As we near the spooky season, I wanted to share that my poem “Peter Pumpkin Eater’s Most Delectable Carving” has been reprinted in Graveside Press’s Gathered Here Today anthology of horror poetry and visual art.  This poem originally appeared in last year’s HWA Poetry Showcase (and I’ve got a new poem accepted in this year’s volume as well; more to come on that next month). 

Looking ahead, here’s the lineup for Akua Lezli Hope’s Speculative Sundays online reading series for Speculative Poetry Month in November: 

If you’re in the Portland area this October, I’ll share my OryCon schedule as soon as I have it, and I’ll be participating in the Beaverton City Library’s Horror Authors Book Party. 

Holly Lyn Walrath, one of the editors of Interstellar Flight Magazine, has been helping speculative poetry make great strides recently.  Through her involvement in creating new Nebula and Hugo Awards for poets, she’s been at the forefront of a lot of exciting discussions about the future of specpo.  That’s why I was particularly floored to see that she included my chapbook, The Inca Weaver’s Tales, in her recommended reading list as part of her annual review of Elgin Award-nominated chapbooks and collections! 

Her article brings up insightful points about how we define the speculative genres, the role of smaller publishers, and more.  Not to mention the great company I’m in with her book recommendations!  I hope you’ll give it a read and look for ways to support the efforts to establish these new major poetry awards. 

“Quevedo’s poems conjure the voice of the Inca, exploring themes of the seasons, planting, folklore, nature, the sacred, and community. Like discovering a lost story retold in contemporary verse, reading Quevedo’s work feels like stepping into the past.”

—Holly Lyn Walrath, Interstellar Flight Magazine

Will you enter the labyrinth with me?  My poem “Ariadne Goes to Knitting Group,” a crowd favorite at my readings, is available online in The Ones Behind the Bookshelves. 

The initial kernel of inspiration for this poem came from my mom, a very talented knitter (as well as seamstress—she inspired that skill in Raya, my main character in Thrice Petrified). 

I really admire how Chatter PDX brings together live music, poetry, and community.  I had a wonderful time reading at the event for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, especially getting to see the musicians, Maria Garcia and Yoko Greeney, play the piano side-by-side, in perfect sync.  Amazing!  I’d seen piano duets before, as well as dueling pianos, but never before pieces arranged for four hands at one keyboard.  And Maria and Yoko looked to be having so much fun in the process. 

I unveiled a new poem I wrote especially for the occasion. 

For those who can’t make it to my in-person readings, I’ll be part of Akua Lezli Hope’s free Speculative Sundays online poetry reading series in November.  I’ll be reading along with Joshua Gage on November 16^th.  Mark your calendar to come celebrate Speculative Poetry Month with us! 

Has a week gone by already?!  My head is still spinning from the flurry that was Seattle Worldcon. 

Some of my highlights: 

I got to hang out with two of my good writing friends, Maggie Slater and Rachel Unger!  Maggie and I hadn’t seen each other in person in many, many years.  It was like no time had passed.  And having Rachel in the mix was an absolute blast. 

I got to meet the editor who gave me my first sale, David Stokes of Guardbridge Books, and thank him for taking a chance on a new writer back in the day. 

I also got to meet up with my mentor, the amazing A. T. Greenblatt, who never fails to inspire me. 

I spotted “in the wild” the special prerelease edition of a new anthology I have a story in, The Muddy Goose Guide to the Weird Northwest. 

I met some outstanding fellow poets at a meetup of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association, as well as when I performed selections of my poetry at a group reading and participated on a panel. 

Now I’m prepping for another reading next weekend, as part of Portland’s Chatter PDX series.  The theme for the upcoming event is A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and you’d better believe I’ll be bringing the fairy poetry. 

Here’s where you can find me at Seattle Worldcon next month: 

Poetry Readings Saturday, August 16, 2025, 4:30pm-5:30pm PDT

Come bask in the poetic wonders of strange worlds, fantastic narrators, and imaginary perspectives! Hear the poetry of Grand Master Linda D. Addison, Ai Jiang, Devin Miller, Geoffrey A. Landis, Vanessa MacLaren-Wray, and Katherine Quevedo.

Readers:  Ai Jiang, Devin Miller, Geoffrey A. Landis, Katherine Quevedo, Linda D. Addison, Vanessa MacLaren-Wray

Poetry Performance Tips, August 16, 2025, 6pm-7pm PDT

There are many ways to read a poem out loud. Hear from experts as they describe why they do the things they do.

Panelists:  Terese Mason Pierre, EB Helveg, Katherine Quevedo, Linda D. Addison, Mary Turzillo, R. Thursday

If you’re attending the convention and we cross paths, I hope you’ll say hi! 

If you’ve been waiting for a physical copy of Thrice Petrified to hold in your hands as you read, and to add to your bookshelf, now’s the time.  My fantasy novella about fairies is now available in paperback! 

This story has been a 15-year project for me.  You can read all about it in my interview with Of Metal and Magic Publishing.  Learn about this novella’s connection to a Barbie doll, what posters I had on my childhood bedroom wall, and more. 

I’ve got several in-person events next month related to speculative poetry: 

• Writer’s Fair at the Willamette Writers Conference, Portland, OR, August 1, 2025, 5pm-7pm PDT – Come see me at the table for the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA)!  Learn more about this professional organization, or just chat with some of my awesome local poet friends and me.  Free and open to the public. 
• Worldcon 2025, Seattle, WA, August 13-17, 2025 – On that Saturday I’ll be participating in a poetry reading and then on a panel discussing how to do just that: perform your poetry for an audience.  I’ll be in the company of some amazing poets! 
• Chatter PDX: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Portland, OR, August 31, 2025, 10:30am-11:30am PDT – I’ll be the spoken word guest who reads poetry to accompany live classical chamber music, this time performed by Maria Garcia and Yoko Greeney.  I love when poetry and music mix, although at next month’s event it won’t be simultaneous. 

Now available for your reading pleasure, it’s Thrice Petrified, my debut fantasy novella about warrior fairies and stone curses!  For now it’s just in ebook format, but the paperback is coming any day now. 

With much gratitude to: 

• Maggie Slater, Elizabeth Mitchell, Leon Taylor, and A.M. Fox for reading my story and providing helpful feedback
• JM Williams and Brianna Summers, my publisher and editor at Of Metal and Magic Publishing, for bringing this novella to readers and being great to work with in the process
• Nathaniel Webb, editor of Wyngraf, for giving these characters their first home and giving me the confidence to expand their story and world
• My family for their patience, always