Free! Every Monday evening, 7-9p.m. All languages welcome. Facilitated by Kelvin Tavarez.

About the Anthology:

Screaming at America: An Anthology of Disobedience is a necessary collection of voices from all over the world, with many featured writers and artists from Boulder, Denver, and the front range. Join us to hear pieces from this powerful collection. You'll also have the opportunity to share your own work that aligns with the theme.  We scream so our voices are heard. We scream to be in solidarity together. We scream because we care!

About the Editors:

Olivia Pearman (she/her) is a Boulder-based poet who believes strongly in the importance of art and its ability to change the world.

Joshua C. Robinson (they/them) is a poet, memoirist, journalist, and founder of Art Before Money. They love you and they mean it!

Effervescent and tough, Emma Sky is like a River. Her catchy and beautiful melodies travel on a harmonic stream of fingerpicking guitar. Lyrically, she explores feelings most humans can relate to - thinking too much, wanting a simple and easy life, and of course love both gained and lost. She is inspired by artists like Sierra Ferrell, Bella White, and Labi Siffre as well as local artists like Derek Dames Ohl, Ingrid Avison, and Sturtz. Her influences validate what she hopes to offer which is a feeling of connectedness. She exists to inspire her listeners to connect with their inner dreamer and the unseen current of energy that connects us all and flows to the magical ocean of love, color, and creativity. 

Emmet Griffin is a local musician from Nederland. Aspiring luthier, songwriter, and session musician, music is Emmet’s life and love. With a heart of gold, Emmet’s presence combined with his unique style of guitar playing and songwriting make him a joy and wonder to witness. There is always a tune buzzing around in his head. As a long time busker, Emmet finds epic power in collaboration and opening his heart to the world. He works at various local venues as a stagehand and is always down to lend a helping hand. 

Born and raised in Ward, Colorado, Ella Wren Running-Rabbit embodies the spirit of our beloved forests and mountains. Chopping wood and hauling water have always been a natural part of life for Ella. This inherent earthiness echoes in her music and entire being. She sings her stories and ponderings over impressive bluegrass style guitar playing. Ella is known to incorporate a variety of instruments including accordion, native american drum, piano, and harmonica. There is an effortlessness to her performance and getting to hear her play feels like a gift. 

Jared Carbone: A Boulder native, this alt folk rocker blends pop sensibility with a keen eye for the absurdities of the modern world. Sometimes, a heady cocktail of the supernatural, county election officials, a retired quantum physicist, and unsuspecting tourists at a Mexican beach resort is on tap.  Sometimes, a simple love song will do. Think existential folk-rock with a literary and darkly comic streak, or John-Prine-meets-Elvis-Costello storytelling with jazz-folk colorations.

Jeff Clendening’s songwriting blends americana and indie pop with an Indiana childhood at its heart.

Taylor Sharpe writes bittersweet and sometimes funny songs about family, heartache, and the end of the world. His songs are reflections on the past and future of the Mountain West, alongside wry commentary on the absurdity of modern life.

"Mystical folk" singer-songwriter. Inspired by nature, love, and the joys and pains of the human/soul experience. 

Their sound will be familiar to you if you’re a fan of Americana and Alt-Country (mixed with Honky-Tonk and a little bit of Cowpunk). Their sound will be familiar if you listen to bands like Whiskeytown and Drive-By Truckers. Raw and polished at the same time, with loud guitars, 3 part harmonies, and a passion for Songwriting, storytelling, and bringing all of that to the stage.

Less than a year after their formation, Jack Yoder & the Doublewide Disaster have pulled off their first Midwest tour. 7 states, 11 shows, and 14 days on the road, honing in on their sound at every venue. You may have heard them recently, but you haven't heard them like this before.

The shows that the Doublewide Disaster put on are described as a whole lot of fun.  Fans see a band onstage having a great time performing, adding in storytelling and engaging with the crowd, who gets drawn into the moment. To the point where the crowd is singing the lyrics and participating in sing-alongs as loudly as they can. Think about how hard it is to get a group of people to sing along in a crowd participation chant. At a Doublewide show, they do it all the time. You’ll hear and see a band that loves what they do, is engaging, and is grateful to be onstage every time.  

Built around Jack Yoder's Solo acoustic show and his years of touring throughout the country, Jack Yoder & the Doublewide Disaster bring that catalog to an all-new, higher level that’s a must-see.

Claim your 15 minute spot:

WWW.ENTER-THE-PORTAL.COM

*Walk-ins are welcome, but spots are limited, so we recommend reserving in advance.

