Events
Chicago, IL. - January 24th, 2023
Named one of the nominees for the City of Chicago’s inaugural Poet Laureate.
August 2022
Awarded the Norbert Blei Literary Scholarship.
June 2022
Awarded the Kenyon Review Online Workshop for Teachers Scholarship.
Open Heart Chicago: A Virtual Reading - February 17
The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame will team up
with contributing authors from Open Heart Chicago:
An Anthology of Chicago Writers to present a special virtual reading.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Chicago, IL. - November 12th, 2021
Reading Launching Open Heart Chicago: An Anthology of Chicago Writing
7pm @ Exile in Bookville
Everywhere - October 16th, 2021
Open Heart Chicago: An Anthology of Chicago Writing
Available Now!
Guild Complex Brooks Day 2021Celebration - June 7th, 2021
A celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks birth with readings of her work by members of the Guild community.
All video contributions can be viewed in full here.
I was honored to read Brooks’s poem "kitchenette building."
After Hours Virtual Contributors Reading - February 21st, 2021
The online reading includes a short "open mic" with After Hours #41 contributors
(including David Mathews) and a featured reading by AH41 featured writer Marci Rae Johnson.
To view the Live Stream, click here.
4pm (Chicago Time)
Virtual Reading via Zoom & YouTubeLive - August 20th, 2020
After Hours Virtual Contributors Reading
Celebrating After Hours Issue #40 & their 20th Anniversary
7pm (Chicago Time)
Virtual Reading via Zoom - May 11th, 2020
Traveling Mollys Reading Series & Open Mic
Featuring Winners of After Hours Magazine's
Mary Blinn Poetry Prize
7pm
April 28th, 2020
My interview with the Office of Modern Composition is now online!
"The Naming of Monsters" - Winner
After Hours Magazine's
Second Annual Mary Blinn Poetry Prize
April 15th, 2020
Chicago, IL - December 13th, 2019
Poets at Sophie's Closet: A Community Event
A Night of Poetry and Fashion!
7pm
Oak Park, IL - November 11th, 2019
Traveling Mollys Reading Series & Open Mic
Buzz Cafe 7-9pm (6:30 for open mic sign-up)
"Chicago Shrimp Shacks" - Finalist
The 26th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards
September 17th, 2019 @ The Promontory
Congratulations to Winner Sharon Powell
The 26th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards
@ The Promontory (Performing in the semi-final rounds)
Doors open at 6:30 pm & event begins at 7:30 pm
Oak Park. IL. - August 18th, 2019
The Language of Love:
Songs & Arias & Poetic Interlude
10:30 am @ Church of Beethoven
Chicago, IL. - July 6th, 2019
Poetry At The Hat Shop!
6:00 pm @ Susanhat Salon
7231 N. Sheridan Road
Everywhere - May 23rd, 2019
Endlessly Rocking: Poems in Honor of Walt Whitman's 200th Birthday
Available Now!
Chicago, IL. - October 4th, 2018
Excited Utterance Reading Series
7:00 pm @ Silvie's
"When Valentine's Day Falls on Ash Wednesday"
Nominated for Best of The Net 2018
Oak Park. IL. - April 15th, 2018
Gypsy Jazz & Poetic Interlude
10:30 am @ Church of Beethoven
"When You Cannot Ask For Directions"
Nominated for Best of The Net 2017
Chicago, IL. - August 13th, 2017
Rust Belt Chicago: An Anthology Release Party
6 pm @ The Hideout
Everywhere - August 10th, 2017
Rust Belt Chicago: An Anthology
Available Now!
Chicago, IL. - July 17th, 2017
Waiting 4 The Bus Reading Series & Open Mic
7 pm @ Uncharted Books
Chicago, IL. - June 6th, 2017
Wit Rabbit Reading Series
7-9 pm @ Quenchers Saloon
Everywhere - February 2017
Eclectica Magazine Best Poetry: V1 Celebrating 20 Years Online
Eclectica Magazine Speculative V1: Celebrating 20 Years Online
Available Now!
