California Writers Club

​Superbloom: A CWC-Berkeley Reading

What does it mean to be a California writer / poet? With floral superblooms currently blooming, CWC-Berkeley is interested in hosting six blooming masters of the page. Through prose / poetry, they are all defining their own unique California identity. Along with literal superblooms, a superbloom can take metaphorical, symbolic, and spiritual dimensions. "Superbloom: A CWC-Berkeley Reading" would like to explore all these growing dimensions.
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Keith Mark Gaboury earned a M.F.A. in creative writing from Emerson College. His poems have appeared in such literary publications as Poetry Quarterly and New Millennium Writings along with two full-length poetry collections forthcoming from Kelsay Books and Falkenberg Press. Keith is also the president of the Berkeley Branch of the California Writers Club. Learn more at keithmgaboury.com.

​Kristen Caven, past president of the Berkeley Branch, is currently our writer in residence at Joaquin Miller Park, where she hosts events celebrating Oakland's literary history and building towards its future. She was recently featured on the East Bay Yesterday podcast with Liam O'Donoghue, talking about the convivial poet and the controversy his towering presence still stirs. A comic and contemplative poet, playwright, lyricist and cartoonist, her storytelling wraps around profound psychological insight in her latest book, The Winning Family: Where No One Has to Lose, co-authored with Louise Hart, Ed. D. You can dip your toe into her ocean of offerings at www.kristencaven.com.

Karma Bennett lived in the South for two decades but has escaped to Oakland, CA. Her most recent publications were in Soren Lit and in the book Colossus: Home, a collection to benefit Moms 4 Housing. She serves on the board of the California Writers Club of Berkeley and assists writers with book marketing.

​Kazue Watanabe was born in Hokkaido, a northern island in Japan. She came to the United States by herself in 1994, to attend SUNY Buffalo, where she majored in linguistics. After graduation, Kazue moved to the SF Bay Area. She moved to San Francisco in 2005, and that’s when she started writing poems. The initial inspiration came from the streets of San Francisco, the mixture of charming, chaotic, and dirty, and public transportation (e.g., the MUNI bus), and she’s continued writing since then. Kazue joined the CWC-Berkeley in summer 2022.

Jay Hartlove is the multiple award-winning author of the supernatural thriller Goddess Rising Trilogy, about which horror master John Shirley said, “I recommend you buy this crazy novel.” Jay also wrote the fantasy romance Mermaid Steel, which Kirkus Reviews called, “A thoughtful erotic fantasy that asks us to see the best in each other.” His latest novel is The Insane God, which David Brin endorsed, and Kirkus Reviews called, “Nightmare on Elm Street meets The Stand.” Jay also wrote, produced, and directed The Mirror’s Revenge, the musical sequel to Snow White, which had its theatrical run in the San Francisco Bay area in 2018 to rave reviews. He loves to take stories where the reader does not expect, with sympathetic villains, heroes with very dark pasts, and moral dilemmas for readers to ponder. He often turns victims into heroes. He was selected one of the 50 Authors You Should Be Reading by The Authors Show. www.jaywrites.com.

Sarah Abbett has been reading forever and writing since she was 9. She especially enjoys writing fantasy and poetry. She lives in the East Bay with family and her cat Panther.

THE California Writers Club was started by a group of civic-minded writing professionals in the early 1900s. They met informally until 1909—often in "The Hights." which is now Joaquin Miller Park— when the Club was incorporated, with Austin Lewis as its first president. The Berkeley Branch is the founding branch of the statewide Club, which now has 19 branches and around 2000 members throughout California. We are the third oldest writers’ club in the country.

LEG 1: 4-5pm VENUE: Make Westing ​1741 Telegraph

ABOUT MAKE WESTING:
www.makewesting.com

What's with the name?

The name "Make Westing" comes from a short story by Oakland native Jack London. While a bit grim and violent, the tale centers on the overwhelming need to make the westing wind back home to Oakland - to a place of warmth and family (and bocce courts?).

Who are we?

Make Westing is located in the thriving Uptown district of Oakland. Wood, iron, and slate make up the décor that resonates with the industrial heritage of our city. We are equipped with a full bar, a variety of gourmet bites, an outdoor patio, and two indoor bocce courts. The Fox theater is less than one block away, and the 19th st. BART stop is across the street.

Why Bocce?

While we are not bocce aficionados per se, we did play at some of our favorite bars in Brooklyn and the lanes fit the space perfectly, while serving as an entertaining companion to a cocktail. The courts are first come, first serve and are free. When there are others waiting, each group may play one game to seven and then give up the court to the next group in line. If you would like to rent the bocce courts, we do so at $50 per hour, per court.

What else?

Make Westing is more a bar than restaurant and as such (according to the alcohol beverage control rules) no one under 21 is allowed, infants included. For credit cards, we request a $10 minimum. As relates to credit cards - some banks will place a temporary double charge on certain cards only as a hold and will release the charge within 7-10 business days. We have no idea why they do this, but it happens often enough that we thought we should mention it. We have an ATM on site.

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