Literary Conquest — Events
A traveling poet’s campaign across cities, coffee shops, bookstores, and open mics —sharing poetry, meeting readers, and building the Purple Rose legacy one cup of coffee and room at a time.
Below you will find all upcoming appearances, readings, and meet-ups.
Some events are traditional literary readings.
Some are intimate poetry sessions.
All are part of the journey.
COFFEE WITH A POET
Coffee with a poet is our chance to read my work together like two old friends—or a few friends, if others join us—discuss poetry, and any questions you may have. Show up, grab a cup of coffee, and bring your book — or you can buy a copy from me, as I will have books with me. We will pick a few poems, read together, and have a chat as far as the discussion for a little while. I’ll sign your book before we part ways—first as lovers of poetry, and after as acquaintances and lovers of poetry.
Be mindful of the space: bookstore or coffee shop. Join me in supporting local business with a coffee while we enjoy their space and my poetry.
I look forward to meeting you.
Eternally,
James V The Poet
Copies bought directly from the author are not returnable.
*****
COFFEE WITH A POET — EVENTS
Coffee With a Poet — Raleigh
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Saturday, December 14, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Location: Lucky Tree Coffee, Raleigh, NC
What I’ll Do: Read a poem, listen to a poem chosen by an attendee, and hold a short discussion.
Note: Come buy a cup of coffee and chat with a poet.
Coffee With a Poet — Durham
City: Durham
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Saturday, December 14, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Cocoa Cinnamon, Durham, NC
What I’ll Do: Read a poem, listen to a poem chosen by an attendee, and hold a short discussion.
Note: Come buy a cup of coffee and chat with a poet.
City: Sanford
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Thursday, December 18, 2025 | 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Location: Karma Coffee Bar or Milltown Java, Sanford, NC
What I’ll Do: Read a poem, take a poem selected by an attendee, discuss the work, and sign copies.
Note: Come buy a cup of coffee and chat with a poet.
Coffee With a Poet — Raleigh (Evening)
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Friday, December 19, 2025 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Lucky Tree Coffee, Raleigh, NC
What I’ll Do: Read a poem, listen to a poem chosen by an attendee, and hold a short discussion.
Note: Come buy a cup of coffee and chat with a poet.
Lucky Tree Coffee
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Lucky Tree Coffee, Raleigh, NC
What I’ll Do: I’ll be live on TikTok reading from Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name — Letters from Me to Her, with an in-person reading for those who attend.
Note: Come grab a coffee, tap into the live, and experience the poetry in person.
Surfers Coffee
City: Wahiawā
State: Hawai‘i
Country: USA
Date & Time: Sunday, April 19, 2026 | 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Location: Surfers Coffee
What I’ll Do: I’ll be live on TikTok reading from Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name — Letters from Me to Her, with an in-person reading for those who attend.
Note: Come grab a coffee, tap into the live, and experience the poetry in person.
READING EVENTS
Surfers Sunset — Surfers Coffee
City: Wahiawā
State: Hawai‘i
Country: USA
Date & Time: Friday, December 5, 2025 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Surfers Coffee
What I’ll Do: Attend, connect with local readers, hand out books.
Tongue & Groove Afternoon Open Mic — Artspace
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Sunday, December 14, 2025 | 12:30 PM – ~3:00 PM
Location: Artspace, 201 E Davie St
What I’ll Do: Enter the draw, read from the book.
Free the Mic Open Mic — Lucky Tree
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Monday, December 15, 2025 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Location: Lucky Tree, 3801 Hillsborough St
What I’ll Do: Attend, get on the list, read from the book.
Poetry & Prose Workshop/Open Mic — Blackbird Books & Coffee
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Blackbird Books & Coffee
What I’ll Do: Attend, read from the book, connect with the literary crowd.
Freshly Brewed Poems — Tap Yard Raleigh
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | Sign-up 6:30 PM, readings 7:00–9:00 PM
Location: Tap Yard Raleigh, 1610 Automotive Way
What I’ll Do: Attend, sign up, read from the book.
City Soul Cafe Open Mic — Terminal 8
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 | 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Location: Terminal 8 Bar & Lounge
What I’ll Do: Optional second reading after Tap Yard.
