Each month, Literary Arts staff will round up news, events, and more happening in Portland, and beyond. Let us know in the form below the blog if you have any events or news to share.
EVENTS
Reading: Agnes Lee, Jonathan Hill, Taki Soma (Annie Bloom’s Books)
Thursday, May 2nd, from 7:00–8:00 p.m. | Annie Bloom’s Books | FREE to attend
In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Annie Bloom’s Books welcomes local authors Agnes Lee, Jonathan Hill, and Taki Soma for an in-store readings and discussions about their graphic novels.
So Much Together: Unpacking Our Past: History as a Catalyst for Change (Oregon Humanities)
Saturday, May 4th, from 12:30–3:30 p.m. | Historic Alberta House | FREE to attend, advanced registration required
Oregon has a particularly unique history of racial injustice that in some ways mirrors and in other ways is distinct from the larger history of racial oppression that exists in our nation as a whole. As Oregonians, we’ve inherited these histories, and their legacies connect to present-day injustices. But what does it look like to confront them, as individuals and communities? This workshop is more than a trip into the archives, it’s an invitation to action. Join for a collective reimagining of the possibilities for remembering, repairing, and reconciling the past to create a more just future.
Mother Writes (Broadway Books)
Tuesday, May 7th, 6:00 p.m. | Broadway Books | FREE to attend
In honor of Mother’s Day, join for a panel of writer/mothers: Elizabeth Doerr, Kesha Ajose-Fisher, Kimberly King Parsons, Lydia Kiesling, and Shalanda Sims, who will be reading from their newest work and discussing balancing the writing life with motherhood.
Defining Moments: Meet Our Older Adult Authors (Our Bold Voices, The Multnomah County Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative, Elder Pride Services, and AARP of Oregon)
Thursday, May 9th, 4:00–5:30 p.m. | TaborSpace, 5441 SE Belmont St., Portland, OR | FREE to attend
Celebrate Honor Your LGBTQ+ Elders Day by joining local older authors as they tell their powerful stories from the recently published anthology Defining Moments, a stunning new collection of local LGBTQ+ stories. This powerful anthology showcases a diverse range of personal experiences, capturing pivotal moments of struggle, triumph, and one’s journey towards empowerment and self-acceptance.
Queer Affinity Workshop (Write Around Portland)
Friday, May 10th, from 5:30–3:30 p.m. | Sonny’s House, 2504 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR | FREE to attend
Unlock your creativity and get some writing done in a queer affinity space! Led by a Write Around Portland volunteer facilitator, this creative writing workshop includes writing, sharing, and offering each other strengths-based feedback. Sharing is optional! Open to all LGBTQIA+ participants.
Poetry & Translation: a Workshop to Support the IPRC (Independent Publishing Resource Center)
Saturday, May 11th, 11 a.m. | Online | $35-100
Oregon Book Award finalist Rebecca Wadlinger hosts this two-hour workshop on Poetry & Translation, part of a series of fundraisers in April and May to support the IPRC. Suggested donation of $35 – $75, or sign up for all four workshops for $100. The first 25 people to register will also receive a limited edition screenprint from Rebecca Wadlinger’s Terror, Terrible, Terrific.
Radical Meditation: a practice of interbeing in times of crisis (BIPOC only) (Corporeal Writing)
Saturday, May 12th, from 5:30–6:30 p.m. | Online | Sliding scale
Join for a monthly meditation and conversation on the practice of sitting or lying in meditation in a time of political, environmental, and personal crisis, especially drawing upon practices and teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and Plum Village. This series is facilitated by Touk Keo and Janice Lee. All experience levels, backgrounds, ages are welcome.
Skin & Bones: Renée Watson (Powell’s)
Monday, May 13th, 7:00 p.m. | Powell’s City of Books | FREE to attend
Literary Arts’ Youth Advisory Council Member and bestselling author Renée Watson will be speaking at Powell’s for her title Skin & Bones, “a soulful and lyrical novel exploring sisterhood, motherhood, faith, love, and ultimately what gets passed down from one generation to the next.”
Defining Moments Book Reading (Our Bold Voices, The Multnomah County Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative, Elder Pride Services, and AARP of Oregon)
Thursday, May 16th, 1:30–3:00 p.m. | Friendly House, 1737 NW 26th Ave., Portland, OR | FREE to attend
Celebrate Honor Your LGBTQ+ Elders Day by joining a number of the authors as they tell their powerful stories from a stunning new collection of local LGBTQ+ stories, Defining Moments. This powerful anthology showcases a diverse range of personal experiences, capturing pivotal moments of struggle, triumph and one’s journey towards empowerment and self-acceptance.
