Along the Way
This blog post is generously provided in kind by Jesse James Ziegler. The Double Down blog is also supported by Nevada Humanities’ donors.
By Jesse James Ziegler
Image courtesy of Jesse James Ziegler.
I recently had the opportunity to be interviewed and share some poetry on the Spoken Views Radio Hour, hosted by Griffin Peralta on the local 97.7 FM KWNK station, as an exit interview of sorts, for my tenure as City of Reno Poet Laureate. Two years seemed to fly by in a blink, until I sat down and deeply reflected on everything that was packed into my seven hundred and thirty days, holding the honorary role for the Biggest Little City in the World. Thank you, Griffin and KWNK Radio for giving me a foundational outline to build upon for this blog post. This is not an exhaustive list of worthwhile questions, amazing events, glorious organizations, inspiring individuals, and much deserved flowers, but it’s a hearty attempt. I’m easy to find if you’d like to talk more on any subject of interest.
What’s your process? How do you literally write a poem?
Notes App or journal entry. A lot of prompt writing. I always have something with me to write with and write on. I usually start off with some sort of inspiration, like a title or a first line, and build from there.
Why do you make art? What effect do you hope it has on the audience?
Catharsis. Connection. Community. I hope others feel safe, heard, seen, not-so-alone, and uniquely valued.
What inspires you to write? What might you encounter that would make you want to write?
Songs, podcasts, books, memes, films, photography, anniversaries, special events, legacy moments, sermons, prayers, conversations, dreams, visions, other artwork, death and dying, grief and loss, celebrations of life, online prompts, workshop prompts, and other creatives.
Image courtesy of Jesse James Ziegler.
Image courtesy of Jesse James Ziegler.
What sort of events have you participated in or exhibited your poetry at that you felt were memorable?
Nevada Humanities Literary Crawl, Inaugural Truckee Lit Crawl, Inaugural and 2nd Annual Tahoe Literary Festival, Mark Twain Days, Las Vegas Book Festival, Black Rock Press publication of broadsides with Meg and Bekah Sullivan, Metro Gallery Exhibit, Poetry and Jazz night to honor Langston Hughes at the Nevada Museum of Art along with Sapphire Jazz Ensemble Reno and Kashae Felix, Something Seen: Humanities Under the Stars with Shaun Griffin and Melanie Perish hosted by Tony Berendsen (and family) at the Northstar Cosmorarium, Celebrando La Ascendencia: Dia de Los Muertos, 40th Festival of the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Hosting The Art of Words at the Artist Co-Op of Reno, Poetry at the Backyard and Poetry at the Tahoe Wine Collective, Night at the Library with Huffaker Elementary, Poetry in the Parks at both Empire Mine and Tahoe City Gatekeeper’s Museum with the California Parks Foundation, Poetry in the Parks at Crissie Caughlin park in the Idlewild chain and Hunter Creek Wilderness through Nevada Humanities and Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation, Inaugural Dinner on the Bridge with the Sierra Arts Foundation, and many University Open Mics.
What are some common topics or subjects of your writing?
Light and dark and the gray areas in between, social commentary, social activism, good and evil, God, the night sky, mountains, doggies, birds, and chosen family.
What have been the best parts of being Poet Laureate?
The opportunities and the relationships. The growth in craft and the growth as a human being along the journey.
“To any future Poet Laureate: give the role and the community everything you have to give.”
Because of the title, what doors were opened for you, or what things did you get involved in? What advice would you give the next Poet Laureate?
***Gestures broadly*** SEE ABOVE as well as The Tahoe Poetry Collective, UNR Brushfire Open Mic, Nevada Poetry Society, Sierra Arts Literary Community, Sierra Poetry Festival, Collective Breath Poetry Book Club, Monday Night Poetry, and True Colors Poetry, along with multiple appearances on KOLO ABC with Katie Roshetko.
Our community was featured on PBS Reno as a segment in their Arteffects series and was able to haul in back-to-back best open mic wins through the Reno News and Review Best of annual competition in 2024 and 2025. We’ve also happily been gifted the opportunity for the forthcoming anthology of poetry Is It Monday Yet? (2026, Moon Tide Press).
To any future Poet Laureate: give the role and the community everything you have to give. Pour it all out there. Leave everything on the table and keep helping to build longer tables so that more and more folks can have a seat. Read as much as you possibly can. Our community needs poetry now more than ever.
Have you been to a workshop that you found particularly interesting? What was the prompt?
