Bio

Connie's Bio

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

Connie Post is the first and current Poet Laureate of Livermore, California

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

Connie was appointed as the Poet Laureate on May 23, 2005. Her term will continue to May 2009
She has been a published poet for over twenty five years. Her poetry has appeared in:
Kalliope (Women and War Issue), Comstock Review, White Pelican Review, Main Street Rag,
Monterey Poetry Review, Iodine Poetry Journal, Carquinez Poetry Review, Mid West Poetry Review.
California Quarterly, Song of the San Joaquin, Hardpan, Mobius, Poetalk, and many others.

Some of her awards include:
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"

Connie has earned over seventy awards in various contests for her poetry, locally and statewide
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 Poet Laureate, Connie is responsible for developing literature and poetry programs
in the community. She is also responsible for writing poems for civic events as the city requests.
To date, Connie has written over twenty poems for various city events and dedications.
(Many of these can be found in her new book "City of Words"

Connie has developed a youth poetry critique program that occurs once a month at the Livermore Library.
Her main goal has been to bring poetry back to the community in a way that is accessible and memorable.

Connie has 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 developed is called “Wine and Words”.
There are excellent featured readers followed by and open mic hour. The first event occurred on
November 6, 2005. Attendees enjoy the winery atmosphere combined with wonderful words.
Wine and words has featured many noted and wonderful poets, including Jane Hirshfield, Kay Ryan, Al Young,
Robert Sward, Paul Hoover, David Alpaugh and more, The next Poetry Series Connie has developed
is named 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.
Refreshments are served and after the features present their work, local poets can join in
an open mic session. Ravenswood has also brought many well known poets,
such as Kim Addonizio, Lynne Knight, Fady Joudah and more!

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 is “poetry in motion” and was a wonderful collaboration of visual art and poetry.
Connie will continue to organize and develop events that will expand and highlight the arts in Livermore.