Karen Terrey
Nevada County Arts Council announces the selection of Nevada County’s new Poet Laureate, Karen Terrey! From Truckee, Terrey has been an active member of our literary scene on both sides of the county—from her recent work with senior citizens at the Truckee Library to her frequent appearances with Sierra Poetry Festival—Terrey has been bringing the healing power of words to the Nevada County community for nearly two decades.
Terry's business is literary, literally! You can read more of her writing, learn about workshops and community events and her work as a literary coach/editor at Tangled Roots Writing.
GVNC: At what point in your life did you realize your calling?
Terrey: I began keeping a journal in middle school and my favorite afternoon activity was reading a book in a big chair in my living room. Making the commitment to an MFA program at Goddard in 2005 was a turning point for how I prioritize my writing life.
GVNC: Tell us about your creative process.
Terrey: My process feels slow and inefficient often. But sometimes I find myself on a roll and I’ll write a small batch of poems at once. When I revise, sometimes one poem becomes two or three, or a connected series.
I try to get my mind to a place where I can quickly and remotely associate images and thoughts on the page, a place where I can surprise myself. John Cage describes this process for me when he writes, "I am trying to check my habits of seeing, to counter them for the sake of greater freshness. I am trying to be unfamiliar with what I'm doing."
Another revision technique I like to use is rewriting a piece in a different form – taking a free verse poem and translating it into a short personal essay as well as a sonnet.
GVNC: What inspires you?
Terrey: Walking in nature with my dog is probably where I find much of my inspiration. I read a lot and that process helps my mind loosen up its way of thinking. Hanging out with other artists motivates me to keep writing.
Curiosity is an inspiration too. I’m curious about the questions. How do I relate to the people I will never meet? What’s my responsibility to the neighbor down the street I don’t really know? We live by social agreements and assumptions, some spoken, some unspoken, about how life is or should be or will never be. For me, poetry can break open these interactions, can challenge and renegotiate, and can uncover the unfamiliar within the familiar.
GVNC: What do you love best about our creative community?
Terrey: I love how our creative community supports each other. In a gathering of artists, one can feel welcomed simply as they are. In some way Muriel Rukeyser captures this sense for me here: “this is your land, take this road into your own country.”
GVNC: What are you most proud of?
Terrey: I’m incredibly honored to be the next Poet Laureate of Nevada County. I’ve been reading, among other poets, Gwendolyn Brooks, as this is Black History Month. She wrote, “I am interested in telling my particular truth as I have seen it.” I am trying to speak my truth on the page and to live by a truth that makes other people’s lives better. This seems like a life-long practice. If I can bring the power of poetry to the lives of others here in Nevada County, in a manner that brings them closer to their own truths, I’ll feel good.
GVNC: Name two Nevada county artists you admire and why.
Terrey: I’m filling some big shoes after Kirsten Casey took on this role for the past several years. I admire her dedication to the students she works with and what she contributes through Poetry in the Schools for the community. There are many artists I admire! I watched Michealyn’s aerial/literary arts show last year and admired her imagination to create such a collaboration. I admire Michael Clarity for his perseverance to reach for what’s new in his art. I admire Julie Valin for writing poetry to embrace aliens!
GVNC: What’s coming up for you?
Terrey: On March 4th at Alibi in Truckee is the Passing of the Laurels event, where Kirsten Casey and I will share some poems and have a conversation about the role of Poet Laureate. Immediately following is a community open mic for anyone who has a poem to share.
I’m also really looking forward to the Truckee Literary Crawl on April 5th and the Sierra Poetry Festival on April 12th!
This story originally appeared in the February 15th, 2025 edition of the GVNC Culture Connection newsletter.