Poetluck featuring Nikki Hanna, Susanne Wiley, and Kathy Leonard

Award-winning author and writing coach, Nikki Hanna, will be reading two pieces of work, "Dancing Ho" and Writers are Thieves," both of which are entertaining with strong messages. Nikki just released her eighth book, Listen Up, Writer – How Not to Write Like an Amateur. Nikki describes her writing as "rich with irreverent, quirky humor and peppered with strong messages." As an author, teacher, writing coach, contest judge, and speaker, she is dedicated to inspiring others and offers workshops and presentations on aging, writing, leadership, and women’s issues. In addition to numerous awards for poetry, essays, and short stories, Hanna is the recipient of Oklahoma Writers’ Federation’s Crème de la Crème Award, and the Rose State College’s Outstanding Writer Award. As a self-published author, her book awards include The National Indie Excellence Book Award, two International Book Excellence Awards, four Independent Book Awards, and USA Book Finalist Award. To learn more about Nikki, visit https://www.nikkihanna.com.

Poets, Susanne Wiley and Kathy Leonard, will also be reading at February's Poetluck. Both are poets from Hot Springs, Arkansas, and have been featured poets at the open-mic poetry event in Hot Springs, Wednesday Night Poetry (WNP). Beginning in February 1989, WNP is said to be the longest-running consecutive weekly poetry series in the country. 

Author of the book of poetry, The Vast Unknowing, Susanne Wiley is a native Texan, visual artist, and writer. She first visited Arkansas two years ago and was drawn to its natural beauty and creative atmosphere. Within months she made Hot Springs her home. Susanne taught Theater and Film and was a coach and judge for Texas UIL Prose and Poetry Competitions. Now retired from teaching High School English, she has refocused her energy on writing, painting, and directing. She currently serves as a stage manager for the Hot Springs Ballet. “I believe a poem’s beauty is the way it draws us together and touches the core of who we are. It has the ability to connect us in an intimate way with someone we have never met.” To learn more about Susanne, visit  http://home.earthlink.net/~nshiffrin 

Kathy Leonard lived most of her life in southern California, where she worked as an Adult Education Teacher, a Middle School English Teacher, and in the field of Occupational Therapy before her retirement. She transplanted to Hot Springs to care for her elderly father in 2017 and stayed because of the accessibility to nature. “The wonderous beauty of this landscape is restorative to my soul. I love the sky, the birds, the deer, and the trees in this place.” She has been published in Pegasus, Alta Dena Poetry Review, and California Quarterly among others. Kathy says, “we are all storytellers with our own sacred story to tell. I celebrate the healing, cathartic power of poetry and the spoken word.”

Poetluck is the third Thursday of every month. It starts at 6:30 p.m. with a potluck dinner. Readings start at 7:15 p.m. and end by 8:45 p.m. Local and visiting writers may share their work for up to ten minutes following the featured writers. Readings may be poems, prose, or songs. Order is chosen by random drawing. Poetluck is a supportive environment, the perfect setting to premiere new work.