Bring a friend, pull up a chair and settle in for a cozy afternoon of poetry at Eagle Harbor Books Nov. 12.

The slate of Northwest poets set to read are Tom Jay, from Chimacum, Jenifer Browne Lawrence, from Poulsbo, Roger Midgett, from Bainbridge Island and Stan Sanvel Rubin, from Port Townsend.

Lawrence has had her poetry published in numerous anthologies and poetry magazines, including the Washington Poets Association Anthology, Potomac Review and Exhibition. She was been awarded a Washington State Artist Trust Grant and the Potomac Review’s Annual Poetry Award.

She will read from her first book of poems, “One Hundred Steps From Shore,” from Blue Begonia Press. The poems are mostly set in Alaska, where she was raised.

Fellow poet Joseph Stroud said of the book, “In these brave and powerful poems, Jenifer Browne Lawrence looks hard at her past, at loss and sorrow, at the great mystery at the heart of our world. This is a brilliant first book by a promising new poet.”

Lawrence juggles writing with working full time as an engineering technician and running the monthly poetry series at the Jewel Box Theater in Poulsbo.

She has lived in Poulsbo since 2004 and said of the natural environment here, “It’s a beautiful place in which to live and write. Most of my work contains references to trees, water or wildlife — sometimes all three.”

Midgett said he spent many years trying to write the great American screenplay and the great American novel, but failed to be great.

He’s been writing poetry since high school and was the editor of his school’s literary magazine, but his penchant for poetry really took off three years ago when he attended John Willson’s poetry workshop.

“Although bringing a poem to workshop can be uncomfortable at times, it’s also invaluable for getting immediate responses from a variety of readers,” he said. “John’s workshop is both a great bargain and an excellent resource for poets.”

The workshops are sponsored by the Bainbridge Island Park and Recreation Dept.

Midgett’s work has been published in Exhibition, the arts magazine published by the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council, and in Pontoon. One of his poems will be used in an upcoming music project, “The Last Poem on Earth Project.”

When he’s not writing poetry Midgett is a mental health professional for King County’s Crisis and Commitment Services.

Tom Jay may be better known in these parts as the creator of giant, bronze salmon sculptures. The multi-talented artist divides his time between poetry and sculpture, and founded Riverdog Fine Arts Foundry in Chimacum in 1969 after graduating from the University of Washington.

He is known for his iconic salmon and natural elements bronze work as well as a collection of large temple bells.

He is the author of “Reaching Home: Pacific Salmon, Pacific People,” with Natalie Fobes and Brad Matsen and has written numerous articles and essays. He also wrote “River Dogs,” a book of poems published by Port Townsend’s Copper Canyon Press in 1976.

He will read from a new collection of essays and poems published by Empty Bowl Press, “The Blossoms Are The Ghosts At The Wedding.”

Sanvel Rubin won the Barrow Street Press Poetry Prize for his book, “Hidden Sequel,” from which he will read Sunday.

Poet Naomi Shihab Nye said of his work, “The poems of Stan Sanvel Rubin move with unobtrusive delicacy and deep grace through the mysteries of time and being.”

He is the founding director of the new Rainier Writing Workshop MFA program at Pacific Lutheran University, and has published numerous poems and several books of poetry.

The four poets will read at 3 p.m., Nov. 12 at Eagle Harbor Books, 157 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island.