January 2020 Poetry Missive

January 2020 Poetry Missive, written by CChristy White, released Jan 2, 2020.

Happy New Decade and Happy Birthday to me this month!

Do NOT make resolutions! Instead, make choices. And I hope your choices will be to attend poetry readings, to write poems, to read poems, to share poems with your besties. We poets love our alone time, but the time spent with others can be inspiring and full of laughter. I hope to see you soon and to hear a poem or two.

There is a lot going on this month and I peruse where I know to go, but don't always find your event until too late. So if you contact me, I try to bring it to the Missive. And if I miss out, then there's always Facebook! I know, so passé, but I do find it useful and manage to connect with so much! In seeking out what's out there, I found this: https://poetry.openmikes.org/calendar/AZ/2020/1 which is the January calendar and there are goodies I didn't know about! Imagine that! Well, be sure to check before you go, you know…while this calendar may be a resource, I can't say if it is reliable or if poetry is welcomed.

I'm giving an extra month shout out to Desert Nights, Rising Stars writers' conference (February 21-22) and literary fair (February 22). To find out more about these concurrent events, visit here: https://piper.asu.edu/conference and maybe I'll see you there!

DO peruse THE BASEMENT! AND if you would be so kind as to post your event, or link it, on the Arizona State Poetry Society's Facebook page, we can continue our collaboration!

Metaphors be with you! Christy White eddress: cchristyw@gmail.com for Arizona State Poetry Society (look for us on Facebook) and our website: http://azpoetry.webs.com/ AZPoetryorg@gmail.com MA Creative Writing/Poetry, Wilkes University (dreams do come true!)

PROPOSITOS-DE-AÑO-NUEVO[1]JanuaryPROPOSITOS-DE-AÑO-NUEVO[1] EVENTS All events are FREE unless otherwise noted!! Check to see that the event has not been postponed, moved, delayed, or changed because things change.

PLEASE CHECK to make sure these events are still on!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3 PHOENIX, Underground Poetry Slam/First Friday @ Roosevelt Row CDC, 417 E. Roosevelt St., 9 - 12 pm. Money, cheers, jeers…and lots of energy! To compete you must send an email to lawngnomepublishing@gmail.com with "UNDERGROUND" in the subject line. For more info, visit Facebook.

TEMPE, Friday Poetry featuring Roxanne Doty @ Changing Hands Tempe, 6428 S. McClintock Dr., 7 pm. Local fiction writer and poet, Roxanne Doty, will read selections of her poetry. There will be an open reading following the feature. Readers are limited to two pages (double spaced).

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4 PEORIA, Sun Cities Area Poetry Society @ Palm Brook Country Club, 9350 West Greenway Dr, Sun City, 9 - 11 am. All poets and poetry lovers welcome. This is a branch of the Arizona State Poetry Society. A 1st Saturday event!

PHOENIX, Open Mic @ Black Cat Coffee House, 4730 E. Indian School Rd., sign up at 6, open mic from 7 - 9:30 pm. Any spoken word welcome! Hosted by Shannon Gardner. A 1st Saturday event. https://www.facebook.com/events/2855637684449700/?event_time_id=2855637687783033

SEDONA, Sedona Poetry Slam @ Mary D. Fisher Theatre, 2030 W. State Route 89A, Ste. A3, 7:30 pm, $12. Features include known award-winning slammers. Hosted by Christopher Fox Graham, this is the 11th year of competitive spoken word in Sedona. Contact foxthepoet@yahoo.com to sign up for the slam following the reading. THIS MIGHT BE DARK FOR DECEMBER…CALL BEFORE YOU GO!

SHOW LOW, White Mountains Poetry Circle @ Show Low Public Library, 181 N. 9th St., 4 pm. A gathering of poets to share poems, resources and friendship. For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1973789089394509/ A 1st Saturday event.

MONDAYS, JANUARY 6, 13, 20, 27 FLAGSTAFF, Narrow Chimney Reading Series @ Uptown Pubhouse, 114 N. Leroux St., 7 pm. Featuring an accomplished MFA student writer from NAU's English Department and a regional writer with at least one book published. For more info: http://www.uptownpubhouse.net/n/events/

PHOENIX, Firebird Open Mic @ ThirdSpace, 1028 Grand Ave., sign up 5-7, mic starts at 7 pm. An open mic for poets, musicians, storytellers, singers, and performers of all types hosted by Phx Firebird Events. For more info, visit on Facebook

SEDONA, Voices Be Heard @ Sedona Public Library, Quiet Study Room, 3250 White Bear Rd, 4 pm. Young poets 13 - 19 are invited to come and share their works, but the group is open to older poets, too! CHECK WITH THE LIBRARY!

