Copperfield’s on a Rainy Afternoon

Copperfield's on a rainy afternoon
by Maureen Hurley

On a blustery Sunday afternoon over 50 poetry aficionados braved torrential downpours to listen to 4 poets read at Copperfield's Books, (formerly Myst Books) of Sebastopol. It was standing room only with people crowded in among the stacks, sitting on the floor and in the aisles as Ina Scrocco, Boschka Layton, Gerrye Payne and Ann Zimmer read from their works.

Scrocco, Layton and Zimmer are former students of Gerrye Payne, who teaches adult education creative writing through the Santa Rosa J. C. Their poetry reflects the diverse styles of their writing even though their connection is that they are former students of Gerrye Payne's writing class.

Canadian poet Boschka Layton read some humerous love poems and poems about her cat Ivan. Cats have a special place in literary circles from Cat Geoffrey in Jubiatante Agno by Christopher Smart, to the present day tortoise shell cat of Copperfield's who nonchalantly strolled across the tops of books to visit the kids browsing in the children's section.

Ina Scrocco, coordinator of SSU's new series, "Poetry Readings at the Pub, " held every other Thursday, shared wonderful image-laden glimpses, of her world with us; and Ann Zimmer read long narrative poems of love, Cinderella retold, and birth. There's an old Chinese saying... a picture is worth a thousand words...

Taking that a step further, I'd like to say a poem is worth a thousand pictures and that adequately describes Gerrye Payne’s work.

Payne, a Marriage & Child counselor for the Erickson Institute in Sebastopol, has a book soon to be out from Loon Press called An Amatuer Plays Satie. Ms. Payne is also the publisher of White Bear Books, which has printed 5 titles so far. Grandmother Spider, an anthology of local writers, is one, and Richard Welin's book The Ride Back is in libraries all over the US. Although The Ride Back is sold out, most of the other books are available at Copperfield's Books.

The owners of Copperfield's are dedicated to providing a special sort of bookstore for people to feel at home in. Series Coordinator Donna Fisher, who limelights as a 6th grade teacher at Brookhaven Jr. High during the day, said "We wanted to provide authors with a warm place to read their works. For me, its a resourceful place, people come in off the street, develop a dialogue with the bookstore and come back again for the readings." 

One of the co-owners of Copperfield's, Barney Brown, who founded People's Music ten years ago was also a teacher in the Berkeley School System. Barney, his partner Paul Jaffe (no relation to Sherril Jaffee, the writer) and Donna Fisher have created a unique atmosphere and provide the Sebastopol community with a well received weekly reading series that has gained a lot of momentum since is started last September. Readings are held on Sunday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. The events are free.

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Stump Poetry Editor Maureen Hurley will join Zara Altair & Andrea Granahan at Copperfield's for a California Poets-in-the-Schools reading, November 22 at 2pm

On Sunday, November 22nd at 2 p.m. Copper-field's will present a Sonoma County Poets-in-the-Schools reading with Maureen Hurley, Zara Altair and Andrea Granahan.

Students from Analy High School, where Altair and Hurley are poet-teachers in an after school program, will also read from their recent works. The event is free. For more information on California Poets-in-the-Schools, contact Lee Perron, 1932 Champs 'd Elysees, Forestville, 95436.