Events

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 22-26, 2025, Daily Poems at Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France–Veriditas Labyrinth Pilgrimage, Week 1, led by Lauren Artress with Diarmuid O’Murchu: Celebrating Divine Radiance in Human Evolution
- With Rob Hodges
September 29-October 3, Daily Poems at Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France–Veriditas Labyrinth Pilgrimage, Week 2, led by Lauren Artress with Brian Thomas Swimme: Embracing the Unfolding Universe: An Exploration of Humanity’s Cosmic Role
- With Rob Hodges
December 6, 2025, Canyon Wren Poetry Retreat at Windermere Ranch, Goleta, CA–registration opens 10/24
- With David Starkey
TBA–Reading and Writing as Spiritual Practice, series and retreat, Trinity Lutheran Church, 764 W. Henderson Ave., Porterville, CA

SELECTED PAST EVENTS

May 10, 2025, Canyon Wren Poetry Retreat at Windermere Ranch, Goleta, CA
- With David Starkey
May 2, 2025–Kern Poetry First Friday at Dagny’s Coffee, 1600 20th St., Bakersfield, CA, 6:00 (open mic sign-ups begin at 5:30)
- With Rob Hodges
April 10, 2025–Respite by the River, San Joaquin River Parkway, Fresno, CA, 6:00-8:00
- With Rob Hodges
February 1, 2025–Gunpowder Press 10th Anniversary Celebration, Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 2:00-4:00
- With Gunpowder Press editors and poets
January 11, 2025–Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room, Poetry and Cello, 109 S. Montgomery St., Ojai, CA, 6:00-7:00
- With Rob Hodges
December 10, 2024–Santa Barbara launch, with David Starkey, of You, Caravaggio and Empty Me Full, Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St., Santa Barbara, CA, 6:00
November 21, 2024–Porterville College Writer and Speaker Series, Student Center Conference Room, 100 E. College Ave., Porterville, CA, 12:00-1:00
- With Rob Hodges
November 17, 2024–Springville launch of Empty Me Full, River Ridge Ranch, 37675 Balch Park Rd., Springville, CA, reading followed by open mic, 2:00
- With Rob Hodges
- November 6, 2024–Reedley College, First Wednesday at One reading series, 995 N. Reed, Reedley, CA
October 14-17, 2024–This Life as Sacred Ground: Braiding Image, Sound, and Word on the Labyrinth Path, Retreat in Three Rivers, CA
- With Laura Esculcas and Rob Hodges
October 1, 2024–Publication day for my fourth full-length book of poems, Empty Me Full
- With Gunpowder Press
September 11, 2024–Blue Whale Poetry Series, Reading with Jace Turner, Unity Church of Santa Barbara, 227 E. Arrellaga St., 5:30
- With Rob Hodges
September 8, 2024–Trinity Library Study Center Grand Opening, Trinity Lutheran Church, 764 W. Henderson Ave., Porterville, CA, 11:30-2:00 (Poetry and Music between 12:00 and 1:00)
- With Rob Hodges
July 17, 2024–San Joaquin Valley Writing Project at Fresno State University, Keynote reading and workshop for 45th anniversary celebration of the SJVWP
July 11, 2024–Poetry and Music at River Ridge Institute, 7:00-7:30, preceded by a BYO dinner and followed by Cal State Long Beach student presentations, 37675 Balch Park Rd., Springville, CA
April 6, 2024–Russo’s Books, 11:00-1:00, Reading for National Poetry Month
- With Annis Cassells and Rob Hodges
February 10, 2024–Summerland Presbyterian Church, Poetry Workshop followed by lunch and a reading
- With Rob Hodges
January 27, 2024–William Stafford Reading, across from Los Prietos Camp, 3900 Paradise Rd., Santa Barbara, 2:00
- With Rob Hodges
December 9, 2023–Art and Spirituality Center, 2215 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, 2:00-3:30: Reading with Annis Cassells
September 1, 2023–First Friday Poetry, Dagny’s Coffee, Bakersfield, 6:00: Featured reader with open mic following
August 12, 2021–Respite by the River, San Joaquin River Parkway, Fresno, CA, 6:00-8:00
April 29, 2020–Jackson Wheeler Poetry Series, Zoom edition, followed by open mic, 7:30
April 25, 2020–Spacks Prize Reading: Zoom event featuring six years of winners of the Barry Spacks Poetry Prize from Gunpowder Press, 5:00-6:15

