Jared Stanley, Cami Rothmuller, and Silas Wanje

On the 5/22/24 edition of Dr. Andy’s Poetry and Technology Hour:

Jared Stanley explains his decision to use a common phrase with many meanings to title his most recent book of poetry, So Tough. Stanley mentions the theme of air in his poems, which were written in 2021 during the pandemic, rampant wildfires, and the aftermath of the death of George Floyd. He then reads a few poems from his book and shares the importance of ongoing writing and notebooks that he implements as an educator. Cami Rothmuller discusses her interest in geology and her upcoming poetry reading at the Self Design Art gallery in Sacramento, before reading a beautiful geological sonnet. After being offered an academic and athletic scholarship, Silas Wanje made the move from Kenya to California. During his time in academia, he met a professor that encouraged his writing, and his love of freeform poetry grew from there. Wanje closes out the podcast by reading a poem about loss and anticoagulants.

Jared Stanley is a poet and writer who often collaborates with artists. He is the author of four collections of poetry, So Tough, EARS, The Weeds, and Book Made of Forest. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Bennington Review, Harvard Review, VOLT, Folder Magazine, and many others. Originally from Northern California, he teaches in the MFA Program in creative writing at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Cami Rothmuller is finishing up her bachelor's in English at UC Davis, and will be beginning her creative writing MFA studies this fall at the Michener Center for Writers at University of Texas, Austin. She writes often about nature, madness, intimacy, and secular worship.

Silas Wanje was born and raised under the unforgiving Kenyan skies. He fell in love with words as a teen, and has not stopped writing since. He moved from Africa to California about ten years ago and now, he calls Sacramento home. Wanje is a transplant nurse by day, but you can find him wandering around midtown with a pen in hand or playing soccer at a nearby field.

The Poetry Night Reading Series, taking place on first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 PM, is generously supported by the people and poets of the Sacramento Valley, by John Natsoulas, and by Thea and the other members of the staff at the John Natsoulas Gallery. Your host will be Dr. Andy Jones, the poet laureate emeritus of the City of Davis. This event is made possible by Katerina Hanks, producer of The Poetry Night Reading Series, with support from Helaina Flores and Cami Rothmuller.

Find out more about Dr. Andy's Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis, California by visiting http://www.poetryindavis.com. Invite your friends to sign up for the mailing list. To learn more about Dr. Andy’s tiny media fiefdom, subscribe to his weekly newsletter at https://andyjones.substack.com.