Tongue Saturdays reading, this month featuring Molly Fisk
plus open mic. Auburn City Hall, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA. Free,
but donations welcome. Masks required. Made possible with support of the
Auburn Arts Commission and the City of Auburn. Host: Patricia Caspers. Info: https://www.facebook.com/westtrestle/.
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•••Thurs. (6/8), 7pm: Rescheduled from 5/4: Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis presents Pam Houston with Shayne Langford
plus Ibe Liebenberg at John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 1st St., Davis, CA. Open mic after the
readers (one chosen text or four minutes); sign up before 6:50pm. Host: Dr. Andy Jones. Please mask your vaccinated selves before entering the Gallery.
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Straight Out Scribes
•••Thurs. (6/8), 8pm: The very-long-running (22 years!) Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Café and Juice Bar, 1414 16th St., Sacramento, CA, presents Straight Out Scribes plus, of course, Luna’s famous open mic (sign-ups at 7:30pm, begins at 8pm). $2 cover or one drink minimum. Info: https://www.facebook.com/staajabu AND/OR www.facebook.com/JMpoetryunplugged AND/OR www.lunascafe.com/calendar.html/. Contacts: lunas@lunascafe.com; 916-441-3931. Proof of vaccination required for entrance to all events. Park at garage at 17th St. between L and Capitol.
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•••Sat. (6/10), doors open 7pm: The Brickhouse Poets present Brickhouse Poetry Second Saturdays,
featuring And Yes plus open mic (sign-ups begin at 7:30pm) at The
Brickhouse Gallery & Art Complex, 2837 36th St., Sacramento, CA. $10
admission. Hosts: Anna Marie & PoeticButterfly.
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•••Wed. (6/14), 4-6pm: Artemis Books presents the release of two short story collections, Fighting the Bad War by Angelo Presicci, and Suicide by Prayer by Tom Reddock, who will be reading from their new books at Communal Cafe, 233 Broad St., Nevada City, CA. Free.
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•••Thurs. (6/15), 8pm: The very-long-running (22 years!) Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Café and Juice Bar, 1414 16th St., Sacramento, CA, presents featured readers plus, of course, Luna’s famous open mic (sign-ups at 7:30pm, begins at 8pm). $2 cover or one drink minimum. Info: www.facebook.com/JMpoetryunplugged AND/OR www.lunascafe.com/calendar.html/.
Contacts: lunas@lunascafe.com; 916-441-3931. Proof of vaccination
required for entrance to all events. Park at garage at 17th St. between L
and Capitol.
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•••Thurs. (6/15), 7pm: Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis presents Richard Robbins and Thomas Mitchell
at John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 1st St., Davis, CA. Open mic after the
readers (one chosen text or four minutes); sign up before 6:50pm. Host: Dr. Andy Jones. Please mask your vaccinated selves before entering the Gallery.
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•••Thurs. (6/22), 8pm: The very-long-running (22 years!) Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Café and Juice Bar, 1414 16th St., Sacramento, CA, presents featured readers plus, of course, Luna’s famous open mic (sign-ups at 7:30pm, begins at 8pm). $2 cover or one drink minimum. Info: www.facebook.com/JMpoetryunplugged AND/OR www.lunascafe.com/calendar.html/.
Contacts: lunas@lunascafe.com; 916-441-3931. Proof of vaccination
required for entrance to all events. Park at garage at 17th St. between L
and Capitol.
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•••Thurs. (6/29), 8pm: The very-long-running (22 years!) Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged at Luna’s Café and Juice Bar, 1414 16th St., Sacramento, CA, presents featured readers plus, of course, Luna’s famous open mic (sign-ups at 7:30pm, begins at 8pm). $2 cover or one drink minimum. Info: www.facebook.com/JMpoetryunplugged AND/OR www.lunascafe.com/calendar.html/.
Contacts: lunas@lunascafe.com; 916-441-3931. Proof of vaccination
required for entrance to all events. Park at garage at 17th St. between L
and Capitol.
