Frequently Asked Questions

You can find my paperbacks for sale locally at Alibi Bookshop in Vallejo, Bookshop Benicia, and Revolution Books Berkeley. I have limited stock on hand. Here is a list of retailers that have free ebooks.

For a complete list of vendors please visit this page.

I have compiled a list of online publications on this page. I have been published several online newspapers, journals, and websites where you can read samples of my work for free.

Short answer: No.

If you would like to leave a review on Goodreads, Amazon, or any other online bookseller, feel free to purchase an ebook or a paperback. It is not cost effective for me to mail paperbacks in exchange for reviews.

I have compiled a list of in print poetry anthologies sorted by theme on this page. When available they include links to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and publishers. You can access these links by clicking on the anthology title. The majority of these poetry anthologies did not compensate me for my contribution. However, I receive a small percentage if you purchase through the Amazon links on that page.

I am retired from performing for health reasons.

I am unwilling and unable to move furniture, assist in planning events, or bring food. 

While I often donate my labor for political causes and charity benefits as a poet, I am unwilling to pay to perform.

Ideally, poets should be paid rather than profited from.

If my giving money to you is a mandatory requirement to participate in your event, then please look elsewhere, or don’t be offended when I say no.

I am not available for free consulting, free advice, or free editing work.

All the advice I could give you is already on the Vallejo Poetry Society website.

For every moment of my time and favor you ask of me, realize there are at least ten other people asking something else from me.

I prefer events that occur after 1 PM. My mornings are for self-care and writing.

Please check the readings page to make sure I don't already have an event listed on my schedule that may conflict. If I already have an event that day, I am not available.

Please email me to arrange a time to meet in person, or you can simply email me your interview questions. I prefer written communication. Phone calls are by appointment only and subject to my availability.

A list of news articles can be found on this page.

Short answer: No.

I have carpal tunnel syndrome which limits my ability to create.

I will not take on unpaid editing work due to the time consuming nature of such projects.

I will consider it. Please send me an email.

I am more likely to submit if you pay your contributors or at the very least provide a gratis copy of the anthology or magazine. I am more willing to forgo payment if the anthology is a fundraiser for a political or charitable cause, or deals with major social issues.

Short answer: NO.

If you send me unsolicited emails, your email address will be marked as spam. Thank you.

I am willing to perform at left leaning political demonstrations and charity benefits.

I am unwilling to formally endorse candidates for office, make donations, or volunteer in any capacity other than performing poetry.

I am willing to perform a featured set of poetry for a minimum of ten minutes. If given enough notice, I can write an occasional poem about political issues to be performed at a demonstration, or a poem in favor of a cause for a charity benefit. 

No. I have taught self-publishing and writing poetry for causes in the past. However, I am not trained as a teacher, so I am not in the habit of giving workshops. It requires a lot of preparation on my part, and my schedule is already quite full. You may wish to inquire elsewhere.

No. I no longer help to organize spoken word events, I do not run my own open mic show, I do not own a venue myself, and I've had a few instances where my vouching for poets has later backfired. I recommend that you attend the well established open mics in Solano County, visit local bookstores, and make your own connections. I am not your booking agent.

If it is a short poetry book, and you would like me to write an official blurb, please reach out, and I will let you know yes or no. If I say no it is due to a lack of time.

I am no longer active on Goodreads because a user hiding under a pseudonym decided it was appropriate to contact and admonish me about a petition I signed. I was one of hundreds of signatures from the publishing community. This made me feel unsafe as they had to take extra steps and google my name. I would never go so far as to contact a total stranger about their signature on a petition even if I disagreed with them. You can still add my books as they are listed in the database, but I am not actively participating on the website.

I have deactivated all of my social media with the exception of YouTube and Soundcloud. Please follow me on those websites to watch videos and listen to recordings of my spoken word performances. In recent years engagement has gone down, and I find I am more creative when I reduce distractions.

Please note that I do not answer DMs. To contact me, please send me an email.

• https://www.youtube.com/@poetryebook
• https://soundcloud.com/poetryebook
• https://groups.google.com/g/vallejopoetrysociety

I prefer to be contacted via email for the purposes of arranging featured performances, interviews, or poetry submissions. This allows me to stay organized.

I do not check my voicemails and my phone service will not allow me to disable it.

I clear out texts on a regular basis to save space.

I dislike talking on the phone, so please do not demand that I call you. My only exception is for press interviews which must be arranged in advance by appointment only.

I do not check DMs on social media.

Please do not try to sell me something.

The following reasons may apply:

1. You're trying to sell me something. I have no budget to hire people. Please remove me from your mailing list.
2. You contacted me via some other method than email. I do not check DMs on social media or voicemails.
3. Not everything deserves a response.
4. I am taking a break and will get back to you eventually.