Each week, Literary Arts staff will round up news, events, and more happening in the literary community. Let us know if you have any events or book news to share.
Emergency Funds
Artist Relief – New emergency fund for artists and writers
To support artists during the COVID-19 crisis, a coalition of national arts grantmakers have come together to create an emergency initiative to offer financial and informational resources to artists across the United States.
Learn more
Virtual Book Events
Comics Relief Festival (First Second Books)
Saturday, April 18
8am – 2pm (PST)
Have you always wondered how your favorite comics are made? This free virtual festival will give comics fans an in-depth look at the key moments in comic creation, and you’ll hear from many beloved graphic novel creators.
Liz Prato: Volcanoes, Palm Trees & Privilege (Annie Bloom’s Books)
Thursday, April 16
7:00pm to 7:45pm
Annie Bloom’s welcomes back local author Liz Prato to celebrate the 1-year anniversary of Volcanoes, Palm Trees & Privilege, a finalist for the Oregon Book Award. According to Prato, this live-streaming AV presentation will be “short, informative, and fun!”
Wordplay Virtual Book Festival (The Loft)
April 6 – May 5, 2020
Author lineup and schedule.
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Coming up on April 10, 2:00 p.m. (CST)
UnCHARTed Territory: Claire Comstock-Gay feat. C Pam Zhang
Claire Comstock-Gay will read C Pam Zhang’s star chart and do a mini-interview with the author.
“Virtual” Fishtrap Fireside (Fishtrap)
Friday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m.
For seven years the Fishtrap Fireside program has enjoyed a tremendous following in Wallowa County, and now they’re bringing it to the world! Curl up on the couch and enjoy short readings from Eric Greenwell, Nick Jaina, and Zanni Schauffler from the comfort of your own home.
Activities for Kids
The Believer Jr. (Believer Magazine)
Learn how to make a ‘Quaranzine’ and other at-home activities for parents and kids.
Home Schooled with The Moth
Weekly Storytelling Activities for Parents and Kids.
Rose City Jr. at Home (Rose City Comic Con)
Each week, there will be educational and entertaining activities from Rose City Comic Con partners, including 5 free e-books from Russell Nohelty.
Listen in – Literary podcasts
Jennifer Egan on The PEN Pod (PEN America)
Jennifer spoke about her personal experience with the coronavirus, how the pandemic is affecting writers, and the power of collective resilience in times of crisis.
(Also: listen to Jennifer Egan’s Portland Arts & Lectures talk on The Archive Project).
Sugar Calling – A new New York Times podcast featuring Cheryl Strayed
In this moment of uncertainty, Strayed, also known as Sugar, is setting aside advice-giving in favor of wisdom-seeking, and she’s turning to some of the most prolific writers of our time — all over the age of 60 — who’ve long inspired her for courage and insight.
And more…
Armoring Oregon’s Rockaway Beach (Atlas Obscura)
Saturday April 11, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
via Zoom
FREE
Geologist and writer Ruby McConnell discusses policies, politics, and attitudes that have shaped Oregonians’ relationship to its shoreline.
Bird Library live-stream (via LitHub)
“What is a bird library, you may ask? It’s a library for birds. It’s in Virginia. It has a tiny chair and a bookshelf and there are seeds all over the floor.”
Write Around Portland‘s daily #breakforjoy
Follow @writearoundpdx on Facebook or Twitter and watch for daily #breakforjoy inspiration: writing prompts, pieces from writers in our community and more to help us all cope with a challenging time.
