Novel junkie and Little Free Library addict

My current neighborhood walk loops me past seven Little Free Libraries. Seven. The walk is a few miles and takes about an hour at a leisurely pace. Longer if I stop and read book covers and first chapters, or, if it’s a particularly treasure-filled day, struggle to carry four or five home in each arm (don’t worry, I bring them back).

Now, I have no idea if seven is a record in our county, but I live amongst the Eastsiders, or dare I say, Midtown neighborhoods, and this free book bounty fuels me beyond compare. So I can only hope seven is a low to average number and that all our county streets flourish with the wealth of used paperbacks.

That’s why I love books: the inclusion, the community, the emotional resonance. In times like ours, when division is so easily dictated by algorithms, knowing that my neighbors are getting lost in the same stories I love is my secret hot cup of tea. It’s a quiet reminder of shared humanity in a loud, unruly world.

From reader to writer

I’ve been writing and editing professionally for over six years, and somewhere along the way, I started writing fiction—for fun, for myself. There was a story clawing its way out of my head, and the longer I sat inactive, the angrier it got.

Fiction writing is new for me. As much as I’m a self-proclaimed novel junkie, writing anything is hard work. It’s also art. And it can be intensely isolating. When you’re waking up in the middle of the night, forcing yourself out of bed to scribble down an idea before it vanishes, you start hunting for proof that you aren’t crazy—that other people do this, too.

So, I ventured out into the local scene.

Luckily, we live in a county with wide, open literary doors. I started going to author talks, book clubs, and writing workshops across town. And what I learned in the literary event trenches is that while I’m not a twenty-something with a cocktail in hand—I’m a middle-aged, sober introvert—I love being in these spaces. Hearing authors talk about their passion projects fuels my own work. The talent at local open mics continuously blows my mind (you’ll never catch me at the microphone, but I’ll happily cheer from the back row).

Why Voices of Santa Cruz exists

As I spent more time exploring our local events, I realized two things were missing:

First, finding these events felt a bit like a treasure hunt scattered across paper flyers, library boards, local business websites, and social media accounts. I wanted a central calendar to see what was happening on any given night.

Second, and more importantly, I wanted a dedicated space to showcase the incredible talent living right here, nestled between the sea and the redwoods. I wanted a low-barrier-to-entry outlet that shared our collective, unique voices.

Santa Cruz is overflowing with writers, poets, and storytellers of every imaginable genre. Local outlets often showcased our diverse visual artists, but writers were not getting the same kinds of coverage. I wanted to share the incredible experiences and voices I had been hearing at these local events.

That’s why I created Voices of Santa Cruz.

Pull up a chair

This platform is two things: a curated monthly literary events calendar so you never miss a local reading, workshop, or book swap, and a mini literary magazine celebrating the writers who call this county home.

Whether you’re an avid reader looking for your next favorite local author, a quiet introvert sitting in the back of an open mic, or a writer with a story clawing to get out—this space is for you.

Welcome to Voices of Santa Cruz. I’m so glad you’re here.

Calling all writers

Whether you’re a novelist, poet, essayist, or story-teller, we want to feature the vibrant and creative voices that make our community unique. If you live, work, or create anywhere in Santa Cruz County, we’d love to read your work.

What we’re looking for:

• Poetry & prose: Original poems, short stories, flash fiction, and personal essays of any and all genres.

• Local perspectives: Pieces that capture the unique atmosphere, culture, and stories of our county.

• Literary events: Are you launching a book, hosting a workshop, or running a local reading group? Let us know so we can feature it in our community calendar!

How to submit

We have an online form to submit your original work, alongside a short author bio.

📥 Submit your written work here

📥 Submit your local literary event here

Help us spread the word

We hope to build a welcoming, connected literary home for everyone across the county. If you know a local writer, poet, or book-lover who should be on our radar, please share this post with your creative circles, writing groups, and community!

Thank you for being part of this new chapter. We can’t wait to read what you’re working on.

Leave a comment

⭐️ Staff pics

If you’ve only got time for a few—these free events caught our eye.

• Books & Brews | Saturday, August 1 | 10 am - 4 pm

• InterAct Open Mic | Tuesday, August 4 & 18 | 7 pm - 9 pm

• Weekend with Shakespeare | Saturday, August 8 & 9 | 11 am - 2 pm

• Bookstore Romance Day | Saturday, August 15 | 9 am - 5 pm

📆 August

Recurring weekly events

📍 Downtown Branch SCPL (Life Literacies Center) | Cost: Free

A poetry workshop for anyone who would like to establish a writing practice in a safe and encouraging environment.

📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History | Cost: Free

Weekly open archives hours. Meet the archivist, see a unique item from the collection on display, and discover where Santa Cruz history is preserved.

📍 Online & in-person at most branches | Cost: Free

Join a book club at your local branch or via Zoom to explore great reads and share engaging conversations with fellow book lovers.

Saturday, August 1

📍 The Abbey Coffee Lounge (350 Mission St) | Cost: Free

Come write with us. Be it a book, short story, essay, graphic novel, poem, academic paper, blog post, or work stuff, all forms of writing are welcome!

📍 La Selva Beach Clubhouse Lawn | Cost: Free

Used book sale, local beers, food trucks, and live music.

📍 Bookshop Santa Cruz and other downtown businesses | Cost: Free

Join Bookshop for a Waldo costume contest, fun games and activities, and a raffle for great prizes. There will even be a visit from Waldo himself!

Tuesday, August 4

📍 Online | Cost: Free

Author talk and reading from Smithsonian curator and public historian Paula J. Johnson, about Julia Child’s Kitchen: The Design, Tools, Stories, and Legacy of an Iconic Space.

📍 The Trout Farm Inn | Cost: Free

Write and connect with fellow writers at an o-fishal writing event. Join for the first 2 hour writing blast, or dive deep and stay until the tail end.

📍 The Diversity Center (1117 Soquel Ave) | Cost: Free

Come eat, drink, and chat about LGBTQ+ lit. August book is Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers. Monthly book club on the first Tuesday of every month, open to all 18+.

📍 Satori (815 Almar Ave #9) | Cost: Free

A free community open mic with featured artist readings to celebrate poetry, prose, presence, and people. Featured artist is Sam Regal. First and third Tuesdays of the month.

Wednesday, August 5

📍 Online | Cost: Free

An open mic night providing a supportive audience to read your works aloud—are all welcome! First Wednesdays of the month.

Thursday, August 6

📍 Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub (1220 Pacific Ave) | Cost: Free

Social writing session for writers who want to hang out and talk shop. Bring 5–10 minutes of reading if you’d like feedback. Occurs monthly.

Saturday, August 8

📍 WomenCARE (2901 Park Ave A1) | Cost: Free

A safe haven where women making the cancer journey find mutual support and shared experience through writing. Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month.

📍 Scotts Valley Branch SCPL (Fireside Community Room) | Cost: Free

Two-part short story workshop exploring how to shape an initial idea into a focused draft.

📍 Audrey Stanley Grove (DeLaveaga Park) | Cost: Free

Lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities in partnership with UCSC’s Shakespeare Workshop and The Humanities Institute.

📍 Scotts Valley Branch SCPL | Cost: Free

Learn about the evolutionary origins and practices of Iranian rituals, beliefs, and dances in her new book Companions of the Sun.

Sunday, August 9

📍 Audrey Stanley Grove (DeLaveaga Park) | Cost: Free

Day two of discussions and lectures diving deep into this season’s Shakespeare productions.

📍 Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium | Cost: $26 – $96

Performing original poetry honoring MLK Jr. alongside Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings with the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.

Monday, August 10

📍 Aptos Branch SCPL (Betty Leonard Community Room) | Cost: Free

Supportive writing group to share work, give feedback, and grow your craft. All genres and experience levels welcome. Meets 2nd & 4th Mondays of the month.

Tuesday, August 11

📍 Bookshop Santa Cruz | Cost: Free

Author talk and reading of Lost in Sound: A Mystery. Sometimes it takes a village, maybe a dog, and a bit of magic, to solve a murder.

Saturday, August 15

📍 Bookshop Santa Cruz | Cost: Free

Join for a day full of camp-inspired activities! Bunk-up with fellow romance readers for campfire chats, cabin crafts, and book recs from your favorite counselor.

📍 Scotts Valley Branch SCPL (Fireside Community Room) | Cost: Free

Part two of a two-part short story workshop that explores how to shape a story from an initial idea into a more focused, compelling draft.

