Literary Bridges presents "Honoring Ethna," a reading in memory of poet Ethna McKiernan.
Literary Bridges presents "Honoring Ethna," a reading in memory of poet Ethna McKiernan. Readers include: Sharon Chmielarz, Mary Kay Rummel, Carolyn Holbrook, Jim Rogers, Carol Masters, Pat Barone, Margaret Hasse, Tracy Youngblom, and Joel Van Valin. Donations collected for Habitat for Humanity, Twin Cities, and/or People Inc. Homeless Services in honor of Ethna's work with the homeless. Location is Next Chapter Booksellers, 38 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul. Please be vaxxed and masked.
Tracy Youngblom holds an MFA in poetry from the Warren Wilson College low-residency program and an MA in English from the University of St. Thomas. She has published a full-length book of poems, two poetry chapbooks, and her most recent collection, Boy, is forthcoming from CavanKerry Press. Her prose manuscript Because We Must was a finalist for the New Rivers Press Many Voices Competition. She has taught in the English Department at Anoka-Ramsey Community College for more than 15 years and teaches community education writing classes.
Margaret Hasse is author of seven collections of poetry including Shelter, a collaboration about refuge from the early days of the pandemic, with watercolor artist Sharon Demark; and Summoned (2021), which draws its title and a main theme from the sign at the Floyd Memorial stating: "All mothers were summoned when George Floyd called out for his." Margaret 's long-time friendship with Ethna McKiernan quickened through their participation in the Onionskin writing group.
Patricia Barone recently published a poetry book, The Music of this Ruin (Taj Mahal Review/ Cyberwit.) She has published poetry: Your Funny, Funny Face and The Scent of Water (Blue Light Press); and Handmade Paper (New Rivers Press); and a novella, The Wind. Her short stories have appeared in Wising Up Press; Peter Lang; Prentice/Merrill; Plume/Penguin; American Writing; and West Wind Review. She received a Loft-McKnight Award of Distinction in poetry, a Lake Superior Contemporary Writers' Award, and a MN State Arts Board Career Opportunity Grant, workshopping with Irish poet, Eavan Boland.
James Silas Rogers is the author of a chapbook of poems, Sundogs (2006), and a full volume of poetry, The Collector of Shadows (2019). His poetry has appeared in such journals as Poetry East, North Dakota Quarterly, Nimrod, and Spiritus. His mixed-genre book on cemeteries, Northern Orchards: Places Near the Dead (2014), was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in memoir. He has also published widely on Irish and Irish-American literature.
Sharon Chmielarz was born and raised in Mobridge, South Dakota but has spent most of her adult life in Minnesota. She is the 2021 South Dakota Poet of Merit. Kirkus Reviews has described her poetry as "thoughtful, bold, humorous, earthy, and humane." Her 13th published poetry book is Speaking in Riddles (2021). Kirkus Reviews named her The Widow's House (2016) and The J Horoscope (2019) one of the 100 Best Indie Books for those years. www.sharonchmielarz.com
Joel Van Valin is the publisher of the literary journal Whistling Shade. He is the author of a time travel novel, The Grand Dissolute, and a fantasy novel, The Flower of Clear Burning. His first chapbook of poetry, The White Forest, was published by Prolific Press in 2018. He lives with his wife and twin sons in St. Paul.
Mary Kay Rummel’s ninth poetry book, Nocturnes: Between Flesh and Stone, was recently published by Blue Light Press of San Francisco. Her first book, This Body She’s Entered, won a MN Voices Award from New Rivers Press. The Lifeline Trembles won the Blue Light Award from Blue Light Press, and Love in the End was a chapbook award winner from Bright Hill Press. She is co-editor of Psalms of Cinder & Silt, poems about experiences with CA fires (Solo Novo Press). Mary Kay has read her poems in many venues in the US, England and Ireland. She is a Poet Laureate emerita of Ventura County, CA and divides her time between Minneapolis and Ventura.
Carolyn Holbrook is a writer, educator, and an advocate for the healing power of the arts. Her memoir, Tell Me Your Names and I Will Testify, won the 2021 Minnesota Book Award for memoir and nonfiction. She is founder and director of the Minneapolis-based conversation series, More Than a Single Story, and is co-editor with David Mura of a new anthology, We Are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice from Minneapolis to the World, published by University of MN Press with More Than a Single Story. She teaches at the Loft Literary Center and other community venues, and at Hamline University.
Carol Masters is a poet, nonfiction and fiction writer who lives in a senior cooperative on the Mississippi. She is a founding member of Onionskin, a poetry collective, sharing many years and joys with Ethna McKiernan. Carol's latest book, Dear Descendent (Nodin Press) was a finalist for the Midwest Independent Publisher's award in 2020.