Archive for October 31, 2021

Stepping Down As The Host Of DiVerse Gaithersburg Poetry Reading

After four wonderful years of hosting poetry readings in Gaithersburg, I’ve decided it is time to step down in order to pursue other interests. I’m delighted that my good friend, the phenomenal poet Kristin Kowalski Ferragut will be taking over the reins of the DiVerse Gaithersburg Poetry Reading. Read on for more details, cross-posted from the DiVerse website:

Dear Poets and Community Friends,

I’ll give you the punchline first—the DiVerse Gaithersburg Poetry Reading is planning to re-start this winter on a new day and with a new host!  Got your attention?  Read on…

When the pandemic hit almost two years ago, never in my worst imaginings did I think that the DiVerse Gaithersburg poetry reading would be on pause for this long.  As I write this, the Montgomery County libraries are still not open on Sundays and the meeting room at the Quince Orchard Library has not re-opened for use either.  It is unclear whether the libraries will start operating on Sundays again, so with the help of Eve Burton, the librarian that we work with at Quince Orchard Library, we are moving the reading to 2nd Saturday afternoons beginning in January, exact time to be determined and information about any restrictions nearer to the date. I am grateful to Eve for all her work to make it possible for us to meet at the library.

And now for the really big news:

Like many people, I had plenty of time when things were shutdown to do some thinking about the work that I do and what I want moving forward. One of the things I realized is that after 50 plus years of organizing and community building of various kinds, I really want to be doing other things with my time.  Which led me to start thinking about finding someone to take over hosting DiVerse.  After some thought and talking it over with a few people (and thank you to those of you who helped me think it through!), I realized the choice was obvious and luckily the timing was right for her as well.  I am thrilled to announce that my good friend and amazing poet Kristin Kowalski Ferragut will be taking over as the host of the DiVerse Gaithersburg poetry reading!

Over the next few months Kristin and I will be making that transition happen.  She will be starting to look at programming for the spring and will start sharing that info when she is ready.  We will be posting again on the website and facebook page, so keep an eye out for that.

I will remain as a resource person as needed until things are up and running and will no doubt be at many readings happily sitting in the audience. 

Since I started organizing poetry readings in Gaithersburg, some 50 poets from a multitude of backgrounds have come to share their work with us, plus countless more at the open mics that followed, including some bravely reading for the first time. While always a work in progress, the diversity of our programming is something that I am proud of.

Since the reading began four years ago, DiVerse has become both a community and a community resource. Regular attendees have gotten to know each other, work on our craft together and become friends.  And because we meet at the library, we often attract folks from the community who perhaps have never been to a reading before.

I know that Kristin shares my vision of how important these things are and will bring her own wonderful talent and ideas to continuing the readings.  So please join me in welcoming her to this new role and for goodness sake, help her to get the chairs set up (if you’ve been to a DiVerse reading, you know what I mean)!

With gratitude to all of you for making the DiVerse Gaithersburg Poetry Reading a success!

–Lucinda Marshall

Video From Reading With The Inner Loop

You can now watch the video from my reading with The Inner Loop, my five minutes of fame starts at the 19:35 min. mark. Many thanks to Rachel Coonce and Courtney Sexton for inviting me to read with them!

Interview With HoCoPoLitSo

Kristin Kowalski Ferragut and I were both interviewed for HoCoPoLitSo (Howard County Poetry and LIterature Society) in advance of our reading at the wonderful Wilde Readings at the Columbia, MD Arts Center on Nov. 9th, hosted by Ann Bracken, Laura Shovan, Faye McCray, and LindaJoy Burke. Check out the interview to learn a little bit more about how Kristin and I each approach our writing!

I’ll Be Reading At The Inner Loop Tonight (Online)

I’ll be reading a few poems from Inheritance Of Aging Self at The Inner Loop reading tonight, 7:30 pm edt on Zoom. To register and get the link, please see their Facebook page. Join us!

Fall Reading Calendar

These are my fall readings that are open to the public with links to complete info:

Oct. 19, 7:30 pm: The Inner Loop (online)

November 9, 7pm: Wilde Readings (Columbia, MD) with Kristin Kowalski Ferragut

December 9, 7pm: Finishing Line Press Reading at The Writer’s Center (Bethesda MD)

I’ll Be Reading Online On 10/19 With The Inner Loop

I’ll be on the roster at The Inner Loop reading on October 19th, 7:30 pm edt. This reading will be online, please check out the event page for signup and Zoom link info. I’ll be reading several poems from Inheritance Of Aging Self. TIL readings are always amazing, please join us!

Dec. 9th: Finishing Line Press Reading At The Writer’s Center

I am delighted to be reading from Inheritance Of Aging Self at the Finishing Line Press reading at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD on December 9th at 7 pm with Lee Woodman, Leeya Mehta, Mary Sesso, Ellen Sazzman, Stewart Moss, Michael H. Levin, Luther Jett, Mary K O’Melveny, and Maya Ribault. We will all be signing and selling books as well.

Please note that you must register to attend and agree to TWC’s COVID policy (link on event page)–providing either proof of vaccination or recent test result, masks required. The Writer’s Center is located at:

4508 Walsh Street
Bethesda, MD 20815 United States

Parking is available across the street.

Please join us!

I’ll be reading at Wilde Readings November 9th with Kristin Kowalski Ferragut

I am thrilled to be reading in person with the amazing Kristin Kowalski Ferragut at the November 9th Wilde Readings at the Columbia, MD Arts Center (6100 Foreland Garth, Columbia, MD 21045) at 7 pm, hosted by Ann Bracken.

Please note that,

“Registration for the in person event will be limited. All attendees must follow Columbia Art Center Covid protocols. We encourage attendees to participate in the open mic. Please prepare up to five minutes of performance time/two poems. Sign up when you arrive. Books by featured authors and open mic readers will be available for sale in person and via buying links posted online.”

To register or sign up for the open mic, please email WildeReadingsHoCo at gmail.com.

More Book Sightings

So pleased to find my book at #37 in Amazon’s new poetry books about nature this morning! And thanks also to Washington University for listing Inheritance Of Aging Self on their bookshelf as well!

#36

A little self-google last night led to my finding that Inheritance Of Aging Self was listed as #36 in new releases in death, grief, and loss poetry. A little lower today, but still a solid top 50 hit! Thank you so much to everyone who has purchased the book!