UPCOMING READINGS & WORKSHOPS
- 11/13/25, Thursday, FEATURE READING: Art at the Cave, 108 E. Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98660. Starts at 7 pm with an open mike.
- 1/11/26, Sunday, Seattle Public LIbary Writersroom Residents Reading! Central Library, 4th Floor, 1:30-3:30 pm.
- 1/17/26, Saturday, FEATURE READING: Willard Art and Frame (Formerly TSUGA Gallery), 10101 Main St A, Bothell, WA 98011. Starts at 7 pm, with an open mike.
- 2/7/26, Saturday, In Our Own Hands: Women’s Wellness Series: Writing as a Healing Cauldron—Writing into health, strength, and suvival. Starts at 11 am Pacific Time, on ZOOM, runs three hours. All levels of writers welcome, come with paper and your favorite pen. To register, either for the series, or for individual workshops, click here.
Trip East & to Edinburgh
2025 was a year with several trips. I visited my sister and nephew in Philadelphia for the first time since COVID. We celebrated his graduation from Drexel University, where he achieved a degree in animation.
In August we took a bucket-list trip to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. I arranged a lunch date with the former Maker of Scotland (National Poet for Scotland similar to our US Poet Laureate), Elizabeth Rimmer. We had a lovely afternoon discussing poetry. The last five days, John and I traveld north by train to Findhorn and explored the Findhorn Eco-Village. A mecca trip where we connected with two friends we’ve not seen in over thirty years!
Poetry GEMS
In February I was feature reader at Honeymoon Cider & Beer in Bellingham, the night of Bellingham’s inaugral Poetry Pop-up! We had a blast, the final open mike was at a bowling alley! Thanks to Rena Priest for organizing this wonderful event, I was delighted to be featured at the first stop on this open mike trail!
In May I ran two “Poeming Health” writing workshops at the Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference in Wisconsin. Plus, I read my poetry before their featured speaker, herbalist Gail Faith Edward. It was the weekend in the woods I didn’t know I needed.
In September I hosted Dana Snyder’s book lauch at Folio for his intriguing book Pocket Fairytales. What a joy, he invited everyone to dress in fairy regalia, and he dressed as Peter Pan for his reading! Handmade crafts and yummy treats were offered. Opening was poet Scott Ferry, who read from his two most recent books, Sapphires on the Graves and dear tiny flowers.
POETRY PUBLICATIONS & Residency
- Hard Fall, publshed in the Washington Queen Poetry Anthology, read here.
- Shoe Watch, published in the Washington Queer Poetry Anthology, read here. THANK YOU TO WASHINGTON STATE POET LAUREATTE: Arianne True, and CLARE JOHNSON who assisted. I’m honored to have my poems in this project.
- Pick Your Battle, published in Second Coming, read at Indolent Press.
- To Love a Car, published in Silver Birch Press, read here.
- Robot Wives Coming Soon, published in Mad Swirl, read here. Plus, it was featured in The Best of Mad Swirl: 6-21-25.
- Fires Burn Our Tomorrows, Verse Daily Book Prize, read here.
Other News
- I’ve started an Amazon Author Page, please check in and follow me here!
- Find my book in a brick & mortar store! Open Books, BookTree, Village Books (Bellingham), Geromino’s Books (Santa Fe).
- Slow Now with Clear Skies and truth be bold: Serenading Life & Death in the Age of AIDS are available at the Seattle Public Library.
- This year I was accepted into the Seattle Public Library Writersroom Residency Program. I love traveling downtown to this special room to work on my memoir.
I hope to see you soon! Please make comments on Amazon or Goodreads when you read my book!
Welcome to my new website, remodeled on a new template. I had excellent guidance from webmaster Brian Ring.
June Readings & Book Launch!!
6/3/24, Jack Straw Alumni Poetry Series, reading with Anastacia-Renee, Erin Malone, Kevin Craft, Jeanine Walker, and Wendy Call.