ALCHEMIA AURI TAROT

Explore the Old World with Alchemia Auri.  A 79 card tarot deck steeped in tradition and born from the Philosopher's Stone.  It has been carefully curated with the finest works of Art and Alchemical engravings throughout the ages.  It includes a signed Certificate of Authenticity, a pdf Guidebook, an additional Arcana card, and alternate cards to customize your divinations.  Each deck is encased in a velvet, drawstring bag and branded with the emblem of the circle cross.  Printed in the United States with algae and soy ink on recycled paper.

Cole's highest calling is connecting people with their own innate healing.  She has a deep reverence for the sacred power of botanicals and the divination arts, using these gifts to explore body and psyche in search of the highest evolution of the soul.  She works intimately with the rhythms of the natural world to receive wisdom from the archetypes that breathe meaning into each of our lives.  She is the founder of ENTER THE PORTAL and the creator of Alchemia Auri Tarot, a deck derived from alchemical allegory and esoteric philosophy.

Some good tunes!

Free! Every Monday evening, 7-9p.m. All languages welcome. Facilitated by Kelvin Tavarez.

Static Parade is a reading series hosted by the CU Boulder creative writing MFA students. Every semester, this series introduces writers from our program to the larger Boulder community through our longstanding partnership with Trident Booksellers. Please join us to hear three of our writers of either fiction or poetry share their latest work for about twenty minutes each, with a short intermission.

Divino BetSatori‘s devotional world music combines ancient wisdom with modern insight. Drawing from the universal teachings of spiritual traditions worldwide, they share kirtan, medicine music, and original songs, which are best described as “indie-acoustic folk-rock, with hip-hop and reggae influence”. The band is based out of Boulder, Colorado; and they are on a mission to help you Remember Your Divinity. 

Divino BetSatori has played at all major yoga studios in the Denver area, expanding its reach across Colorado, playing at festivals such as Sangha Fest, AWAKE Fest, Muse Fest, and BLISS, Colorado Chant and Sacred Sound Festival. Divino BetSatori’s debut album “Remember Your Divinity” was released in 2025. 

Bruno Treves (guitar, vocals) stands as the backbone of the project, anchored in devotion for the Divine; rooted down through practice, and branching out through the community. Shows range from Bruno’s solo acoustic performances, to full-band sets with multiple guitars, backing vocals, percussion, bass, violin, and surprise guest musicians. 

As a solo artist, Bruno leads kirtan, and serenaded his audience during public and private ceremonies. As a group, Divino BetSatori offers a variety of sets, including kirtan, medicine music, original songs, and a mix from all the above. They can engage the audience, prompting people to sing along, and can also play background music for any event, providing the right vibe for parties, weddings, festivals, and community events. More info on the website: www.divinobetsatori.com 

Baltimore-based rock singer-songwriter Mark Davison is the principal creative for NUKE THE SOUP. From the forthcoming album Dancing On The Edge, their new single “Biggest Storm” was produced by Grammy-winner Kevin Killen (U2, Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello) and Gerry “Spooky Ghost” Leonard (David Bowie). The track features a lively ensemble of standout musicians, including keyboardist Brian Simms, guitarist Gerry Leonard, bassist Mike Mennell, and drummers Chester Thompson and John Thomakos. Together, this fiercely independent band crafts delicious rock-and-roll, blending introspective and socially conscious lyrics with infectiously catchy melodies and an effortless natural spirit.

Creatives like Davison draw from real-life experiences to craft music that feels honest and fresh. For Mark, an avid skier, being sidelined by back issues presented an immense challenge. The thought of missing out on powdery, freshly fallen snow taunted him—so much that he could no longer bear it. With the difficult choice between physical recovery and soulful rejuvenation, Mark decided to follow his heart, heeding the call of the mountains. With its catchy hooks and bouncy melody, “Biggest Storm” mirrors the pure, free-spirited joy of gliding down those snowy peaks.

Nuke The Soup’s previous albums, Make Waves Not War (2009) and Deeper (2018), boldly tackled “big picture” topics such as politics, climate change, and the complexities of personal relationships. Now, with their highly anticipated upcoming album, Dancing On The Edge (out April 4), NTS continues to push boundaries, delivering a collection of energetic, ear wormy songs that explore life’s deeper questions while keeping listeners hooked with their signature sound.

Presenting Lady Grey Growls: a fusion of jazz, R&B and singer-songwriter tunes, with Emma Patterson on vocals and keys and Will Hettel on drums. Get ready to groove to covers and original sounds, and enjoy some brand new material as Lady Grey Growls prepares for their new album.

Free! Every Monday evening, 7-9p.m. All languages welcome. Facilitated by Kelvin Tavarez.

