Coffee and Poetry at Jack's House feat. Maureen McDole and Claire Conroy

We are celebrating National Poetry Month with a special double-feature spotlighting poets Maureen McDole and Claire Conroy

Don’t miss this chance to celebrate National Poetry Month with a double feature of two great poets, Maureen McDole and Claire Conroy, on Sun 04/26 from 3-6pm. Local writer, poet, storyteller, comedian, and actor Victoria Dym will emcee and also read.

Maureen McDole is the author of four books of poems, Exploring My Options (2006), Longing for the Deep End (2011), Feast (2021), and recently released Mending the Nets (2026). Her poetry has been set in a variety of different ways including: film, dance, spoken word, art installations, Sprechstimme, and traditional vocal works. Maureen has been leading workshops and speaking about creativity and leadership for over 20 years. She founded the literary arts organization Keep St. Pete Lit in 2013 because she believes wholeheartedly in the power of literature to change the world. She is the artist-in-residence at GISJane, working in the fields of water restoration, climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, and community resiliency and lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Beat Poet Laureate of Maine 2024-2026, Claire Conroy self published two books of poetry (“Listen” in 2018 and “Silent” in 2022) and a chapbook (“Rumors From Dead Lips” in 2024). Born in Portsmouth, NH, she is a board member of the Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program and hosts their open mics, The HOOT and Painting Poetry. Claire lives in Sanford, Maine and is a board member of the Sanford Arts Commission. She also hosts Beat Night at Flourish in Biddeford, Maine. Claire has been published in over 40 anthologies, participates in global online events and will travel… for love of poetry.

So come on by and grab a cup of joe and complimentary pastries at the historic Jack Kerouac House. The reading starts at 3pm (doors at 2:30). You can sign up to read (limit 2 poems) with our resident poet and emcee Victoria Dym when you get to Jack’s house. Tickets are $10 each plus tax and fees.

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Host or Publisher The Jack Kerouac House of St. Petersburg, Inc.