Susan B.A. Somers-Willett
Susan B.A. Somers-Willett
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Upcoming Events

Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Time TBA | Writers at Work
discussion
7PM | 9th Annual Drew Darrow Memorial Reading
Bucknell Hall | Bucknell University | Lewisburg, PA

The Darrow Memorial Reading honors the memory of Drew Darrow, a 1986 Bucknell graduate. The annual reading is co-sponsored by the Writing Center and the Stadler Center for Poetry, with support from Drew Darrow's family and friends. A reception and book signing with Susan B.A. Somers-Willett will follow her reading.


Past Events

Monday, May 31, 2010 | 7PM
louder ARTS Feature, Under the Red Tent
Bar 13 | Union Square, New York City

35 East 13th Street @ University Place
2nd Floor, 212.979.6677
$6 | $5 students

4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W to 14th Street | Union Square
Open mic with a feature by Susan B.A. Somers-Willett

Tuesday, April 27, 2010
6 PM | WordShop @ Bowery Arts and Sciences: Ekphrastic Poetry
7 PM | Urbana Slam Feature: Semi-finals
Bowery Poetry Club | New York City

308 Bowery, between Houston & Bleecker
F train to Second Ave, or 6 train to Bleecker
$10 admission | All ages venue | Tickets available at the door only

In this week's WordShop, Susan B.A. Somers-Willett discusses the possibilities and challenges of writing about painting, photography, and sculpture as well as techniques for bringing the ancient tradition of ekphrasis into the 21st century. The last semi-finals of the Urbana Slam season will follow, with Susan as the featured poet performing before the show.

April 7-10, 2010
"The Cultural Politics of Slam Poetry" Roundtable Discussion
AWP Conference & Bookfair | Denver, CO

Hyatt Regency Denver
650 15th Street

Roundtable discussion with Roger Bonair-Agard, Patrick Rosal, Patricia Smith, Danny Solis, Susan B. A. Somers-Willett, and Lesley Wheeler

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 | 8 PM
Page Meets Stage: Susan B. A. Somers-Willett and Regie Gibson
Bowery Poetry Club | New York City

308 Bowery, between Houston & Bleecker
F train to Second Ave, or 6 train to Bleecker
$12 admission | All ages venue | Tickets available at the door only

A co-production of Words Worth Ink and Blue Flower Arts, the PAGE MEETS STAGE series brings together two poets from completely different worlds, one who writes primarily for the PAGE and another who writes primarily for the STAGE. The poets read together for almost an hour, back and forth, poem for poem to benefit for Bowery Arts & Sciences, the educational arm of the Bowery Poetry Club dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the oral tradition of poetry via live readings, media documentation and creation.

Sunday, February 28, 2010
4PM | Master Class
7:30 PM | Screening and Discussion

Union Docs: A Forum for Documentary Arts

322 Union Avenue | Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
$7 suggested donation
L to Lorimer St. | G to Metropolitain Ave. | J to Hewes St.
Master class and discussion of "Women of Troy" with radio journalist Lu Olkowski and poet Susan B.A. Somers-Willett

Thursday, February 25, 2010
Sarah Lawrence College | Bronxville, NY

Radio journalist Lu Olkowski and poet Susan B.A. Somers-Willett will discuss "Women of Troy" with graduate MFA students.

Wednesday, December 9 , 2009 | Noon
"Women of Troy" interview, as part of the InVerse Poetry Series
Word of Mouth, New Hampshire Public Radio

Interview with radio journalist Lu Olkowski and poet Susan B.A. Somers-Willett


Sunday, November 22, 2009 | Times vary
"Just a Girl" broadcast, as part of the InVerse Poetry Series
BBC Radio 4 Americana

Interview with radio journalist Lu Olkowski with poetry by Susan B.A. Somers-Willett

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | 2:30 PM
Live Lit Reading Series
University Hall Courtyard | Montclair State University | Monclair, NJ

Reading and Q&A session featuring Julia Wagner, Anastasia Rubis, and Susan B.A. Somers-Willett.

November 5-8, 2009 | Broadcast times and dates vary
"Women of Troy" broadcast, as part of the InVerse Poetry Series
Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen

Public radio affiliate stations nationwide
Multi-Media Poetry Broadcast
Click here for a listing of your local station and Studio 360 airtimes.

Thursday, November 5, 2009 | 5-6:45 PM
"Hip-Hop, Poetry, and Belonging: Citizenship and the Cultural Politics of Rhyming" Panel
American Studies Association Conference

Renaissance Hotel | Washington, D.C.
999 9th Street NW | Hotel Auditorium

Featuring talks from Adam Bradley, Meta DuEwa Jones, James Braxton Peterson, and Susan B.A. Somers-Willett. Chair and respondent: Diana R. Paulin.