Victoria Lee grew up in Durham, North Carolina, where she spent her childhood writing ghost stories and fantasizing about attending boarding school. She has a Ph.D. in psychology, which she uses to overanalyze fictional characters and also herself. Lee is the author of A Lesson in Vengeance as well as The Fever King and its sequel, The Electric Heir. She lives in New York City with her partner, cat, and malevolent dog.

Mira Devi

Mira Devi's music is a soul-stirring blend of East and West, weaving folk melodies with poetic storytelling. Drawing inspiration from artists like Shawn Colvin, The Band, and Gregory Alan Isakov, her thoughtful musicianship and evocative lyrics explore love, loss, motherhood, and the search for connection in a beautifully imperfect world. Explore her offerings at www.miradevi.com

Paula Gayatri

Singer-songwriter Paula Gayatri delivers poetic, intimate performances dripping with soul. Early influences like Joni Mitchell, Indigo Girls, and Bach have woven with her years of chanting and meditation at a yoga ashram. Check out her album, Between Music & Love, and explore her offerings at www.gayatri.devillier.com

Bring an acoustic instrument and sit in with Boulder Old-Time Jam! Every first Thursday on the Trident Patio, starting at 6 p.m.

Free! Every Monday evening, 7-9p.m. All languages welcome. Facilitated by Kelvin Tavarez.

About Eddie:

Eddie Ahn is the author and artist of "Advocate," the national bestseller graphic memoir published by Penguin Random House in 2024, and he has worked as an environmental justice attorney and nonprofit worker for fifteen years. While working as the executive director of Brightline Defense, a San Francisco–based environmental justice nonprofit, he was inducted into the State of California’s Clean Energy Hall of Fame for his work in equity and clean energy. In addition to his nonprofit work, he has served as president of the San Francisco Commission on the Environment as well as a commissioner on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Bay Conservation and Development Commission. He is a self-taught artist who has been recognized as a Cartoonist-in-Residence by the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa.

About Advocate:

“Advocate,” ISBN 9781984862495, a graphic memoir published by Penguin Random House/Ten Speed Graphic

Born in the United States to Korean immigrants, Eddie grew up working at his family’s store with the weighty expectations that their sacrifices would be paid off when he achieved the “American Dream.” Years later after moving to San Francisco and earning a coveted law degree, he then does the unthinkable: he rejects a lucrative legal career to enter the nonprofit world.

In carving his own path, Eddie defies his family’s notions of economic success, igniting a struggle between family expectations, professional goals, and dreams of community. As an environmental justice attorney, he confronts the most immediate issues the country is facing today, from the devastating effects of wildfires to economic inequality, all while combatting burnout and racial prejudice. In coming fully into his own, Eddie also reaches a hand back to his parents, showing them the value of a life of service rather than one spent only seeking monetary wealth.

Weaving together humorous anecdotes with moments of victory and hope, this powerful, deeply contemplative full-color graphic novel explores the relationship between immigration and activism, opportunity and obligation, and familial duty and community service.

chanthing is a Boulder retiree weaving ambient soundscapes with a modular synthesizer dominantly composed of units from Mutable Instruments. He draws his inspiration from classic electronic musicians like Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk, Robert Fripp, and Brian Eno, as well as from the natural world. He seeks to turn hearing into listening. 

“Consisting of four likeminded sonic searchers, Blue Pink Little Shoe steps on the line between intention and happenstance and then runs in the opposite direction. One can never know what hidden timbres might emerge from a session. Unpredictable as they are consistent, melodic as they are chaotic, each member succumbs to the gravitational pull of a collective cacophony that transcends space and time.”

Free! Every Monday evening, 7-9p.m. All languages welcome. Facilitated by Kelvin Tavarez.

A Love Letter to Reading is a genre-blending literary thriller that follows Ariana Rossi, a skilled assassin raised in a morally corrupt crime family. By day, she’s a compassionate pediatric oncology nurse. By night, she operates as the elusive "Scorpion," executing high-profile targets in choreographed precision—each kill set to a curated playlist. But when a job hits too close to home, Ariana begins to question her loyalty, identity, and future. With emotional depth, dark humor, and unexpected tenderness, this debut novel explores themes of duality, trauma, justice, and the healing power of story and connection.

Heather Snodgrass has a lifelong love of novels, movies, and the creative arts. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, she has explored multiple avenues to bring stories to life. She lives in Colorado with her husband, JD, and their dogs, and enjoys traveling, gardening, and playing video games. Like her character Ariana, she keeps a playlist for everything and invites others to share theirs in return. Her debut novel, A Love Letter to Reading, explores complex characters in a world where the arts reveal the best of the human spirit. She recently received the International Impact Book Award (July 2025).

