Dominique Renda dons her poet hat for reading at Kepler’s on Nov. 29

Many locals know Dominique Renda through her work as a life coach, but she’s also spent over two decades doing portrait photography. Yet another of her talents will be showcased at Kepler’s on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 pm when she’ll be reading from her third book of poetry, Midnight Daydreams: Poetry of Heart Tales and Mindscapes, a collaboration with her son, Blake Horsley.

Asked about the title, she replied: “I think titles are fascinating. To me, Midnight Daydreams evokes the intersection of reality and imagination.

“My sense is that’s what poetry is about. There’s this invisible, inspired magic that comes together, a veil of understanding that’s up for the reader to interpret.”

Dominique has lived in Menlo Park for 18 years. “I was married with a young family when work brought us north,” she said. “We explored the area and fell in love with Menlo Park. I tend to trust that life guides you to where you’re intended to go.”

Writing poetry is not a new pursuit for Dominique, who initially started composing poems when she was a girl. “I always had books around me, and when I was young, I absorbed the world through reading,” she said. “Starting to write was a natural progression from reading.”

This will be her third book event at Kepler’s. “What a terrific resource that book store has been to our community,” she said. “I think independent book stores are almost like a church in that they provide a place for people to gather and explore.”

Photo by Neal Menschel, who was profiled on InMenlo in March 2012.