The Jolly Elders in Janesville will host a second evening of storytelling, literature, and good food this Friday, October 2nd, featuring local author and poet Dianna Henning.
Beginning at 5:00p.m., community members—with seniors especially welcome—are invited to gather at the Jolly Elders hall, located at 463-690 Main Street in Janesville, for a free cup of homemade Split Pea and Ham soup served with warm whole wheat bread, alongside an intimate reading.
Henning, who hosts the event, will read one of her published stories entitled, “Lemons for Sale” published last year by Cold River Press. Henning holds a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Vermont College and brings decades of celebrated literary work to the table.
A ten-time Pushcart Prize nominee, Henning was nominated again for the prestigious award in both 2024 and 2025 by the Blue Heron Review and was also recognized as a Best of the Net nominee. Her recent writing has appeared in numerous publications and anthologies, including The Meadow, Poet News (Sacramento), California Bards: NorCal Poetry Anthology, Jawbone Journal (UK), Women in a Golden State, and The Power of the Feminine Vol. II.
Following her Janesville appearance, Henning is scheduled to read selections from her new book, Rucksacks for the Leaf Cat, at the Sacramento Poetry Center on October 12th.
Admission to Friday’s event is free to the public. (photo by poet June Sanders)
