Wailing on Whisper Street 2nd Edition Book Launch
An evening of poetry at the beautiful Texas Keeper Cider just south of Austin, in celebration of the second edition of Bree Bailey's Wailing on Whisper Street poetry collection from Write Bloody Publishing
Featuring
Derrick Brown
Valerie Nies
Hollie Hardy
Nicholas Grooms
Bree Bailey
Friday, November 6, 2026
7pm – 8:30pm
Texas Keeper Cider
12521 Twin Creeks Rd.
Manchaca, TX
Free
Author Bios
Hollie Hardy is an editor, poetry instructor, and author of Lions Like Us (Red Light Lit Press) and How to Take a Bullet: And Other Survival Poems (Punk Hostage Press). She teaches private writing workshops, is the founder of Praxis Poetry: Weekly Prompts for Poets, and host of Saturday Night Special: A Virtual Open Mic. She’s performed at hundreds of venues nationwide; her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and published in numerous anthologies and literary journals, including Alchemy, Caesura, The Common, Fourteen Hills, Parley Lit, Passionfruit Review, Poetry Super Highway, The Quarter(ly), Synkronicity, and elsewhere.
Website: holliehardy.com Follow her on IG: @hollie.hardy
Derrick C. Brown is an award-winning poet, storyteller, comic and president of Write Bloody Publishing. His innovative fusion of poetry and comedy earned Paste Magazine's Comedy Album of the Year (2023). The New York Times praises his work as "a rekindling of faith in the weird, hilarious, shocking, beautiful power of words." A former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne who fell in love with poetry in Long Beach, CA, Brown has authored ten poetry collections and four children's books, winning the Texas Book of the Year Award for Poetry. He serves as the 2025/26 Poet Laureate of Los Feliz, California, and often tours via motorcycle, bringing his explosive combo of humor and heartfelt to venues worldwide.
Follow him on IG @derrickbrownpoetry
Valerie Nies is a comedian, poet, and gluten enthusiast living in Austin, Texas. She is the author of Snacks for the Love Hungry (2022, World Stage Press) and the chapbook Imaginary Frenemies. Valerie's poetry has appeared in Rattle, Softblow, and Drunk Monkeys, among other online publications. Her humor has appeared in McSweeney's, Reductress, Jezebel, and Bitch. Connect with her popular literary comedy series on social @_halfemptyhalffull or find her at valerienies.com.
Follow her on IG @valerieknees
Nicholas Grooms is a poet, writer and musician hailing from Garden City, Kansas. He has appeared in such periodicals as Verse Libre Quarterly, Roi Faineant, Skyline Magazine and Midsummer Dream House, though he is best known for his work creating music for the Kansas City Chiefs organization. Grooms is also a revered sports and entertainment journalist and is author of the book Me, Myself and I Hate You, Estranged Things, as well as My Mental State Has a Midwest Shape. Grooms has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize in poetry. He currently resides in Austin, TX, forever learning and growing in his favorite role of "proud father."
Follow him on IG @nicholasgroomsraps
Bree Bailey is a queer Latina poet, a mistress of the music of inflections, late night pizza, and ironic punny chuckles. A Newark, New Jersey native now residing in South Austin, TX, she writes with heart and humor about mental health, love, and resilience. A former educator, Bree wrapped up her first US poetry tour in the fall of 2025 for her debut poetry collection, Wailing on Whisper Street, which won the Jack McCarthy Book Prize with Write Bloody and is out everywhere you buy books. Her second edition will be out everywhere on October 9, 2026. Find her in Exposition Review, West Trade Review, Remington Review, South Florida Poetry Journal, and more.
Website: breebaileypoetry.com Follow her on IG: @Breebaileypoetry
Buy the book!