Council for Wisconsin Writers

Supporting Wisconsin writers from 1964 to 2022

Carolyn Vargo

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End of Summer Poetry Activities

Cathryn Cofell with the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets sends the following reminder and update of Wisconsin poetry happenings.

The Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP) Fox Valley Poetry Series meets at Harmony Cafe in Appleton (233 E. College Ave) on the third Monday of most months.  Each evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with the featured reader(s), followed by an open mic open to anyone who wishes to read 1-2 poems.

Monday, August 19, 6:30 p.m. – Carolyn Vargo and Ed Werstein

 Carolyn Vargo is a Regional Vice President for WFOP, a substitute teacher in West Allis – West Milwaukee, a retired teacher from Milwaukee Public Schools, an organizer of readings at People’s Book Cooperative, teacher of the Urban Echo Poets at the Urban Ecology Center, a bird watcher and a grandmother.

Ed Werstein, Milwaukee, WI, spent 22 years in manufacturing and union activity before his muse awoke and dragged herself out of bed. His sympathies lie with poor and working people. He advocates for peace and against corporate power. His poetry has appeared in Verse Wisconsin, Blue Collar Review, Stoneboat, Mobius: the Journal of Social Change, and other publications.  His first book has just been accepted by Blue Collar Review.

ON DECK AT HARMONY – 2013 

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Sept 16          Karla Huston and Rusty McKenzie

Oct 21            The Electric Squirrels: Maryann Hurtt, Marilyn Windau, Georgia Ressmeyer

 Nov 18           Sharon Auberle and Rolf Olson                 

OTHER KEY HAPPENINGS 

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AUG 14 (WEDNESDAY) DICKINSON POETRY SERIES FEATURES RICHARD E. CARTER & CAROLYN KENNEY-CARTER: On the second Wednesday of every month the Dickinson Poetry Series features a reading by a local or regional poet followed by an open mic and reception. The public is welcome, and admission is free.  7:00 p.m. at the UUF, 10341 Highway 42 in Ephraim.  For more information visit www.uufdc.org or call 920.854.7559.

 AUG 27 (TUESDAY), APPLEBLOSSOM BOOKS, OSHKOSH FEATURES GEORGIA RESSMEYER:  The reading takes place at 6:30 pm at Apple Blossom Books, 200 E City Center, Oshkosh.   An open mic will follow where participants may read one or two of their own poems or poems by others that they love.   Twice a winner of grants from the Wisconsin Arts Board, Georgia has published fiction, numerous poems, and a poetry chapbook, Today I Threw My Watch Away (Finishing Line Press, 2010).  Come early and enjoy a meal or grab a cup of coffee at Caramel Crisp and Café whose inner doors connect with the bookstore.

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Lots of August WI Poetry News

Here from WFOP’s Cathryn Cofell is news in Wisconsin’s world of poetry for August:

The Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP) Fox Valley Poetry Series meets at Harmony Cafe in Appleton (233 E. College Ave) on the third Monday of most months.  Each evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with the featured reader(s), followed by an open mic open to anyone who wishes to read 1-2 poems.

Monday, August 19, 6:30 p.m. – Carolyn Vargo and Ed Werstein

Carolyn Vargo is a Regional Vice President for WFOP, a substitute teacher in West Allis – West Milwaukee, a retired teacher from Milwaukee Public Schools, an organizer of readings at People’s Book Cooperative, teacher of the Urban Echo Poets at the Urban Ecology Center, a bird watcher and a grandmother.

Ed Werstein, Milwaukee, WI, spent 22 years in manufacturing and union activity before his muse awoke and dragged herself out of bed. His sympathies lie with poor and working people. He advocates for peace and against corporate power. His poetry has appeared in Verse Wisconsin, Blue Collar Review, Stoneboat, Mobius: the Journal of Social Change, and some other publications.  His first book has just been accepted by Blue Collar Review.

ON DECK AT HARMONY – 2013 

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Sept 16          Karla Huston and Rusty McKenzie

Oct 21            The Electric Squirrels: Maryann Hurtt, Marilyn Windau, Georgia Ressmeyer

Nov 18           Sharon Auberle and Rolf Olson

OTHER KEY HAPPENINGS 

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AUG 14 (WEDNESDAY) DICKINSON POETRY SERIES FEATURES RICHARD E. CARTER & CAROLYN KENNEY-CARTER: On the second Wednesday of every month the Dickinson Poetry Series features a reading by a local or regional poet followed by an open mic and reception. The public is welcome, and admission is free.  7:00 p.m. at the UUF, 10341 Highway 42 in Ephraim.  For more information visit www.uufdc.org or call 920.854.7559.