Thursday, October 8, 2009 | 6 PM
Queztal Quill Reading Series
The Cornelia Street Cafe | New York City

29 Cornelia Street in Greenwich Village | 212-989-9319
A/C/E/F/V/B/D trains to W. 4th St. stop
$7 admission (includes a free drink)

Reading with Blas Falconer, Tyehimba Jess, Helena Mesa, and Susan B. A. Somers-Willett
Hosted and Curated by Rigoberto Gonzalez
Books for sale courtesy of Mobile Libris

Saturday, July 11, 2009
3PM
Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review Reading
America/Americas Gallery, Blanton Museum of Art | Austin, TX

MLK at Congress on the University of Texas campus
Parking is available across the street from the museum at the Brazos Parking Garage
A reading in celebration of Borderlands' summer 2009 issue inspired by the Blanton Poetry Project, focusing on ekphrastic poetry and artwork from the museum's permanent collections. The issue will be on sale at the event, courtesy of the Blanton gift shop.

Sunday, April 26, 2009
3 PM
BookPeople | Austin, TX

Reading and Booksigning with Anna Journey and Susan B. A. Somers-Willett

Thursday, April 2 , 2009
7:30 PM
Michener Center for Writers Reading Series | Austin, TX

The University of Texas at Austin
Avaya Auditorium, ACES 2.302 (southeast corner of Speedway and 24th Street)
Solo Reading and Booksigning

Tuesday, March 31, 2009
9:30-2 PM
Poetry, Voice, and Performance Symposium | Austin, TX

Sponsored by the Creative Writing Program at The University of Texas at Austin
Asian Culture Room, Texas Union 4.224
Roundtable discussion, performance, and Q&A session with Meta DuEwa Jones, Susan B. A. Somers-Willett, and Leslie Wheeler

Friday, March 20 , 2009
2 PM
Virginia Festival for the Book | Charlottesville, VA

University of Virginia Bookstore
400 Emmet Street South, (434) 924-3721
VQR Series Reading with John Casteen, Ted Genoways, Victoria Chang, and Susan B. A. Somers-Willett

February 14, 2009
6:30-7:30 PM
AWP Conference & Bookfair | Chicago, IL

New Works by Three Poets
Jeffrey McDaniel | Patricia Smith | Susan B.A. Somers-Willett
Barnes & Noble, DePaul University Center
1 East Jackson Blvd. (between State St & Wabash Ave., 7 blocks from the Chicago Hilton)
Reading and Booksigning

Wednesday, January 14, 2009
10 AM
LBJ Liberal Arts and Sciences High School | Austin, TX

7309 Lazy Creek Dr.
Poetry Out Loud Workshop

Wednesday, February 13, 2008
7PM
Trinity College | San Antonio, TX

Coates University Center
Reading and Booksigning

Monday, February 11, 2008
4 PM

Dripping Springs High School | Dripping Springs, TX

111 Tiger Lane
Poetry Out Loud Workshop

Saturday, February 2, 2008
4:30-6:15 PM
AWP Conference & Bookfair | New York, NY
Twenty Years of New York City Slam
Hilton New York, 1335 Avenue of the Americas
Regent Parlor, 2nd Floor
Panel discussion with Daniel Nester, Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz, Shappy Seasholtz, and Susan B. A. Somers-Willett

Friday, August 17, 2007
7 PM EST
The Eclectic Word with Victor Infante
The World Wide Word Radio Network
Internet Broadcast Interview and Reading with Scott Woods and Marc Smith

August 7-11 , 2007
National Poetry Slam | Austin, Texas

Listed events are free and open to the public

Wednesday, August 8 | 11:30AM-1 PM
Slam and the Academy Panel
Hideout Upstairs Theater, 617 Congress Ave.

Thursday, August 9| 3-4:30 PM
Is There Such a Thing as "Slam Poetry"? Panel Discussion with Scott Woods
Hideout Upstairs Theater, 617 Congress Ave.

Friday, August 10 | 2:30-4 PM
Revenge of the Nerd Legends Showcase
Hideout Theater, 617 Congress Ave.

June 28-30 , 2007
Poetry Cross-Training Camp | SUNY Oneonta
Instructor/Presenter

A three-day intensive conference for adults led by some of the nation's top performance poets. The conference encompasses writing as craft, performance tricks and tips, the creative process, revision and editing, publishing, teaching slam in your school, and promoting yourself and/or reading series.

