Poetry as a Healing Art

Tuesday, October 20, 5pm PT

Deborah E. Grayson

A Deep Dive Into Small Press Publishing

Join us for an insightful conversation exploring the ins and outs of small press publishing. This session will cover what sets small presses apart, how to find the right fit for your work, and what to expect from the submission, editing, and publication process. Whether you're new to publishing or looking to deepen your understanding, this talk offers valuable guidance for navigating the vibrant world of independent literary publishing.

Diane Goettel is the Executive Editor of Black Lawrence Press. Her writing has recently appeared in Club Plum, Ethel, Border Crossings, Grimoire, and The Laurel Review. She lives in Mt. Vernon, New York with her family.

Thursday, November 19, 5pm PT

John Fox

Behind the Editor’s Desk

Learn about the business of writing and publishing poetry from the long-time editor of one of the largest literary journals in English. The session will explore how a poetry journal functions behind the scenes, what editors are looking for, and how to find an audience in the 21^st century. We’ll also address alternative forms of publishing, including NFTs and social media, and have time for a Q & A at the end.

Timothy Green is the editor of Rattle magazine, host of the weekly Rattlecast and Critique of the Week, and co-host of The Poetry Space_, with his wife, Katie Dozier. His radio programming has aired on KPFK-Los Angeles and his articles on poetry in the Press-Enterprise newspaper. Green is the author of American Fractal and Hot Pink Moon, which was co-written with Katie Dozier. He’s also the co-founder of the Wrightwood Arts & Wine Festival and the Wrightwood Arts Center. Find him on X @timothygreen. He lives inThe Woodlands, Texas.

Wednesday, December 16, 5pm PT

Dr. Ana Ljubinkovic

Dr. Ana Ljubinkovic is an Associate Professor of Sociology at California State University, Stanislaus, and an external academic examiner for the MA in Refugee Care at the University of Essex, UK. Her research interests focus on trauma, collective violence, refugeehood, and the role of poetry in promoting psychological healing. Ana has previously taught at MA programs in Human Rights (UK), MA in Refugee Care (UK) and MA in Peace Education (Italy). 

Her work has been published in the Journal of Poetry Therapy and includes the articles Poetry as ‘self-therapy’ in intractable conflict settings, Healing dimensions of Somali poetry in response to military humanitarian intervention, and Therapeutic role of Somali humor in digesting military humanitarian intervention. Her recent publication, Bards of Dadaab: Oral poetry and psychological healing among Somali refugees in Kenya, explores the therapeutic role of Somali oral verse in coping with protracted exile. She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Poetry Therapy and has conducted workshops at National Association for Poetry Therapy (NAPT) conferences in 2026, 2025 and 2024.

Thursday, August 21, 5pm PT

Ronald Spatz

Ronald Spatz is the co-founding editor and longtime editor-in-chief of Alaska Quarterly Review (AQR), called “one of the nation’s best literary magazines” by The Washington Post. A former National Endowment for the Arts Fellow, he has taught English and Creative Writing at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) since 1980, where he founded LitSite Alaska, the UAA/Anchorage Daily News Statewide Creative Writing Contest, and served as founding Dean of the UAA University Honors College.

Spatz holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His writing and video work have appeared in journals and on public TV, while AQR selections have been widely reprinted in The Best American series, The Pushcart Prize, The New Yorker, and more. His many honors include the 2024 Governor’s Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award and the University of Alaska’s Edith R. Bullock Prize for Excellence.