Jennifer's Art and Words

Hi friends, I am pleased to announce my new poetry book, Fruit Box Castles: Poems From a Peach Rancher’s Daughter is available for pre-order from Finishing Line Pre ss . I hope you will find a poem or many that resonate with you. Please support small presses and my goal of selling 55 books by August 15! You can pre-order here . The book will be released in October 2020. Watch for book launch events that most likely be online due to Covid-19. I hope to have an “in the flesh book event” (that includes peach cobbler) when this pandemic dims.  Thank you again for your support and that of a small press. Below are two of my new poems included in the book. The photo of me was taken by Mike Pickering at O’Neill Castle outside of Belfast, Ireland. It is where my Irish ancestors originated. The photo of the fruit stand is on highway 70 out of Marysville, CA where I was born and near where I grew up.   Bountiful   Mom midwifed rows of freestones Late July we’d sit under umbrellas of the waln

Nature is my great source of solace and joy during this pandemic which has brought human contact and activity to a great stillness. Now is a time of physical distancing, turning inward, slowing down, finding new ways to connect on zoom, texting, talking on the phone, meditating and sending healing thoughts out to the world. The pandemic has arrived just as nature is awaking sending life out in all directions. We want to follow her too and celebrate this rebirth. Instead we must find other ways to focus our energies safely, find ways to connect virtually, and work in solitude. Lately, I wake up at 3 a.m. my heart pounding from a nightmare. I wake and remember the virus. Slowly my heart-rate slows and I am reassured with my husband lying next to me, the cat at my feet and the dog curled up between us. But I find  being outdoors seems to center me the most. I am lucky to be in California with its relatively calm weather. Sinking my hands and boots in the mud, reaching for the great

Featuring: Nancy Schoellkopf & Katya Mills When : January 19, 2020 4-5:30 Where : Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816 Hosts : Jennifer Pickering, Todd Boyd and Michelle Woods Katya Mills - is an Independent author. She writes mostly creative nonfiction and literary fiction set in American cities at the turn of the millennium. Chicago and NYC and San Francisco. 1990-2010. Lovers, dreamers, loners, scribblers, and latchkey kids. Predating the mobile phone. Nancy Schoellkopf - is a California poet and novelist who writes stories with spiritual themes. She is the author of the Avian Series of Novels--Yellow-Billed Magpie, Red-Tailed Hawk, and Ghost Owl--as well as the short story collection, Rover.   https://nancyschoellkopf.com

December  15th  Featured Writers are:   William Burg and June Augusta  Gillam William Berg-Author  Wicked  Sacramento W illiam  Burg, a Sacramento resident since 1993, is a California historian whose work focuses on Sacramento history, including seven books and approximately one hundred articles about the city's history. He holds a Master of Arts degree in public history from Sacramento State University. J une Augusta  Gillam- The Hillary Broome Mystery Series June is a native of Sacramento, California, born to a Czechoslovakian dad and Irish/Welsh mom. In 2010, June moved to Auburn and joined in with the energy and enthusiasm of fellow Gold Country Writers. She also belongs to Sisters in Crime, Capitol Crimes Sacramento chapter. A founding member of San Joaquin Valley Writers, the 22nd branch of the  California Writers Club, meeting in UOP's School of Education in Stockton, CA, every 2nd Saturday of the month at 12:30 pm, June was honored with a Jack London A

December  15th  Featured Writers are:   William Burg and June Augusta  Gillan William Berg-Author  Wicked  Sacramento W illiam  Burg, a Sacramento resident since 1993, is a California historian whose work focuses on Sacramento history, including seven books and approximately one hundred articles about the city's history. He holds a Master of Arts degree in public history from Sacramento State University. J une Augusta  Gillan - The Hillary Broome Mystery Series June is a native of Sacramento, California, born to a Czechoslovakian dad and Irish/Welsh mom. In 2010, June moved to Auburn and joined in with the energy and enthusiasm of fellow Gold Country Writers. She also belongs to Sisters in Crime, Capitol Crimes Sacramento chapter. A founding member of San Joaquin Valley Writers, the 22nd branch of the  California Writers Club, meeting in UOP's School of Education in Stockton, CA, every 2nd Saturday of the month at 12:30 pm, June was honored with a Ja

  Scientists tell us we're made of atoms, but a little bird told me,   We are made of stories.” Eduardo Galeano Join our featured readers in an intimate setting at  Prose in the Afternoon at SPC . Bring your best “hook” for the open mic consisting of your funniest, sexiest, saddest, happiest, and or most mysterious 100 words or less that will entice the reader to want to read everything you've ever written.  Share your work in a supportive atmosphere. Light  refreshments will be served and we will have the occasional surprise guest! When :  November 17, 2019, 4-5:30 Where : Sacramento Poetry Center,  1719 25th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816 Hosts : Jennifer Pickering, Todd Boyd and Michelle Woods Our Features will be: Lois Ann Abraham- is a prize winning   author of  Circus Girl and Other Stories , and  Tina Goes to Heaven , a novel. She is presently on the home stretch with her next novel,  The Long Art . You may also know her from  ARC where she ta