Book Launch at Dominican University of California, April 2026.

Waving her arms around at a CWC Marin coffee social (photo: Mark Morris)

With CWC President Roger Lubeck, Fall 2025 (photo: Robin Cohn).

Recent Awards & Media

Three New Books by Marin Authors, by Coleen Bidwell, Marin Independent Journal, 25 April 2026.

Review of Girl in a Box, by Alison McMahan, Historical Novel Society, April 2026.

Jean Gordon Kocienda's Girl in a Box Brings the Fiery Life of Pioneering Japanese Poet Yosano Akiko to Vivid Life , press release, EIN Presswire, 21 April 2026.

“Keep Driving Those Nails, Ladies!”, Women Writers, Women’s Books, March 2026.

Former Fairborn resident to release novel, Fairborn Daily News, 9 March 2026.

Jack London Service Award for Marin, California Writers Club, 2025.

https://calwriters.org/our-story/#london

“The Gift”, a tanka poem selected for the Vision & Verse Anthology, Fall 2025.

The Barking Dog, shortlisted for the Letter Review Prize.

in Short Fiction category for July- September 2024.

Yin and Yang, chosen by Redwood Writers for live reading by Off Page Readers Theater in September 2024.

Three Tanka Translations, MedMic, 17 June 2024.

The Kindness of Strangers, Colgate Magazine, Autumn 2023.

Crying in the Driveway, New York Times (Modern Love), 2 May 2023.

Marin Poetry Society Anthology, Fall 2023.

Redwood Writers Anthology, Summer 2023.

Activities

President, California Writers Club of Marin

Member, Yosano Akiko Club

Member, Authors Guild

Member, Marin Poetry Center

Volunteer since 2010, Refugee and Immigrant Transitions