What a magical night: perfect weather, welcoming venue, enthusiastic audience, and a killer lineup of poets ready to bring it to actual humans after more than a year of Zoom readings. I really enjoyed my first in-person reading in more thna a year. I am deeply grateful to Rebecca Smolen for inviting me to be a part of this event, and to Igor for being such a gracious and entertaining emcee. Below you will find photos and videos from this very special post-pandemic return to live poetry in Portland.
Please support Niche Wine Bar, whose owner, Leah Jackson, provided a home for the reading series from 2015-2020: https://nichewinebar.com
Leah Mueller is an indie writer and spoken word performer from Bisbee, Arizona. Her most recent books, Misguided Behavior, Tales of Poor Life Choices (Czykmate Press), Death and Heartbreak (Weasel Press), and Cocktails at Denny’s (Alien Buddha) were released in 2019. Her latest chapbook is Land of Eternal Thirst. Leah’s work appears in Rattle, Midway Journal, Citron Review, The Spectacle, Miracle Monocle, Outlook Springs, Atticus Review, Your Impossible Voice, and elsewhere. Check her out online at www.leahmueller.org or www.twitter.com/leahsnapdragon.
NOTE: This month’s reading will take place on Zoom. Email christopherjluna@gmail.com by no later than 3 pm on August 12 to indicate your interest in participating. In the subject line, let us know if you are “Reading” or “Just Listening.” You will receive instructions for how to join the meeting.
Open mic readers are invited to share one poem for three minutes or less.
If you are willing to donate to support the series, please use Christopher Luna’s PayPal account (christopherjluna@gmail.com) or contact him to make other arrangements. Include a memo stating that the money is for Ghost Town Poetry. The suggested donation is five dollars.
Please support Niche Wine Bar, whose owner, Leah Jackson, provided a home for the reading series from 2015-2020: https://nichewinebar.com
Andrea Hollander moved to Portland, Oregon, in 2011, after living for more than three decades in the Arkansas Ozarks, where she was innkeeper of a bed & breakfast for 15 years and the Writer-in-Residence at Lyon College for 22. Hollander’s 5th full-length poetry collection was a finalist for the Best Book Award in Poetry from the American Book Fest; her 4th was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award; her 1st won the Nicholas Roerich Poetry Prize. Her poems and essays appear widely in anthologies, college textbooks, and literary journals, including a recent feature in The New York Times Magazine. Other honors include two Pushcart Prizes (in poetry and literary nonfiction), two fellowships in poetry from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the 2021 49th Parallel Award in Poetry. In 2017 she initiated the Ambassador Writing Seminars, which she conducts via Zoom. Her website is http://www.andreahollander.net.
NOTE: Due to circumstances beyond everyone’s control, this month’s reading will take place over Zoom. Email christopherjluna@gmail.com by no later than 3 pm on July 8 to indicate your interest in participating. In the subject line, let us know if you are “Reading” or “Just Listening.” You will receive instructions for how to join the meeting.
Open mic readers are invited to share one poem for three minutes or less.
If you are willing to donate to support the series, please use Christopher Luna’s PayPal account (christopherjluna@gmail.com) or contact him to make other arrangements. Include a memo stating that the money is for Ghost Town Poetry. The suggested donation is five dollars.
Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic Featuring Shawn Aveningo-Sanders
Hosted by Christopher Luna and Morgan Paige
7 pm Thursday, June On Zoom
$5 Suggested donation
LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY, PRO-SCIENCE, ANTI-FASCIST, ALL AGES, AND UNCENSORED SINCE 2004
Please support Niche Wine Bar, whose owner, Leah Jackson, provided a home for the reading series from 2015-2020: https://nichewinebar.com
Shawn Aveningo-Sanders grew up in Missouri and after a bit of globetrotting finally landed in Portland, Oregon. Her recent chapbook, What She Was Wearing, tells her #metoo story that took 30 years to reveal. Shawn’s work has appeared worldwide in over 150 literary journals and anthologies, including Calyx, Amsterdam Quarterly, American Journal of Poetry, Timberline Review and Poets Reading the News. She is a Pushcart nominee, Best of the Net nominee, and co-founder of The Poetry Box press, as well as managing editor for The Poeming Pigeon. Shawn is a proud mother of three and shares the creative life with her husband, Robert.
