Join us for an evening of poetry and stories with Nastashia Minto and Robert Lashley!

About Nastashia

Nastashia Minto is the author of Naked: The Rhythm and Groove of It. The Depth and Length to It. They are African American, born in South Georgia and raised there by her grandparents. Her life experiences led them to obtain an associate degree in occupational therapy and a bachelor’s degree in psychology. An eccentric, spiritual dream tender, she has been writing since she was nine years old. She’s found that her writing offers a way to help both herself and others. She is a 2021 recipient of the Tanne Foundation Award whose work has appeared in literary journals such as Nailed, Gobshite Quarterly, Portland Metrozine, SUSAN The Journal, Unchaste Anthology, Survivorlit, and Heron Clan VIII. She is a popular featured reader at literary events and schools throughout the Pacific Northwest. She has been featured on podcasts such as Feminist Book Club, Literary Speaking, and Beyond Well with Shelia Hamilton.

About Robert

Robert Lashley was a 2016 Jack Straw Fellow, Artist Trust Fellow, and a nominee for a Stranger Genius Award. His books include Green River Valley (Blue Cactus Press, 2021), UpSouth (Small Doggies Press, 2017), and The Homeboy Songs (Small Doggies Press, 2014). His poetry has appeared in The Seattle Review of Books, NAILED, Poetry Northwest, McSweeney’s, and The Cascadia Review, and recently, The Cascadia Field Guide, which has been on the bestseller list for 40 weeks. In 2019, Entropy Magazine named The Homeboy Songs one of the 25 essential books to come out of Seattle. In 2024, his Novel, I Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer, was selected as a finalist for a Washington State Book Award.