6/9/24, Book Launch, Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, at Pike Place Market, 4 pm. Please register, event is free, but a donation to the libary is accepted.
6/29/24, Village Books, Bellingham, 4 pm; reading with Arlene Naganawa & Susan Landgraf. Please register, for a nominal registration fee you get a coupon for $5 off any book you purchase.
Additional Readings: more information to follow!
7/11/24, It’s About Time, Ballard Library, 6 pm, with open mike
7/15/24, Everett Poetry Night at Sister’s Restaurant, 6 pm, with open mike
9/4/24, La Pasadita Cafe, Duvall, 7 pm, with open mike
9/7/24, BookTree, Kirkland, 4:30 Workshop, 6:15 Reading, with open mike
9/11/24, Poetry Bridge, West Seattle, 6 pm, with open mike
11/13/24, Ghost Town Poetry, Vancouver, 6 pm? with open mike
11/22/24, RASP, Redmond, 6 pm?, with open mike
Jack Straw Grand Finale!
My Jack Straw Interview with Priscilla Long was published!
My year as a Jack Straw Writing Fellow ended with a song! Each of us was paired with a musician from the Bushwick Book Club; I was paired with the guitar playing singer and vergioning comedian Chiku Nance! And below that my interview with curator Priscilla Long.
Poetry Publication News!
- Songs of the Revolution: Poems Against Oppression published my ekphastic poem, Futility, and a second poem, A Call for the Lost.
- The Power of the Feminine I: Poems from the Feminine Perspective, Volume 2, published my poem Bad Girls.
- Nerve Cowboy Selected Works: 2004-2012, published two poems in previous journals: Only What I Can Do (a poem selected from my first chapbook, Case Walking: An AIDS Case Manager Wails Her Blues, and read by Garrison Keilor on National Public Radio, and the poem Happy in Hawaii. Both these poems are in my full-size poetry book truth be bold: Serenading Life & Death in the Age of AIDS. Thank you to the editors of this fabulous journal that has come to it’s close. I’m honored to have been included.
- Anti-Heroin Chic published two poems: After Mother’s Death and Lost Wanna Die Moments. (12/17/24)
- Silver Birch Press published my poem, Frame Soup Cooks Best on Slow, in their Spices theme issue. (2/4/24)
- Wellspring Literary Journal published my poem, The Moment of Diagnosis, in their first issue. (3/18/24)
Congratulations to the new U.S. Poet Laureate: Ada Limón!!!
Her reading at the W.S. Merwin Conservatory in Honolulu was moving, listen to it here.
Julene’s Memoir News!
I completed a three-week Memoir Bootcamp with Allison K. Williams, author of Seven Drafts. It was an excellent workshop by a seasoned editor with lots of great writing tips covering: form, editing, and writing a synopsis.
Jack Straw Writing Fellow!! This year I was accepted into the Jack Straw Writing Program by curator Priscilla Long! I’m thrilled and will use this time to work on two memoir pieces. Their reading series will be three Fridays in May and through the year many more readings will be booked. Watch for announcments.
I’m preparing for my spring residency at Vashon AIR in April where I’ll have time and space to work on my next round of edits, and with hope to start the journey to find a publisher!
And yes, I have entered my seventh decade officially.
Julene’s Poetry News! 
AWP, the Association of Writing Professionals, is in Seattle this year.
I’ll be attending and reading poems in an Off-site reading, I hope to see friends in the audience!
Rumors Secrets & Lies available here.
The Poeming Pigeon reading for their latest issue is available on You Tube, I read my poem “Loosely Knit,” (the link is set to open to my reading, but consider watching the whole reading which is great with many excellent poets including: Lana Hechtman Ayers, Penelope Scambly Schott, and Margaret Chula).
“Free Fall at Seventy” was published in Silver Birch Press on November 21, 2022.
Is the COVID pandemic over? Some are acting like it; yet many who are immune compromised know that it is not over, people are still getting sick and even with the vaccines it is a risk for many.