Kings of Oblivion will be playing:

Mostly folk, rock, and jazz songs of angst, destruction, quiet desperation, and idiocy. A mix of originals, some obscure covers, and a sprinkling of classic rock songs some of you might know. And here's a link to lyrics to Wysh's songs: https://kingsofoblivionband.wordpress.com/lyrics/

More to come, but join us for the Boulder Skimo Kickoff Party on the Back Patio!

Randy Miles is an Alt-folk artist hailing from New England and now rooted in Louisville, CO. After two decades of playing and touring in bands up and down the East Coast, he’s turned inward to craft his first solo album. Set to release in the spring of 2026, the project blends his love for the rustling textures of atmospheric folk and earthy Americana storytelling — songs that balance lyrical intimacy with melodic and rhythmic momentum. He uses misfits and mystical characters to convey deeper universal truths about humanity and shed light on current issues around human rights and sociocultural constructs. 

Martin Balgach is a Colorado-based songwriter and poet. His latest single, Not the Same, follows two recent releases, All These Places and September, as well as a new poetry collection, A Happy Human Disaster. Learn more at martinbalgach.com.

Emily Barnes is a contemporary folk singer-songwriter known for her haunting voice and vividly drawn characters. Hailing from the tiny town of Johnsonburg, NJ, she’s built a grassroots following through heartfelt performances and honest storytelling. With four albums to her name—including her latest, Mint Condition, which led to a sold-out Northeast tour—Barnes has also been a finalist in prestigious songwriting contests like the Kerrville Folk Festival, Red Lodge Songwriters Festival, and Acorn Song Contest. Her music invites listeners into a world where every lyric tells a story.

Free! Every Monday evening, 7-9p.m. All languages welcome. Facilitated by Kelvin Tavarez.

Salads and Sunbeams is a psych-pop group based in Denver, Colorado. Salads’ primary singer/songwriter, Nathan Brazil, started the band in 2014 as an outlet for the simplistic, poppy, retro songs that didn’t quite fit with the bands he was involved in at the time. Members have come and gone, though Denver music fixture and Brazil’s longtime collaborator, Suzi Allegra, has been involved with nearly everything the group has done.

The first incarnation of the group released a self-titled EP in 2014 with little fanfare, though it was very good and captures the original, sloppy/poppy thrust of the group. Shortly thereafter, life intervened. The death of someone close to Brazil and a shared desire for change and growth scattered the group across the country and the world. After the shakeup, as the world slowly came back into focus, Brazil headed to the basement and recorded another Salads and Sunbeams album, Tintinnabulation, almost entirely on his own, though with notable additions from Allegra. This new album sprawled beyond simple pop to encompass ambient pieces, covers of Victorian comic-opera, the use of a professional string quartet, synthesizers, and general experimentation.

Very proud of the album, Brazil released it digitally in early 2020, just in time for the Covid pandemic to eclipse and redefine its relevance.

Returning to Denver in late 2021, Brazil reconnected with Suzi Allegra and the larger Denver music scene and restarted the group as a live project, writing and rehearsing new material in addition to previously unperformed material from Tintinnabulation.

The new group made its debut at Down In Denver 2022 and continues to play shows in and around Denver. Their new full-length album, Into the Starless Night was released March, 18 2025.

​

The current lineup is: Nathan Brazil (guitar/keys/vocals), Suzi Allegra (bass/keys/vocals), Justin Drummond (drums), and Eric Thompson (guitar/keys)

BethyLoveLight is an intergalactic star-rockin' musician who loves to rock out for Truth, beauty, goodness and the One Love! Living as a multifaceted artist, she composes, records and co-produces all of her original audio creations.  BethyLoveLight offers a stellar variety of music from angelic downtempo to hip-hop/reggae/rock.  Singing with the utmost Light of Love, she intentionally catalyzes ecstatic ascension through her sonic art.  You can find her music on Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, FB, IG, TikTok and on her website www.bethylovelight.com

Justin Roots, AKA Rootsie, plays a blend of roots, reggae, rock, folk, and funk. With a mix of songwriting, looping, and improvisation, Rootsie's sets are raw, authentic, and bring the good vibes.

“Fiona Liv opens the night with an hour of original songs that can be felt as a dim orange glow, for the listener with a sensitive ear this orange may turn to purple, maybe even into a fiery crimson, or the blue of a cloudless sky. That is to say that these songs are musically diverse and colorful, they show us the power of simplicity. 

After Fiona, Stryder jones takes the stage, using his original production to propel the listener into a vivid world, this world may be familiar, and at other times it may be alien, but it does not lack detail, and if the ears are not fully taken, then Stryder’s dance moves may awaken your interest, these dance moves are improvised, and highly energetic, they are a manifestation of music through the entire body. In such a setting as Trident this performance will be highly personal, and engaging. 

