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Poetry Flash Reading Series


Julia Vinograd

Zeitgeist Press poets honor Andy Clausen, Eli Coppola, David Lerner, Julia Vinograd

5 MAY 2024 — sunday

Poetry Flash presents a Zeitgeist Press reading honoring releases by their late authors: The Fabled Damned, by Andy Clausen; Make of Me Many Miracles, the collected chapbooks of Eli Coppola; A Bouquet of Nails, by David Lerner; and The Book of Jerusalem, by famed 'Bubble Lady' Julia Vinograd; Zeitgeist Press poets Deborah Fruchey, Richard Loranger, Anita May, Paul Corman Roberts, Jan Steckel, and David West, Zeitgeist publisher Bruce Isaacson and Poetry Flash host the event, Art House Gallery & Cultural Center, 2905 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, two blocks north of Ashby BART, refreshments, free, 3:00 pm PDT (poetryflash.org).


Thank you for continuing to support Poetry Flash and our reading series.
Featured books for this reading will be available for signing at the event. The video of this event will be posted on the Poetry Flash YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/channel/UClwdR-uPFNz7XxbBbLcnoEA.

MORE ABOUT THE READERS

Paul Corman-Roberts's recent book is a collection of independently-published experimental poems, Exquisite Zombie OWLS of the Heights. His previous collection is a graphic poetry chapbook, The Sincere, with illustrator Ray Swaney, from Libran Apocalypse Books. He is the author of Bone Moon Palace, Black Lawrence Press, a CLMP Firecracker nominated full-length poetry collection. He is a founder and organizer of the Beast Crawl Lit Festival in Oakland, California, and has taught workshops for the San Francisco Creative Writing Institute. He sometimes fills in as a drummer for the U.S. Ghostal Service, The Jennifer Blowdryer Band, and the Poznansky Sisters.

Deborah L. Fruchey is the author of five books: two comedy romance novels, Armadillo, poems, one self-help manual for the mentally ill, and a flash fiction collection, Priestess of Secrets. Connie Post says of Fuchey's book Three Kinds of Dark, "The poems in this collection have verve, have a kick, and will leave your senses wanting more." Deborah Fruchey's first novel was chosen as a Best Book by the American Bookseller's Association. She was included in the Babarian anthology, Poets from Hell, and edited Our Lady of Telegraph Avenue, a tribute anthology about the late poet Julia Vinograd. Fruchey was part of the Above Paradise and Café Babar scene. She is never going to get used to going to poetry readings where Julia is not in the front row.

Bruce Isaacson's new book of poems is Anthems of the Damned, in which the poet shows how it feels "to be human in an age of the ghosted soul." His most recent previous collection is Leningrad to Las Vegas; his is new novel is Vegas Dirt, as he says, "These are human stories of the Great Recession—the salesman with two families, the mogul in misery, the erotic dancer who took the stage name America." Isaacson was the first Poet Laureate of Clark County, Nevada, which includes Las Vegas. He's publisher of Zeitgeist Press.

Richard Loranger is the author of Sudden Windows. Joan Gelfand says, "To my mind, the prose poem has never had a more adept practitioner. Echoes and enjambment, like the eddies themselves, drift and float throughout the text. Add a pinch of anger, a tablespoon of despair and a cup of rage and you have a book that, shot out like a rocket to space, shall endure through the ages. I'd like to read this book in heaven." His previous collections are Poems for Teeth, The Orange Book, and ten chapbooks. His work has been included in over one hundred publications and thirty anthologies, including Revival: Spoken Word from Lollapalooza, Poetry Flash, and Nomadic Journal. He is a multi-genre writer, performer, musician, and visual artist.

Anita May is the author of All of it, So Far. Marvin R. Hiemstra says, "Beautiful, often terrifying, based on both love and indifference. The honesty of Anita May's poetry is absolutely nonpareil: an amazing candor that quickly bonds with the reader. Reading All of it, So Far brings understanding, forgiveness, and a new appreciation of the rich variety in the human experience." She has self-published multiple chapbooks, and is included in the anthology Between the Fault Lines: 8 Bay Area Poets, from Sugartown Publishing. She lives for words and music in Northern California.

Jan Steckel's new book is her short story collection, Ghosts and Oceans. Thaisa Frank says, "…Jan Steckel has created her own magic realism, exploring fluid realms between rumor and myth. A woman becomes the color of a mango. An angel makes a hurried appearance at the hour of death. The sea is alternatively seductive and dangerous. The language is so musical; you can hear the book." Jan Steckel's latest poetry book is Like Flesh Covers Bone; previous books include The Horizontal Poet, Lambda Literary Best Bisexual Book Award-winner, her fiction chapbook Mixing Tracks, and her poetry chapbook The Underwater Hospital. She lives in Oakland, California.

