Dear Literary Folk,
It has been a harrowing week plus for all of us in Sonoma and Napa counties, including Terry Ehret who was without power for several days and hosting three evacuees. She is not able to write this month’s post. On this beautiful morning after the night before—the first night the Kincade Fire did NOT grow—most of us are thankful to be alive and in our own homes, reconnected with friends, and not freezing.
One writer friend who lives close to the burn zone still doesn’t know if her home has survived. She and her husband evacuated with two horses, a dog, a cat and a laptop with her novel in progress on it. I feel a guilty privilege to have survived the week in a section of Petaluma that never lost power, along with two evacuees, a dear friend who was also with me during the Loma Prieta Quake, and this time her grandson. We had a wonderful time on both occasions. And last night children old and young thronged D Street in Petaluma for a massive and gleeful celebration (or collective sigh of relief)—more trick or treaters than any of us had ever seen.
Our literary calendar this month is slenderer than usual since some contributors were unable to make the publication deadline. Of note in November:
Celebrate Chester Aaron’s life on Sunday, November 3, 3:00 p.m. at the Occidental Center for the Arts. See our calendar or www.occidentalcenterforthearts.org for details.
On November 10, 2:00-5:00 p.m. Rising from the Ashes Two Years Later: The Heart of Poetry — A Commemoration. Free poetry reading and gathering featuring poets Poets Laureate Emeriti Iris Jamahl Dunkle, Gwynn O’Gara, Bill Vartnaw, and many other poets from across the county. Maya Khosla will host. Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Refreshments will be served. More info at: https://sebarts.org/sca-events-2/
Later the same day, Sunday. November 10, 8:00-9:30 p.m., check out the Penngrove Market Reading Series at 10070 Main Street, Penngrove. Featured readers: Anita Jackson, Virginia Duan, and Marilyn Skinner Lanier. Open mic to follow. Upcoming dates and featured readers: www.penngrovereadingseries.com
Last but not least in November, you aspiring novelists out there can sign up for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) at https://www.nanowrimo.org. It’s free! The Santa Rosa Library is sponsoring NaNoWriMo “Come Write-In” events on Monday nights from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Event details: https://sonomacounty.libcal.com/event/5638981
Stay safe and strong,
Jo-Anne Rosen
Co-editor, Sonoma County Literary Update
Sonoma County Literary Update 