The night closes with a 30-minute live animation on Stryder’s personal dream machine (IPad) Stryder will start with a blank white screen, and start drawing a moving scene, look for Stryder_Jones_ on TikTok to see more original animations. This live animation will be underscored by Stryder’s latest full length album, “Dreams” an electronic trance album that will bring the listener towards a state of heightened imagination and relaxation. This album is psychedelic, it was made with a great amount of research and fascination, most of these songs were made in one sitting, with his eyes closed and his hands racing along his keyboard.”

Free! Every Monday evening, 7-9p.m. All languages welcome. Facilitated by Kelvin Tavarez.

Reed Bye’s most recent poetry collections include Earth’s Hollow Breathing; Morning Rites; and Addled Smoke Material: Collaborative Poems with Jack Collom 1972-2017. He has new album of original songs, Down Here. He is Professor Emeritus at Naropa University where he served on the core faculty of the Jack Kerouac School, teaching poetry writing workshops and courses in classic and contemporary literary studies and contemplative poetics. 

“The mind may move faster than the hand can write but Reed Bye’s poems capture the dictates of thought as processed by the conspiratorial and wandering eye, all the light and shadow of the natural world, the peripheral glimpses of people and places where few poets ever go. Lucid, abstract, impulsive, beyond the pale—Fire for Thought is both a summing up and a starting over—'what seems to be necessary,' and something much more.”— Lewis Warsh

Mike Parker was born in the brass mill town of Waterbury Connecticut in 1944. D'Spare Press published three collections of his poetry: Don't Fall Off the Mountain, Wallflower Sutra, and Walking on Water in a Razorblade Breeze, and he has three live poetry CDs. He sang in the band Ballistic Kisses, recording two albums on Beggars Banquet Records, Total Access and Wet Moments. He served two terms of Artist in Residence for the Ward Public Library and was the recipient of the Neodata Literary Fellowship from the Boulder County Arts Alliance. He lives with his wife the poet Mary Johnston Parker and daughter Frannie in the town of Ward Colorado on the edge of the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

Bring an acoustic instrument and sit in with Boulder Old-Time Jam! Every first Thursday on the Trident Patio, starting at 6 p.m.

For over a decade, Jeremy Mohney has led one of Colorado’s most popular Swing Bands. His Spirited renditions of Jazz classics as well as original compositions in the swing style give him a unique and authentic dimension. Whether playing for a jam-packed ballroom for dancers, or playing for lovers of music in an intimate club, Mohney has the charm to capture the attention of any audience.

Free! Every Monday evening, 7-9p.m. All languages welcome. Facilitated by Kelvin Tavarez.

An evening of poetic scroll readings, breath, and stillness — a quiet space to pause, listen, and carry home a blessing. Some scrolls are spoken, others held in silence, each carried within the rhythm of breath. Gentle music will open the space and close it. Not a place to be impressed, but a place to remember.

Learn more at www.ahnaramusic.com.

Sponsored by the Boulder County Film Commission, these free events are designed to provide creative support for Boulder-area filmmakers! Maybe you'd like some feedback on a project you're working on, or perhaps you're stuck and need an idea for how to transition from this to that, or - well, you get the idea. We're here for you; let's be there for each other! Bring a script, a rough cut, an idea, or any creative problem.

Duncan Coker is an unrepentant balladeer from the Colorado piedmont, with a voice that carries. Solo or with his band, he brings a western swagger that lands like leather boots on barnwood and brass.

Free! Every Monday evening, 7-9p.m. All languages welcome. Facilitated by Kelvin Tavarez.

About Barbara:

Barbara Caver grew up in South Carolina where singing in the church choir, writing in her notebook with her friend at recess, studying ballet, and performing in community theater were her first introductions to the art of storytelling.

An adventurer at heart, Barbara moved to New York at the age of 17 for college where she became a filmmaker and embarked on a twenty-five year career in the film and television industry. Barbara wears many hats as a seasoned production executive behind the scenes of many Oscar- and Emmy-award winning documentaries and series.

Now Barbara tells her own story with the December 2nd release of her travel memoir A Little Piece of Cuba. An experienced traveler with nearly twenty countries visited, Barbara was 37 before she finally boarded a JetBlue flight from New York to Havana, the place where her mother was born. Cuba welcomed Barbara home and challenged her to ask the question, “Am I Cuban or not?” The experience confirmed for Barbara that travel leads to the richest gift of all: self-discovery and acceptance.

A Little Piece of Cuba: A Journey to Become Cubana-Americana is Barbara’s debut memoir and is available on December 2, 2025! Read an excerpt here

Part travel adventure, part ghost story, and part memoir, A Little Piece of Cuba: A Journey To Become Cubana-Americana is an imaginative and humorous personal journey through Barbara’s memories and experiences as she discovers that she is and has always been more Cuban than she thought.

