Bio

Connie's Bio

contact me connie@poetrypost.com or livermorepoetlaureate@hotmail.com

Connie Post is Poet Laureate Emerita of Livermore California.
Her term was from May 2005 through June 2009.

for more on poetry post, see links at bottom of page (scroll down)

Connie was appointed as the Poet Laureate on May 23, 2005 and completed her term June 30, 2009.

Her poetry has appeared in:

Calyx, Kalliope, Comstock Review, Chiron Review, Cold Mountain Review,

Carquinez Poetry Review, California Quarterly
Disquieting Muses Quarterly (www.dmqreview.com)
Dogwood, The Dirty Napkin, Hardpan, Iodine Poetry Journal,

Main Street Rag, Monterey Poetry Review, Mobius, Midwest Poetry Review

Oberon, Poetalk, RiverSedge, Song of the San Joaquin,

Tipton Poetry Journal, The Toronto Quarterly,White Pelican Review,
Up The Staircase Literary Review (www.upthestaircase.org),
Wild Goose Poetry Review

Anthologies: Marin Poetry Center Anthology 2008

                       When the Muse Calls - Poems for the Creative Life (edited by Kathryn Ridall) (http://www.kathryn-ridall.com)

Some of Connie's Awards Include:

Winner of the 2009 Caesura Poetry Contest
Poetry Center of San Jose http://www.poetrycentersanjose.org/

Winner of The Dirty Napkin Cover Prize Volume 2.2 Spring 2009   visit www.thedirtynapkin.com

Finalist/Runner up in the 2008 Lois Cranston Memorial Prize - Calyx
Special Merit Award 2008 & 2009 Comstock Review Muriel Craft Bailey Awards
Finalist in the 2007 Comstock Review Muriel Craft Bailey Awards
Two time winner of the Lydia Wood Grand Prize/ Las Positas Spring Arts Contest
First Prize: Montclair Poetry Meet May 2003
B Jo Kinnick Award 1996 - Ina Coolbrith
First Prize in 2004 Pleasanton Poetry and Arts Contest
First Prize in 1999 Bay Area Poets Coalition contest
First Prize in the 1998 Poets Dinner Contest
First Prize in October 2003 Ina Coolbrith:
First Prize in March 2006 Poets Dinner
First Prize in the December 2007 "Best of your Best" contest for California State Poetry Society"
First Prize in the 90th Annual Ina Coolbrith Contest (2009) in the category of "Poets Choice"

Connie has earned over ninety awards in various contests for her poetry.
In May of 2005, Connie read her poetry on a nationally syndicated radio show “West Coast Live”

Connie has been a poet since the early 1980s and has written six self published books. Her first two books
are about parenting her son with autism. In 2005, The Bay Area Poets Seasonal Review”
describes one of her books “Waking State” as revealing “a deep understanding
of the perilous balance we all seek to maintain in the landscape of our lives. “

As the First Poet Laureate, Connie was responsible for developing literature and poetry programs
in the community. She was also responsible for writing poems for civic events.
During her herm, Connie created over thirty poems for various city events and dedications.
(Many of these can be found in her new book "City of Words" )

Connie developed a Youth Poetry Critique Program that continued for 4 years and about one
year after her term ended.

One of her main goals as the First Poet Laureate of Livermore
Was been to bring poetry back to the community in a way that is accessible and memorable.

Connie created two new poetry series in Livermore. She created these in order to support the goal
that Livermore expand its growth in the arts and literature and to bring positive attention to our town
in the area of literary creativity.

The first Poetry Series she created is called “Wine and Words”.
The first event occurred on November 6, 2005 and continued for the four years of her term.
Wine and wordsfeatured many noted and wonderful poets, including Kay Ryan, Jane Hirshfield,
Al Young, Robert Sward, Paul Hoover, David Alpaugh, Chad Sweeney, Jennifer Sweeney, Rick Campbell
JP Dancing Bear and more!

The next Poetry Series Connie developed was the “Ravenswood Poetry Series”.
The first event occurred on January 29, 2006. In this case, Connie hoped to take advantage of
the historic ambience of Ravenswood and be sure audiences would enjoy wonderful poetry
in the Ravenswood setting. Ravenswood has also brought many well known poets,
such as Kim Addonizio, Lynne Knight, Camille Norton, Fady Joudah, Roxanne Beth Johnson,
Ellen Bass,kevin Hearle, Jane Mead and Taylor Graham.

EKPHRASIS: (a poetic response to visual art)
In October of 2006, Connie worked with Linda Ryan of the Tri Valley Arts Guild, to
develop an Ekphrasis art show at the Big White House Winery.
It was “poetry in motion” and was a wonderful collaboration of visual art and poetry.

In 2008, another Ekphrasis exhibit was held at Windermere in Livermore.
Connie worked with local poet & artist Cher Wollard
(Cher Wollard is now the current Poet Laureate of Livermore) to coordinate this event.
The 2008 Ekphrasis exhibit was open from November 22 - December 22, 2008. Again,
a marraige of the arts was celebrated and many enjoyed it.

As of July 1st, 2009 Cher Wollard is the New Poet Laureate of Livermore. Congratulations to Cher!

SO, WHAT'S NEXT??

As of August 2009, Connie is the new Host of the Valona Deli Second Sunday Series.
David Alpaugh was the host for Seven Years and Connie is honored that David asked her to
assume responsibilities to run the this very popular series!
See "upcoming events" for the Valona Poetry Series Calendar of Events!