Theresa Werba is a regular contributor at the Phoenixville Library’s bi-annual Open Mic for Writers. Theresa will be reading from her fourth book of poetry entitled What Was and Is: Formal Poetry and Free Verse, unique collection of the best of Theresa Werba’s work over the last forty years. In it she explores such diverse issues as love, loss, faith, disillusionment, neurodivergence, historical figures and events, and the creative process. She is able to skillfully render such poetic forms as the sonnet, villanelle, ode, pantoum, terza rima, and nonce forms, in addition to easily crossing over into the world of free verse. She thus bridges the gap between these two normally opposing and segregated schools of poetry. Theresa will also share highlights from her book When Adoption Fails: Abuse, Autism, and the Search for My Identity. Theresa, who was an undiagnosed autistic adoptee, endured an abusive adoptive home, several identity changes, a disinheritance, and the discovery of her biological mother and father. She also will share from her book Warning Signs of Abuse: Get Out Early and Stay Free Forever, in which she writes to help women identify the warning signs of abuse early on in a relationship and provides information and encouragement for getting out and staying out.

Theresa Werba is the author of seven books, four in poetry: Jesus and Eros: Sonnets, Poems and Songs (Bardsinger Books, 2015), Longer Thoughts (Shanti Arts, 2020), Sonnets (Shanti Arts 2020) and What Was and Is: Formal Poetry and Free Verse (Bardsinger Books, 2024). Her work has appeared in such journals as The Scarlet Leaf Review, The Wilderness House Literary Review, Spindrift, Mezzo Cammin, The Wombwell Rainbow, Fevers of the Mind, The Art of Autism, Serotonin, The Road Not Taken, and the Society of Classical Poets Journal. Werba holds a Bachelor of Arts in vocal music performance from Skidmore College and a Master of Music with distinction in voice pedagogy and performance from Westminster Choir College. Werba is the joyful mother of six children and grandmother to seven. Find Theresa Werba at www.bardsinger.com and on social media @thesonnetqueen.

Copies of Theresa's books will be available for purchase and signing at this event.