 AUG 27 (TUESDAY), APPLEBLOSSOM BOOKS, OSHKOSH FEATURES GEORGIA RESSMEYER:  The reading takes place at 6:30 pm at Apple Blossom Books, 200 E City Center, Oshkosh.   An open mic will follow where participants may read one or two of their own poems or poems by others that they love.   Twice a winner of grants from the Wisconsin Arts Board, Georgia has published fiction, numerous poems, and a poetry chapbook, Today I Threw My Watch Away (Finishing Line Press, 2010).  Come early and enjoy a meal or grab a cup of coffee at Caramel Crisp and Café whose inner doors connect with the bookstore.

SEPT 8 (SUNDAY), COWFEATHER PRESS BOOK LAUNCH PARTY & READING FOR CATHRYN COFELL & MOISES VILLAVICENCIO BARRAS:  The event takes place at 3:00 pm at the Kangaroost, 313 Dodge Street, Kaukauna.   Moises will read from his new book Luz de Todos los Tiempos / Light of All Times, and Cathryn from her new book Sister Satellite.  Light refreshments, cash bar, music and books to buy and get signed!  Visit www.cowfeatherpress.org for more on both books or additional readings.

Cathryn Cofell, PR Coordinator for 

Sarah Gilbert, Poetry Reading Series Coordinator (and WFOP Regional VP)

 

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WFOP June News

Here’s June poetry news from Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP) PR Coordinator Cathryn Cofell and Poetry Reading Series Coordinator/WFOP Regional VP Sarah Gilbert:

The Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP) Fox Valley Poetry Series meets at Harmony Cafe in Appleton (233 E. College Ave) on the third Monday of most months.  Each evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with the featured reader(s), followed by an open mic open to anyone who wishes to read 1-2 poems.

Monday, June 17, 6:30 p.m. – Andrea Potos and Katrin Talbot

Andrea Potos is the author of four poetry collections, including We Lit the Lamps Ourselves (Salmon Poetry, Ireland), and Yaya’s Cloth (Iris Press).  Another collection from Salmon Poetry will be published in 2015.  She has received an Outstanding Achievement Award in Poetry from the Wisconsin Library Association, and the James Hearst Poetry Prize from the North American Review.  Her poems appear widely in print and online.  She lives in Madison with her husband, her teenage daughter and a cockapoo named Penny.  

Sample poem:

WOMEN POETS BEFORE ME

Some days I can almost hear

long skirts rustling–

the lanky one with the determined gait,

her cropped, autumn-hued hair shining,

the other with poppies in her hands,

white gown like drapery billowing into the other world

before she goes.

Not muses exactly–

reminders

of what survives–

creation’s flames that gutter,

flare.

Australian-born Katrin Talbot is a violist, photographer, and poet, who combines her love for music and words in the collection St. Cecilia’s Daze  from Parallel Press. Her poetry has appeared in a number of journals and anthologies and has been nominated for a Pushcart prize. Katrin was a finalist in 2009 for four national poetry prizes—one of which awarded enough prize money to fund a Dairy Queen run. Her photo essay of Schubert’s Winterreise was published as a coffee table book and CD by the University of Wisconsin Press.

ON DECK AT HARMONY – 2013 

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Jul 15           Carrie Shipers and Jim Pollock

Aug 19           Carolyn Vargo and Ed Werstein

Sept 19          Karla Huston and Rusty McKenzie

OTHER KEY HAPPENINGS 

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JUNE 12 (WEDNESDAY) DICKINSON POETRY SERIES FEATURES CYNTHIA OLIVER: On the second Wednesday of every month the Dickinson Poetry Series features a reading by a local or regional poet followed by an open mic and reception. The public is welcome, and admission is free.  7:00 p.m. at the UUF, 10341 Highway 42 in Ephraim.  For more information visit www.uufdc.org or call 920.854.7559.

JUNE 25 (TUES), APPLEBLOSSOM BOOKS, OSHKOSH FEATURES JANET LEAHY:  The reading takes place at 6:30 pm at Apple Blossom Books, 200 E City Center, Oshkosh.  Janet serves on the board of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets.  Her poems have been published in a variety of print and online journals and in anthologies.  Several of her poems have been featured on the website Your Daily Poem.  She has participated in ekphrastic poetry exhibitions in Oconomowoc and at Gallery Q in Stevens Point.  Her first collection of poetry was “The Storm, Poems of War, Iraq.” Poems in her most recent book “Not My Mother’s Classroom” are drawn from her experience teaching in Milwaukee.   An open mic will follow where participants may read one or two of their own poems or poems by others that they love.   Come early and enjoy a meal or grab a cup of coffee at Caramel Crisp and Café whose inner doors connect with the bookstore.

