By Catherine Marenghi

 

The San Miguel Poetry Café will host internationally acclaimed poet Cecilia Woloch, who will read via Zoom on Thurs, Jan 28, 5pm. The online event is free of charge, but pre-registration is required at sanmiguelliterarysala.org. It is the third of three special Poetry Alive! events spotlighting the work of a single poet including a live reading, a teaching, and a moderated a Q&A session.

 

“Cecilia Woloch is an extraordinary poet whose work is both lyrical and personal, while also giving voice to those whose voices have for too long been marginalized and unheard,” said Maia Williams, founder of the San Miguel Poetry Café and host of the event. “We are delighted to have such a luminous talent as we mark the sixth anniversary of the San Miguel Poetry Café.”

 

Woloch will be reading from Tsigan: The Gypsy Poem, just released in a new edition, as well as from other works, including new poems. Following her reading, Woloch will discuss her process in composing a long poem (chapbook or book-length). Wrapping up the hour, poet Catherine Marenghi will moderate a Q&A between audience members and the poet.

 

Woloch is a poet, writer, teacher, and performer. She has authored six poetry collections, a novel, essays, and reviews. Her honors include fellowships from the Fulbright Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, CEC/ArtsLink International, and the Center for International Theatre Development. Her work has also received a Pushcart Prize and appeared in the “Best American Poetry Series.” Born in Pittsburgh and raised in rural Kentucky, she has traveled the world as a teacher and writer. She has taught at universities across the U.S. and led workshops in Paris, Istanbul, and the Carpathian Mountains. She currently leads virtual writing workshops and a literary salon on Zoom. More information is at ceciliawoloch.squarespace.com.

 

Woloch will also be leading a workshop at this year’s San Miguel Writers’ Conference entitled “Composing the Manuscript: A Two-Part Class for Poets, Writers of Short-Form Prose, and Mixed Genre and Multidisciplinary Artists” on Feb 9 and 11. To register, visit sanmiguelwritersconference.org/product/workshop-poetry-all-prose-cecilia-woloch 

 

To order a copy of Woloch’s book Tsigan: The Gypsy Poem, please visit Powell’s Books at www.powells.com/book/tsigan-9780998631479. For an autographed copy of this or her other poetry books, please contact Cecilia.woloch.assistant@gmail.com for shipping and pricing information.

 

Founded in January 2016, the San Miguel Poetry Café convenes monthly, September through April, and also holds special events. The all-volunteer organization presents local and visiting poets, both established and emerging. If you would like to be considered for an upcoming reading, please submit sample poems and a brief bio to poetrycafe@sanmiguelliterarysala.org. Visit sanmiguelliterarysala.org for a calendar of upcoming events.

 

Pre-register for this special Poetry Alive! event at sanmiguelliterarysala.org; you will receive a link to the event in your email confirmation.