NOTE: Due to circumstances beyond everyone’s control, this month’s reading will take place over Zoom. Email christopherjluna@gmail.com by no later than 3 pm on June 10 to indicate your interest in participating. In the subject line, let us know if you are “Reading” or “Just Listening.” You will receive instructions for how to join the meeting.
Open mic readers are invited to share one poem for three minutes or less.
If you are willing to donate to support the series, please use Christopher Luna’s PayPal account (christopherjluna@gmail.com) or contact him to make other arrangements. Include a memo stating that the money is for Ghost Town Poetry. The suggested donation is five dollars.
Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic Featuring Micah Fletcher
AKA Kool Chief Rocker
Hosted by Christopher Luna and Morgan Paige
7 pm Thursday, May 13 On Zoom
$5 Suggested donation
LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY, PRO-SCIENCE, ANTI-FASCIST, ALL AGES, AND UNCENSORED SINCE 2004
Please support Niche Wine Bar, whose owner, Leah Jackson, has provided a home for the reading series since 2015: https://nichewinebar.com
Micah Fletcher, also known as Kool Chief Rocker, or Rocker for short, is a nationally-recognized poet and spoken word artist who took first place in Portland Oregon’s citywide youth poetry competition Verselandia in 2013.
Micah’s style is hard hitting, vulnerable and razor sharp often moving listeners to tears with his deep self-reflection and critical social commentary
His latest project, released alongside his mentor Mic Crenshaw, Brink Of Distinction, is available on iTunes and all streaming platforms for your viewing and purchasing pleasure.
NOTE: Due to circumstances beyond everyone’s control, this month’s reading will take place over Zoom. Email christopherjluna@gmail.com by no later than 3 pm on May 13 to indicate your interest in participating. In the subject line, let us know if you are “Reading” or “Just Listening.” You will receive instructions for how to join the meeting. Open mic readers are invited to share one poem for three minutes or less.
Please support Niche Wine Bar, whose owner, Leah Jackson, has provided a home for the reading series since 2015: https://nichewinebar.com
Eileen Davis Elliott
Eileen Davis Elliott is a poet and visual artist from Vancouver, WA where she retired from a career in mental health. She has just released Pobrecitos, a collaborative work written by Eileen Davis Elliott and illustrated by Lily Engblom-Stryker and Ava Town, students from Vancouver School of Arts and Academics who shared and expanded the messages of the written work focusing on the marginalized from all over the world. Travelogue, poetry, documentation of the world we live in and the people we do not always notice. Pobrecitos (Spanish for “the poor ones”) is a love story to all we meet on our path. This is Elliott’s third book, available through Amazon, Bookbaby store, and her website, Eileendaviselliott.com. Earlier books include Prodigal Cowgirl, and Miles of Pies, part family narrative and part history of a way of Midwestern life. Both of these books are available through the author’s website.
She is working on two novels and another collection of poems, as well as an invitational anthology tentatively titled Unfinished Business. Elliott has also recently completed a series of “transformative collages,” wherein she uses earlier “failed” artwork to “paint through to resolution” self- questions which came up during the time of enforced isolation. She keeps a close eye on the hummingbird feeders as well.
NOTE: Due to circumstances beyond everyone’s control, this month’s reading will take place over Zoom. Email christopherjluna@gmail.com by no later than 3 pm on April 8 to indicate your interest in participating. In the subject line, let us know if you are “Reading” or “Just Listening.” You will receive instructions for how to join the meeting. Open mic readers are invited to share one poem for three minutes or less.
If you are willing to donate to support the series, please use Christopher Luna’s PayPal account (christopherjluna@gmail.com) or contact him to make other arrangements. Include a memo stating that the money is for Ghost Town Poetry. The suggested donation is five dollars.