I’ve started venturing out with care, not traveling by plane, but staying local; attending an outdoor party, a reading where people were spaced out, and attending a play wearing a mask.
I read open mike in Everett at their Monday night reading series. Now at The Sisters Restaurant, next to the Co-Op at 2804 Grand Street! My friend Leah Mueller was featured, and it was a delight to see her in town from her new home in Bisbee, AZ.
Big Deal Birthday!
This year I turned 70!! My partner gifted me a simulated sky dying experience at iFly. One of my bucket list items! It was tremendous to feel my strength and stamina. Of course, I wrote a poem about it that was accepted by Silver Birch Press for their theme: One Good Memory, which indeed it was! It will be my first poem in this publication.
We went to see the show Hamilton, another first, to see this phenomenal performance; on my actual birthday day, a visit to the Roman Bearden exhibit, with a jazz concert at the Frye Museum. It was a lovely birthday month, fulfilling and rich.
Time to Work on my Memoir! Vashon AIR!!!
In October I’m took a writerly week away, without internet distraction, to work on my memoir.
Before I left, to my delight, I received news I was accepted into the Vashon Artists In Residence program for 2023. I’m honored and thrilled I will have this time to continue working on my memoir.
Poetry News!
A Reading: November 12th, I’ll read my poem, Loosley Knit, published in the Poeming Pigeon, a publication out of Portland, OR. The reading will feature 20-25 poets on Zoom, 4 pm Pacific time zone. I hope you will be able to attend, please contact the press for the link, and I’ll post it on Facebook.
Rumors, Secrets & Lies: Poems About Pregnancy, Abortion & Choice Anthology published my poem, Two Fetuses Aborted, written after the demise of Roe vs Wade.
Pre-sales are available now, order here! Please consider supporting this important book filled with women’s stories.
Thank you for reading and supporting writers!
Wishing you a loving Holiday Season!
Wearing a mask is the new fashion. 
Protect your neighbors, friends and family.
Welcome 2021! Welcome a new President.
May we be kind to one another.
May we rise up to fight for those who need our support and love.
May we find the comfort of inclusion and extend this to others.
May we find peace in our heart.
From a Native American prayer: Walk in Beauty.
Writing accomplishments in 2020:
March: My first AWP panel in San Antonio: “The Poetry of Pandemic: Children, Death, and Fucking.” It was relevant and amazing. Thank you to Robert Carr for including me, and to the other readers: Madelyn Harper, Jason Schneiderman, and C. Russell Price.
March: I joined Marcia Meier’s online writing group, Writing Through the Apocalypse. She gives wonderful promts, and her memoir Face is coming out this spring.
April: The Visual Poetry Project selected my work, then queer artist and animation filmmaker, Laura B. Ramirez picked my work. She worked with sound artist Edgar Cortez Angarita, and actress Molly Heller to create a film from my poem, Weighted to What is Real, for National Poetry Month.
April: I read two poems from my book truth be bold for the AIDS Memorial Pathway film, Written to Remember, shown at the Film Forum. A video of my reading is on the AMP website with the other writers.
With poems published nearly every month, my publication total for 2020 is 53 poems: 40 in journals (20 of them new!); 4 reprints; 8 in three anthologies and 1 in a zine! If you’ve been following my blog you might have read many of my poems and I thank you. Of these, 9 were pandemic poems.
Current News 
“Beyond Expectations,” published online at HIV Here & Now on November 13, 2020 in the countdown to World AIDS Day.
“Pill Hill,” published online at HIV Here & Now on November 17, 2020 in the countdown to World AIDS Day.
“Finding a Fal Cafe in Istanbul,” published online at Poetry and Places (affiliated with Silver Birch Press) on November 18, 2020.
“Calculating Death Dates,” published online at HIV Here & Now on November 22, 2020 in the countdown to World AIDS Day.