GET LIT with our LITERARY LATTÉS Since 2012—New features monthly
September Issue
HEREAFTER & OTHERWISE:
Cinematic evolution of Clint Eastwood
A(nother) Metaphysical Movie Review from Robert V. Tobin
“Stewards of the Obsolete” from Lindy Krushas
Where have all the typewriters gone? Long time after.
J.Macon King and Iris Jamahl Dunkle reading “Belonging to a Place: Two Poets on Place as Legacy.”
Thursday, October 1, 2026 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Mill Valley (CA) Library Creekside Room in collaboration with Marin Poetry Center.
The Tahoe Literary Festival is four weeks away, October 9–11 in Tahoe City, CA.
An incredible group of writers, poets, storytellers, presenters and literary professionals are joining in this year, and hope that you will become part of it. Friday Oct. 9 at the Boatworks Mall at 5 p.m. with an opening, welcome and community mic night. J.Macon King and other fine poets will help kick it off Friday with poetry. LitFest Flyer2026
AUGUST ISSUE
“High Heels and Hollow Points or The Girl Who Knew Too Little”
“Poetry in Parks” founder and poet Scott Green and Mill Valley Literary Review publisher and poet J.Macon King appeared on ABC affiliate KOLO 8 TV Reno\Tahoe “Morning Break” August 21. They discussed the Poetry in Parks event (below) Aug 22 in Tahoe City, CA. “Morning Break” is a 2026 Emmy nominated SF/NorCal program.
The cool mountains and lakes of Lake Tahoe present these three literary events and much more. North Lake has become the new happenin’ place for lit events. Below events FREE!
An inspiring afternoon of poetry, music, and community at the beautiful William B. Layton State Park on the Lake in Tahoe City, CA as part of the CA State Parks “Poetry in Parks” on Aug. 22 3-5 p.m. FREE.
Poetry in Parks is part of a statewide spoken word event series that began in 2015. Featured poets include:
* J.Macon King, Poet, writer, publisher of MillValleyLit.
* Jen Cheng, Poet Laureate of West Hollywood
* Jesse James Ziegler, past Poet Laureate of Reno
* Kim Shuck, past Poet Laureate of San Francisco
* Scott Green, recipient of the 2026 California State Parks Director’s Trailblazer Award for Poetry in Parks. https://www.tahoelitfest.com/
Tahoe Literary Festival returns to Lake Tahoe October 9-11, 2026. Cultivating a vibrant literary arts community in the Tahoe-Truckee, CA region and beyond. Join poet\writer J.Macon King and other fine poets Friday Oct. 9 to kick off Lake Tahoe’s premier lit festival’s third annual showcase. Friday FREE. Register and pay for Saturday events. https://www.tahoelitfest.com/
Poetry at The Backyard: Poetry and Open Mic in Kings Beach, CA
A(nother) Metaphysical Movie Review
SUMMER ISSUE
“The Most Interesting Woman in the World… you’ve never heard of:” Lucretia Osborn McKleroy:
The Devil Wears Prada 2
A(NOTHER) METAPHYSICAL MOVIE REVIEW From Robert V. Tobin
“Like many of us, these movies’ characters struggle to align integrity and dignity, loyalty and allegiance, intelligence and wisdom, tact and judgement. Their choices bring them many things, but happiness is not among them.”
Poetry of Lucretia Osborn McKleroy
I feel your spirit from my heart
In the opening bud
of a yellow rose In the garden
The pale green wet moss
on the terrace senses its loss
of the footprints that were yours
MERITS—Poem by Margery Cunningham
What makes a poem good?
I’ve asked around—
a solid, old professor
a languid drape across his lectern,
shifted a bit, sloe-eyed,
sputtered aphorisms and conceits.
Ha! It seems to me he does not know
“Small Potatoes” — Essay on the writer’s life by Susanna Solomon
“My work will never be on the New York Times Best Seller list. Nor will my books ever be Book of the Month Club, or get a five star review on Kirkus Reviews, or ever really climb out of the basement at Amazon.”
APRIL-MAY: SCI-FI BLASTS BACK Special Sci-Fi Edition
The REAL Man Who Fell to Earth — Philip K. Dick
“Just like we think Bowie knows something these people think I know something.” Philip K. Dick, Exegesis
Project Hail Mary—A(NOTHER) METAPHYSICAL MOVIE REVIEW by Robert V. Tobin
Andy Weir, author of The Martian, does it again
“Both the book and movie version of Project Hail Mary bring attention to the relativity of time as well as space. Attention shifts abruptly between traumas of the past, worries in the present, and fears lurking in the future, the same way these seamlessly interweave in our daily lives.”
Anne R. Dick’s Total Recall : Interview with Sci-Fi master Philip K. Dick’s ex-wife, Marin County poet Anne R. Dick.
JMK: Which character (in the book) was Philip?
ANNE R. DICK: They were all Philip. (laughs)
JMK: The characters were all Philip?
ANNE R. DICK: Yes. Of course. (laughs)
“Philip K. Dick Bonus Speed Round” — PDK Potpourri (for fans only)
“The Assignment” —short science fiction from author Susanna Solomon
Congratulations to our friend Scott Green! California State Parks awarded Scott the Director’s Award for his creation and leadership of the “Poetry in Parks” events. We are happy to have participated in these at the Gatekeepers Museum in Tahoe City, CA with a Tahoe Literary Festival workshop on Beat poets influence on the Dead and other musicians.
See Scott’s St. Patty’s poetry party 2026 Tahoe City, CA here.