Free! Every Monday evening, 7-9p.m. All languages welcome. Facilitated by Kelvin Tavarez.

Free! Every Monday evening, 7-9p.m. All languages welcome. Facilitated by Kelvin Tavarez.

MY OCEANS

An urgent exploration of caring & mothering on a planet in crisis

In a swell of sea-linked essays, Christina Rivera explores the kinship between marine animals, humans, and Earth’s blue womb. Rivera’s investigative questions begin with the toxic burden of her body and spiral out—to a grieving orca, a hunted manta ray, a pregnant sea turtle, a spawning salmon, an “endling” porpoise, and the “mother culture” of sperm whales —as she redefines what it means to mother and defend a collective future. Braiding memoir with embodied climate science, Rivera challenges that it’s not anthropomorphism to feel deep connection to non-human species and proposes that gathering in collective grief is essential amid the sixth mass extinction on Earth. For ecofeminists, fans of Terry Tempest Williams and Rachel Carson—and for anyone who feels themself disintegrate in the presence of the sea—My Oceans offers a timely and wondrous descent into the deep waters of interbeing in which we swim.

 "This collection is threaded with wonder, history, and heartache. In My Oceans, motherhood is not sentimentalized but shown as a transformative political power. Masterfully constructed and beautifully written, this book dwells in the depths—not only of oceans but of mourning, awe, anger, and action." —Beth Piatote, Author of The Beadworkers: Stories

Christina Rivera is a Pushcart Prize-winning essayist from Colorado whose girlhood was bordered by coastlines of Pacific Ocean. She is the debut author of MY OCEANS: Essays of Water, Whales, and Women (Northwestern University Press, March 2025) which was longlisted for the Graywolf Press Prize and a finalist for the Siskiyou Prize for New Environmental Literature. Her work has won the John Burroughs Nature Essay Award (the highest annual honor for a creative nonfiction essay on place, science, and the environment) and appeared in Orion, Longreads, The Cut, and Terrain.org, among other places. Christina is so excited to return to Trident for the author series, having filled many pages of journals at those little tables in the cafe in her 20s! You can learn more about Christina and MY OCEANS at www.christinarivera.com or subscribe to her irregular series of blue love notes, MobyBytes on Substack.

This fall, Smithsonian Books published On a Mission: The Smithsonian History of US Women Astronauts, a can’t-miss book for space lovers that celebrates three generations of US women astronauts, including the challenges they’ve faced and the significant contributions they’ve made.

Boulder resident Valerie Neal, curator emerita from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and expert on human spaceflight, interviewed many of the US women astronauts to bring their experiences to life. Profiles of all NASA’s spacefaring women highlight their individual and collective achievements across almost 50 years.

Sally Ride became a household name as the first American woman in space, but scores of equally impressive women have also left their mark in space. On a Mission: The Smithsonian History of US Women Astronauts spans 45 years and 61 astronauts to share the epic journeys of women who made space for themselves in a male-dominated field.

Valerie Neal, emerita curator in the Department of Space History at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, offers a culturally insightful history of the experiences of women astronauts, the challenges they've faced, and their distinctive stories. Collectively, they've completed more than 100 space shuttle missions and more than 30 long-duration stays on the International Space Station and Russian Space Station Mir, and they continue to prove themselves in present-day space exploration efforts.

The book includes 50 black-and-white photographs to complement the historical account. With its sweeping look from the first women astronauts to Christina Hammock Koch, assigned to the first crewed Artemis mission around the Moon, there is no comparably thorough book on America's women astronauts. On a Mission is an inspiring tribute to unsung women's history.

VALERIE NEAL is a curator emerita in the Department of Space History at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, where she oversaw the human spaceflight collections from the space shuttle and International Space Station programs, and she initiated the collection of artifacts from women astronauts. Her previous books include Discovery: Champion of the Space Shuttle Fleet and Spaceflight in the Shuttle Era and Beyond.

For fans of Educated and The Glass Castle, a former music industry insider’s journey of healing—from childhood trauma through spiritual practices and self-discovery to a place of peace—with some incredible celebrity encounters along the way.

My Pretty Baby is a transformative memoir that chronicles Wendy Correa’s journey to heal from childhood traumas, including the death of her father when she was seven, emotionally distant older siblings, a frequently neglectful mother, and an adventurous yet violent, alcoholic stepfather. It is a story of not belonging, and the eventual healing that comes from building a chosen family.

After escaping her turbulent home life, Wendy’s path of self-discovery takes her through Buddhism, meditation, plant medicine, yoga, nature, Native American spirituality, 12-Step programs, and psychotherapy. Native American sweat lodge and vision quest ceremonies further strengthen her sobriety and mental well-being.

