Since November 19th Guatemalan-Slovak poet Ivanna Baranova has been touring across Canada and the US with her debut full-length poetry collection CONFIRMATION BIAS (Metatron Press, 2019). Now after a month, it's finally here in Oakland, CA at Wolfman Books or one night only. I mean the book will be there afterwards (if it isn't sold out!) but she won't, so please join us for this launch event featuring readings from:

☾ Ivanna Baranova
☾ Ren Cook
☾ Alexandra Naughton
☾ Brent Reichenberger
☾ Jesse Prado

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Confirmation bias is the tendency to interpret new evidence in support of one's existing beliefs or theories. In her stunning debut poetry collection, Ivanna Baranova excavates notions of evidence, existence, and resiliency in an attempt to transcend the beliefs that demand our psychic reproduction. Desire, affect, anger, and healing collide in Baranova’s metaphysical observations of her lived experiences―feminine conditioning, racialization, Slavic and Latinx diaspora, experimental therapy, and nausea under capitalist hegemony. Whether through the lens of astrology or philosophy, algorithms or substance use, CONFIRMATION BIAS considers the obstacles of being, relating, and rebuilding in the face of sociocultural fragmentation and imminent global collapse. The resulting poems are bright with insight, crackling with humour and idiom, and burning with unforgettable intellect, authenticity, and compassion.

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IVANNA BARANOVA is a Guatemalan-Slovak writer and photographer from the Pacific Northwest. Her work has appeared in Blush Lit, glitterMOB, Hobart, Montreal Review of Books, Peach Mag, VICE, and elsewhere. She is a graduate of the University of British Columbia, with a Bachelor’s in Philosophy, Social Theory, and Creative Writing. She lives in Brooklyn. Find her at www.ivannabaranova.com.
JESSE PRADO’s chapbooks include notes from work (2018) and at work i think i accidentally downloaded a virus (2018).

JESSE PRADO's chapbooks include notes from work and at work i think i accidentally downloaded a virus (2018).

ALEXANDRA NAUGHTON is a writer based in Richmond, California. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of Be About It Press and the author of six poetry collections including You Could Never Objectify Me More Than I've Already Objectified Myself (Punk Hostage Press, 2015), I Will Always Be In Love (Paper Press, 2015), and Rapid Transit (Nomadic Press, 2018). Her first novel, American Mary, was published by Civil Coping Mechanisms in 2016. Her next book Hate Train is forthcoming from Spooky Girlfriend Press.

BRENT REICHENBERGER is a poet, writer, and occultist who lives in the woods in the geographical center of San Francisco. His first chapbook ADORABLE MONSTERS was published by Ghost City Press in 2017. He is currently driving through the fog and looking within.

REN COOK wrote I love shopping (Glow Worm Press).