A great evening of cocktails, conversation and poetry about marriage, motherhood, divorce, dating, desire and midlife reinvention. Join us for an evening to celebrate the launch of Cori Howard’s new poetry collection, The Fifth Season, out now from Caitlin Press. Howard will be in conversation with fellow poet, Andrea MacPherson, who will read from her latest poetry collection, Reckless. The event will be hosted by former Vancouver poet laureate, and award-winning poet and author, Rachel Rose. The Fifth Season explores the seasons of a woman’s life, from marriage and motherhood to divorce, disaster dating and reinvention. Through the arc of midlife, these poems offer a map back to the self and a return to longing and new freedoms. In poetry that is raw, honest and personal, Howard carries the reader through the thresholds of her life, illuminating the experiences of womanhood and the questions we ask ourselves during times of transition and reimagination. McPherson's Reckless follows the complex trajectory of female identity in a world that consistently denies women their right to assert it. These poems tackle an array of urgent topics women face throughout their lives including reproductive rights, the trials of motherhood, the pain of divorce and sexual emancipation. Books will be on hand for sale and signing. This event is free, but please RSVP for your spot here as capacity is limited. About the author: Cori Howard is a journalist, essayist and poet. Her writing has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the New York Times, Washington Post, National Post, Globe and Mail, among many others. This is her first collection of poetry. Her previous books include Between Interruptions: Thirty Women Tell the Truth about Motherhood. She lives on the unceded ancestral lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations in Vancouver. About the co-reader: Andrea MacPherson is the author of four poetry collections and three novels. She has been shortlisted for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, longlisted for the ReLit Award, and selected for CBC Canada Reads: People’s Choice. Andrea holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia, is the former editor of Prism International, and has taught creative writing and literature at a number of universities. She lives in Cloverdale with her daughter. About the moderator: Rachel Rose is an award-winning poet, author and former Poet Laureate for Vancouver. She has published three collections of poetry, Giving My Body to Science, Notes on Arrival and Departure, and Song and Spectacle. Her poems, essays and short stories have been published in literary magazines and anthologies in Canada and the United States. Rose's short story collection The Octopus has Three Hearts was nominated for the 2021 Giller Prize. Rachel's debut novel The Adulteress' Daughter is forthcoming from Blackstone in the US and Douglas & McIntyre in Canada. More about Upstart & Crow: Upstart & Crow is a not-for-profit creative studio and literary incubator that champions writers, readers and stories, and the role they play in shaping our lives. We develop original programs, support artists and revel in creative projects focused on Literature In Translation / Climate Solutions / Poetry / Civic Dialogue / Community & Skills Building … all with the aim of elevating the role of literature and storytelling in our lives. Find us on Granville Island, Gibsons and online at upstartandcrow.com. Accessibility: The main studio of our shop is accessible for folks with mobility aids. There is a washroom on the main floor available for attendees. Questions: hello[at]upstartandcrow.com.