Good golly, October is going to be a busy month! I’m not complaining, but this is taking some careful attention and preparation because there’s a lot to fit in. A major fundraiser for the library, multiple library related meetings: board, district board, women’s club, friends of the library, and so on. It’s a rough month for a library director and poet who is studying for his master’s. So, send me good vibes or funny cat videos or something. Chocolate or wine would be marvelous too. I’m gonna need it.

I’ve updated my Events page with three poetry readings and craft discussions for October. The first is at Northampton Community College, Monroe Campus, in Tannersville, PA. That’s the campus featured in the photo. Many thanks to Marjorie Maddox for referring me to them when they were looking for a Pennsylvania poet for their Arts and Lecture Series. The event is at 11:00 am on Thursday, Oct. 17 and I’m excitedly looking forward to discussions with students on campus. The bio I sent them for their event page is the a bit outdated already, but that just means I’ll have a lot of exciting new work to share. This will be my third visit to a college or university to talk about writing and poetry, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

After the weekend, I’ll be off to the Lower Macungie Library near Allentown, PA for their Poetry Coffee House. I’ll be joining two professors I had the honor of reading with at last year’s Pennsylvania College English Association (PCEA) conference in Bethlehem. Unfortunately, Dawn Leas can’t be with us this time.  Eric Chiles, Brian Fanelli, and Robert Fillman, let’s do this! The library is also announcing the winners of their poetry contest and following the event with an open mic for adults and teens. To attend or sign up, follow this link. It would be amazing to see you there.

We round out my poetry-filled October with a Halloween and horror themed version of our popular local series, Poems at the Pub  at Dugan’s Pub, 385 Main St., Luzerne, PA. Poet, educator and horror blogger, Brian Fanelli will be our featured reader. If you’re in Northeast PA, please join us, and come early to sign up for the open mic afterward. Costumes encouraged!