Dear Literary Folk,
Last week, I heard the first frogs of the season singing their love-chorus along the banks of Thompson Creek—a sure sign of spring on the way. It’s the Year of the Dragon, as the Chinese celebrate it. According to sources, “The key to the Dragon personality is that Dragons are the free spirits of the Zodiac. Restrictions blow out the creative spark that is ready to flame into life. Dragons must be free and uninhibited. The Dragon is a beautiful creature, colorful and flamboyant . . . an extroverted bundle of energy, gifted and utterly irrepressible.”
A Poet-Dragon in Our Midst
In the literary news, on Sunday, January 29, the literary community of Sonoma County (and beyond) gathered to welcome and honor our seventh Poet Laureate, Bill Varnaw.
Our previous Poets Laureate were present, in body or spirit, to join in the celebration, along with an audience of about a hundred friends, family, and fans. Among those was David Madgalene, who sends this reflection:
Orion Rising
by David Madgalene
On the Installation of Bill Vartnaw as Sonoma County Poet Laureate 2012-2013, January 29, 2012
Crowned with laurel,
reading his homage
to Artemis, Bill Vartnaw
bears witness… we are
part of something timeless.
Many heartfelt thanks to Gwynne O’Gara for her service as Sonoma County Poet Laureate 2010-2012. Look for Bill’s monthly messages on the Poet Laureate’s News Page of the Literary Update, coming soon.
Bill Vartnaw will be reading again on Tuesday, February 14, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at The Center Literary Café in Healdsburg. Details on the Update’s Calendar Page.
February’s Riches
In addition to Bill’s upcoming reading, the February literary calendar is filled with great events. Here are some others I especially recommend.
Friday, February 3, 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. 100 Thousand Poets for Change reading at Gaia’s Garden Restaurant in Santa Rosa features a dozen local poets: Vilma Ginzberg, Jodi Hottel, Gor Yaswen, Phyllis Meshalam, Colleen Werner, Clare Morris, Elaine Holtz, Ken Norton, Lynda Williams, Maggie Tutuer, Maryann Schacht, and Michelle Wing. Music provided by Marilyn O’Malley and Kate Willens. The event will honor Brigit’s Day, celebrated in Ireland between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.
Sunday, February 12, 6:30–9:30 p.m. Poetry Out Loud Country-wide competition for high school students at the Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Details on County News page.
Monday, February 13, 12:00 noon. Newman Auditorium, SRJC Santa Rosa Campus. “Love in the Open Hand.” Donna Emerson and Terry Ehret will read from their new books: Night Sky Journey and Wild Mercy. Donna and Terry will present their work as a poetic dialogue on the theme of love. A second reading takes place at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday February 22 at Mahoney Library on the SRJC Petaluma Campus.
Wednesday, February 29, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Speakeasy Literary Saloon at Aqus Cafe, Petaluma. Celebrate Leap Day with featured authors Jonah Raskin, Jean Hegland, Patti Trimble, Joy Lanzedorfer, Timothy Williams.
Terry Ehret
Sonoma County Literary Update Co-editor
P.S. New Web Address:
We have a new, easy to remember, Web address for the Literary Update: www.socolitupdate.com. Note that the original wordpress address (URL) will still work. Thanks to Juanita Martin for her donation, making this upgrade possible.
To download a pdf version of the entire Sonoma County Literary Update, click here.
Sonoma County Literary Update 