SPECTRA Reading Series: Jenna Goldsmith and Brittanu Jaekel at Rozz-Tox -- May 28.
Thursday, May 28, 8 p.m.
Rozz-Tox, 2108 Third Avenue, Rock Island IL
Treating literary fans to readings in celebration of the latest chapbook release by the Midwest Writing Center's MWC Press, a pair of lauded poets will take the stage at Rozz-Tox on May 28, the Rock Island venue delighted to host an evening with Jenna Goldsmith and Brittany N. Jaekel.
Jenna Goldsmith is a poet, writer, and educator living in the Midwest, and the author's first full-length poetry collection The Worse for Wear (Cornerstone Press/UW Stevens Point) was published this past January. She directs the Oregon State University Cascades low-residency MFA Program in Writing and was City Poet Laureate of Rockford, Illinois from 2023 to 2025. Her chapbook Pineapple Darling is forthcoming from MWC Press. Goldsmith is also Senior Instructor I at Oregon State University Cascades (remote) and director of the low-residency MFA Program in Writing. Her 2022 chapbook CRUSH was the winner of the Baltic Writing Residency Chapbook Contest. Goldsmith holds a PhD in English from the University of Kentucky; an MA in English Studies from Illinois State University; a BA in English Studies from Illinois State University; and, this month, an AA in Liberal Arts from Rock Valley College.
Brittany N. Jaekel writes from the outer reaches of the Twin Cities. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in RHINO, $: Poetry is Currency, MER (Mom Egg Review), Third Wednesday, Right Hand Pointing, Club Plum Literary Journal, and elsewhere. She serves on the editorial team at Great Lakes Review and recently joined the board of directors of her local American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) chapter. Her chapbook, The Witch's Mouth, is forthcoming from MWC Press. As also stated at BritanyNJaekel.com: "I earned my PhD in Hearing and Speech Sciences from the University of Maryland – College Park and my BA in Creative Writing and Psychology from Northwestern University. I also have a graduate certificate in statistics (University of Maryland – College Park) and my MS in Communicative Sciences Disorders from University of Wisconsin – Madison. I like reading, coffee, buying cat art, and playing piano (badly). My son, spouse, and five cats also keep me busy."
A 7 p.m. open-mic event will precede the Rock Island readings by Jenna Goldsmith and Brittany N. Jaekel at 8 p.m., admission to the all-ages event is free, and more information is available by calling (309)200-0978 and visiting RozzTox.com, and by contacting the Midwest Writing Center at (309)732-7330 and MWCQC.org.