COVID-Canceled Events, 2020-22

April 2, 2020–Porterville College: In a Rind of Light Launch and Reading by Faculty Poets, 11:30-12:30 in the Porterville College Theater
April 18, 2020–Blue Oak Coffee Roasting, National Poetry Month reading and signing, 1717 20th St., Bakersfield, 12:30-2:00
- With Annis Cassells and Fidel Martinez
April 25, 2020—Jackson Wheeler Poetry Series, Oxnard Public Library, 3:00
- With Rob Hodges and Christopher Buckley
May 17, 2020–River Ridge Institute Sunday Series: Book Launch, Open Mic, and Pop-up Writing Workshop, 37675 Balch Park Rd., Springville, afternoon (time TBA)
- With Rob Hodges
June 2020–Reading and Workshop, Santa Fe, NM (dates and details TBA)
Sept. 2, 2020–Reedley College First Wednesday (1W1) Reading Series, 1:00
- With Rob Hodges
Sept. 10, 2020–Respite by the River, San Joaquin River Parkway, Fresno, 6:00
- With Rob Hodges
Jan. 30, 2021–William Stafford Reading, Los Prietos, 3900 Paradise Rd., Santa Barbara, 2:00
- With Rob Hodges
Jan. 39, 2022–William Stafford Reading, Los Prietos, 3900 Paradise Rd., Santa Barbara, 2:00
- With Rob Hodges
February 11, 2022–Hanford West High School, Reading and Workshop
- With Rob Hodges

SELECTED PAST EVENTS, 2016-2019

2019

August 17, 2019—Georgia (O’Keeffe) on My Mind: Craft Talk and Workshop for Writers, Writers of Kern at Hodel’s, 5917 Knudsen Dr., Bakersfield, 10:00-11:30
April 27, 2019—Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room: Poetry and Cello, 109 S. Montgomery St., Ojai, CA, 6:30-8:00
April 25, 2019—Poetry Night at Los Osos Library, 2075 Palisades Ave., Los Osos, CA, 6:30-8:00
- With Bonnie Young and Rob Hodges (cello), followed by open mic
April 7, 2019—Poetry in Motion at River Ridge Ranch, 37675 Balch Park Rd., Springville, CA
- With Peter Dutton, Megan Bohigian, and Don Thompson
February 28, 2019—Words Against Hate II, Bitwise South Stadium, Fresno, CA
February 14, 2019—Stafford’s Chocolates: Love Songs and Poems

2018

October 11, 2018—Cal State Bakersfield, Walter Presents
September 9, 2018—Fresno Poet Laureate Presents, Bitwise South Stadium
- With Brynn Saito, Michael Meyerhofer, and Patrick Fontes
September 5, 2018—1W1 Reading Series, Reedley College
July 15, 2018—Corners of the Mouth Poetry Series, Linnaea’s Café, San Luis Obispo
- With Kathryn DeLancellotti
May 12, 2018—Poetry Symposium, Fig Tree Library, Fresno
- With James Tyner, S. Bryan Medina, Michael Meyerhofer, Steven Sanchez, and Soul Vang
May 6, 2018—Blue Whale Poetry Series, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
February 1, 2018—Remix Poetry Series, Full Circle Brewing Co., Fresno, CA
- With Christopher Buckley
January 25, 2018—E. P. Foster Library Poetry Series, Ventura

2017

October 6, 2017—First Friday Poetry, Dagny’s Coffee, Bakersfield, Featured Reader
August 9, 2017—Pewter Plough Playhouse, Cambria, CA, Featured Reader
April 8, 2017—Inked Voices, “Conversation with a Draft: Toward a Personalized Theory and Practice of Revision,” Webinar
February 16, 2017—Valley Poets, Levan Center for the Humanities, Bakersfield College, introduction to Valley Poets by local poets and arts advocates
January 27, 2017—Beyond Baroque, Venice, CA, Tupelo Press 30/30 Reading

2016

October 16, 2016—Corners of the Mouth Poetry Series, Linnaea’s Café, San Luis Obispo, CA
- With Laure-Anne Bosselaar
September 17, 2016—The Ringing and the Bell, Mission Poetry Series, Antioch University, Santa Barbara, CA
- With Mary Brown and William Archilla
July 29, 2016—Napa Valley Writers’ Conference, First Books Panel
- With Solmaz Sharif, Terry Lucas, and Gregory Mahrer
June 12, 2016–Poetry Flash at Diesel Books, Oakland, CA
- With Susan Cohen
May 8, 2016—UC Santa Barbara, College of Creative Studies, Lit Symposium Reading
April 30, 2016—Workshop: Yoga with Poetry and Cello, Valley Yoga, Visalia, CA
April 24, 2016—River Ridge Ranch, Springville, CA, Reading: Local launch of Instead of Sadness
April 15, 2016—Porterville College, Faculty Poets Reading
April 6, 2016—1W1 Reading Series, Reedley College
March 4, 2016—Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room, Poetry and Cello
March 3, 2016—Santa Barbara City College, Atkinson Gallery, Reading
March 3, 2016—Westmont College, Craft Talk and Reading