Literary Bridges Reading

LITERARY BRIDGES READING

March 3, 2024. 2:00 PM

Next Chapter Booksellers, 38 Snelling Ave. S., St Paul

“The Literary Bridges for March 3 continues our once-in -a -while spotlight on writers groups, “ says co-host, Stan Kusunoki. “This month we feature contributors of the Water Songs anthology by the Mississippi Valley Poets & Artists

The roster includes:

Annette Gagliardi looks at the dimly, tinted shadows and morphed illusions that become life and finds illumination.  She sees what others do not and grasps the fruit hiding there, then squeezes all the juice that life has to offer and serves it up as poetry – or jelly, depending on the dayAnnette’s p has appeared in literary journals in Canada, England and the US. Her first full-length poetry collection is titled: A Short Supply of Viability. Annette’s first historical fiction, titled: Ponderosa Pines: Days of the Deadwood Forest Fire were published in 2022 and has won the PenCraft award for literary excellence. See her author website: https://Annette-gagliardi.com

Laura Kozy Lanik is a high school social studies teacher in Minneapolis. She is the co-creator and co-editor of Upon Waking. 58 Voices Speaking Out from the Shadow of Abuse poetry anthology published in April of 2019. Laura recently co-created the Water Songs anthology published in 2024. Laura is the current Vice President of
the Mississippi Valley Poets Society. You can find her poetry at www.laurakozylanik.com

Poet Donna Isaac is a teaching artist/organizer of community readings/workshops. Published work includes Footfalls (Pocahontas Press); Tommy (Red Dragonfly Press); Holy Comforter (Red Bird Chapbooks); and Persistence of Vision (Finishing Line Press), including poems in literary journals. A new book by Finishing Press, In the Tilling, is forthcoming.

River Maria Urke has the heart of a poet and the eyes of an artist. River’s poetic writings and artistic touches reflect the principles she lives by where imperfection is beauty, nature is appreciated, and knowledge is gold. In addition, River’s work is influenced by her battle with multiple sclerosis, and her Ojibwe heritage. “Songs of Silence” is River’s most recent publication. She is the host of the program Up Close: Meet the Poet Behind the Verse and the senior editor of Cracked Walnut’s New Moon News. She is one of the editors of the Water Songs anthology. You can learn more about River’s publications , and view her art on her website- www.rivermaria.org

Marilyn Gonrowski is a poet, impressionist artist, and jewelry maker. Her poem “Time” is included in the anthology The Path Not Taken, published by the National Library of Poetry and Library of Congress. Recently, Marilyn’s poem, “The Healing Woods” was included in the 2023 Cracked Walnut Anthology, and her poem, “Sensuous Water” is in the 2023 MVP&W anthology, “Water Songs”. Marilyn’s poem, “The Owl and The One-Winged Sparrow,” won the January 2024 New moon News contest. She is currently working on her first poetry collection.

Jennifer Hernandez serves as vice-president of the League of Minnesota Poets. Recent publications include: the Cracked Walnut anthology, Rewildling Hope; the first prize poem, “Grief”,  in Talking Stick,Volume 32; and her first Pushcart nomination for “A Case of the Vapors” in Sleet Magazine. Her work has been featured in several public installations, most recently The Clouds We Share at Minnesota Center for Book Arts and the Detroit Lakes Flowerpot Walk. She enjoys performing her poetry at readings both in person and online because the interaction between word and audience is where the magic happens.