Below is a list of poets with ties to Solano County, having lived here, were born here, served as poets laureate here, or currently do so. If you would like to be added to this list, please send a short message to vallejopoetrysociety@gmail.com explaining your connection to Solano County, your name or pen name, and include a link to your website if applicable.
You do not have to be famous, published, or a performer to be included on this list.
We are happy to add you to our list if you are a poet who has lived in or was born in Vallejo, Benicia, Fairfield, Dixon, Vacaville, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Allendale, Elmira, Green Valley, Hartley, Bahia, Birds Landing, Bucktown, Collinsville, Cordelia, Maine Prairie, Rockville, or Scandia, California.
Poets Laureate of Benicia
Kathy Monroe, 2024-2026
Mary Susan Gast, 2020-2023
Thomas Stanton, 2018-2020
Johanna Ely, 2016-2018
Don Peery, 2014-2016
Lois Requist, 2012-2014
Ronna Leon, 2010-2012
Robert Shelby, 2008-2010 (1935-2016)
Joel Fallon, 2006-2008 (1931-2016)
Poets Laureate of Fairfield
Suzanne Bruce, 2022-2024
Bonnie DiMichele, 2020-2022
Juanita J. Martin, 2010-2012
Poets Laureate of Vallejo
Kathleen Herrmann & Jacalyn Eyvonne, 2024-2025
Jeremy Snyder, 2020-2023
Suisun City Poet Laureate
50th Excalibur (David Camper) 2022
Poets from Solano County
Tracy K. Smith, U.S. Poet Laureate, 2017-2019
Dr. Henry Meade Bland, California Poet Laureate, 1929-1931 (1863-1931)
Edwin Markham, Oregon Poet Laureate, 1923-1931 (1852-1940)
Dwayne Parish, Richmond Poet Laureate, 2012-2014
Stephen Sharpe, Richmond Poet Laureate,
Dorsetta Hale, Pacifica Poet Laureate, 2014-2016
Ayodele Nzinga, Poet Laureate of Oakland, 2021-2023
Rae Armantrout, 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry for Versed
Joanne Kyger (1934-2017)
Q.R. Hand (1937-2020)
Elsie Robinson (1883-1956)
Erika Snyder, co-founder of Vallejo Poetry Society
Daniel Badiali, co-founder of Vallejo Poetry Society
Nina Serrano, KPFA & KZCT radio host
Paul Richards, Estuary Press
Kyrah Ayers, founder of Poetry by the Bay
Edgar-Arturo Camacho-González, founder of El Comalito Collective
Breanna Hardy, founder of Solano Writers Society
Tony Aldarondo, Hummingword Press
Peter Bray
Wayne Goodman, founder of Queer Words Podcast
Dr. Gina Rizzo a.k.a. Regina Sparrow
Alma Perez
Amber Von Nagel
Anna Quismorio
A.P. Thurston
Aqueila M. Lewis-Ross
Barbara Luck
Becky Bishop White
Bob Marcacci
Bobby Richardson
Carmen White
Carol Gieg
Carol Pearlman
Carolyn Fallon
Chris Pogue a.k.a. C-POW
Cynaka Harper a.k.a. GO-284
Daniel Belcher
Dan Ryken
Darrell g. h. Schramm
Deb Sica
Diana Tenes
Dorine Jennette
Elaine Brown a.k.a. Poetespoken
Georgette Howington
Hadi Paul Reinhertz
James B. Earley
Jeffrey Williams
Kathleen Herrmann
Kay Flavell
Keith Thompson
Lady-D
Lee Lee “Ain’t Misbehavin'”
Lei Kim Sawyer Chavez
Linda S. Bryant
Lisa Gutierrez-Wilson
Liv Anderson
Lois Wu
Lori Lynn Armstrong
Lorraine Ferra
Lucinda Lees
Melody Brumis
Morgan Hannigan
Myra Nissen
Philip Dow
Ray Davis
Travis Jackson, Jr.
Woody Shiflett