Sonoma County Literary Update

County News

The Update welcomes announcements of interest to the Sonoma County literary community. Send text only (no attachments or PDFs please) by noon on the last day of the month to: editor@socolitupdate.com. No workshops, classes or readings, please. (Those are posted on the calendar or workshops pages.) An archive of announcements may be found at: http://socolitupdate.com/county-wide-news/county-news-archive

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Sandra Anfang has won the 2026 George Drew Chapbook Contest from Bass Clef Books. Her chapbook, Fin: Death Rap, will be published in September. Please check the Facebook group: New River Town Poets for ordering information.

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Petaluma Poetry Walk 2026 

Sunday, September 20, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Petaluma Poetry Walk is a free, day-long celebration of live poetry readings that brings together poets and community members in the heart of downtown Petaluma.

The event features 24 poets sharing their work across eight local venues. Come for one reading, two readings, or stay for them all—the public is warmly invited to experience the power of poetry in any way that fits.

• Hotel Petaluma, 11:00 a.m.: Dane Cervine, Lenore Myers, Carolyn Miller
• Keller Street CoWork, 12 Noon: Elizabeth Foster, Nika Grajqevci, Juno Phipps
• The Phoenix Theater, 1:00 p.m.: Lorrie Chang, Mahrs Emerson Schoppman, mOody bLaCk
• Copperfield’s Books, 2:00 p.m.:Farnaz Fatemi, Ellen Kombiyil, Claire Drucker
• Petaluma Historical Library and Museum, 3:00 p.m.: Pat Nolan, Adrián Arias, Francesca Bell
• Usher Gallery, 4:00 p.m.: Donna Emerson, Jack Crimmins, Dr. Jeanne Powell
• Jess Brown Design, 5:00 p.m.: Maw Shein Win, Lourdes Figueroa, Luisa Giulianetti
• The Big Easy, 6:00 p.m.: Deyci Carrillo López, Wendy M. Thompson, Cintia Santana

Detailed schedule: petalumapoetrywalk.org/2026-schedule

Founded in 1996 by the late Geri Digiorno, a beloved poet and former Sonoma County Poet Laureate, the Poetry Walk continues her vision of making poetry accessible, vibrant, and rooted in community.

The 2026 annual poetry magazine The Walk will be available at the event and includes poetry from all 24 poets. Cover art is by Ellen Kombiyil, co-winner of the Raleigh Review‘s 2025 Geri Digiorno Prize. Preorder here.

Poets’ books are now available at Copperfield’s in Petaluma! Poetry lovers can do more than hear the poets at this year’s Petaluma Poetry Walk—they can also read the poets’ work before and after the event and get their books signed by the authors!

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National Poetry Month Interviews with Sonoma County Poets on KRCB Midday Music

Throughout the month of April, KRCB radio host Doug Jayne hosted local poets and writers who read their poetry and discussed literature. Here are links to recordings of these interviews:

April 28: Rafael Block and N’Game Gray
April 23: Lisa Shulman and Amrita Skye Blaine
April 21: Jennie Orvino
April 20: Guy Biederman and Kurt Schweigman
April 17: Robin Gabbert, and Brian Martens
April 15: Abby Lynn Bogomolny
April 14: Dave Seter and Gwynn O’Gara
April 10: Ed Coletti and David Beckman
April 9:  Shawna Swetech
April 8:  Bill Vartnaw
April 7:  Jodi Hottel and Enid Pickett
April 6:  Jack Crimmins
April 3:  Gus Garelick and Jackson Ahern
April 2:  Elizabeth Herron
April 1:  Timothy Williams

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A New Small Press in the County

Petaluma-based Feather Press is an independent literary press dedicated to uplifting the voices of local poets, writers, and artists. Per founder Ingrid Keir, a poet and a longtime curator of the literary community: We believe in creative abundance — that every individual carries a deep well of story, history, and lineage waiting to be expressed. Guided by a commitment to cultural and racial diversity, we support both emerging and established voices with care and intention. Through beautifully crafted publications and community gatherings, Feather Press creates space for connection, celebration, and the shared power of story.

Feather Press recently published Tender Hearts Club, Volume One, Love Poetry Anthology (January 30, 2026). Edited by Ingrid Keir. More information on the press and this book at: featherpressbooks.wordpress.com

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Café Frida Poetry Festival on YouTube

The Café Frida Poetry Festival from September 28, 2025 is now available for viewing on Gwynn O’Gara’s YouTube Channel! Filmed by Rob Catterton, all performances from 2025 are now available online.

Featured poets:
Set One: Terra Emerson, John Johnson, judi goldberg, Ed Coletti
youtube.com/watch?v=TXxaapTh0g8&t=13s
Set Two: Brian Martens, Marjorie Stein, Eric Johnson, Nancy Dougherty and Wendy Cilman, Cello
youtube.com/watch?v=-gD0bVr7zKI

You can also check out the Café Frida Poetry Festival videos of June 29, 2025 and March 30, 2025,

The June 29, 2025 Poetry Festival featured:
Set One: Jack Crimmins, Lisa Shulman, Dave Holt, Melissa Eleftherion
youtube.com/watch?v=91EktPymniI
Set Two: John Duran, Briahn Kelly-Brennan, Phyllis Meshulam read by Audrey Meshulam, Timothy Williams and Rob Cattterton, Piano
youtube.com/watch?v=FOeaqdCABDE

The March 30, 2025 Poetry Festival featured:
Set One: Gwynn O’Gara, Bill Greenwood, Rita Losch, Karl Frederick
youtube.com/watch?v=JmOwhvm4HMg&t=18s
Set Two: Shawna Swetech, Chris Giovachini, Susan Lamont, David Madgalene and Steve Shain, Bass
youtube.com/watch?v=R1zK8zWxeSo&t=1s

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Nancy Martin’s Award Winning Story Collection

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