Jennifer's Art and Words

  Hi, please join me and Jo Ann Anglin at our poetry reading! Open Mic I will be reading from my newest poetry book, Fruit Box Castles: Poems from a Peach Rancher’s Daughter.

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 und...

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 gr...

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, J...

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 ...

  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 ...

Thanks everyone who stopped by my Sac Open Studio show this weekend. I appreciate your support and patronage. Thanks also to the Ruby Slipper's Band!

My friend Pat L. Nichol passed away in May 2018. Despite her illness and an earlier physical  disability which left it difficult to walk she, was courageous, determined, independent and found room for writing and living a joyous life until she transitioned over. Pat was a prolific writer and whether it be poems, stories, novels or memoir they were always very well crafted. Her stories never left me not wanting to turn the page. She was also, a fine poet. Every 1st Thursday once a month we'd meet for several years to exchange that which was precious-our words strung together to take others on a journey, to help us understand the world, to create music with words and to provide insight to our readers through many genres. I miss you Pat, but your words live on and I hold your memory dear and am grateful to have had you in my life. Pat's Story In a family of secret keepers, words were to become very, very important ...

Featuring an art exhibit and reading of their written work . January 13th 5-8p.m. Reading at 6:30 p.m. Open MIC 6 p.m. Sacramento Poetry Center 1719 25th Street Readers & Exhibiting Artists: NSSA,   Wendy Patrice Williams, Jennifer O’Neill Pickering, Bethany Humphreys,   Todd Boyd, Heather Judy, Suzanne Caruthers Pat Nichol & Bill Laws.      Music by Gabe Merriman and Mike Pickering Https ://www.cafepress.com/3952.197773588

2017 Events Book Readings, Signings and sale of my poetry book Blooming in Winter August 31st 8 p.m.-10 p.m     Luna's Juice Bar 1414 16th St, Sacramento, CA 95814 An evening of French poetry, music and a presentation on Charles Baudelaire by Frank Andrick. I will be reading poems I wrote in France accompanied by Mike playing music influenced by Django Reinhardt and his original songs. There will be guest musicians and poets. Share your writing at the open MIC (maybe one you wrote in France?) Hosted by Frank Andrick  Sept. 4th Labor Day, 2017, 6 a.m.-8p.m.   Sacramento Poetry Center & Writers on the Air 1719 25th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816 916-240-1897 Join me and Pat L. Nichol for a reading of milestones and work poems in a  Labor of Love  and live radio podcast by Todd Boyd, of Writers On the Air fame,  WOA ! Share your work poem, song and or quote from a famous labor leader at the open MI...

January 14, 2017, mark your calendar and join us at the Sacramento Poetry Center for a reading and exhibition of writers who are also visual artists. This is always a good time and a way to warm a winter night. 25th and R Complex 1719 25th St. Sacramento, CA, 95816 (the corner of 25th and R)

Why I write? Growing up in rural Northern California I made up stories as a kid and asked my friends and twin brother to act out the characters. This was in the 1950’s before there was much television and I lived in my imagination. In Junior High School my friends passed around notes to each other during school. This was akin to the Facebook and Twitter posts of the today. In High School I enjoyed writing poetry. I studied poetry in College and have continued to write poetry. I am a late bloomer to prose, starting in my late thirties. Writing was what I did between balancing a family, making art, and working outside the home twenty hours a week, care giving for a mother with dementia, and earning an MA in Studio Art. Honestly I was lucky to scribble a few words in a journal!     About fifteen years ago I began a historical novel set in the 9 th century with a working title of The French ...