The WordTemple Poetry Series, currently held at Copperfield's Books, is Santa Rosa's first long-term, ongoing poetry reading series.  Founded and hosted by poet Katherine Hastings, the series kicked off  in February of 2006 with readings by Jane Hirshfield and David St. John to a standing-room only audience. Also, the first ten minutes of each evening is devoted to a local poet with a good body of work who has not yet published a book.

For information on upcoming readings, check out the Spring 2008 schedule. If you are interested in seeing the featured poets who read in our 2006 or 2007 seasons, check out our Past Readers page.

"It's clear that Katherine has established a reading series that's the equal of any in the country -- and better than most.  Most importantly, the series has a high standard in selecting poets who are widely respected and influential."

                                        -- Paul Hoover, The Bohemian, February 8, 2006

"What's really unique about (this series) is how she's bringing in less well-published local poets, as well as major national poets ."

                                        -- Jane Hirshfield, Press Democrat, February 9, 2006

"Sometimes a reading series is just magic: the combination of writers, audience, organizers and location creates an irresistible alchemy and you end up with, for example, the WordTemple Poetry Series in Santa Rosa ."

                                        -- Molly Fisk