May 13-16, 2007
Northeast Tour with Genevieve Van Cleve

Sunday, May 13| 7 PM
Poets' Asylum Reading Series | Worcester, MA
The Java Hut

1073A Main Street (at Webster Square)
508.752.1678

Monday, May 14 | 7 PM
louderARTS Slam Finals | New York City, NY
13 Bar | Lounge

35 East 13th Street @ University Place
2nd Floor, 212.979.6677
4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W to 14th Street | Union Square
$6 | $5 students
2 for 1 drinks

Tuesday, May 15| 7-9 PM
Urbana Presents: Genevieve Van Cleve and Susan B.A. Somers-Willett
Bowery Poetry Club | New York City, NY

308 Bowery, 212.614.0505
Located at foot of First Street, between Houston & Bleecker
across the street from CBGBs
F train to Second Ave, or 6 train to Bleecker

Wednesday, May 16 | 8 PM
Boston Poetry Slam | Cambridge, MA
Cantab Lounge

738 Massachusetts Ave. (Central Square)
617.354.2685

Wednesday, March 21, 2007
4:30 PM
Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA
"Poetry in Public"

Adamson Wing, Baker Hall 136
Research Talk and Presentation

Monday, February 12, 2007
4:30 PM
Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA

Maggie Murph Cafe, Hunt Library
Reading and Booksigning

Friday, November 3, 2006
7 PM
Nickel City Poetry Slam | Buffalo, NY

Albright-Knox Art Gallery
1285 Elmwood Avenue
Reading and Booksigning

Tuesday, October 20, 2006
7 PM
Prosody with Jan Beatty
WYEP Radio, 91.3 FM | Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast Interview and Reading

Friday, October 13, 2006
Noon, Carnegie Mellon University
Center for the Arts in Society Meeting | Pittsburgh, PA

H & SS Dean's Conference Room, Baker Hall 154 R
Research Talk

Friday, October 13, 2006
3PM, University of Pittsburgh
Writers' Cafe | Pittsburgh, PA

Pitt Writing Center, M2 Thaw Hall
Student Workshop with Deb Bogan

Friday, October 6, 2006
8 PM (come early to ensure entry)
Gist Street Reading Series | Pittsburgh, PA

James Simon’s sculpture studio
305 Gist Street, Uptown Pittsburgh, 3rd floor | Directions
$5 suggested donation; food, wine, and socializing begin at 7 PM
Reading with Lee Peterson

August 9-12 , 2006
National
Poetry Slam | Austin, Texas
Listed events are free and open to the public

Thursday, August 10 | Noon-1:30 PM
Slam and the Academy Panel
Hideout Upstairs Theater, 617 Congress Ave.

Friday, August 11 | Noon-1:30 PM
NPS Women's Showcase
Hideout Theater, 617 Congress Ave.

Friday, August 11 | 2:15-3:00 PM
Surviving in the Small Press World Panel
Hideout Upstairs Theater, 617 Congress Ave.

Wednesday, July 5, 2006
7:30 PM

Austin Poetry Slam
| Austin, Texas
Ego's, 510 South Congress
Featured performance

Friday and Saturday, June 30-July 1, 2006
Youth Writers' Workshop

Southern Illinois University | Carbondale, Illinois

Reading and Lecture/Workshop

Tuesday, April 11, 2006
4:30 PM
Illini Union Bookstore Author's Corner | Champaign, Illinois

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Reading and Booksigning

Monday, April 10, 2006
10 AM
Focus 580 Program with David Inge
WILL Radio, AM 580| Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
Broadcast Interview and Reading

Thursday, April 6, 2006
4 PM

Southern Illinois University | Carbondale, Illinois

2005 Crab Orchard Series Award Reading
Reading and Booksigning

March 8-11, 2006
AWP Conference & Bookfair | Austin, Texas

Thursday, March 9 | 3 PM
"Slam Poetry and the Academy" Roundtable Discussion
Austin Hilton (500 East 4th Street), Salon D
Roundtable discussion with Tyehimba Jess, Eitan Kadosh, Ed Bok Lee, Cin Salach, Patricia Smith, Susan B. A. Somers-Willett

Friday, March 10 | 3 PM
Crab Orchard Series in Poetry Reading
Austin Hilton (500 East 4th Street), Meeting Room 404
Group reading and booksigning featuring Victoria Chang, Amy Fleury, David Hernandez, Susan B. A. Somers-Willett

Saturday, March 11 | 3 PM
"Grassroots Austin: The Hottest Acts in Slam Poetry" Showcase
Austin Convention Center, Meeting Room 8ABC
Group reading featuring Mike Henry, Phil West, Liz Jones, Tony Jackson, Christopher Lee, Patricia Smith, Cin Salach, Susan B. A. Somers-Willett

Sunday, February 26, 2006
3 PM
Maple Leaf Bar | New Orleans, Louisiana
8316 Oak Street
A reading not to miss. Susan features at the oldest-running reading series in New Orleans, set in the home venue of Rebirth Brass Band, during Mardi Gras weekend. A second line to the Bacchus parade will follow.