Wild Western Wordsmiths with Reena Spansail and Griffin Peralta in collaboration with Nevada Humanities at The Holland Project. I also thoroughly enjoyed Michelle Myers on the subject of Art as Activism.
Image courtesy of Jesse James Ziegler.
Image courtesy of Jesse James Ziegler.
Thank Yous and Bouquets of Flowers
God, for giving me a love and a gift to help carry me home on those darkest nights. My Mom for carrying me into this world and supporting me when I couldn’t support myself. Mary, Holly and Dave of the Bruka Theatre. Jessey Richards and Riley Blossom. Dana and Michelle of Reno Arts News and the Creatives Talk Podcast. Tia Flores and Nohemy Velasco. Melody Jane Photo for doing headshots and being a multi-talented artist in her own right. Kathleen Kuo, George Lam, and Alyda Dickens, Priya Hutner and Katherine Hill, Shaun Griffin, Scott Green, Gailmarie Pahmeier, Karen Terrey, Lindsay Wilson, Max Stone, and Paige Clarno. Pax Robinson and Coley Whisman. Teresa Breeden, Susan Sarah Priest, Kathy Nelson, Melanie Perish, Courtney Clifton. and Joanne Mallari. Lafe Benson and Jon Frye. J Macon and Perry King. Krystal and Shelby. Eric Morago of Moon Tide Press. Alon, Matty D. and Kenny. Rachel and Alex. Scoot, Levi, Megan, Caleb, Sophia and Erin. Serena and Justin Abramson. Marleta and Erik Fong. Eric Brooks, Valerie Neish Moore, Jamie Lynn Woodham, Anna Freeman, and Spike McGuire. Brandon Leake and Derrick C Brown. Andrew Coffey. Camilla Downs. Stacey Spain and the breathtakingly beautiful people of Our Center.
Monday Night Poetry and True Colors Poetry Regulars (you know who you are). There are so many beautiful souls I get to co-create with. There are too many to list but I owe you each a hug. Special shout out to Jasmin, Colton, Local Legend Courtney Kelly, Nicole, Niki, Nikki, Harland, Timothy, Cloe, Ace, Mary, and Raymond for helping to keep me going when I was at my lowest points or just needing someone to talk with.
Everyone in my Sunday afternoon writing workshop. Thank you for welcoming and tolerating me.
My inspiring Las Vegas Poets: Ms AyeVee Ashley Vargas, Vogue Robinson, Heather Lang Cassera, Angela Brommel, Bruce Isaacson, Sin À Tes Souhaits, Bobbie Ann Howell, Elle Hope, Kreative Kenn, and Steven Dee Kish.
My Goddaughters: Isis, Schae, Cheyenne, Harleigh, and Ashlyn. Mama Jane.
Ean Darbo and Dave Alfred for putting up with the beginning years of my love for poetry and all of the years since.
Reno Arts and Culture Commission members Erica Hill, Megan Berner, Christian Davies, and Anza Jarschke, before they left.
My Spoken Views Collective OGs: Iain Watson, Griffin Peralta, Elisa Garcia, Shaughn Richardson, Steve Elegant, and Pan Pantoja. Thank you, Iain, for sharing the vision, blueprint, and heart of what this all can be on its best days. All of western Nevada owes you.
Church opportunities to share poetry: Rebecca Brown, Matthew McDowell, and Connie Friend.
Terrence Hammond from the Metro Gallery at City Hall for the City of Reno
To anyone who ever broke my heart or let me down, which added fuel to the fire.
And last, but certainly not least, my wife Amanda McHenry for holding it down when she has her own extremely busy schedule to deal with and making it to everything she possibly could in spite of high demands that she’s under. We always find time to sneak in paranormal thrillers, Bravo TV, Christmas movies, prayer time, and cuddles with Honey.
Jesse James Ziegler is Poet Laureate for the City of Reno (2024–2025). He is the vice president of Spoken Views Collective, the creative director for Monday Night Poetry, True Colors Poetry, and Collective Breath Poetry Book Club. He holds leadership positions within both the Sierra Arts Literary Community and the Nevada Poetry Society. He opened and hosted the world premieres of Brandon Leake’s original spoken word play Insomnia (Winner of America’s Got Talent, Season 15). His work has been published by Nevada Humanities, Moon Tide Press, The Bruka Theatre of the Sierra, The Mill Valley Literary Review, Strophes, KUNR and KWNK radio, PBS, Black Rock Press and Multnomah University Press.