Join us on the second and fourth Monday of every month for The Work.
MONDAY NIGHT EDITION
The Monday Night Edition of The Work takes place from 6-8:30 pm on the second and fourth Monday of each month, unless otherwise noted. These workshops will take place on Zoom until it is safe to do so again in person.
Upcoming Monday night workshops will take place on April 12 & 26, May 10 & 24, June 14 & 28, July 12, August 9 & 23. There will be no workshop on July 26.
The Work is a drop-in poetry writing workshop for beginners as well as more experienced writers. Poetry encourages empathy and compassion, and sparks the shifts in consciousness which can lead to healing, personal growth, and an interest in fighting for progressive social change.
We will read and discuss poetry, write several new poems, and give each writer feedback on at least one of the drafts composed during the workshop.
The cost for the workshop is a suggested donation of $20 to Christopher Luna’s PayPal account: christopherjluna@gmail.com“
Suggested” means that we would like for you to join us regardless of whether or not you can afford it right now. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Bring a poem to share as a way of saying hello.
Please email Christopher Luna at christopherjluna@gmail.com by midnight the night before each workshop to RSVP if you would like to participate. Also, please share this event with others who might be interested.
Collage by Christopher Luna
SATURDAY NIGHT EDITION
The Work also takes place from 11:30 am – 2:00 pm on the second Saturday of every month, unless otherwise noted. Upcoming Saturday afternoon workshops will take place on April 10, May 8, June 12, July 10, and August 14.
These workshops will take place on Zoom until it is safe to do so again in person.
Christopher Luna encourages you to support Niche Wine Bar, which has provided a home for his poetry and memoir workshops, Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic, and other events for many years. Niche is currently open for both dine-in and takeout service: https://nichewinebar.com
If you are looking for writing coaching, editing/manuscript review, or information about poetry and memoir classes, send Christopher an email via printedmattervancouver@gmail.com.
Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic Hosted by Christopher Luna and Morgan Paige Featuring Morgan Paige
7 pm Thursday, March 11 On Zoom
$5 Suggested donation
LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY, PRO-SCIENCE, ANTI-FASCIST, ALL AGES, AND UNCENSORED SINCE 2004
Please support Niche Wine Bar, whose owner, Leah Jackson, has provided a home for the reading series since 2015: https://nichewinebar.com
Morgan Paige is a poet, visual artist and entrepreneur residing in Kalama, WA. Her first poetry chapbook and poetry album, Lick the Psychic, was released October 2019 by Lightship Press and recorded by Shady Pines Media. It takes you on a playful, chanting ride, exploring themes of femininity, psychedelia and the life/death/life cycle. Get your copy at: morganpaigepoetry.com
In her spare time, you can find her performing at the local open mic, experimenting with various art forms, and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest forests with her black lab, Hoagie. Find her on Facebook and Instagram at @MorganPaigePoetry
Photo by Callie of Shady Pines Media
NOTE: Due to circumstances beyond everyone’s control, this month’s reading will take place over Zoom. Email christopherjluna@gmail.com by no later than 3 pm on March 11 to indicate your interest in participating. In the subject line, let us know if you are “Reading” or “Just Listening.” You will receive instructions for how to join the meeting. Open mic readers are invited to share one poem for three minutes or less.
If you are willing to donate to support the series, please use Christopher Luna’s PayPal account (christopherjluna@gmail.com) or contact him to make other arrangements. Include a memo stating that the money is for Ghost Town Poetry. The suggested donation is five dollars.
