December Newsletter

[Benicia Poet Laureate]

Dear Poetry Friends,

Happy Holidays to each and every one of you!  My wonderful two year journey as Poet Laureate is coming to an end, and I appreciate all the support, encouragement and gratitude I have received over that time.  This will be my last official newsletter (although you may get a special reminder) to those of you both near and far, but this one contains only a few upcoming local events, as the holiday season swings into high gear.

LAST MINUTE REMINDER:  Applications for the next Benicia Poet Laureate are due by November 26, but MAY be extended in both deadline and residency requirements.

Applications are on the website at Benicialibrary.org and search Services>Adults>Poet Laureate. If you are pressed for time to meet this deadline or are interested but live outside Benicia, please respond to me personally at this email, and I can chat with you on the phone or simply forward your interest to Helaine Bowles. A chief consideration is commitment to the full two year time period and availability to run programs.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 3:30-5:30 PM:  MULTICULTURAL TRADITIONS HOLIDAY PARTY with our CALIFORNIA POET LAUREATE LEE HERRICK!!!

Benicia Library, Dona Benicia Room, 150 East L St., Benicia.  Don't miss this opportunity to savor the delights of holiday foods, live music by Marcy and Angie, wonderful reading by Korean American Lee Herrick, and the ability to refresh, re-energize and reconnect! Lee's reading will be followed by an Open Mic where each participant is welcome to read one (3 minute) poem on the theme of their personal holiday tradition be it cultural, spiritual, secular, family or individual.

You are welcome to bring a special holiday food or to donate any previously purchased but currently unused book(s) of poetry (unwrapped) for our door prize giveaways to your fellow poets.

I am so excited for this to be the closing event of my two year tenure, and look forward to seeing many of you to celebrate the holidays together!

 2025 Lee Herrick Flyer.png

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8 DEADLINE for our tenth Benicia Anthology, THE EVERYDAY AS EXTRAORDINARY!  This is your opportunity to be included with a wide variety of your fellow poets in what will be a beautiful publication worthy of gift giving.  The theme is designed to be very inclusive - there is no topic or experience too small or too common.  Send 2-4 of your favorite poems according to the guidelines below.  A $30 contribution (waived for financial hardship or student status) gets you 3 books at the prepublication price (higher later.) Any questions can be forwarded to poetlaure...@gmail.com

 2025 The Everyday as Extraordinary Poetry Anthology FLYER.png

 Anthology X Submission Guidelines

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, JAN 6, AND FEB 3, 6:15 (Cookies and conversation) 6:30 - 8:30 (Open Mic program.): FIRST TUESDAY POETRY OPEN MIC at BENICIA LIBRARY, 150 East L St.  Come join a friendly, supportive group of poets to just listen or to read 2-3 rounds of poetry (max 3 mins each round) in the comfy chairs by the Main fireplace.  I have offered to continue to host this in January and February until the new PL takes over.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 10:30 (Brunch and conversation) 11-12 (Program discussion): TABLE TALK, sponsored by Benicia Literary Arts, INN BY THE BAY, 145 East D St., Benicia. This is a regularly recurring event on the second Thursday of the month where poets and writers of all types and levels of experience share info or opinions on a variety of topics in a mutually supportive environment. Meeting is free with the opportunity to buy food or beverage.  Hosted by Lois Requist and Debbie Weiss.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2-5 PM: BENICIA LITERARY ARTS HOLIDAY PARTY at Estey Real Estate, 216 First St., Benicia.  Free to members and open to non-members for $20 which gets you a 6 month membership as well as holiday goodies including food and drink.  Come connect with old friends, make new ones and see what BLA has been up to as well as plans for the New Year! 

Find out more on Benicialiteraryarts.org

MONDAYS, DECEMBER 1 AND 15, 6:30-8:30PM:  SHUT UP AND WRITE at Benicia Library, 150 East L St.  An opportunity for writers of all types to independently, privately and quietly write whatever they are working on, while having a loosely structured support system, Sponsored by BLA and hosted by Kyle Gerner.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 3-6PM:  EKPHRASTIC POETRY READING to the NorCal Regional Juried Art Show at the Solano Town Centre Gallery, #D-8, 1350 Travis Blvd, Fairfield.  Art may be viewed at the gallery or online at fvaa-arts.org  Send your poem in Times New Roman text, 12 point font, Word Doc, max 42 lines to Fairfieldpoetl...@gmail.com  Deadline is 12/10.

Questions can be sent to host of the event, Suzanne Bruce, at above email.

There may be other events in Benicia, Vallejo or Fairfield that I have not received notice about as we enter a crowded holiday season. So if you are aware of events that typically recur the second half of the month from my previous newsletters, be sure to check with the hosts that they have not been cancelled/rescheduled, or stay tuned to your usual emails from these hosts.

After January 1 if you would like to reach me, please use my personal email, kmon...@gmail.com. as I will be relinquishing this email to the next Poet Laureate.

Have a wonderful holiday season,

Kathy

Katrina Monroe

Benicia Poet Laureate