Four New Poems, a Virtual Reading, & Battling Book Bans

Hello, dear readers!

This week Door Is a Jar Literary Magazine published four more of my poems in Issue 34 Spring 2025. Huge thanks to editor Maxwell Bauman for acquiring my work!

I’ll be reading one of the new poems, “Stealing from Children,” at Door Is a Jar’s virtual Spring Contributor Reading Event this Thursday, March 6, at 6:00 pm ET/3:00 pm PT.

Here's the link to the reading.

On Monday I traveled to the Oregon State Capitol to testify in support of Senate Bill 1098, Oregon’s Freedom to Read bill, which, among other protections, would prohibit “discrimination when selecting or retaining school library materials, textbooks or instructional materials or when developing and implementing a curriculum.” I’m a co-leader of the Oregon chapter of Authors Against Book Bans, and seven of us joined Basic Rights Oregon and the ACLU of Oregon to form a coalition of supporters of the bill. It was a moving, uplifting experience that gave me hope.

Here’s the link to my verbal testimony (content warning: suicidal ideation and homophobia).

Looking ahead, on Tuesday, April 8, at 6:30 pm Pacific, I’ll be making an appearance at the Pajama Storytime at the Barnes & Noble in Beaverton, Oregon! I’m delighted to get this chance to read from my picture book biography, Cut!: How Lotte Reiniger and a Pair of Scissors Revolutionized Animation, illustrated by Matt Schu.

Thank you so much for taking a moment of your day to read my latest news.

Warmest wishes,

Cat Winters

Poetry News, Social Media Update, & My Newsletter's Return

For a little while longer, you can head into select bookstores across the U.S. to find copies of Issue 33 Winter 2024 of Door Is a Jar Literary Magazine, which includes my poem "A Moth with Hummingbird Wings." It sounds like this issue will be on newstands through February 2025. You can also order copies on the magazine's website. 

Starting February 3, 2025, you'll be able to pre-order Issue 34 Spring 2025 of Door Is a Jar, in which you'll be able to find four more of my poems, including one that I think my readers of dark fiction will enjoy. It's called "Why Does She Have to Write Such Dark Things?" The official release date is March 3, 2025.  

In other news, I have stopped using Instagram and Facebook. While these sites have allowed me to promote my work and establish ties with so many dear people over the years, I'm uncomfortable using Meta any longer and condemn their newest policies that open the door even wider for disinformation and discrimination. I deleted my Twitter account last fall.

If you typically follow my news through social media, I created a solution: My long-ignored author newsletter is returning this month! Please sign up to receive updates about my upcoming publications and events using the following form:

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You can also find me on Bluesky. Here's my handle: 

catwintersbooks@bsky.social 

All the best to you as we all find our way through 2025! My wonderful job with a performing arts center, my volunteer work with Authors Against Book Bans and Basic Rights Oregon, my loved ones, and my poetry are all helping me cope with everything. On a related note, do not expect my poems to be sweet, gentle things. 😏 

Warmest wishes, 

 Cat Winters

"A Moth with Hummingbird Wings" Is Now Available

What a tremendous honor to see my poem "A Moth with Hummingbird Wings" in the pages of Issue 33 Winter 2024 of Door Is A Jar Literary Magazine, which published this week! 

The publication comes in both print and digital formats, and you can find copies in several Barnes & Nobles and other U.S. bookstores. Please visit the Door Is a Jar website for more info. 

Thanks to Door Is a Jar Literary Magazine not only for publishing "A Moth with Hummingbird Wings," but for acquiring four more of my poems, coming in March 2025.