TUESDAYS, JANUARY 7, 14, 21, 28 CHANDLER, Weekly Poetry Workshop @ Chandler Community Center, 125 E. Commonwealth Ave. Room 101, 6 pm. Hosted by Connect & Heal. Share your work, discuss poetry, write from prompts. FLAGSTAFF, Juniper House Readings @ Uptown Pubhouse, 114 N. Leroux St., 6:30 pm. A weekly local literary event that features a unique reader and an open mic for any style. For more info: http://uptownpubhouse.net/n/events/

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7 PHOENIX, Pocket Thoughts Poetry Night @ Fiddler's Dream Coffeehouse, 1702 E. Glendale Ave., 7:30pm, $8 at the door (15% of all ticket sales will be donated to the RAICEStexas.org. Featured poets are Atlas St. Cloud, Thomas Cooper and Joshua Lilliard. Fiddler's Dream has had a long tradition of premier musicians and now is bringing poets to their intimate venue. A 1st Tuesday event.

WEDNESDAYS, JANUARY 8, 15, 22, 29 FLAGSTAFF, Flagslam @ Firecreek Coffee Company, 22 E. Route 66, 7:30 pm. Hosted by Flagstaff Poetry Slam & Firecreek. Check this out before you go! You may be able to find them on Facebook.

PHOENIX, Poetic Soul Phoenix @ Club Dwntwn, 702 N. Central Ave., 7 - 11pm, tickets: $8 on Bravo, $10 at the door, $12 on credit cards. Bring in 2020 with a huge dose of poetry, spoken word performance, vocalists, comedians, storytellers and more! Starting today, this will be an every Wednesday event! For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/870648273370101/

TUCSON, Skybar Open Mic @ Skybar, 536 N. 4th Ave., 7 - 12 pm, sign ups start at 5:30 pm, or call 520.622.4300. Poetry, music, comedy, storytelling, experimental performance and once in a while local or touring artists. Sets are from 5 - 15 minutes depending on how many have signed up. Check this before you go!

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8 GLENDALE, Downtown Glendale Poetry Slam @ A Shot of Java (in the alley!), 7003 N. 58th Ave., 7 pm. 15 poets compete in three rounds of performance poetry judged by five random audience members! Hosted by Aaron Hopkins-Johnson and host of Phoenix Poetry Slam. To participate you must email gnome.chomsky@lawngnomepublishing.com with GLENDALE in the subject line. https://www.facebook.com/events/422942658395443/

THURSDAYS, JANUARY 9, 16, 23, 30 PHOENIX, Phoenix Poetry Slam @ The Lost Leaf, 914 N. 5th St., 7 - 9 pm. Come cheer on 15 poets as they compete over 3 grueling rounds judged by 5 members of the audience! For more information, visit Facebook or Poets interested in competing must send an email to gnome.chomsky@lawngnomepublishing.com with "POETRY SLAM' in the subject line. We send you a confirmation email with the rules and expectations to help you compete.

PHOENIX, Open Mic @ Fatso's Pizza, E. Thunderbird Rd., 6-9 pm (sign in closes at 8 pm). Any spoken word welcome. An every Thursday event

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Open Mic & Art @ Clayote Studios, 8198 E. Spouse Dr. #2, 6:30 pm to close. Come read your poetry, sing your song, dance your dance, then make art while you listen to others in a wonderful studio setting. To listen is free, there is a charge for open painting & open pottery. For more information, https://www.clayotestudios.com/open-mic-night or call (928) 925-3772.

THURSDAYS, JANUARY 9, 23 AVONDALE, Aroma Mocha Open Mic Night @ Aroma Mocha Coffee AZ, 506 E. Western Ave., Ste. 103, 7 pm. Poets, storytellers, music, comedy, all are welcome to express yourself! Hosted by Dr. T. A 2nd & 4th Saturday event. https://www.facebook.com/events/846770779019787/?event_time_id=846770822353116

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 MESA, Wordplay Café Open Mic @ The Nile, 105 W. Main St., 7 pm. All spoken word welcome. For more information visit The Nile (formerly Volstaad). Or call them, they don't have much on Facebook to tell me what's what. This is a 2nd Thursday event.

