3rd Thursday Newsletter Issue: 31 Date: August 17, 2023 Dear Reader, There are some exciting literary events happening over the next few weeks, so don’t miss out! I am most excited for the first Voices of Tacoma: Poet’s Corner event at the Hilltop Street Fair <https://g.co/kgs/XF3NDz> on Saturday, August 26. We’ll be there from 11am to 7pm, with activities centered around poetry and opportunities to meet local poets to talk to them about their work. Also, the August Gathering of Poets <https://www.beeugenebecreative.com/a-gathering-of-poets/upcoming-events> will be at Fern Hill Branch of the Tacoma Public Library on Tuesday, August 29, at 6:30pm. We look forward to seeing you there! ------------------------------ Join Blue Cactus Press <https://bluecactuspress.com/> as they host a special author’s event <https://fb.me/e/3FKTi70x7> with Robert Lashley <https://misterlashley.substack.com/> with Monique Franklin <https://www.verbaloasis.com/> and Jonah Barnett <https://stuffjonahmade.com/> at 7pm at Elliott Bay Book Company <https://www.elliottbaybook.com/>. Blue Cactus Press will also be at the Hilltop Street Fair on August 26, so make sure to stop by and peruse their offerings of books! ------------------------------ Don’t miss Robert Lashley in Conversation with Omar Willey <https://fb.me/e/31lUuENG8> at King’s Books, 7pm on August 31st. Lashley will be reading from his debut novel, I Never Dreamed You’d Leave In Summer <https://demersalpublishing.com/>. ------------------------------ Christina Vega <https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7097607958531895296?updateEntityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_feedUpdate%3A%28V2%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7097607958531895296%29>, Founder and Publisher of Blue Cactus Press, is releasing Vega <https://bluecactuspress.com/product/vega/>, their book about family, transformation, grief, dreams, and home. Pre-order your copy now and look for updates on launch events! ------------------------------ Tacoma Writes <https://www.instagram.com/tacomawrites/> will be meeting at Heritage Coffee & Plant House <https://www.facebook.com/theneighborhoodplantprojectllc/> on August 22nd, 6pm to 8pm. Check out their Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/p/CuBYyG8LpzV/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==> post and come build a community of Tacoma writers! ------------------------------ Parable Tacoma <https://www.parabletacoma.com/> and Blue Cactus Press <https://bluecactuspress.com/> have partnered to bring the Writer’s of Color Writing Club <https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct7Nd5xS8dp/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==> on the 2nd Friday of every month, from 6p to 8pm at Parable. ------------------------------ Write253 <https://www.write253.com/> has Open Shop Time each weekday, from 1pm to 5pm at the studio. Come by the shop and work on letterpress projects! No registration is required. Questions? Email michael@write253.com . ------------------------------ August 17, 2023 Chronicle of Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets - Part 4 I feel like it’s a good time to publicly (re)state the goal of this project: - To build on our local literary community's existing strengths (diversity, collaboration, grit, persistence) - Help guide poets/writers and create new paths to follow as they work towards reaching their true potential, whether they submit their work to the anthology or not - Amplify the #VoicesOfTacoma and celebrate the results Each of the four elements of the original Tacoma Artists Initiative Program application (monthly Gathering of Poets, four Autumn Poetry Workshops, opening for submissions, and the publication of the anthology) were designed to help achieve these goals. Additionally, new programs have been added to the project (Poet’s Corner, Studio Tours, and Arts at the Armory) which further supports these ambitions. Because there are so many opportunities to get involved in this project, and it’s hard even for me to keep track, I have outlined the lineup of events planned for the remainder of the year below. Saturday, Aug. 26: Poet’s Corner at Hilltop Street Fair (11:00a to 7:00p) Tuesday, Aug. 29: Gathering of Poets at Fernhill Library (6:30p to 7:30p) Wednesday, Sep. 20: Gathering of Poets at Swasey Library (6:30p to 7:30p) Tuesday, Sep. 26: Autumn Poetry Workshop at Moore Library (6:00p to 7:30p) Thursday, Oct. 5: Poet’s Corner at Kaleidoscope at Star Center (6:30p to 9:00p) Saturday, Oct. 14: Tacoma Studio Tours at Mad Hat Tea Co (11:00a to 5:00p) Tuesday, Oct. 17: Gathering of Poets at Wheelock Library (6:30p to 7:30p) Wednesday, Oct. 25: Autumn Poetry Workshop at Moore Library (6:00p to 7:30p) Saturday, Nov. 11: Poet’s Corner at Arts at the Armory (11:00a to 5:00p) Sunday, Nov. 12 Poet’s Corner at Arts at the Armory (11:00a to 5:00p) Wednesday, Nov. 15: Autumn Poetry Workshop at Moore Library (6:00p to 7:30p) Wednesday, Nov. 29: Gathering of Poets at TBD Library (6:30p to 7:30p) Wednesday, Dec. 13: Autumn Poetry Workshop at Moore Library (6:00p to 7:30p) Tuesday, Dec. 19: Gathering of Poets at TBD Library (6:30p to 7:30p) ------------------------------ For questions or media inquiries about the project, please contact agatheringofpoets@gmail.com. This project is partly funded by the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program. ------------------------------ If you liked this month’s newsletter, check out the others in the archive <https://sites.google.com/view/beeugenebecreative/newsletter-archive>. Please share this newsletter and, if you received it from a friend, visit my website <https://sites.google.com/view/beeugenebecreative/home> to learn more. <https://sites.google.com/view/beeugenebecreative/home> Copyright© 2023 by Burl E. Battersby All Rights Reserved Burl E. Battersby *Voices of Tacoma: A Gathering of Poets* A *Tacoma Arts Initiative Program *Project Be! Eugene Be! Creative <https://sites.google.com/view/beeugenebecreative/> (206) 406-8839 <http://voice.google.com/calls?a=nc,%2B12064068839> <http://voice.google.com/calls?a=nc,%2B12064068839>