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 news to share.
Literary Arts stands with the AAPI community, here in Portland and around the country, in grief and outrage at the racist and misogynistic murders in Atlanta, Georgia, and the recent and ongoing violence against Asian people in the United States. Violence, harassment, and xenophobia should have no place in our communities. We must all clearly speak out against hate.
We encourage everyone to visit the following websites for resources and ways to support the AAPI community.
Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO)
Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC)
We want to again reaffirm Literary Arts’ values centered in our efforts to be more equitable and inclusive in all our work, and that we denounce white supremacy in all its forms.
APANO (Asian Pacific Network of Oregon) responds to shooting tragedy in Atlanta metro area. Click below to read their full statement.
VIRTUAL EVENTS
The National Book Critics Circle 2020 Awards Celebration
Thursday, March 25, 2021
4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. (Pacific)
A Conversation with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi via live webinar
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
5:15 p.m. (Pacific)
Free and open to all | Advance registration required
Presented by the Schoenfeldt Distinguished Visiting Writers Series at University of Portland
2021 PEN America Literary Awards Ceremony!
Thursday, April 8 | 4:00 p.m. (Pacific)
Suggested donation: $15–$100 | RESERVE HERE »
Jeff Vandermeer in conversation with Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Friday, April 9, 2021
6:00–7:00 p.m. (Pacific)
Tickets are $32 and include a copy of Hummingbird Salamander.
Presented by San Antonio Book Festival in partnership with Literary Arts.
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS
Artists sought for artwork commission at the Oregon Supreme Court Building
The Oregon Arts Commission and Oregon Judicial Department invite artists to submit qualifications to be considered for an interior artwork commission at the Supreme Court Building in Salem.
2021 Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant
Deadline: April 26
The Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant of $40,000 will be awarded to as many as eight writers in the process of completing a book-length work of deeply researched and imaginatively composed nonfiction for a general readership.
Submissions Open for the 72nd National Book Awards
The National Book Foundation is now accepting submissions for the 72nd National Book Awards. Full guidelines for submission are available here and the entry form closes May 12.
34th Summer Fishtrap Virtual Gathering of Writers: Resilience
July 12-18, 2021
Adult workshops $855/$770 for Fishtrappers; Youth workshops $550
Notice: Summer Fishtrap is going virtual for 2021. Click here for details.
FOR KIDS/ TEENS
Oregon Symphony Storytime
The Oregon Symphony’s video series for young kids features fun children’s stories accompanied by a musician, in English and Spanish.
#Virtualandia youth slam poetry championship is open for entries!
March 19–31.
Virtual Genre-Based Writing Camps (Write the World)
In each session, up to 25 campers will explore new styles of writing and connect across continents as they create pieces they’re proud of. Writers of all levels are invited to participate in the following offerings (for full camp descriptions, please click here):
Sci-Fi/Fantasy — July 5-9
Screenwriting — July 12-16
Writing Poetry for Social Justice — July 19-23
Flash Fiction — July 26-30
Writing to Change the World — August 2-6
Humor Writing — August 9-13
Learning from Agents & Editors: Writing for Publication — August 16-20
Micro Memoirs — August 23-27
FOR PARENTS/ EDUCATORS
Read For Justice: Spring 2021: Migration and Metamorphosis
Signup closes March 23. We launch on the 24th!
WHAT WE’RE READING
10 Great (Recent) Books by Oregon Writers (Portland Monthly)
Includes four Oregon Book Awards winners and two finalists!
Portland Activist Richard Brown Writes the Book on Getting Involved without Getting Burned Out (The Skanner)
Independent bookstore owners look back at a year spent trying to stay afloat. Not all of them succeeded. (Washington Post)
LISTEN:
OPB launches new podcast ‘Relative Fiction,’ based on the award-winning graphic memoir by Nicole Georges
Launching March 29 on Apple Podcasts, the NPR One app, opb.org and wherever podcasts are available, “Relative Fiction” is based on writer and illustrator Nicole Georges’ award-winning 2013 graphic memoir, “Calling Dr. Laura.” It blossoms into a much larger story though, with more twists and turns.
Black Mountain Radio
An artist-driven, community-focused audio project returns to the airwaves with new stories this spring.
The season begins Sunday, April 4. Wherever you are in the world, listen live at noon PT via kwnkradio.org/listen or at 4 pm PT via kunv.org/live. Can’t make the live show? Don’t worry, you can still listen on your favorite podcast app.
Over six weeks, listeners will enjoy audio pieces like a meditation on Toni Morrison by essayist and BMI Fellow Niela Orr; a sound walk with poet Vi Khi Nao; an interview with the author of the upcoming essay collection White Magic, Elissa Washuta; a conversation between poet Douglas Kearneyand Afro-Electronic music composer Val Jeanty; and so many more surprises.
To get a sense of what the show is like, listen to the first episode. And don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
AND MORE…
Free banned books face mask with your order from Litographs placed before 5:00 p.m. (Pacific) on Sunday, March 21. (Exclude posters)
Blog cover image via Portland Monthly
