TRUCKEE, Calif. - The Nevada County Arts Council announced Truckee resident and educator Karen Terrey as Poet Laureate for Nevada County in 2025.
Two parties named "Passing of the Laurels" will mark the change, happening at opposite sides of the county. These days will honor the leaving Poet Laureate Kirsten Casey while also greeting Terrey to her new job. Full of poetry and a feeling of togetherness, these events show the ongoing life of the literary world in Nevada County.
A Poet Led by A Wish for Link
A team of arts and book pros, along with folks from the Nevada County Library, picked Terrey out from a tough crowd of applicants. Her strong love for the local writing scene, plus her published works and ideas for getting the community involved, made her the ideal choice.
Terrey says, "It’s a great honor to follow in the footsteps of Kirsten Casey. I look forward to connecting, igniting, and enhancing the work and magic of poetry within our varied communities. As an artist, my drive comes from being a literary citizen and fostering a feeling of belonging. I wish to weave the uplifting voice and inspiration of poetry into daily life. The possibilities excite me!
In 2007 she earned her MFA from Goddard College and shortly afterward founded Tangled Roots Writing which is a center for literary mentorship and workshops. She teaches poetry and creative writing at the Tahoe-Truckee Campus of Sierra College. Her efforts to link communities through writing include co-hosting a literary reading series in Truckee as well as leading a successful workshop series with the Truckee Library, Truckee Cultural District, Nevada County Library, and Senior Center.
Bite and Blood is a collection of poems published by Finishing Line Press in 2015. It demonstrates the voice she hopes to develop further in her new role. Terrey says, "Poetry is a powerful agent of change." She wants to serve as a bridging figure, creating inclusiveness and connections through written language and spoken language.
It started in 2017 with the Sierra Poetry Festival and Molly Fisk as the first laureate, raising the bar byEditing California Fire and Water: A Climate Crisis Anthology and earning an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship.
Following laureates Chris Olander (2019-2021) and Kirsten Casey (2021-2024), enhance has continued to add to the literary landscape of the region. Olander contributed through his writing and the release of his 2021 collection of poetry, Twilight Roses. Casey made her mark through her involvement with California Poets in the Schools and as the main trainer for county judges in Poetry Out Loud.
The literary community of Nevada County will come together to celebrate this alteration in poetic leadership, during two special events.
Tuesday, March 4 | 5:30 PM | Alibi Truckee Join us for a discussion and poetry reading with Karen Terrey and Kirsten Casey, our former Poet Laureate, followed by an open mic session hosted by Terrey.
Saturday, March 29 | 6:30 PM | The Stone House, Nevada City The Passing of the Laurels Ceremony in Western Nevada County is to be the final highlight of the Sierra Poetry Festival Pub Crawl, merging a celebration of literature with poetic creativity.
A Common Goal for the Future of Poetry
Given such importance regarding the position of Poet Laureate, Nick Wilczek, Librarian of Nevada County, expresses
We are excited to announce our partnership with the Nevada County Arts Council and to introduce Karen Terrey as our new Poet Laureate. The power of poetry to connect, inspire, and uplift our community is truly phenomenal. We look forward to all the creativity and spirit that Karen will bring to this post.
As Terrey steps into her new role, she sees poetry as the thread of twining all the voices of the disparate communities of Nevada County — from Truckee to Grass Valley and Nevada City, and beyond.
Come and be part of our celebration as we mark this new era in the poetic history of Nevada County.
