What gives words their shape? And how does poetry transform thoughts into something that can move, inspire, and connect communities? Drawing on her experiences as Fairfield's Poet Laureate, Suzanne Bruce will explore the power of poetry to bring people together through both the literary and visual arts. Through stories from the events she coordinated during her tenure, she will share examples of diverse poetic styles and discuss how words, sound, rhythm, and form work together to create meaning. Suzanne invites us to consider poetry from a different perspective. Just as individual letters have shape, words take on form, and poems become structures filled with meaning and emotion. Whether you write poetry or prose, this presentation will offer a fresh appreciation for the artistry and impact of the written word.

Saturday, July 11, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

Where 

Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists
1625 Salvador Ave., Napa 

Open to the Public 

NVW Members: $10
Guests: $15
Students: Free with ID 

Suzanne Bruce holds a B.S. in Education from the University of Tulsa and did graduate work in Behavior Disorders at Wichita State University. After having taught school for over 17 years, she began writing poetry. She has been enthusiastically active with a creative writing group in St. Helena for over 20 years. She is also a member of Benicia First Tuesday poets, the Ina Coolbrith Circle, the Benicia Literary Arts and the Solano County Library Foundation. Suzanne’s poetry is influenced by her years of teaching as well as her experiences as a military wife. Her poems have

won several prizes, and she has been published in numerous journals, including International Literary Quarterly, Copperfield Review, Suisun Valley Review, and second place in 2025 California Quarterly and editor’s prize for the Armed Services Arts Partnership. Her books, Voices Beyond the Canvas and Her Visions Her Voices, are ekphrastic duets with artist Janet Manalo. Married to her high school sweetheart, Suzanne and her husband, Ed, live in Fairfield and carry on their 48-year tradition of Friday night pizza and champagne! She served as the Fairfield Poet Laureate from July 1, 2022- December 31, 2024. To learn more, visit suzannebrucepoet.com.

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we write, research, communicate, and create. But what does that mean for writers? Drawing on insights from his recent essay, Who Am AI?: On Thought, Consciousness, Identity, and What It Means to Be Human in the Age of AI, poet, memoirist, and publisher Albert Flynn DeSilver will explore the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and its impact on the writing community. 

What You'll Learn:

• Where AI stands today and how quickly the technology is advancing

• Practical and responsible ways writers can use AI as a creative and professional tool

• The limitations, risks, and ethical concerns writers should understand before incorporating AI

into their work

• How AI-generated writing compares to human writing through interactive examples and

discussion

• How questions of thought, consciousness, and identity are shaping the conversation around AI

Interactive Exercise: 

Can you tell the difference between human-generated and AI-generated writing? Albert will challenge attendees with real-world examples and invite participation in a lively discussion about the future of writing. 

Whether you're an AI enthusiast, a curious observer, or a skeptic, you'll leave with a deeper understanding of how this technology is shaping the literary landscape and what it means for writers moving forward.

Saturday, August 8th, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 

Where 

Napa Valley Unitarian Universalists
1625 Salvador Ave., Napa 

Open to the Public 

NVW Members: $10
Guests: $15
Students: Free with ID 

Albert Flynn DeSilver is an internationally published poet, prose writer, speaker, and publisher. He served as Marin County's first Poet Laureate from 2008 to 2010 and worked with California Poet in the Schools for more than a decade. Albert is the author of several poetry books, including his newest, SOME VOID: New & Selected Poems 1996–2026. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Chicago Review, Adventure Journal, and more than 100 literary journals worldwide. He is the author of the memoir Beamish Boy, named a “Best Book of 2012” by Kirkus Reviews, and Writing as a Path to Awakening, a nonfiction book published by Sounds True/MacMillan in 2017. In 2016, Albert hosted international bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert for the sold-out event Writing Truth & Community at The Meritage Resort in Napa. Albert is also the founder of DeSilver Publishing, a Marin-based hybrid publisher specializing in memoir and family legacy book projects. To learn more, visit albertflynndesilver.com.