Please support Niche Wine Bar, whose owner, Leah Jackson, has provided a home for the reading series since 2015: https://nichewinebar.com
Michael Dylan Welch served two years as poet laureate of Redmond, Washington, where he is also president of the Redmond Association of Spokenword, director of the Poets in the Park Festival, and curator (since 2006) of SoulFood Poetry Night. He has published dozens of books, most recently Dance into the World, and his poetry has appeared in hundreds of journals and anthologies in more than 20 languages. Michael was keynote speaker for the 2013 Haiku International Association conference in Tokyo, is cofounder of the biennial Haiku North America conference (1991), the American Haiku Archives (1996), and the Seabeck Haiku Getaway (2008). He also founded the Tanka Society of America (2000) and National Haiku Writing Month (2010), the latter held every February, the shortest month for the shortest genre of poetry (learn more at http://www.nahaiwrimo.com). His personal website, devoted mostly to poetry (not just haiku), including hundreds of essays and reviews, is www.graceguts.com. Lately, Michael has been traveling the world, via Zoom, giving poetry readings, workshops, and presentations in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, India, England, Canada, and around the United States—a silver lining amid our pandemic lockdown.
NOTE: Due to circumstances beyond everyone’s control, this month’s reading will take place over Zoom. Email christopherjluna@gmail.com by no later than 3 pm on February 11 to indicate your interest in participating. In the subject line, let us know if you are “Reading” or “Just Listening.” You will receive instructions for how to join the meeting. Open mic readers are invited to share one poem for three minutes or less.
If you are willing to donate to support the series, please use Christopher Luna’s PayPal account (christopherjluna@gmail.com) or contact him to make other arrangements. Include a memo stating that the money is for Ghost Town Poetry. The suggested donation is five dollars.
Printed Matter Vancouver is proud to present Rime of the Angry Metalhead, the debut novel by Jason Luna.
Long Island, 1988. Mikey Pellegrino and his nihilistic metalhead friends, The Ridge Boys, are thirsty for revenge against the classmate they deem responsible for the car crash that took their best friend’s life on New Year’s Eve. The teens construct a shrine at their hangout spot in the woods in honor of their fallen friend, Cliff, whose nickname resulted from the young man’s striking resemblance to Cliff Burton, the heavy metal legend who was killed in a bus crash two years earlier. As “Angry Mike” steps into 1989 ready to settle the score for Cliffy’s untimely death, his confusion and rage lead him down a path of self-destruction that forces him to enter a residential rehab facility. There he meets Cheyenne, who surprises both with her peculiar method of romantic pursuit and the information she holds about the night Cliffy died, an insight that will forever change the way Mikey sees the event that took his friend away. Rime of the Angry Metalhead is Mikey’s tale of loss and love, metal and mayhem.
Inspired by his own experiences as a teenage metalhead on Eastern Long Island in the late 1980s, author Jason Luna uses the backdrop of the end of the Cold War and the suburban heavy metal subculture in order to tell the story of a cynical, chaotic young man whose worst enemy is himself.
Jason Luna is a high school English teacher and former Correctional Educator in New York City. He lives in the Hudson Valley, New York with his wife Mary. His debut novel Rime of the Angry Metalhead is available on Amazon through Printed Matter Vancouver.
Nuclear Holocaust, the Cold War and a looming sense of dread were a regular part of a teenager’s life in the 1980s. The sense of isolation, the crazy backwoods parties and most importantly the music we listened to were all reactions to the very real fear we felt. Rime of the Angry Metalhead will take you back to those dark, delicious times when parents, politicians and polite society were terrified of metal, and fun consisted of wild nights of drinking and smoking while jamming tunes on a beat-up boom box. If you were a metalhead in the 1980s or if want to know what it was like to be one during that unique and memorable era, give this book a read.
—Chris Pervelis, guitarist for Internal Bleeding and metalhead from Long Island
Luna’s nostalgic look at some of heavy metal’s golden years brought me back. I loved the mention of the Metallica concert and the girl in the Slayer shirt. The “soundtrack” had me racing to listen to songs and bands that I know so well and remember fondly. —Rick Ernst, director of Get Thrashed: the Story of Thrash Metal (2008)
Join us at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT for a virtual book launch event on Zoom featuring the author. RSVP to printedmattervancouver@gmail.com to receive a Zoom invitation to this event.
