On the 6/12/24 edition of Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour:

William Hartwick describes his latest publication, The Invisible Backpack: A Life of Courage, as a product of healing. It is a combination of three journals that showcase his signature rhythmic writing. He then reads two poems from his book. Tim Kahl explains the role of music in his poetic background, including using sound design to support his poems. He then reads a poem titled, “The Map of Prediction.” Kahl concludes the episode by sharing more information about the Sacramento Poetry Alliance Reading Series.

William L. Hartwick was born and raised in Crescent City, California, the northern tip of the great state, the last incorporated city in California before Oregon. It’s the home of the Smith River and the giant redwoods, a beautiful place for a little boy to grow up and become the man he is today. He’s retired from a 30-year career as an educator, teaching first grade and serving as an elementary school principal. He now lives in Phoenix, Arizona pursuing his dreams as a motivational speaker and author.

Tim Kahl is the author of Possessing Yourself (CW Books, 2009), The Century of Travel (CW Books, 2012), The String of Islands (Dink, 2015), Omnishambles (Bald Trickster, 2019) and Drips, Spills, Bursts, Tangles, and Washes (Cold River Press, 2024). His work has been published in many journals in the U.S. and abroad. He is also editor of Clade Song. He is the vice president and events coordinator of The Sacramento Poetry Alliance. He plays flutes, guitars, ukuleles, charangos and cavaquinhos. He currently teaches at California State University, Sacramento, where he sings lieder while walking on campus between classes.

The Poetry Night Reading Series, taking place on first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 PM, is generously supported by the people and poets of the Sacramento Valley, by John Natsoulas, and by Thea and the other members of the staff at the John Natsoulas Gallery. Your host will be Dr. Andy Jones, the poet laureate emeritus of the City of Davis. This event is made possible by Katerina Hanks, producer of The Poetry Night Reading Series, with support from Helaina Flores and Cami Rothmuller.

Find out more about Dr. Andy's Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis, California by visiting http://www.poetryindavis.com. Invite your friends to sign up for the mailing list. To learn more about Dr. Andy’s tiny media fiefdom, visit his weekly newsletter at https://andyjones.substack.com and follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andyojones.

On the 6/5/24 edition of Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour:

Joe Mills states his perspective on generative AI in poetry and his upcoming summer class called “Living Poetry.” Mills explains his writing methods, the importance of giving yourself time as a writer, and the relative effectiveness of morning pages. He then reads a poem about democracy. Connie Post reads a poem from her chapbook Broken Metronome. Post discusses the influence of poetry on younger generations and expresses her feelings about climate change. She then reads a poem about wildfires. Dr. Andy concludes the episode with a touching poem in honor of Davis Breaux.

A faculty member at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Joseph Mills holds the Susan Burress Wall Distinguished Professorship in the Humanities and was honored with a 2017 UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. His work includes poetry, fiction, drama, and criticism. He has published seven volumes of poetry with Press 53: Bodies in Motion; Exit, pursued by a bear; This Miraculous Turning, Sending Christmas Cards to Huck and Hamlet; Love and Other Collisions; Angels, Thieves, and Winemakers, and Somewhere During the Spin Cycle. His current project is titled The Holiday Cycle.

Connie Post’s work has appeared in Calyx, Slipstream, Comstock Review, 2 River, American Journal of Poetry, River Styx, Spoon River Poetry Review, Slippery Elm, and Verse Daily. Her poetry awards include the Liakoura Award and Crab Creek Poetry Award. Her full-length collections include Floodwater, Prime Meridian and Between Twilight. Between Twilight was a finalist in the 2023 Best Book Awards. Her 2023 chapbook, Broken Metronome has been nominated for 5 book awards and won the American Fiction award for a chapbook.

The Poetry Night Reading Series, taking place on first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 PM, is generously supported by the people and poets of the Sacramento Valley, by John Natsoulas, and by Thea and the other members of the staff at the John Natsoulas Gallery. Your host will be Dr. Andy Jones, the poet laureate emeritus of the City of Davis. This event is made possible by Katerina Hanks, producer of The Poetry Night Reading Series, with support from Helaina Flores and Cami Rothmuller.

Find out more about Dr. Andy's Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis, California by visiting http://www.poetryindavis.com. Invite your friends to sign up for the mailing list. To learn more about Dr. Andy’s tiny media fiefdom, visit his weekly newsletter at https://andyjones.substack.com and follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andyojones.

On the 5/29/24 edition of Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour:

Maria Breaux discusses her recent grant to write a book in honor of her brother, Davis Breaux. She intends to write about his time as a student and dancer, his spiritual awakening, and his time in Davis. She will be holding an event at Davis community church in the fellowship hall at 5:30 pm on June 3rd to remember David. Katy Brown explains the importance of finding community and listening to other voices. Dr. Andy and Brown discuss their favorite places to write, and Brown reads a poem titled “By the Stone Steps.” Sandré Henriquez Nelson shares the many exciting community events organized for Davis Pride and Pride Month.

Maria Breaux is a San Francisco-based filmmaker and writer. Recently grappling with an unimaginable loss—the tragic murder of her brother, known locally in Davis, California, as "the Compassion Guy"—Maria wants to continue candidly sharing her journey in cultivating compassion amid grief, drawing from her brother's profound legacy of collecting definitions of compassion to navigate through the most challenging phase of her life.

Katy Brown, a resident of Davis, California, was a Supervisor of Social Workers at Adult Protective Services in Sacramento. She has won awards in The Ina Coolbrith Circle, The Berkeley Poets Dinner, and California Federation of Chaparral Poets, Inc. competitions. She has had poems in Glass Art Magazine, Wee Wisdom, Daily Word, Harpstrings, Song of the San Joaquin, and Rattlesnake Review. Her workbook, Poetry Potions, was used in schools for nearly twenty years and has been released digitally. Her other writing credits include automobile humor, greeting cards, a multiple-ending book, and short mysteries for young readers. She wrote a regular “Snake Eyes” column for Rattlesnake Review.

Sandré Henriquez Nelson is a native Californian born and raised in Oakland. Sandre has served as the Davis Pride Director since it was rebranded in 2015. He has worked alongside a great team to build the event from about 500 attendees to an estimated 6500 attendees at the 2023 festival. Along with his pride work, he is excited to volunteer with various community groups both here in Davis and his former home town of Fairfield. Sandré and his husband of three years are proud Davis residents.

The Poetry Night Reading Series, taking place on first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 PM, is generously supported by the people and poets of the Sacramento Valley, by John Natsoulas, and by Thea and the other members of the staff at the John Natsoulas Gallery. Your host will be Dr. Andy Jones, the poet laureate emeritus of the City of Davis. This event is made possible by Katerina Hanks, producer of The Poetry Night Reading Series, with support from Helaina Flores and Cami Rothmuller.

Find out more about Dr. Andy's Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis, California by visiting http://www.poetryindavis.com. Invite your friends to sign up for the mailing list. To learn more about Dr. Andy’s tiny media fiefdom, visit his weekly newsletter at https://andyjones.substack.com and follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andyojones.