David West is the author of Evil Spirits and Their Secretaries. He is a poet of humor, insight, and power. This book was all written during the era of the Café Babar readings in San Francisco in the 1980s and early-1990s. Here is an excerpt from his book: "The new blues are gray / There's no money in pain / I feel very little / They just bill me."




Daily Listings

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19 AUGUST 2026 — wednesday

20 AUGUST 2026 — thursday

  • Skylight Books, 2220 Arts + Archives, LA Review of Books, and Little, Brown and Company present celebrate the 30th anniversary of David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest, with a conversation about its publication with David L. Ulin and Bonnie Nadell, with readings of favorite passages by Allie Rowbottom, Ben H. Winters, Ivy Pochoda, and Kelly McEvers, at 2220 Arts + Archives, 2220 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, free, 7:00 pm (RSVP requested: skylightbooks.com/event/2026-08-20/2220-arts-celebrating-infinite-jest-david-foster-wallace-30)
  • Green Apple Books presents Chang-Rae Lee, Pulitzer Prize finalist, celebrating his new novel, A Tender Age, with R.O. Kwon, National Book Critics Circle award finalist, Green Apple Books on the Park 9th Avenue, 1231 9th Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 pm (RSVP requested: greenapplebooks.com/event/2026-08-20/9th-ave-chang-rae-lee-ro-kwon)
  • Skylight Books presents the Rabbit Hole Reading Club, a nonfiction book club focusing on political, current events, and history, meets every third Thursday of the month, no sign up required, book subscription available, Skylight Books, 1818 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, free, 7:30 pm-9:00 pm (skylightbooks.com/rhrc)

21 AUGUST 2026 — friday

22 AUGUST 2026 — saturday

  • Counterculture Museum presents Steve Edington, longtime member of the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Committee, and Cathy Cassady, daughter of Neal and Carolyn Cassady, discussing the unique friendship between Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady, Counterculture Museum, 1485 Haight Street, San Francisco, $8-$10, free for members, 6:00 pm (Tickets available: counterculturemuseum.org/events/steve-edington-cathy-cassady)
  • Vroman's Bookstore presents Jaime Parker Stickle discussing and signing her new novel Take Hart: A Thriller (Corey in Los Angeles #2), Vroman's Bookstore, 695 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, free, 4:00 pm (vromansbookstore.com/event/2026-08-22/jaime-parker-stickle)
  • Poetry in the Garden presents a poetry reading by Maxine Chernoff, Paul Hoover, Lucille Lang Day, and Carl Landauer, in the backyard at 1431 Spruce Street, Berkeley, 3:00 pm
  • Berkeley Poetry Festival presents "Poetry Takes Root," a free community fundraiser, the celebration features poetry readings by Natasha Dennerstein, Jennifer Hasegawa, and James Cagney, along with music, dance, refreshments, community prizes, and opportunities to support Berkeley Poetry Festival; funds raised will help the organization expand its programs, partnerships, and opportunities for poets and audiences; Donkey & Goat Winery, 1340 Fifth Street, Berkeley, 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm, free/donations encouraged (For information and accessibility inquiries, email: theberkeleypoetryfestival@gmail.com, or visit www.berkeleypoetryfestival.com)
  • Mrs. Dalloway's Bookstore presents Lexie Sharabianlou celebrating her new novel, The Blue Moon Cafe & 24-Hour Occult Emporium, in conversation with Maggie Tokuda-Hall, book signing to follow, Mrs. Dalloway's Bookstore, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:00 pm-8:30 pm (RSVP requested: mrsdalloways.com/event/2026-08-22/lexie-sharabianlous-blue-moon-cafe-24-hour-occult-emporium)

23 AUGUST 2026 — sunday

  • Vroman's Bookstore presents Local Author Day, introducing Joe Belk with A Fan's Calendar: Musings from a Lifetime of Enjoying Music, Film, and More, Dan Joyce with his autobiographical graphic novel Have You Taken Your Meds? Part 1, and Jason Mahoney with his novel Song of a Dromedary, book signing to follow, Vroman's Bookstore, 695 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, free, 4:00 pm (vromansbookstore.com/event/2026-08-23/local-author-day)

24 AUGUST 2026 — monday

  • Skylight Books presents Sarah Mesle, professor of writing at the University of Southern California, celebrating her new book Tangled: Seven Iconic Moments in White Women's Hair and What They Tell Us About Power, Pleasure, and Complicity, in conversation with Karen Tongson, professor of Contemporary Gender Studies at the University of Southern California, Skylight Books, 1818 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, free, 7:00 pm (RSVP requested: skylightbooks.com/event/2026-08-24/sarah-mesle-w-karen-tongson-tangled)

