POEMS PUBLISHED

Jeanne Powell's poems have appeared in several print and online journals, including the Haight Ashbury Literary Journal and the tenth anniversary issue of Drumvoices Revue from SIUE. Her poem, 'Next Time,' won first prize from the Detroit Writers Guild in 2002. Three collections of her work have been published: February Voices (1994), Cadences (1996), and Tangerine Dance (1999). All three were reprinted in 2003 as Celebration of the Word.

PERFORMANCE

Jeanne Powell reads her poetry in a variety of venues. For example, in 2004 she was a featured performer at Cafe Bean, Cafe Prague, Mediterraneum Cafe in Berkeley, Bay Area Poets Coalition anniversary feature at SF Main Library, North Coast Review feature at Live Worms Gallery, Drumvoices Revue anniversary feature at Marcus Books, Monticello Inn, Literature Expo at Art & Soul Festival in Oakland, Cody's Books on Fourth Street in Berkeley, and Zebulon's Lounge in Petaluma.

LITERARY PRESS

In 1996 Jeanne Powell established Meridien PressWorks to assist local writers who wish to be published professionally. Since then, she has published books by ten poets/artists from Marin, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Oakland and San Francisco, including Chistopher Bernard, Tony Sanchez, Chandra Garsson, and Nancy Wakeman.

TEACHING

Jeanne Powell created a critique group for poets and other writers in 1992. She continues to facilitate Meridien Writers, which meets monthly in San Francisco. She was a panelist for the 2002 National Writers Union seminar on 'The Writer as Publisher,' held in Oakland; audiotapes may be purchased from the NWU. In September 2004 she presented a workshop on independent publishing at the San Francisco Zine Fest.

CURRENT MANUSCRIPT

Her current poetry manuscript was a finalist in national competition in 2002, shortlisted for the Lotus Prize. This collection will be published in the autumn of 2005.

SPOKEN WORD SERIES

Jeanne Powell loves The Word, and created three spoken word series in San Francisco where poets, playwrights, and novelists could perform and listen to others share their work.

1. 'Celebration of the Word,' an award-winning series which started at Polk St. Beans & Cafe, continued every week for ten years at several venues (1994-2004).
2. 'The Word Dancing Project' was started as a special event for National Poetry Month in 1997, and later was continued for a year at Edinburgh Castle (2002).
3. 'Poetry at the Cosmo' was a weekly series created by Jeanne when the Cosmo was a member of the Kimpton chain of boutique hotels; she also booked the features and was the primary host for that twelve-month series.

LIVING TREASURES

Recently Jeanne Powell created a project to publish the writings of four poets over the age of 70: Leonard Irving of San Francisco and Plainfield VT; Beth McDonald of Perryton TX; Anne Bacon Soulé of San Rafael CA; and Jesse Fry of Carmel CA. She asked four editors to join her in preparing the manuscripts for publication: Stephen Kopel, Al Averbach, Nancy Wakeman and Selene Steese. Jeanne is engaged in fundraising events and grant writing to finance the publishing project. The plan is to have all four books available by September 2005.