Erik Manuel Soto

Erik Manuel Soto is a Mexican-American poet. In 2026 he was named poet laureate of Vallejo, California. He holds a Master of Arts from Sonoma State University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Nevada at Reno.

Several literary journals have all featured his poetry, including Antiphony, Beyond Baroque, Los Angeles Public Library, and Napa Bookmine. As poet laureate Soto has performed at the No Kings Day 3 rally in Vallejo, Fiestas Primavera in Benicia, Voices at the Table, Red Man's Hall, and the Vacaville Museum.

Awards Gronk Nicandro First Book Prize for Poetry for Inside the Umber Iris, 2025 January 17, 2025 “Low Grade Regression” Sonora Review March 23, 2025 “Séance Under a Lunar Eclipse” The Dewdrop 2025 “Flung” Spectacle, Summer 2025