PENINSULA PULSE WRITING CONTEST & LIT/PHOTO ISSUE:   DEADLINE JUNE 28; SEE ATTACHED.   

THE MILL: A PLACE FOR WRITERS:   8-WEEK SUMMER WORKSHOPS BEGIN JUNE 3.  CHECK OUT THE FACEBOOK PAGE FOR DETAILS AT  https://www.facebook.com/TheMillAPlaceForWriters?fref=ts

Please visit the CWW website at www.wiswriters.org

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WFOP Events Listing

Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets’ Cathryn Cofell sends along this poetry events reminder:

Monday, May 20, 6:30 p.m. – Marilyn Potter and Laurel Mills!

The Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP) Fox Valley Poetry Series meets at Harmony Cafe in Appleton (233 E. College Ave) on the third Monday of most months.  Each evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with the featured reader(s), followed by an open mic open to anyone who wishes to read 1-2 poems.

Laurel Mills is the author of five award-winning collections of poems, including  Rumor of Hope, which won the Encircle Publications Chapbook Contest and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Chapbook Contest. Her work has been published in many places, including Ms. Magazine, Yankee, Calyx, Kalliope, and the anthologyBoomer Girls: Poems by Women from the Baby Boom Generation. She is senior lecturer emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley, where she taught English and edited the literary magazine Fox Cry Review.

Marilyn Potter’s recent chapbook is Ralph’s Pipes: Poems of Love and Loss. Her work has appeared in Fox Cry Review and Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar.  She is professor emeritus of counseling psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.  In addition to writing poetry, she enjoys painting watercolors.

ON DECK AT HARMONY – 2013 

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Jun 17          Andrea Potos and Katrin Talbot

Jul 15           Carrie Shipers and Jim Pollock

Aug 19           Carolyn Vargo and Ed Werstein                 

OTHER KEY HAPPENINGS 

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MAY 8 (WEDNESDAY) DICKINSON POETRY SERIES FEATURES MARY GRAY KAYE:  Kaye’s many years of diversified experience find a place in her writing. Her professional background includes newspaper reporting, public relations and corporate travel. Her creative life has produced ghostwritten memoirs, essays, magazines articles, poems and fiction. On the second Wednesday of every month the Dickinson Poetry Series features a reading by a local or regional poet followed by an open mic and reception. The public is welcome, and admission is free.  7:00 p.m. at the UUF, 10341 Highway 42 in Ephraim.  For more information visit www.uufdc.org or call 920.854.7559.

MAY 14 (TUESDAY), THE FOOT OF THE LAKE POETRY COLLECTIVE FEATURES BRENT GOODMAN & ADAM FELL:   7:00 p.m. at the Riverwalk Art Center in Fond du Lac.   Brent is the author of Far From Sudden and The Brother Swimming Beneath Me. He lives in Rhinelander, where he works as a creative professional and serves as an assistant editor for the online journal Anti.  Adam is the author of I Am Not a Pioneer (H_NGM_N Bks 2011), winner of the 2011 Posner Book Award from the WI Council of Writers. He is a graduate of UW-Madison & the Iowa Writers’ Workshop & teaches at Edgewood College in Madison, WI, where he also co-curates the Monsters of Poetry Reading Series.  Open mic to follow, refreshments served. The Foot of the Lake Poetry Collective holds literary events on the second Tuesday of the month, September through May, temporarily at the Riverwalk  Art Center, 33 W. 2nd Street, Fond du Lac.

MAY 28 (TUES), APPLEBLOSSOM BOOKS, OSHKOSH FEATURES MARY WEHNER:  The reading takes place at 6:30 pm at Apple Blossom Books, 200 E City Center, Oshkosh.  Mary Wehner is the author of …or the opposite, a letterpress chapbook by Red Hydra Press, which also published her broadside “The Chinese Painting” and “Broken Shells at Dusk,” a lithograph in collaboration with Cuban artist Pollyanna Fernández Fernández.  A founding member of Foot of the Lake Poetry Collective, Mary is active in the Windhover Center for the Arts programming and is a board member of the Council for Wisconsin Writers.  An open mic will follow where participants may read one or two of their own poems or poems by others that they love.   Come early and enjoy a meal or grab a cup of coffee at Caramel Crisp and Café whose inner doors connect with the bookstore.