TUCSON, Writers Read @ Brewd, 4960 N. Sabino Canyon Rd., 6-8 pm. An open mic for all writers wanting to share their work. Contact Elaine Powers for more info: iginspired@gmail.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 PHOENIX, Smoke it Into Existence Open Mic @ Just Blaze, 1001 E. Camelback Rd., 8 pm. Hosted by LaTosque and sponsored by Speaking Into Existence & Just Blaze Smoke Shop & Art Gallery. Sign up when you get there. This is a 2nd Friday open mic.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11 TUCSON, Tucson Poetry Society @ Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone, 10 am. Bring poetry to share for comments or just come to listen. All are welcome! Contact TucsonPoetrySociety@gmail.com for more information. A 2nd Saturday event.

MONDAY, JANUARY 13 SCOTTSDALE, Mustang Poets @ Scottsdale Mustang Library, 90th Street south of the hospital, 6 pm. Poetry discussion and bring 8 - 10 copies for gentle critique or just bring poetry to read. A lively and welcoming branch of the Arizona State Poetry Society. Christy White is your host. A 2nd Monday event!

TEMPE, Poetry Roundtable @ Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 S. McClintock Dr., 6:30-8:30 pm. Workshop one of your poems with a group of your peers. For more information: jedesign2004@yahoo.com A 2nd Monday event!

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14 PHOENIX, Creative Collaborative SLAM @ Fair Trade Café, 1020 N. 1st Ave., 7 - 9 pm. Limited Capacity! If you have participated in one of Arizona Masters of Poetry SLAMs before, you are eligible to register for this slam. Email social@arizonaofmasterspoetry.org with SLAM as the subject. Don’t forget your name! For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/879093685841007/

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15 PHOENIX, Desert Nights, Rising Stars Fellows Reading @ Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. 2nd Ave., 6 - 8 pm, FREE but please register. Sponsored by the Piper Writing Center. Come enjoy multiple genre readings by Sean Avery, Andrew Hudson, Rogelio Juarez, Natalie Lima, Susan Nguyen, Gionni Ponce, Joel Salcido, Willow Sanders, Judith Starkston & Fargo Tbakhi. For more info and to sign up: http://piper.asu.edu/conference/fellows/reading.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16 BISBEE, The Bisbee Normalization Project @ The Letson Studios, 24 Main St., 7 pm. Open mic with feature hosted by artist/poet Ken Boe. This is open to the public and will be livestreamed on Bisbeens N Rice Youtube. This is a 3rd Thursday event.

MESA, District 4 Open Mic @ Jarrod's Coffee & Tea, 154 W. Main St., 7:30 pm. Features followed by open mic. Call Jarrod's at 480.822.7146 to get the real scoop! This is a 3rd Thursday event!

PHOENIX, Monthly Open Mic: Arts, Letters & Culture Event @ Dog-Eared Pages Used Books, 16428 N. 32nd St. #111, 5 pm. Perform, read, dance, sing, tell stories while enjoying the featured artist. For more info and to confirm date, 602.283.5423. Now once a quarter. https://www.facebook.com/events/1446285645526122/

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17 TEMPE, The Organic Poetry Slam @ Unexpected, 734 W. Polk St., 7 pm. Building a community and shared experience of poetry to nurture local poets and encourage spoken word of all kinds. Bring poetry & friends! A 3rd Friday event.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18 PHOENIX, POC It To Me Open Mic Night @ Palabras Bookstore, 1738 E. McDowell Rd., 6 - 9 pm, donations accepted for participating performers. All POCs and their friends are invited to share poetry, stories, music with one rule only - No Hate Speech! Navajo tacos & more will be available from The REZ an urban eatery LLC. To get on the list, email a short description of yourself and what you would like to do to info@palabrasbookstore.com by January 16th!! This is a 3rd Saturday event and everyone is welcome. For more info: https://palabrasbookstore.indiecommerce.com/event/poc-it-me-open-mic-night

TEMPE, East Valley Poets @ Pyle Center, 655 E. Southern Ave., 9:30 am - 12 pm. There is usually a short workshop/presentation…writing poetry may be involved. Bring your poetry and rub shoulders with some of the friendliest poets in Tempe! A 3rd Saturday event!

