Upcoming Readings
2025
POETRY READINGS
Tuesday, January 21st, 7:30 pm. Freya will read from her 10th book of poetry, WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND OLD, at the University Club, 420 Summit Avenue, St. Paul. She will read with Jay White, Dobby Gibson, and Dralandra Larkins.
Monday, February 3rd, 6pm. Freya will read from her 10th book of poetry, WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND OLD for Words from the Valley. Stillwater Public Library, 224 3rd Street North, Stillwater, MN. She will read with poets Greg Watson, Dralandra Larkins, and Joshua Davies.
Wednesday, April 9th, 10:30 am. Freya will read from her 10th book of poetry, WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND OLD at Edina Senior Center, 5280 Grandview Square, Edina, MN.
CHILDREN'S CHAPTER BOOK READINGS
Saturday, February 1st, 2pm. Freya will read an excerpt from her middle-grade literature chapter book for children, FUMIOUS REX: THE OUTCAST CAT. Red Balloon Bookshop, 891 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN. Freya's sons, Bly Pope and Rowan Pope, will also speak about their process for illustrating the book. www.popebrothersart.org
Saturday, March 8th, 10:30 am. Freya will read an excerpt from her middle-grade literature chapter book for children, FUMIOUS REX: THE OUTCAST CAT. Wild Rumpus Bookstore, 2720 West 43rd Street, Mpls, MN. Freya's sons, Bly Pope and Rowan Pope, will also speak about their process for illustrating the book. www.popebrothersart.org
******* FUMIOUS REX - THE OUTCAST CAT is available on AMAZON and your local bookstore, as copies are now ready so bookstores can order them from the distributor.
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Watch Freya read from her 10th book of poetry, When I Was Young and Old:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2i7WUGjnYM
Watch Freya’s interview with PBS about her book American Roads:
https://www.pbs.org/video/september-25-1991-16152/
In the Fall of 2021, Freya was the Keynote Speaker for the Sinclair Lewis Writers Conference in Sauk Centre, MN. She read from Frederick Manfred’s recently reissued 1945 novel, Boy Almighty from the University of Nebraska Press, and from her published poetry, which evokes the sacred and humorous aspects of family, friendship, and the natural world, calling us to “grow in hope with the earth.” Here are excerpts from Freya’s poetry & prose and Boy Almighty:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WiuAqu_H8k&t=15465s
Feedback comments about Freya's Keynote:
She has much more experience and knowledge that we didn't have time to tap into today.
Just having Freya as a speaker is inspiring.
A gentle soul; moving, enjoyable poems.
I always learn something new from Freya
Impactful readings.
Soft spoken, but heartfelt and engaging.
So much feeling in so few words!
Freya Manfred's poetry reading at The Loft Literary Center, September 18, 2015.
Freya Manfred reading her poem, My Father by the Fire. Film by Greg Winter.
Watch “SWIMMING IN THE RAIN a poem by Freya Manfred” on Vimeo:
https://vimeo.com/29894366?ref=em-share
Watch “SWIMMING INTO WINTER a poem by Freya Manfred” on Vimeo:
https://vimeo.com/29894400?ref=em-share