conference season: 2

On June 28 and 29, 2024, the Chuckanut Writers Conference will return to live and in-person programming at Sehome High School in Bellingham, with a full complement of speakers, education sessions, author signings, meet-and-greets, agent consultations, and exhibits. After two years of virtual conferences, this year’s theme is, appropriately, “Return to Your Senses.” The schedule is still in the planning stages, but you can see a list of 2024 presenters, register, and also sign up for email updates.

more books!

With National Poetry Month drawing to a close, the book recommendations are still pouring in. Here’s the latest list:

• ABC News – Leila Mottley picks 10 books to read this National Poetry Month
• The Bay Area Reporter – National Poetry Month LGBTQ reading list
• Electric Lit – 7 Poetry Collections that Transform the Personal Into Portals
• Electric Lit – 15 New and Forthcoming Poetry Collections You Should Be Reading
• The New York Times – 4 Books to Make You Fall in Love With Poetry
• Pulitzer.org – Four Classic Pulitzer-Winning Poets to Read During National Poetry Month
• The Week – 6 queer poets to read whenever but especially now

conference season: 1

Along with improved weather, more hours of daylight, and festivals, spring and summer throw open the doors for conferences. The African-American Writers’ Alliance and Langston Seattle have just announced The Genius Conference, Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8, 2024, at the historic Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute in Seattle. The all-ages event will feature spoken word, Afro-futurism talks and game shows, author spotlights, artist workshops, soul food of the diaspora, a marketplace, books, and more.

Indie Bookstore Day in Anacortes

A couple of days ago, we mentioned Independent Bookstore Day, which is this Saturday, April 27, 2024. If you were considering a visit to an indie bookstore, here’s a great suggestion: Pelican Bay Books, in Anacortes, will host another Madrona Poetry Series reading on Saturday at 7:00pm. The featured writers are Ann Spiers and Jessica Gigot. Come early, browse, and grab a treat at the coffeehouse. See you there!

Jack Straw Alumni Poetry Series

Jack Straw Writing Fellows have been busy. To sample some of their accomplishments, mark your calendar for the Jack Straw Alumni Poetry Series.

The six-reading series, hosted by Kathleen Flenniken, will be held April 24, June 3 and June 12, August 14, October 21, and November 18, 2024, mostly in person at the Jack Straw Cultural Center in Seattle. Visit the Poetry Series page for details and to see the complete lineup of poets.

the last Saturday in April

Saturday, April 27, 2024, is Independent Bookstore Day. In addition to authors, live music, edibles, kids events, art tables, readings, contests, and other fun stuff, there are exclusive books and literary items that you can get only on that day. There’s a map of participating booksellers on IndieBound and the website of your favorite local independent bookstore will probably have a listing of visiting authors and other scheduled events.

Note: some bookstores offer special discounts for National Poetry Month, so Saturday would be a great day to refresh your poetry shelf!

meanwhile in the Methow

With the North Cascades Highway (SR20) open, perhaps it’s time to explore the Methow Valley. Fields and hillsides are painted with lupine and arrowleaf balsamroot, and in Twisp there’s a new destination: the Methow Valley Authors Library (MVAL) in Casia Lodge.

Officially opened last week, MVAL is “a collection of books and journals from every author who has ever lived in, worked in, or wrote about the valley” — more than 300 volumes to date. The brainchild of Greg Wright of Methow Press, the library will be open to the public for browsing during pub hours (daily 5pm – 9pm), and open full time to Lodge guests.

Read all about it in the Methow Valley Examiner.

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Thanks to Joanna Thomas for the heads up!

Earth Day Zoom

You’re invited to join Terrain.org for an Earth Day reading hosted by poetry editor Derek Sheffield and featuring Dorianne Laux, Gary Soto, and Byron P. Aspaas. The reading, Monday, April 22, 2024, 5:00pm Pacific, is free with registration.

meanwhile on Vashon Island

Vashon Island, Washington, population around 11,000, has a lot of readers and a lot of residents who believe in the value of shared resources. In addition to the Vashon Public Library, the island has libraries that promote informal lending of musical instruments, durable medical equipment, tools, food preparation equipment, and much more. Along with that, the island has a wealth of Little Free Libraries (see map), the latest addition being an all-poetry LFL installed in March on the property of the 1st Presbyterian Church. A project of Margaret Roncone, current poet laureate of Vashon, the LFL is kept well stocked and is much used by island poets and poetry readers.

on poetry

“We are all students and explorers.”
John Burgess
(b. April 17, 1958)

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