Heather Saunders Estes

Heather Saunders Estes grew up in a small New England town and now lives in the Inner Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco. The blue jays look different but crows, the same. Summer fog has replaced winter snow. She began intensively writing poetry as she transitioned from her long-term career as CEO of Planned Parenthood Northern California. Her writing is inspired by experiences and training as a social worker, activist, manager, gardener and human.  She received her MSW and MPA degrees from Syracuse University. Her BA studies were in Education and Art at Hamilton College.

Poetry is laughter, reflection, appreciation, a call to action and power.  All in Measure: A Book of Hours 2020-2022 was published by Blue Light Press in 2023. It intimately chronicles the gratitudes, fears and contemplations of one person during the pandemic years using an ancient cadence of days.  A poem from this book was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Inner Sunset was her debut book of poetry. Her second book of poetry, Cloudbreak, was published in June, 2021 by Poetic Matrix Press. It is a book of appreciation and transition. Four of her poems are in Fog and Light, an anthology edited by Diane Frank.The book contains poetry about San Francisco by poets who live there.  Further poems in Pandemic Puzzle Pieces, an anthology.