Chicago, IL - November 18th, 2016
7th Annual Faculty Research & Creative Activities Symposium
Fusing Country Songs And Ghazals: A Cultural Exchange Experiment
Northeastern Illinois University - Student Union (Recital Hall) 9:40 am
Chicago, IL - September 24th, 2016
Red Rover Reading Series Experiment #96: Know Your Rights
8-10 pm @ Outerspace
Chicago, IL - September 20th, 2016
Open Door Reading Series
The Poetry Foundation 7 pm
Oak Park, IL - August 8th, 2016
Traveling Mollys Reading Series & Open Mic
Buzz Cafe 7-9pm (6:30 for open mic sign-up)
Knoxville, TN - August 5th, 2016
Holler Salon Readings Series
Firefly Farms 6-9:00 pm
Knoxville, TN - August 1st-7th, 2016
Poetry Residency with Sundress Academy for the Arts
@ Firefly Farms
Normal, IL - July 29th 2016
3rd Annual International David Foster Wallace Conference
Illinois State University - Stevenson Hall (Room C) 2 pm
Knoxville, TN - August 21st, 2015
Holler Salon Readings Series
Firefly Farms 6-9:00 pm
Knoxville, TN - August 16th-22nd, 2015
Poetry Residency with Sundress Academy for the Arts
@ Firefly Farms
Milwaukee, WI - July 25th, 2015
Midwestern Gothic Literary Reading
@ People's Book Cooperative 3-4:30 pm
2015 National Federation of Press Women
Communications Contest Award - Poetry - 2nd Place
"Revenge Fantasy"
Illinois Woman's Press Association
74th Mate E. Palmer Communications Awards
May 16th, 2015 @ Union League Club of Chicago
"Revenge Fantasy" - First Place
"Where Did That Come From?" - Third Place
"My Sister's Things To Do List After Her Fiance Broke Off Their Engagement" - Honorable Mention
Chicago, IL - March 19th, 2015
Wilbur Wright College - Center for Teaching and Learning
The Ghazal: Celebrating “The Beloved”
Room S243 3:30pm
Chicago, IL. - February 13th, 2015
Perfect Friday Night Series
@ The Store 9pm
November 15th, 2014
Interview with Kathleen Rooney is now online!
"Where Did That Come From?"
Nominated for Best of The Net 2014
Milwaukee, WI - May 17th, 2014
Midwestern Gothic Literary Reading
@ People's Books Cooperative 2:00-3:00 pm
Interview with Midwestern Gothic is now online!
Aloud! Live Reading Event @ DePaul University
November 11th, 2013 6:30 pm
DePaul Student Reading @ Bourgeois Pig Café
April 5th, 2013 7:00 pm
FREE Poetry Reading At NEIU
March 4th, 2013 7:15 pm
Chicago, IL. - January 24th, 2023
Named one of the nominees for the City of Chicago’s inaugural Poet Laureate.
August 2022
Awarded the Norbert Blei Literary Scholarship.
June 2022
Awarded the Kenyon Review Online Workshop for Teachers Scholarship.
Open Heart Chicago: A Virtual Reading - February 17
The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame will team up
with contributing authors from Open Heart Chicago:
An Anthology of Chicago Writers to present a special virtual reading.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Chicago, IL. - November 12th, 2021
Reading Launching Open Heart Chicago: An Anthology of Chicago Writing
7pm @ Exile in Bookville
Everywhere - October 16th, 2021
Open Heart Chicago: An Anthology of Chicago Writing
Available Now!
Guild Complex Brooks Day 2021Celebration - June 7th, 2021
A celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks birth with readings of her work by members of the Guild community.
All video contributions can be viewed in full here.
I was honored to read Brooks’s poem "kitchenette building."
After Hours Virtual Contributors Reading - February 21st, 2021
The online reading includes a short "open mic" with After Hours #41 contributors
(including David Mathews) and a featured reading by AH41 featured writer Marci Rae Johnson.
To view the Live Stream, click here.
4pm (Chicago Time)
Virtual Reading via Zoom & YouTubeLive - August 20th, 2020
After Hours Virtual Contributors Reading
Celebrating After Hours Issue #40 & their 20th Anniversary
7pm (Chicago Time)
Virtual Reading via Zoom - May 11th, 2020
Traveling Mollys Reading Series & Open Mic
Featuring Winners of After Hours Magazine's
Mary Blinn Poetry Prize
7pm
April 28th, 2020
My interview with the Office of Modern Composition is now online!
"The Naming of Monsters" - Winner
After Hours Magazine's
Second Annual Mary Blinn Poetry Prize
April 15th, 2020
Chicago, IL - December 13th, 2019
Poets at Sophie's Closet: A Community Event
A Night of Poetry and Fashion!