Quail Ridge Books — Author Presence
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Thursday, December 18, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Quail Ridge Books, 4209-100 Lassiter Mill Rd
What I’ll Do: Introduce myself to staff, offer signed copies, speak about the book and the veteran cause
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Monday, December 22, 2025 | 7:30PM
Location: Lucky Tree, 3801 Hillsborough St
What I’ll Do: This is my last open mic in 2025. AT 7:30PM I am scheduled to read poems from the book.
City: Cary
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Wednesday, December 24, 2025 | , readings 7:00–9:00 PM
Location: Downtown Cary Park, 327 S Academy St
What I’ll Do: Christmas Eve – I will start a TikTok live for five minutes and read a few poems and end the live. I will send the rest of the hour until 5:00PM writing poetry in the park.
Surfers Sunset — Surfers Coffee
City: Wahiawā
State: Hawai‘i
Country: USA
Date & Time: Friday, February 14th, 2026 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Surfers Coffee
What I’ll Do: Read my poems at the open Mic and give out a few books.
Plantoem Cafe
City: Honolulu
State: Oahu, Hawaii
Country: USA
Date & Time: Friday, February 20, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Location: Plantoem, Honolulu, HI
What I’ll Do: I’ll be reading from Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name — Letters from Me to Her—a selection of the thirty-three love letters written to one woman, only a handful ever sent before the door in this lifetime closed.
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Monday, March 23, 2026 | Time: TBD
Location: Lucky Tree, 3801 Hillsborough St
What I’ll Do: This is my next open mic in Raleigh. I’m scheduled to read poems from Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name — Letters from Me to Her.
ATHENA of the Triangle
City: Cary
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | Time: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: SAS Campus, Cary, NC
What I Did: I attended the ATHENA of the Triangle Leadership Conference, a gathering of leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals focused on growth, networking, and leadership development.
Neptunes Parlour
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | Time: TBD
Location: Neptune’s Parlour, Raleigh, NC
What I’ll Do: This is my next open mic in Raleigh. I’m scheduled to read poems from Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name — Letters from Me to Her.
Terminal 8 Bar and Lounge Poetry Open Mic
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | Time: TBD
Location: Terminal 8, Raleigh, NC
What I’ll Do: This is my next open mic in Raleigh. I’m scheduled to read poems from Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name — Letters from Me to Her.
Speak Your Peace —House of Creatives Open Mic at The Lucky Tree
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Lucky Tree Coffee, Raleigh, NC
What I’ll Do: I’ll be reading through Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name — Letters from Me to Her.
Juiced Bar —Poetry Night
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 9:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Location: Juiced Bar, 434 Hill St, Raleigh, NC
What I’ll Do: I’ll be reading from Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name — Letters from Me to Her.
Volcanic Voices Open Mic — The Bar Next Door
City: Honolulu
State: Hawaii
Country: USA
Date & Time: Thursday, April 2, 2026 | Time: 8:00 – 11:00 PM
Location: The Bar Next Door, 1154 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu, HI 96813
What I’ll Do: This was my debut night with Volcanic Voices. I read from Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name — Letters from Me to Her.
Terminal 8 Bar and Lounge Poetry Open Mic
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Wednesday, April 29th,, 2026 | Time: 8:00 – 11:00 PM
Location: Terminal 8, Raleigh, NC
What I’ll Do: This is my next open mic in Raleigh. I will get on the schedule to read poems from Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name — Letters from Me to Her.
Dreams & Legacy — Hip-Hop & R&B Night at Terminal 8 Bar & Lounge
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Friday, May 1, 2026 | 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Location: Terminal 8 Bar & Lounge, Raleigh, NC
What I’ll Do: I’ll be performing as one of the featured artists, reading poetry from Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name — Letters from Me to Her. I’ll be there enjoying the night—hookah, live music, and supporting local talent, including my friend Payper performing his song “Radar.”
Creators Market — Hosted by TurnMeUpRank
City: Raleigh
State: North Carolina
Country: USA
Date & Time: Thursday, May 2nd, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: 5104 Western Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27606
What I’ll Do: I’ll have a table selling poetry books, signing copies, and doing a live poetry reading from Purple Rose: The Stars Carry Her Name — Letters from Me to Her.