Science fiction fact: Today NASA’S Artemis II launches to begin journey to the moon!
China Science Fiction Convention in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua
China’s Sci-Fi Boom Drives Record Revenue Growth in THE SCENE: Readings, Happenings, Events, Gallery of Arts
Please keep us ad-free by donating—details here.
We are now open for SUBMISSIONS—submit here.
National Poetry Month Turns 30: Join the Celebration This April
The Academy of American Poets celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of National Poetry Month, welcoming people of all ages and backgrounds across the United States to engage with poetry in meaningful ways—both on and off the page—through free programs and resources.
MARCH 2026
In “The Scene”
Nine poets laureate and writers from across the western United States gathered Sunday, March 29, 2026 before a full house at the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City, Nevada for In This Time: A Gathering of Poets Laureate from the West. Led by Nevada Poet Laureate Shaun Griffin. Photos here in The Scene.
Chasing Nirvana: A Seeker’s Story of Love, Loss, and Liberation. Tahoe Literary Festival and Trucker Literary Crawl co-founder Priya Hutner’s debuts memoir that chronicles her epic adventure to attain enlightenment.
“When [Ma] spoke again, it was as if a different person had taken over her body… ‘God is in the sharing. If you want my truth, you must also take my insanity,’ she said.”
Two book reviews of Priya Hutner’s intimate story of her years in the ashrams of an all-possessing cult group. Chasing Nirvana: A Seeker’s Story of Love, Loss, and Liberation.
Please keep us ad-free by donating—details here.
We are now open for SUBMISSIONS—submit here.
SING SING
A(NOTHER) METAPHYSICAL MOVIE REVIEW By Robert V. Tobin
“This movie raises questions like: can we ever be anyone else but who we are? Can anyone be anywhere except where they are? The answer to both questions is no, but that doesn’t keep us from trying.”
February 2026 Happy Valentines featuring Two Love Stories
A(NOTHER) METAPHYSICAL MOVIE REVIEW By: Robert V. Tobin
“As we enter Valentine month’s celebration of love, HAMNET provides a timely reminder to remain present, pleasant and positive in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles..”
“Bonne Chance: Evening in Paris Wilde” adventure travel fiction by J.Macon King
“I was wondering… why are we talking about dead and buried? It’s a beautiful day, we’re in Paris, and we’re in love. Right?” Mary stops to look at him. Enjoys his expression. “Right??” he repeats.
January 2026 Happy New Year
Bobby we will really miss you. Longtime Mill Valley resident Bob Weir gave much to our community. Rest in Peace & Love and Blessings to his family, friends and fans.
Let’s Get Personal with “Personal Poetry”
Essay and 8 poems of a personal nature.
A(nother) Metaphysical Movie Review
By Robert V. Tobin
One Battle After Another & Nuremburg
Coincidence, Serendipity or Synchronicity?
CONGRATULATIONS! 49ers were in Playoffs AGAIN
NINERMANIA!
December 2025 Features:
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS
“The World’s Most Interesting Man (you’ve never heard of)”
A(nother) Metaphysical Movie Review
By Robert V. Tobin
November 2025 Features:
Beat Generation — Looking Back on Bohemia by the Bay
The creative, non-conformist spirits of the mid-century and their haven by the Bay.
Story: Jeff Kaliss, Poetry Editor
November 17, 2025
A Night of Post-Beat Poetry, Beat Poet Memories, and Poetry in the Original San Francisco Tradition with Gerard Nicosia.
Lalit Kumar poetry from “Yosemite of my Heart”
“Half Dome,
Rocks like a lead guitarist,
Plucks strings, plays frets
Of the grand castle.
El Capitan Provides the Bass,
Cathedral Rocks
Rounds out the rhythms”
A(nother) Metaphysical Movie Review
The Evolution of a Funny Man: Jim Carrey
by Robert V. Tobin, Movie Reviewer
October 2025
Tahoe Literary Festival 2025: another fantastic trip down LIT LANE
“BEAT POETRY and the GRATEFUL DEAD”
MillValleyLit’s Editor-in-Chief J.Macon King presented this workshop which dove into the wild, improvisational spirit of Beat and Post-Beat poetry and its deep resonance of Jack Kerouac & Co. with the music of the Grateful Dead and Dylan. Drawing on Dennis McNally’s new book (below), his own experiences, and other sources, King explored background, influences, and revival of Beat writing, traced counterculture ideals, and spontaneous expression shaped both poetry and music. He read from Beat poets, played music by the Dead, Dylan, and jazz influences. Participants experimented with free-form and spoken-word styles, created their own Beat-inspired poem lines. They read aloud, and riffed off each other in a collaborative, improvisational atmosphere—much like a jam session in words.
Tahoe Literary Festival photos and posts.
On My Nightstand: See the intriguing books we picked up from authors at the Festival here.
MillValleyLit NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS!
Tahoe Lit Fest creative attendees encouraged to submit short fiction, true tales, poetry. Click here for details.
Book review teaser from Jeff Kaliss
The Last Great Dream: How Bohemians Became Hippies and Created the Sixties
A(nother) Metaphysical Movie Review
Poet and author J.Macon King’s dynamic poetry performances at a multitude of venues are now available on YouTube channel JMacon King under both Videos and Shorts. Available for the first time are his five cabaret stage productions of the Rhubarb Revue community theatre and key parody skits: “Gone with the Rhubarb,” “The MillValley Hillbillies,” “Coffee, Coffee, Coffee” and “Hey, Big Suspender” below.