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•••Mon. (7/3), 7:30pm: Sac. Poetry Center presents Rick Rayburn book signing (Slack Tide) with Bob Stanley of Random Lane Press (rescheduled from May) plus open mic. 25th & R Sts., Sacramento, CA. Info for this and for SPC weekly workshops at www.sacpoetrycenter.org and/or www.facebook.com/sacpoetrycenter/.
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•••Sat. (7/23), 4pm: West Trestle Review's Silver Tongue Saturdays features Shelley Wong plus open mic. Auburn City Hall, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA. Free; masks required. Host: Patricia Caspers. Donations welcome.
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•••Sat. (7/29), 1-3pm: Cold River Press presents Poetry In Locke book signing and readings by D.R. Wagner and Allegra Silberstein, plus open mic, music, free raffle, potluck, beverages, catered Chinese food. The Pearl Locke, Main Street in Locke, across from Al the Wop's. Info: https://www.facebook.com/ThePearlLocke/.
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MONTHLY READ-AROUNDS:
•••Second Mondays, 10:30am: Poetic License
read-around at Placerville Sr. Center (Game Room), 937 Spring St.,
Placerville, CA.
Entrance is off Tunnel Street, then turn right on Robin Court. Bring
poems to read—your own or someone else’s—or just come to listen; there is a subject for each month, but any subject is welcome. Masks encouraged. For more info about El Dorado County poetry events, go
to Western Slope El Dorado poetry on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ElDoradoCountyPoetry/.
•••Third Mondays, 10:30am: Poetry in Motion read-around at Placerville Sr. Center, 937 Spring St., Placerville, CA. Bring poems to read—your own or someone else’s—or just come to listen. Masks encouraged. For more info about El Dorado County poetry events, go to Western Slope El Dorado poetry on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ElDoradoCountyPoetry/.
•••Third Thursdays, 12noon: Third Thursdays at the Library on Zoom, hosted by Mary Zeppa,
devoted to exploring the work of other writers. A theme or prompt is
chosen for each month, then themes and Zoom links are sent out about a
week before. Info: Amanda Jacobs at amanda.b.jacobs@gmail.com/.
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WEEKLY WORKSHOPS:

The above are weekly workshops at Sac. Poetry Center;
for info on these, click poster to enlarge
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Also:
•••Sundays, 3pm: Started in June of 2021, Poets' Theater of Northern California is a poetry critique
group for active writers that convenes weekly on Zoom. Moderated by Len
Germinara, the group gives a cold reading of work
submitted and a discussion takes place afterwards, with a five-minute
maximum per poem. Booking requests are accepted and the room is open to all, but space is limited. If interested in
participating, and for more information, contact Len
Germinara at lensir@hotmail.com or www.lengerminara.com/. See also https://www.facebook.com/groups/1904641973008289/about/.
•••Tuesdays, 2-3:30pm: City of Sacramento Hart Center Workshop for adults 50+ years and older at the Ethyl McLeod Hart Senior Center, 915 27th St., Sacramento, CA (916-808-7908). Meetings provide a workshop consisting of sharing of poetry information and discussion, followed by readings, positive commentary, and thoughtful critique on each person's poem. Select work is publish annually in a group anthology. No advance registration is required. Info: chulabrowne@gmail.com/.
•••First Tuesdays of the month, 5:30pm: El Dorado County Library Writers Workshop for adults led by Beverly Barayno,
Cameron Park Library, 2500 Country Club Dr., Cameron Park, CA. Bring up
to 6 pages of prose, double-spaced. Focus: Fiction, essays, memoir.
Free; beginners welcome.
•••Every third Thursday, 5:30pm: Writing Our Words monthly writing workshop with El Dorado County Poet Laureate Lara Gularte. Cameron Park Library, 2500 Cameron Park Dr., Cameron Park, CA. All levels welcome.
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Check these out for more happenings:
•••Sacramento Poetry Center members receive Poet News online each month, with its calendar of readings and poetry events, local and otherwise.
•••For info about MoSt events (Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center), go to www.mostpoetry.org/.
•••Another newsletter resource, this one for the East Bay, is Deborah Fruchey’s monthly Strictly East (www.strictly-east.org). Check it out for a calendar, groups on Zoom and in person, special events and submission calls.
—Public Domain Illustration