25 AUGUST 2026 — tuesday

26 AUGUST 2026 — wednesday

27 AUGUST 2026 — thursday

  • Hollie Hardy presents a casual, generative workshop; Participating writers gather online to work on new poems or stories, prompts provided, monthly theme provided but not required, all levels and genres welcome, online, $25, 5:30 pm-7:00 pm (Sign up: holliehardy.com/shop/p/write-in-8-27-26)
  • Green Apple Books, Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, and SFFILM present an evening with Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor and UC Berkeley professor emeritus, featuring a screening of the film The Last Class, directed by Elliot Kirschner, with an onstage conversation with Heather Kinlaw Lofthouse, Inequality Media, on Robert Reich's memoir Coming Up Short, JCC San Francisco, 3200 California Street, San Francisco, $30-$50 ticket includes paperback copy of his memoir, no book signing, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm (Tickets available: www.jccsf.org/event/robert-reich-the-last-class)
  • Green Apple Books presents a reading with poets Valerie Hsiung, Jennifer S. Cheng, Jennifer Elise Foerster, and Samantha Giles Foerster, to celebrate the release of Valerie Hsuing's new collection, The pedestrian, Green Apple Books on the Park 9th Avenue, 1231 9th Avenue, San Francisco, also available to livestream on YouTube, free, 7:00 pm (RSVP requested, YouTube link available: greenapplebooks.com/event/2026-08-27/9th-ave-valerie-hsiung-jennifer-s-cheng-jennifer-elise-foerster-and-samantha-giles)

28 AUGUST 2026 — friday

  • An Evening of Poetry & Piano featuring Forrest Gander, Pulitzer Prize-winner, reading his work with live improvisation by acclaimed pianist Awadagin Pratt on a Steinway Model B, joining the collaboration by "electric screen" will be Booker Prize-winner Mr. Shehan Karunatilaka, presented by Homekey, 116 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, arrive early, wine tasting with Sommelier James Mobbley and light refreshments will start at 5:30 pm, the program begins promptly, free, 6:00 pm-7:30 pm (Free tickets at Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/poetry-piano-an-evening-with-forrest-gander-and-awadagin-pratt-tickets-1993637944760)
  • Mechanics' Institute Library presents "How to Find Your Next Read," a class taught by a librarian on the tricks and techniques used to discover and recommend books, including how to use library resources to find new books and authors, use advanced search techniques to use in library catalogs, and how to discover community-based resources online to find like-minded readers, Library Third Floor Classrooms, Mechanics' Institute, 57 Post Street, San Francisco, $5, free for members, 3:00 pm-4:00 pm (www.milibrary.org/events/35874)
  • Green Apple Books, Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network, and San Francisco Public Library present a reading by Cindy Pham, designer, in conversation with Aimee Phan, The Lost Queen, YA author and National Endowment for the Arts fellow, Green Apple Books on the Park 9th Avenue, 1231 9th Avenue, San Francisco, free, donations welcome, 7:00 pm (RSVP requested: greenapplebooks.com/event/2026-08-28/9th-ave-dvan-presents-cindy-pham-aimee-phan)
  • Book Soup, Gabrielle Tana, and Katerina Tana present Dan Tana's new memoir Everybody Came to Tana's: An American Dream Come True, book signing to follow, signed copies also available to order prior to event, Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, free, 7:00 pm (booksoup.com/event/2026-08-28/gabrielle-tana-katarina-tana)
  • Vroman's Bookstore presents Yance Wyatt discussing and signing his new novel, The Watersmith, Vroman's Bookstore, 695 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, free, 7:00 pm (vromansbookstore.com/event/2026-08-28/yance-wyatt-discusses)

29 AUGUST 2026 — saturday

30 AUGUST 2026 — sunday

31 AUGUST 2026 — monday

  • Mrs. Dalloway's Bookstore presents Chloe Benjamin, winner of the Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award, celebrating her new novel, Under Story, in conversation with Kirsten Chen, book signing to follow, Mrs. Dalloway's Bookstore, 2904 College Avenue, Berkeley, free, pre-event reception at 6:15 pm, event 7:00 pm (RSVP requested: mrsdalloways.com/event/2026-08-31/chloe-benjamins-under-story-launch-event)
  • Skylight Books presents Adam O. Davis, winner of the Kathryn A. Morton Poetry Prize and host of the podcast Poetry Goes to the Movies, celebrating his new collection Pyrrhic Symphony, winner of the Raz/Shumaker Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Poetry, in conversation with Katie Ford, finalist for the LA Times Book Prize and the Rilke Prize, Skylight Books, 1818 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, free, 7:00 pm (RSVP requested: skylightbooks.com/event/2026-08-31/adam-o-davis-w-katie-ford-pyrrich-symphony)
  • Vroman's Bookstore presents journalist Sam Quinones discussing and signing his new photojournalism book, Our Lady of the Angels: The Virgin of Guadalupe on the Walls of Los Angeles, Vroman's Bookstore, 695 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, free, 7:00 pm (vromansbookstore.com/event/2026-08-31/sam-quinones)

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