Join us at 2pm on Saturday June 23, 2018, at Sonoma Valley Regional Library for a talk and reading by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, and U.S. Poet Laureate (2008-2010) Kay Ryan, as part of the library's Summer Reading Author Series.

Kay Ryan is an accomplished poet who received the MacArthur Foundation’s “Genius” Fellowship in 2011. “Ryan’s distinctive and tightly woven verse is grounded in inclusive explorations of seemingly familiar language, ideas and experiences” the MacArthur Foundations continues, “Independent from schools of poetry and literary fashion, her mode of expression is a disarmingly clear and accessible style, characterized by concision, rhyme, wordplay and wit”. 

In 2011, Ryan also won the Pulitzer Prize for “The Best of It: New and Selected Poems” (Grove Press, 2010), described as “a body of work spanning 45 years, witty, rebellious and yet tender, a treasure trove of an iconoclastic and joyful mind.”

Ryan has written nine books of poetry, plus a limited edition artist’s book. Her books are: “Dragon Acts to Dragon Ends” (1983), “Strangely Marked Metal” (Copper Beech, 1985), “Flamingo Watching” (Copper Beech, 1994), “Elephant Rocks” (Grove Press, 1996), “Say Uncle” (Grove Press, 2000), “Believe It or Not!” (2002, Jungle Garden Press, edition of 125 copies), “The Niagara River” (Grove Press, 2005) Jam Jar Lifeboat & Other Novelties Exposed (Red Berry Editions, 2008), The Best of It: New and Selected Poems (Grove Press, 2010), and Erratic Facts (Grove Press, 2015).

“Having such an acclaimed artist at the library is one more way we can encourage reading and learning this summer” says library manager, Lisa Musgrove, “Ms. Ryan will speak for about 45 minutes and answer questions for 15 minutes.  Reader’s Books will have copies of Ms. Ryan’s books available for purchase before and after the presentation”.

Seating is limited, and is first-come, first-served.

The event is free and open to all.  The library is located at 755 West Napa Street, Sonoma.  For more information contact librarian Lisa Musgrove at 996-5217 or lmusgrove@sonomalibrary.org.  Keep up with all library events at www.sonomalibrary.org and on facebook, www.facebook.com/sonomavalleylibrary.