Community Partners
Surprise the Line is grateful to be in community with the following organizations:
Bel Canto Books
Based in Long Beach, California, Bel Canto Books is our bookstore partner! This is a friendly WOC-owned bookstore that hosts some really great book clubs and other literary events.
The Poetry Lab
The very first poetry workshop (outside of undergrad) that Nancy ever attended was run by Danielle Mitchell of the Poetry Lab. Thank you Danielle! Check out The Poetry Lab’s workshop offerings! (Special thanks to the late Markus Manley.)
Moon Tide Press
A longtime friend of Surprise the Line, Moon Tide Press is a Southern California literary press that publishes chapbooks and collections. Eric Morago, editor-in-chief, was the inspiration behind the name “Surprise the Line.” Thanks Eric!
PEN America’s Emerging Voices
Nancy was a 2015 Emerging Voices (EV) Fellow, and has stayed in touch with the EV community ever since. This is a wonderful fellowship designed to help writers who lack access to launch a literary career.
The Poetry Salon
The Poetry Salon is another poetry workshop run by Tresha Faye Haefner. We love taking each other’s classes and collaborate often to spread the love of poetry all around!
Antioch University
Nancy is currently an MFA student at Antioch University, Los Angeles. Antioch is a social justice MFA program that has been transformative in the development of Surprise the Line, as well as as a model of literary citizenship and professionalism.
Arts Council for Long Beach
The Arts Council is an amazing organization that supports local artists! Nancy received a Professional Artist Fellowship in 2019 and has collaborated on artistic projects and workshops over the years.
Long Beach Public Library
The Long Beach Public Library has been a wonderful community partner over the years! We’ve done workshops and events at various branches throughout the city.
Long Beach Community Theater
This is an amazing organization that hosts community storytelling events with grace and love. Check out their monthly Speak. Easy. event Wednesday evenings on Zoom!
Join Our Facebook Community
If you have attended any Surprise the Line workshop and would like to join the private Facebook group where community members are welcome to share poems, questions and ideas, please request to join at the link below.