November 14, 2026 - Jessica L. Walsh & Jennifer Dotson Reading + Poetry Open-Mic
Saturday, November 14, 2026
4 - 6 PM
@ Secret World Books
1774 Second Street, Highland Park, Illinois
Highland Park Poetry welcomes Jessica L. Walsh, author of Blowdown, and Jennifer Dotson, author of The Figs Are Ripe and We Have Stories, as our featured poets on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 4PM. Open-mic follows.
Jessica L. Walsh is the author of Blowdown (Small Harbor, 2026), Book of Gods and Grudges (Glass Lyre, 2022), The List of Last Tries (Sable, 2019) and How to Break My Neck (ELJ, 2016). Her work has appeared on the Best American Poetry Blog and journals like RHINO, Painted Bride Quarterly, Crab Creek Review, and more. Originally from small-town Michigan, she teaches at Harper College.
Jennifer Dotson is the author of The Figs Are Ripe and We Have Stories (Starboard Press, 2026), Late Night Talk Show Fantasy & Other Poems (Kelsay Books, 2020), and Clever Gretel (Chicago Poetry Press, 2013). Jennifer is the founder of Highland Park Poetry.
Open-mic follows features. Come a few minutes early to sign up for the line-up. Poets may bring up to three short poems to share; however, Highland Park Poetry reserves the right to limit that number so that all participants have a chance to read.
The event takes place at Secret World Books, 1774 Second Street. There is free parking for up to three hours in the Port Clinton Underground Garage (entrance on Laurel Avenue, between First and Second Street).
There is no cover fee; however, we hope that you will support the authors and buy a book as well as support local Highland Park businesses that support us and poetry.
Open-mic follows features. Come a few minutes early to sign up for the line-up. Poets may bring up to three short poems to share; however, Highland Park Poetry reserves the right to limit that number so that all participants have a chance to read.
The event takes place at Secret World Books, 1774 Second Street. There is free parking for up to three hours in the Port Clinton Underground Garage (entrance on Laurel Avenue, between First and Second Street).
There is no cover fee; however, we hope that you will support the authors and buy a book as well as support local Highland Park businesses that support us and poetry.
Upcoming Dates for Readings & Open-Mics at Secret World Books, 1774 Second Street, Highland Park, IL
October 10, 2026 - Charlotte Digregorio & Trudy Kleckner
November 14, 2026 -Jessica L. Walsh & Jennifer Dotson
December 12, 2026 - William T. Carey & Cynthia T. Hahn
January 9, 2027 - Naoko Fujimoto & Faith Urbanik
February 13, 2027 - Amanda Recupido & Michael Mendelson
March 13, 2027 - Mike Freveletti & Linda Wallin
April 10, 2027 - Ruth Goring & Thomas Patrick Connelly
May 8, 2027 - Susen B. James & Pamela Miller
June 12, 2027 - TBD
July 10, 2027 - TBD
August 14, 2027 - TBD
September 11, 2027 - 2027 Prairie State Poetry Prize Winner
October 9, 2027 - Cynthia Gallaher & Debra Hall
November 13, 2027 - TBD
December 11, 2027 - TBD
If you are interested in becoming a featured poet, please reach out to inquire about available dates for 2027.
Other Local Poetry Events & Opportunities
Some of these events are not hosted by Highland Park Poetry but we are pleased to share this information with our friends and followers.
