Literary news, events & opportunities in times of social distancing, April 2020.
Virtual Events & Classes
Lit Hub’s Virtual Book Channel will feature original programming—Shelter in Place, Maris Kreizman’s virtual book party, Playback, a 5-minute self-interview series for writers with new books coming out, and Rekindled, previously scheduled book tour conversations made virtual—along with emerging digital contributions from existing reading series’, bookstores, poets, and more.
Writing the Other Workshop is planning virtual “speed-dating” for writers. Sign up and find a new writing group, reading partner, or friend!
Mo Willems, the Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence at Home, invites kids and parents into his studio for Lunch Doodles with Mo, a daily series of activities that include audience questions.
Tune in to Artslandia’s virtual Happy Hour each weekday at 5 p.m. on their Facebook page and at Artslandia.com, featuring short performances.
“Ground Truth” Book Launch & Earth Day Event
April 19, 2020, 4:00 p.m.
The natural world offers beauty and resilience, and working to protect and restore it can give us hope and purpose in these grave times. Come together (digitally!) with a community of other nature lovers and writing enthusiasts for a special Earth Day-related book launch event featuring authors Ruby McConnell, Chandra LeGue, and Pete “Pedro” Hoffmeister.
Portland’s Drive-By Flower Tour
Flower wholesaler Mayesh, shut down because of COVID-19, has donated flowers to local florists that would have otherwise been thrown away. The florists have created urban floral installations all over the city for drive-by viewing. Add photos of your local installation to #FlowerTourPDX on Instagram.
Bookseller & Author Support
Powell’s Books is still taking online orders. If you order using this link, 7.5% of proceeds go towards worker relief. You can also donate directly to Powell’s employee union here.
Broadway Books, Annie Bloom’s, and Green Bean Books are all still taking online orders, offering curbside pickup, and delivery.
Viral Debuts: Supporting debut authors with book launches waylaid by COVID-19.
The Mercury has compiled the ultimate guide to local booksellers still fulfilling orders during COVID-19.
For more ways to support indie bookstores nationally, check out Lit Hub’s bookstore support guide.
Grants & Resources
Here is a link to apply to the Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund, for US-based BIPOC artists and administrators.
BOMB magazine has a list of vital resources for artists, writers, musicians, and performers.
PEN America has a list of emergency funds for writers.
Portland’s Creative Laureate, Subashini Ganesan, and Oregon’s Poet Laureate, Kim Stafford, have launched this emergency relief fund to meet the growing needs for independent/freelance artists in our tri-county area, in the face of COVID-19.
The Whiting Foundation, due to the demands being placed on writers and their publishers by social distancing, are extending the application deadline for the 2020 Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant to May 4, 2020.
