Dear Literary Folk,
The July post will be brief. Terry Ehret is off on a road trip; when last heard from she was traipsing around Arches National Park where temps are in the triple digits. Meanwhile the Sonoma lit scene sizzles on.
Some Sonoma County Highlights for July:
Sunday, July 5, 5:00-7:00 p.m. First Sunday Poetry & Music series at the Redwood Cafe, in Cotati features David Madgalene, Ed Coletti and Kirk Lumpkin with his group, Word-Music Continuum.
“Hot Summer Nights” at Copperfields bookstores. Several Redwood Writers will be reading on each of four Tuesday evenings at the Montgomery Village Store this month: July 7 (children and young adult books), July 14, (historical fiction), July 21 (fiction) and July 28 (nonfiction/memoir).
Friday, July 10, 7:00 p.m. Book launch at Occidental Center for the Arts: Three Poets: Rebecca Patrascu, Else Rosager, Clara Rosemarda will read selected pieces from their new collections Before Noon, So Far and Naked Branches. Q & A and book signing.
Thursday, July 16, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Cloverdale Performing Arts Center presents Books on Stage with poet Jodi Hottel, author of Heart Mountain, and short-story writer Stefanie Freele, author of Feeding Strays and Surrounded by Water. Free. Hosted by Michelle Wing.
Wednesday, July 22, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Get Lit, a monthly reading series hosted by Dani Burlison and Kara Vernor, will feature Jensen Beach (For out of the Heart Proceed, Dzanc Books and Swallowed by the Cold, Graywolf), Jon Sindell (The Roadkill Collection, Big Table Publishing) and Cassandra Dallett (Wet Reckless, Manic D Press). An open mic follows (five minute limit). Corkscrew Wine Bar, Petaluma.
The quarterly Aqus Speakeasy Literary Saloon on Wednesday, July 29, will feature book sellers reading their favorites plus an open mic. From 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Aqus Cafe in Petaluma.
And there are many more lit events. Do check the calendar page.
Kudos to Sonoma Authors:
Congratulations to Renee Owens whose 2014 poetry collection Alone on a Wild Coast won an Honorable Mention in the Haiku Foundation’s annual book awards, and to Dan Coshnear whose novella Homesick Redux won Fiction Fix’s 2015 Novella Award and publication (see Sonoma County in Print for details). Congratulations also to Sonoma County authors whose work was published in journals last month.
Poetry Flash
A reminder: If you’ve not yet sent Poetry Flash a donation, this 40-year-old Bay Area literary institution urgently needs your help to sustain operations. See www.poetryflash.org/give.
Stay cool…
Jo-Anne Rosen
Co-editor, Sonoma County Literary Update
Sonoma County Literary Update 