Along the way, extraordinary experiences unfold. She stands on the Rose Bowl stage singing “Give Peace a Chance” with rock ’n’ roll royalty, attends AA meetings with legendary musicians while working at A&M and Geffen Records, and even gets to hang out with her musical hero, Joni Mitchell. 

 

Wendy’s life takes a new turn when she moves to Aspen and becomes a radio DJ and assistant to gonzo writer Hunter S. Thompson. There, she meets her future husband and begins to build the family she’s always longed for-but despite her newfound peace, she is repeatedly drawn back into her family of origins dysfunction. It’s only after her mother’s death that Wendy uncovers a painful family secret that finally answers her lifelong question: What really happened to my family?

Wendy B. Correa is a writer, yogi, hiker, as well as a licensed massage therapist. She has worked in the film, television, multimedia, and music industries in Los Angeles and later as a radio DJ in Aspen, Colorado. She holds bachelor’s degrees in psychology and theater arts and has contributed articles to Mothering magazine.

A wife and mother, she resides in Denver, Colorado, and loves traveling to magical destinations with her family. My Pretty Baby is her debut book. For more information, visit www.wendybcorrea.com.

Author of the popular New York Times articles "Is It a Crush or Have You Fallen Into Limerence?" and "Does My Virginity Have a Shelf Life?" Amanda McCracken shares her honest, funny, and at times heartbreaking story of learning how to seek true love and intimacy.

Journalist and late-in-life virgin Amanda McCracken dated over 100 men by the time she was in her late thirties. She was so certain she was doing everything she could to find the loving, lasting relationship she wanted. So why wasn’t it working? After another breakdown in her therapist’s office, she came to a startling realization: she was addicted to longing.

This realization was part of a 10-year journey to understand the cultural, neurological, and psychological factors that shaped her beliefs about love, sex, and commitment. She began to understand that longing for someone feels good. It can even feel better than being in a secure relationship. Longing can provide a sense of control when life is uncertain and offers a safe place to hide from emotional vulnerability, especially in today’s online dating and hookup world. But longing can trigger an addictive neurochemical boost that can derail us from forming healthy, intimate relationships.

In this searingly honest book, Amanda shares the crushes, relationships, situationships, travel, friendships, hookups, bad dates, wins, losses, and brushes with fate that came with her journey.  Starting with her early childhood hero fantasies and how they evolved in her tween and teen years into a commitment to the purity movement espoused at her church, she chronicles her profound longing for love that led her to her lowest point. She provides a deep, exploratory look into the state of mind known as limerence: an obsessive rumination on an idealized version of someone. Amanda weaves together her personal journey with research, storytelling, soul-searching questions, and quotes from experts and nonexperts alike to reveal the addictive nature of longing while providing hope through her journey of breaking her patterns and ultimately choosing the path towards healthy, authentic intimacy.

Amanda McCracken is a journalist passionate about experiences that highlight the intersection of wellness, travel, and relationships. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Guardian, Vogue, National Geographic, Elle, NPR, Outside, ESPN, SELF, Runner’s World, and many others. She published her first article about longing in 2013, which led to additional articles featuring personal anecdotes and deep research and interviews with the BBC and Katie Couric. She is now considered a “limerence expert” and intimacy advocate. Her 2023 TED Talk, “How Longing Keeps Us From Healthy Relationships,” and her podcast, The Longing Lab, highlight how longing can become self sabotaging and shares how to change our patterns of longing. McCracken is also a part-time university instructor, massage therapist, triathlon coach, and competitive athlete. Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, McCracken put down roots with her husband and daughter in Boulder, Colorado, after a trip around the world aboard the Peace Boat. 

​​Hilary Giovale is a mother, writer, community organizer, and facilitator who lives on Hopi, Diné, Apache, and Havasupai land in Flagstaff, Arizona.  A ninth-generation American settler, she is descended from Celtic, Germanic, Nordic, and Indigenous peoples of Ancient Europe.  Hilary seeks to follow Indigenous and Black leadership in support of human rights, environmental justice, and equitable futures.  As an active reparationist, her work is guided by intuition, love, and relationships.  She divests from whiteness and bridges divides with truth, healing, apology, and forgiveness.  She is the author of the award-winning book Becoming a Good Relative: Calling White Settlers toward Truth, Healing, and Repair.  Learn more about her work at goodrelative.com.