📍 Felton Branch SCPL | Cost: Free

Write a poem in a creative, supportive environment. No experience necessary. Open to all ages and levels of poets.Facilitated by poet-teacher Magdalena Montagne.

📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History | Cost: $40 – $50

Annual gathering celebrating local bilingual poets and writers. Participants may attend both or just one day. Happens annually on the 3rd and 4th Saturdays in August.

📍 Scotts Valley Branch SCPL | Cost: Free

Discussing her book Nothing Like Normal, a tender coming of age story about growing up with an older sister who developed schizophrenia at the tender age of 15.

Sunday, August 16

📍 Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History | Cost: $10 suggested donation

A writing workshop, open mic, and a featured poet. Each monthly event honors the tradition of spoken word in Santa Cruz, while uplifting emerging voices.

Monday, August 17

📍 Bookshop Santa Cruz | Cost: Free

Author talk and reading of My Sister Is Going to Kill Me, a family-centered whodunnit about two sisters who work together to find a killer as they raft down the rapids of the Grand Canyon.

Tuesday, August 18

📍 Satori (815 Almar Ave #9) | Cost: Free

Community open mic night 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month with featured artist readings to celebrate poetry, prose, presence, and people. Featured artist is Kate O’Neil.

Wednesday, August 19

📍 Bookshop Santa Cruz | Cost: Free

Author talk and reading from former Surfing Magazine editor and author of Nearshore, a mix of literary suspense and coastal noir set on the California coast.

Thursday, August 20

📍 Garfield Park Branch SCPL | Cost: Free

A writing workshop for the 55+ age group to reflect on the natural environment and climate change to encourages community, socialization, and creativity.

Friday, August 21

📍 Gilman Brewing Company (817 Soquel Ave) | Cost: Free

Discussing Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky. They met last month to discuss Chapters 1-4; this time, they’ll discuss the whole novel.

Saturday, August 22

📍 The Diversity Center (1117 Soquel Ave) | Cost: Free

Writing group for 18+ LGBTQ+ writers of all levels. Prompts provided or bring your own work. Join for the last meeting of this series.

📍 Online | Cost: $40 – $50

Virtual day two celebrating local bilingual poets and writers. Participants may attend both or just one day. Happens annually on the 3rd and 4th Saturdays in August.

Monday, August 24

📍 Aptos Branch SCPL (Betty Leonard Community Room) | Cost: Free

Supportive writing group to share work, give feedback, and grow your craft. All genres and experience levels welcome. Meets 2nd & 4th Mondays of the month.

Tuesday, August 25

📍 Online | Cost: Free

Author reading and talk with award winning biologist discussing When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical Legacy.

📍 Bookshop Santa Cruz | Cost: Free

Celebrate the release of Winter in America (Still, a sequel anthology that includes a range of voices responding to this moment in history. This event features local poets.

Thursday, August 27

📍 Online | Cost: Free

Join for a talk with acclaimed author Lucy Foley about her brand-new Miss Marple mystery, Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel.

📍 Bookshop Santa Cruz | Cost: Free

Author reading and talk with co-author of How to Live a Meaningful Life: Using Design Thinking to Unlock Purpose, Joy, and Flow Every Day.

Saturday, August 29

📍 Capitola Branch SCPL (Barbara Gorson Room) | Cost: Free

Writing group focused on improving writing and finding avenues for publication. The group meets every 4th Saturday of the month.

📍 Boulder Creek Branch SCPL | Cost: Free

Dedicated hour of structured silent writing with a check-in and wrap-up. Whether you’re working on a novel, essay, or poem, this is your dedicated time to write.

Sunday, August 30

📍 Evergreen Cemetery (261 Evergreen St) | Cost: Free (Donations welcome)

Writing workshop blending automatic writing with ancestor veneration, facilitated by local poet Gabriel Kittle-Cervine. This is a monthly writing workshop series.

📍 The 418 Project | Cost: Free

Open mic welcoming poets, musicians, performers, and speakers. Five minute sets are available, all modalities of expression are welcome and encouraged.

August 30 – September 2

📍 Cavallo Point (Sausalito) | Cost: $3,250+

Four days of writing, inspiration, and creative renewal. Join the 11th annual retreat organized by the Santa Cruz-based Catamaran Literary Reader.

Have an upcoming literary event in Santa Cruz County?

Submit your event for the September calendar.

Deadline: August 15, 2026