TUCSON, Main Library Poetry Circle: Carolyn Forche @ Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave., 10:30 am. Led by UA Poetry Center docents, packets of poems will be provided.

MONDAY, JANUARY 20 PHOENIX, Vital Voices: Celebrating Toni Morrison @ 1333 E. Washington St., 6 - 8 pm, FREE but please register. Toni Morrison was a writer and poet whose works inspired and changed lives. Bring a poem passage, photo, personal story, or anything else that evokes memories of Toni. Sponsored by ASU Humanities Program & Black Troupe Theatre. For more info and to sign up: https://www.facebook.com/events/2247202908911314/

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23 ORO VALLEY, Oro Valley Poetry Circle: Roger McGough @ Oro Valley Library, 1305 W. Naranja Dr., 2 pm. Led by UA Poetry Center docents, packet of poems will be provided.

PRESCOTT, Open Reading @ The Peregrine Book Company, 219A N. Cortez, 5:30 pm. Open mic poetry. Monthly event. Host is Dan Seaman; for more info call the book store at 928.445.9000

SEDONA, Pumphouse Poetry & Prose Project @ Sedona Public Library, 5 - 6:30 pm. Featuring local poets reading from their work. Open to the public in the Si Birch Community Room. CHECK BEFORE YOU GO!

TUCSON, Li-Young Lee @ UA Poetry Center, 1508 E. Helen St., 7 pm. The Tom Sanders Memorial Reading proudly presents the poet, Li-Young Lee, who will read from his work. There will be a short Q&A and book signing after the reading. For more inf: https://poetry.arizona.edu/calendar/tom-sanders-memorial-reading-li-young-lee

YUMA, North End Coffeehouse Open Mic @ North End Coffeehouse, 202 S. 1st Ave., Ste. 203, 7 pm . Open mic for poetry, music, short prose, comedy, flash art … show Yuma what you got! For more info, northendyuma@gmail.com or 928.259.8356. This is a monthly event! Call the coffee shop to be sure it is still going! CALL!!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24 FLAGSTAFF, Open Mic Night @ Uptown Pubhouse, 114 N. Leroux St., 9 pm. Featuring music, spoken word, poetry, comedy, music…whatever! Every 4th Friday. For more info, contact Uptown Pubhouse.

TUCSON, Poetry Reading: Johnson & Wilner @ Antigone Bookstore, 411 N. 4th Ave., 6 pm. Julie Swarstad Johnson will read from her book Pennsylvania Furnace and Eleanor Wilner will read from her book Before Our Eyes. For more info: antigonebooks.com

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 MARICOPA, The All Arizona Poetry Slam Championship @ Honeycutt Coffee, 44400 Honeycutt Rd., #109, 5:30 pm - 9 pm. The 14-person duel is back and WORD is the rule! Hosted by Maricopa Arts Council's Slam Master, Bernard Schober, this veteran of the slam and author of 12 books will entertain all types of poets and poetry. Doors open at 5:15 pm, mix & mingle with a hat draw, competition begins at 6:30. For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/479111486059497/

MONDAY, JANUARY 27 PHOENIX, Write Here, Write Now: Fargo Tbakhi - Revolutionary Poetry @ Changing Hands Phoenix, 300 W. Camelback Rd., 6 - 7:30 pm, $8. Explore ways poetry can work against states and their violence by examining revolutionary poets which will be used as the basis for in-class writing exercises. For more info and to register: https://www.changinghands.com/event/january2020/write-here-write-now-fargo-tbakhi-revolutionary-poetry

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30 AJO, Open Mic @ Copper News Bookstore, 10 Pajaro, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Join poets in far southwest Arizona as local poets read from their work. Facilitated by Marie Reilly and hosted by a different local poet each month. For more information call 520.387.7688. Last Thursday of every month.

TUCSON, Rosa Alcala @ UA Poetry Center, 1508 E. Helen St., 7 pm. The Hannelore Quander-Rattee Works-in-Translation-Reading series is proud to present Rosa Alcala as the annual reader. There will be a short Q&A and book signing following the reading. For more info: https://poetry.arizona.edu/calendar/hannelore-quander-rattee-works-translation-reading-rosa-alcal%C3%A1

THE BASEMENT - c'mon down!