“Hilary Giovale initiates white, European-descended people into the work of stepping into their collective power to dream and to build a different way of living. She provides knowledge and actions white settlers can use to reclaim their full humanity.” - Dr. Anita Sanchez, Nahua (Aztec and Toltec), Award-Winning Author of The Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times

“In a world built on and still profiting from slavery, genocide, as well as other forms of incomprehensible settler violence, Hilary offers the most sane advice - to lean into that which gives life: community, our planet, and the ways of being interconnected.” - Dr. David Ragland, Co-Founder and Co-ED, The Truth Telling Project; Director, Grassroots Reparations Campaign; Lecturer on Reparations as Spiritual Practice, Harvard Divinity School

A book of criticism, Radical ​Poetics: Essays on Literature & Culture, was published by the Poets on Poetry Series at University of Michigan Press in January 2025. With K. Ibura, she co-edited Infinite Constellations (FC2 2023), an anthology of speculative writing by authors from the global majority. Her most recent poetry book is Anodyne (Tin House 2020), a ​finalist for the Colorado Book Award and winner of the William Carlos ​Williams Award from the Poetry Society of America. Her fifth book, I'm ​So Fine: A List of Famous Men & What I Had On (YesYes Books 2017), ​was praised in O Magazine, The New Yorker, Rain Taxi, and elsewhere ​as “quietly devastating” and “a portrait of defiance that turns the male ​gaze inside out.”

Her verse play Non-Sequitur (Litmus Press 2015) won ​the Leslie Scalapino Award for Innovative Women's Performance ​Writing, which included a full production at Theaterlab in New ​York City, directed by Fiona Templeton and performed by The ​Relationship theater company. A zuihitsu about the pandemic, ​“False Dawn,” appeared in Harper’s Magazine, was named a Notable ​Essay of 2020 and ​was reprinted in the anthology Bigger Than Bravery (2023), edited by Valerie Boyd. Individual ​poems, interviews, and essays appear in Ploughshares, American ​Poetry Review, The Georgia Review, The Believer, Orion, Fence, Poetry,​ Yale Review, The Offing, The Poetry Review (UK), and widely ​elsewhere. In 2022, she was awarded a Disability Futures fellowship from United States Artists. A Cave Canem alum and Civitella Ranieri Fellow, she holds a PhD in ​English and Literary Arts from University of Denver. As a creative writing professor, she has taught American literature, poetics, and all genres of ​creative writing at University of Colorado at Boulder, Regis University, and Virginia Tech. In 2025, she received the Cy Twombly Award for Poetry from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. She is currently writing a new book of poetry and a collection of travel essays.

Praise for BETWEEN THE DEVIL & THE DEEP BLUE SEA

“Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a large-hearted, compulsively readable memoir shot through with courage and razor-sharp intelligence. Queen’s magnificent personal reckoning helps me to ponder what new forms of relation might be possible between ourselves, our nation, and the many institutions charged with stewarding the common good.”―TRACY K. SMITH, Pulitzer Prize winning poet, author of Life on Mars and Wade in the Water

David Mason was born in Bellingham, Washington, and has lived in many parts of the world. He served four years as poet laureate of Colorado before moving to Tasmania in 2018. His many books include The Country I Remember (winner of the Alice Fay Di Castagnola Award), Ludlow: A Verse Novel (winner of the Colorado Book Award), The Sound: New and Selected Poems and Pacific Light. Mason has also written four books of essays and co-edited several textbooks and anthologies. His work can be found in The New Yorker, The Weekend Australian, The Australian Book Review, Poetry, The Wall Street Journal, The Times Literary Supplement, The Hudson Review, The Nation, and many other periodicals. His libretti for operas by composers Lori Laitman and Tom Cipullo are all available on CD from Naxos. Mason’s website can be found at https://davidmasonpoet.com

Mark Irwin is the author of thirteen collections of poetry, including Once When Green (2025), Joyful Orphan (2023), Shimmer (2020), American Urn: Selected Poems (1987-2014), Tall If (2008), and Bright Hunger (2004). Recognition for his work includes The Nation/Discovery Award, two Colorado Book Awards, four Pushcart Prizes, the James Wright Poetry Award, the Philip Levine Prize for Poetry, The Juniper Prize for Poetry, and fellowships from the Fulbright, Lilly, and NEA. He has also translated three volumes of poetry and lives in Colorado and Los Angeles, where he teaches at the University of Southern California. His poetry has been translated into several languages.

Mark Irwin’s new poems that ask “how long, how bright?” are radiant with a sheen of longing and urgency.

—Arthur Sze, National Book Award

“So often we consider how to tell the story of our beginnings, but what is it to persist, through language, in a suspended state of endings? To “witness a world that is perishing” even as one is “lonely for the present”? Once When Green is a primer in listening to that which we are unaccustomed to conceiving of as having sound, relayed in a rush of lyric language after the lilting of waves and movement of stars.                                                                                

—Abigail Chabitnoy