September 19, 2026 - Nancy L. Davis & Monty Mittleman Reading + Poetry Open-Mic
Saturday, September 19, 2026
4 - 6 PM
@ Secret World Books
1774 Second Street, Highland Park, Illinois
Highland Park Poetry welcomes Nancy L. Davis, author of Voices in the Sky, the 2026 winner of the Prairie State Poetry Prize, and Monty Mittleman, author of Recalibrations, as our featured poets on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 4PM. Open-mic follows.
Nancy L. Davis is a poet, fiction writer, and retired Associate Professor of English, whose work has appeared in Cutthroat, Best of Philadelphia Stories, Connecticut River Review, Superpresent, The Dewdrop, Evening Street Review, Amethyst, The Orchards Poetry Journal, and elsewhere. Ghosts, her chapbook, was published in 2019 by Finishing Line Press. Her book, Voices in the Sky, won the 2026 Prairie State Poetry Prize and was published this summer by Highland Park Poetry Press. In 2020, her poems were long listed for the Disquiet Literary Seminar in Lisbon and again in 2022 for the Bedford International Prize in Poetry. Her work has earned a Pushcart Prize Nomination, First Place in the Sandy Crimmins National Poetry Prize, Second Place in Chicagoland Poets & Patrons 67th Annual Poetry Contest, Honorable Mention in the Joy Harjo Award, and the Atlanta Review’s International Merit Award. A native of Upstate New York, she lives with her husband, Rick Cappelletti, in Park Ridge, Illinois, and Long Beach, Indiana, on Lake Michigan.
Monty Mittleman is an emerging poet and his first chapbook, Recalibrations, was published by Finishing Line Press in August. His work has also been featured in Starboard Press’ First Light Journal, Fall 2025 and Spring 2026; Inkwell II, an anthology published of the Decatur Area Poets, Highland Park Poetry’s Winter Muses’ Gallery and 2026 Poetry Challenge. Monty has an MPA from San Diego State University and a BS from Illinois State University. He is retired from the State of Illinois and is a licensed EMT.
Open-mic follows features. Come a few minutes early to sign up for the line-up. Poets may bring up to three short poems to share; however, Highland Park Poetry reserves the right to limit that number so that all participants have a chance to read.
The event takes place at Secret World Books, 1774 Second Street. There is free parking for up to three hours in the Port Clinton Underground Garage (entrance on Laurel Avenue, between First and Second Street).
There is no cover fee; however, we hope that you will support the authors and buy a book as well as support local Highland Park businesses that support us and poetry.
Open-mic follows features. Come a few minutes early to sign up for the line-up. Poets may bring up to three short poems to share; however, Highland Park Poetry reserves the right to limit that number so that all participants have a chance to read.
The event takes place at Secret World Books, 1774 Second Street. There is free parking for up to three hours in the Port Clinton Underground Garage (entrance on Laurel Avenue, between First and Second Street).
There is no cover fee; however, we hope that you will support the authors and buy a book as well as support local Highland Park businesses that support us and poetry.
Upcoming Dates for Readings & Open-Mics at Secret World Books, 1774 Second Street, Highland Park, IL
September 19, 2026 - Nancy L. Davis, 2026 Winner of Prairie State Poetry Prize & Monty Mittleman - Note new date - not our usual second Saturday.
October 10, 2026 - Charlotte Digregorio & Trudy Kleckner
November 14, 2026 -Jessica L. Walsh & Jennifer Dotson
December 12, 2026 - William T. Carey & Cynthia T. Hahn
January 9, 2027 - Naoko Fujimoto & Faith Urbanik
February 13, 2027 - TBD
March 13, 2027 - TBD
April 10, 2027 - Ruth Goring
May 8, 2027 - Susen B. James & Pamela Miller
June 12, 2027 - TBD
If you are interested in becoming a featured poet, please reach out to inquire about available dates for 2027.
Other Local Poetry Events & Opportunities
Some of these events are not hosted by Highland Park Poetry but we are pleased to share this information with our friends and followers.
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