The Poetry Spot, curated by Rosemarie Dombrowski and Rashaad Thomas, is seeking your great poetry to publish in the The Arizona Republic. Deadline is JANUARY 20, 2020! To send your poem(s) for consideration, email phxpoetrysubmissions@gmail.com

National Federation of State Poetry Societies' website is a great place to learn about other state poetry societies and here's the link to find out about existing annual contests: http://www.nfsps.com/State%20Contests.htm Be sure to read the rules and guidelines carefully as some contests are open to members only!

Poets and Muses is a weekly podcast that chats with poets about their inspirations. Find out more about it at: https://poetsandmuses.com/. Sign up for the weekly Poets-and-Muses newsletter at: https://mailchi.mp/17795d5229aa/poetsandmuses_weekly_newsletter. Soundcloud: Poets and Muses (https://soundcloud.com/poetsandmuses) Instagram: poetsandmuses (https://www.instagram.com/poetsandmuses/) Twitter: ImogenArate (https://twitter.com/imogenarate)

Arizona Citizens for the Arts provides a platform for arts advocacy in government in the state. Want to know more or are you politically passionate about arts but don't have a place for all that energy? Visit http://azcitizensforthearts.org/ to learn more and see if this is an organization for you.

Submishmash Weekly a newsletter with humor, contests for writers of all genres, art opportunities and interesting reads. A weekly human-curated newsletter bringing news and opportunities in publishing and other creative industries to artists, filmmakers, and writers. To sign up, go to: https://submittable.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=29faa4e2bc171e46123a4867e&id=3cc7ac8d8a

Central Phoenix Writer's Workshop, a writer's critique group, for more info go to http://www.meetup.com/CentralPhoenixWritingWorkshop/

Phoenix Poetry Events Facebook Page…there are open mics, contests, slams, readings, and so much more! https://www.facebook.com/groups/phoenixpoetryslam/

Winning Writers website: http://winningwriters.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/d/8965D3E1CB2847F5/B90114854BB981B05281BC0AA5ABFD98

Wilkes University has a really great, low residency MA/MFA creative writing program. You can talk to me about it, or look it up and see if it just might be a fit for you. They focus on producing WORKING writers and if that's something that interests you, take a look! http://www.wilkes.edu They are on the East Coast in Pennsylvania and this is my alma mater.

Phoenix College on East Thomas in Phoenix has a creative writing program and offers AA and AAFA degrees. If you are looking to refine your writing or to start writing, this might be the place. To learn more visit: http://www.phoenixcollege.edu/

Tupelo Press supports poets and poetry events. Writing conferences are coming up! Take a look at what they do here: http://tupelopress.wordpress.com

Words Dance Publishing has free stuff, poetry, art and they might even publish one of your poems. Check it out at http://wordsdance.com/about-2/

Phoenix Center for the Arts is a great place to try out a new art form (to enhance your poetry, of course!) or maybe teach a workshop on an art form. Visit their website to find out more: http://phoenixcenterforthearts.org/

Poetry Playhouse - If you want to find out what's going on poetry-wise in Albuquerque, NM, send an email to Jules Nyquist at julesnyquist@gmail.com, she's the connection!

Poetry Out Loud fosters the next gen poets and literati. For more information (teachers are you paying attention?), visit http://www.azarts.gov/arts-learning/poetry-out-loud/

A Room of Her Own Foundation is the sponsor of some interesting writing projects and contests. To learn more, go here: http://aroomofherownfoundation.org/about/

Beatlick Press for writers who have something to say and where poets and poetry hit the road! http://www.beatlick.com/

Poets & Writers Magazine for great info about writing, interviews, contests, workshops and so very much more! http://www.pw.org/magazine

Poets.org is a great site for poetry and poetry information, and a daily poem in your ebox!

UA Poetry Center in Tucson always has a lot going! Website - http://poetry.arizona.edu/calendar-of-events

Virginia G. Piper Center for Writing in Tempe sponsors classes, workshops, readings and more. Website - https://piper.asu.edu/events\

At Rainbow Cake, January's special flavors would be dark chocolate and coffee, those pick-me-ups we all needed to start the day- or a new year. To me, their toasty-toasty flavors said that even if you only had a mere handful of beans and your life went up in flames, you could still create something wonderful. A little trial by fire could do you good. After all, if it worked so well with raw cacao and coffee beans, it could work for others, including me. ― Judith Fertig, The Cake Therapist