The Planet Earth Poetry reading series is a launching pad for the energies of writers and poets established and not. It is a place where words are most important. A venue in which all manner of poets and writers are welcome; a place for excellence, innovation, collaboration, diverse projects and experiments. The evening begins at 7:30 with an open mic, followed by a featured reader(s). Planet Earth Poetry is located at Hillside Coffee and Tea, 1633 Hillside Ave (across from Bolen Books). Between 7 and 7:15, put your name in the hat to read at open mic.  Planet Earth Poetry acknowledges that we have the honour to host this reading series on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen peoples.

FRIDAY, june 8, 2018

anne campbell

Anne Campbell is an award-winning author of six collections of poetry and of popular non-fiction. Readings of her work, workshops, and musical compositions with Victoria’s Tom Schudel have taken her across Canada, the USA, and Britain. Her many awards include the City of Regina Writing Award, the Mayor’s Arts Award, and the Mayor’s Heritage Award. In her work at the Regina Public Library, Campbell administered Canada’s first public Writer-in-Residence program.

FRIDAY, june 8, 2018

david day

David Day has published fifty books over such diverse subjects as history, fantasy, ecology, natural history, mythology, poetry and fiction. Day’s books—for both adults and children—have sold over three million copies worldwide and have been translated into twenty languages. He has also written for newspapers, magazines, television, film and theatre. Recent publications include: The Heroes of Tolkien (Thunder Bay), Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Decoded (Doubleday) and Nevermore: A Book of Hours (Fourfront Editions - Quattro Books)  www.daviddaybooks.com 

FRIDAY, june 22, 2018

five island poets in celebration of the summer solstice

Five Island poets (known as the Bellingham Five) – Susan Alexander (Bowen Island), Terry Ann Carter (Victoria), Richard Osler (Duncan), Barbara Pelman (Esquimalt), and Linda Thompson (Port Alberni)  journeyed to Bellingham, Washington in 2017 to read a series of linked poems. They had arranged beforehand to connect a couple of their own poems to the poet before them, in a linked cycle of themes. Wonderful and surprising juxtapositions arose from these connections.  Their reading on June 22nd is a reprise of their work.

Susan Alexander is author of The Dance Floor Tilts (Thistledown Press, 2017). Her poems have received prizes and appeared in several literary magazines.

Poet and paper artist, Terry Ann Carter, is the author of four collections of lyric poetry and five chapbooks of haiku. Her book Tokaido (Red Moon Press) won the Touchstone Distinguished Books Award 2017.

Richard Osler, a 1951 summer solstice baby, still cherishes long-lit summer days and now reads and writes poetry to lengthen his days all year long.

Barbara Pelman, a retired English teacher, and poet recently won the Malahat Review Open Season Contest. She has three books of poetry, including Narrow Bridge (Ronsdale Press, 2017) and a chapbook.

Linda K. Thompson writes from her treehouse in the shadow of the Beaufort Range.  She pins her puny, homesick characters against this walloping landscape.