7pm
Oak Park, IL - November 11th, 2019
Traveling Mollys Reading Series & Open Mic
Buzz Cafe 7-9pm (6:30 for open mic sign-up)
"Chicago Shrimp Shacks" - Finalist
The 26th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards
September 17th, 2019 @ The Promontory
Congratulations to Winner Sharon Powell
The 26th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards
@ The Promontory (Performing in the semi-final rounds)
Doors open at 6:30 pm & event begins at 7:30 pm
Oak Park. IL. - August 18th, 2019
The Language of Love:
Songs & Arias & Poetic Interlude
10:30 am @ Church of Beethoven
Chicago, IL. - July 6th, 2019
Poetry At The Hat Shop!
6:00 pm @ Susanhat Salon
7231 N. Sheridan Road
Everywhere - May 23rd, 2019
Endlessly Rocking: Poems in Honor of Walt Whitman's 200th Birthday
Available Now!
Chicago, IL. - October 4th, 2018
Excited Utterance Reading Series
7:00 pm @ Silvie's
"When Valentine's Day Falls on Ash Wednesday"
Nominated for Best of The Net 2018
Oak Park. IL. - April 15th, 2018
Gypsy Jazz & Poetic Interlude
10:30 am @ Church of Beethoven
"When You Cannot Ask For Directions"
Nominated for Best of The Net 2017
Chicago, IL. - August 13th, 2017
Rust Belt Chicago: An Anthology Release Party
6 pm @ The Hideout
Everywhere - August 10th, 2017
Rust Belt Chicago: An Anthology
Available Now!
Chicago, IL. - July 17th, 2017
Waiting 4 The Bus Reading Series & Open Mic
7 pm @ Uncharted Books
Chicago, IL. - June 6th, 2017
Wit Rabbit Reading Series
7-9 pm @ Quenchers Saloon
Everywhere - February 2017
Eclectica Magazine Best Poetry: V1 Celebrating 20 Years Online
Eclectica Magazine Speculative V1: Celebrating 20 Years Online
Available Now!
Chicago, IL - November 18th, 2016
7th Annual Faculty Research & Creative Activities Symposium
Fusing Country Songs And Ghazals: A Cultural Exchange Experiment
Northeastern Illinois University - Student Union (Recital Hall) 9:40 am
Chicago, IL - September 24th, 2016
Red Rover Reading Series Experiment #96: Know Your Rights
8-10 pm @ Outerspace
Chicago, IL - September 20th, 2016
Open Door Reading Series
The Poetry Foundation 7 pm
Oak Park, IL - August 8th, 2016
Traveling Mollys Reading Series & Open Mic
Buzz Cafe 7-9pm (6:30 for open mic sign-up)
Knoxville, TN - August 5th, 2016
Holler Salon Readings Series
Firefly Farms 6-9:00 pm
Knoxville, TN - August 1st-7th, 2016
Poetry Residency with Sundress Academy for the Arts
@ Firefly Farms
Normal, IL - July 29th 2016
3rd Annual International David Foster Wallace Conference
Illinois State University - Stevenson Hall (Room C) 2 pm
Knoxville, TN - August 21st, 2015
Holler Salon Readings Series
Firefly Farms 6-9:00 pm
Knoxville, TN - August 16th-22nd, 2015
Poetry Residency with Sundress Academy for the Arts
@ Firefly Farms
Milwaukee, WI - July 25th, 2015
Midwestern Gothic Literary Reading
@ People's Book Cooperative 3-4:30 pm
2015 National Federation of Press Women
Communications Contest Award - Poetry - 2nd Place
"Revenge Fantasy"
Illinois Woman's Press Association
74th Mate E. Palmer Communications Awards
May 16th, 2015 @ Union League Club of Chicago
"Revenge Fantasy" - First Place
"Where Did That Come From?" - Third Place
"My Sister's Things To Do List After Her Fiance Broke Off Their Engagement" - Honorable Mention
Chicago, IL - March 19th, 2015
Wilbur Wright College - Center for Teaching and Learning
The Ghazal: Celebrating “The Beloved”
Room S243 3:30pm
Chicago, IL. - February 13th, 2015
Perfect Friday Night Series
@ The Store 9pm
November 15th, 2014
Interview with Kathleen Rooney is now online!
"Where Did That Come From?"
Nominated for Best of The Net 2014
Milwaukee, WI - May 17th, 2014
Midwestern Gothic Literary Reading
@ People's Books Cooperative 2:00-3:00 pm
Interview with Midwestern Gothic is now online!
Aloud! Live Reading Event @ DePaul University
November 11th, 2013 6:30 pm
DePaul Student Reading @ Bourgeois Pig Café
April 5th, 2013 7:00 pm
FREE Poetry Reading At NEIU
March 4th, 2013 7:15 pm
