Sawmill Poetry Series

In October of 2022, Plenty partnered with Tennessee poet Erin Hoover to bring a free, monthly community poetry reading series to Cookeville’s growing literary scene. Sawmill Poetry Series, named for the beloved Southern breakfast gravy, features readings from touring poets that have recently published a collection followed by an open mic reading in which local writers may volunteer to share their original work with our audience. All poets are from the South or Mid-South. 

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Readings begin at 7:00 p.m. on the first feasible (non-holiday) Monday of each month.  Local writers who wish to share their work in the open mic are invited to arrive by 6:45 p.m. to sign up for a five-minute open mic slot.  Written poetry, performance poetry, song lyrics, flash fiction, and micro-essay readings are all welcome. 

 

POETS FEATURED THUS FAR at SAWMILL:

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• November 7, 2022: Anna B. Sutton (Raleigh, NC), reading from Savage Flower 

• December 5, 2022:  Jacqueline Allen Trimble (Montgomery, AL), reading from How to Survive the Apocalypse

• February 6, 2023: Alina Stefanescu (Birmingham, AL), reading from from Dor

• March 6, 2023:  Nikki Ummel (New Orleans, LA), reading from Hush

• April 3, 2023: Noreen Ocampo & Maggie Graber (Oxford, MS), reading from their respective collections, Not Flowers and Swan Hammer

• May 3, 2023: Bernard Clay

• June 5, 2023: Destiny Hemphill

• August 7, 2023: Amie Whittemore

• September 11, 2023: Anna Laura Reeve

• October 23, 2023: Anders Carlson-Wee

• November 6, 2023: Erin Hoover (Book Party!)

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If you enjoy poetry, you may also be interested in our resources for writers. We offer a monthly writers' workshop, various special events centered around the theme of writing and publishing, and the best writing instruments to inspire as you write your next bestselling novel or essay.