There are occasions where you leave your comfort zone and discover another community of like-minded poets and readers. In Columbia, Md., the bookstore Queen Takes Book is the home of Wilde Readings, which is supported by the Howard County Poetry & Literature Society (HoCoPoLitSo).
Don’t let this modest storefront fool you. Inside is a wonderland of color and books of all shapes, sizes, and genres. Those who work here are warm, welcoming, and invite you to spend more time here (and probably more money) than you expect. For an introverted poet, this put me at ease. It made this new venture easier to fall into.
Laura Shovan and Ricky Jones (pictured above), two of the hosts of Wilde Readings, also add to this welcoming atmosphere. They are clearly poets, writers, and readers. I also got to meet the wonderfully vibrant Ann Bracken.
Henry Crawford (check out his substack), who is one of the hosts at Cafe Muse, was my partner in crime for this reading. Surprisingly, our work has some cross-over, speaking to the modern world issues we face with screens and gun violence, among other topics. I’ve read his poetry before and seen him at other events, but this is our first official meeting.
The room was an intimate size with books as the backdrop and who could ask for more. The audience was engaged and asked great questions.
While I was still nervous, especially being videoed (thanks, Henry), I think the reading went well. You can watch that below.
I hope you’ll check out the video. I did want to share a few photos of the open mic readers (including Sid Gold) as well. These were beautiful people sharing their work.
Wilde Readings has a great community, and if you’re in the area, I suggest you stop by for a reading at the wonderful indie bookstore, Queen Takes Book. You won’t want to miss the one in October! You’ll see an author, Caroline Bock, whose book I reviewed here on the substack!
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Caroline Bock and Nishi Chawla
Hosts: Ricky Jones and Laura Shovan
My next reading will be at Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Library in D.C. on Oct. 7 at 6:15 p.m. with Lora Berg, Carla Galdo, Chloe Miller, Meenakshi Mohan, and Dawad Philip for the Beltway Cafe.
Hope to see you there.