Oregon Literary Fellowship Reading (Literary Arts)
Tuesday, May 21st, 7:00–9:00 p.m | Literary Arts, 925 SW Washington St., Portland, OR | FREE to attend
Please join us for a reading featuring recipients of the 2024 Oregon Literary Fellowships: Karleigh Frisbie Brogan, Jenny H. Lee, Makiia Lucier, Kieran Mundy, Rosanna Nafziger, Ami Patel, Ösel Jessica Plante-Curl, Eric Simons, Joe Wilkins, and Evan Morgan Williams.
Kim Stafford with Bethany Lee (Broadway Books)
Tuesday, May 21st, 6:00 p.m. | Broadway Books | FREE to attend
Join for an evening with poet Kim Stafford, who will be reading from his latest collection As the Sky Begins to Change, published by Red Hen Press (2024). He will be accompanied by harpist Bethany Joy Lee who will also read from her newest collection of poetry.
Consider This: Humans, Land, and Animals (Oregon Humanities)
Wednesday, May 22nd, 7:00 p.m. | Pendleton Center for the Arts | FREE to attend
Join Oregon Humanities for a conversation with Bobby Fossek, Erica Berry, and Wendy Bingham. Some animals and plants are welcomed by people, and others we reject or try to eradicate. How do we decide which living things belong, and what do these decisions show about our place on the land? This live, onstage conversation is part of Oregon Humanities’ 2023–24 Consider This series, Fear and Belonging.
Jessica E. Johnson in Conversation With Lydia Kiesling (Powell’s)
Wednesday, May 29th, 7:00 p.m. | Powell’s City of Books | FREE to attend
Oregon Book Award Finalists Jessica E. Johnson and Lydia Kiesling will be in conversation at Powell’s to promote Mettlework, “a memoir of Johnson’s unusual upbringing during the 1970s and ’80s, interwoven with the story of her transition to parenthood in post-recession Portland, Oregon.”
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS
DIY Accounting for Arts & Culture Organizations (Regional Arts & Culture Commission)
May 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd, 9:00–11:00 a.m. | Online | $100 per organization
RACC is hosting a series of four, two-hour workshops designed to provide the leaders of arts and culture nonprofits with the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare monthly cash-basis financial statements. This course is open to arts & culture organizations with budgets of $250K or less, and limited to 10 organizations per series. Those who commit to the series will also earn 4 hours of one-on-one training to focus on your specific questions!
Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award (Red Hen Press)
Deadline to submit: October 31, 2024 | $25 Entry Fee
Established in 1998, in honor of the poet Benjamin Saltman (1927–1999), this award is for a previously unpublished original collection of poetry. The awarded collection is selected through an annual competition that is open to all poets. Winner awarded $3000 and $3000 book publication by Red Hen Press.
Call for Writers: International Dublin Writers’ Festival (International Dublin Writers’ Festival)
Friday, September 20th–Sunday, September 22nd | $45–$149
This event is an opportunity for all writers, everywhere, to connect with the literary culture of Dublin and to learn from experts and peers. Their mission is to help writers excel and to provide opportunities for writers to learn from key industry professionals, aiming to provide community, inspiration, and learning opportunities for authors in all genres. Their program includes sessions on editing, (self)publishing, and marketing for authors, and includes a varied panel of renowned authors and industry experts. The featured speakers this year include Doug Richardson (Screenwriter, Author, & Literary Consultant) and A. Keith Carrero (Award-winning Author & Educator).
FOR KIDS / TEENS
Toddler Storytime & Play (Sunrise Books)
Thursdays, at 10:00 a.m. | In person at Sunrise Books | FREE to attend
Join Sunrise Books every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. for toddler storytime! They’ll sing, dance, do a read aloud, and have a rockin’ good time. Perfect for ages 18 months–4 years. This storytime is free; however, they accept donations to keep it going.
Kids’ Story & Art Class at Awake Coffee & Art!
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10:00 a.m. | In person at Awake Coffee & Art | $8
Bring your little ones Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. for a storybook reading and art session!
They’ll have a hands-on art project after the reading. It could be watercolor painting, making and playing with play dough, or another creative project to engage the young artists’ talents! All materials included!
Kids’ Storytime (Powell’s)
Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. | Powell’s City of Books | FREE
Join us every Saturday for kids’ storytime.
IN THE NEWS
In ‘skin & bones,’ Renée Watson Writes for Her Devout Readers’ Parents (Portland Monthly)
Embracing intimacy and uncertainty: At work with Oregon’s poet laureate (OPB)
In conversation with Oregon Book Award finalists (Daily Emerald)
Portland nonprofit expanding with new Central Eastside headquarters (Portland Business Journal)
New Literary Arts headquarters will include bookstore and café in Southeast Portland (Oregon Live)
2024 Oregon Book Award Winners Announced (Willamette Week)
Erica Berry and Patrick deWitt Are among the 2024 Oregon Book Awards Winners (Portland Monthly)
RECOMMENDED READING
A Booklover’s Guide to Portland (Travel Portland)
10 New Books From Around the World (Powell’s)
Local Resources for Writers (Multnomah County Library)
Community News Submissions
Let us know if you have any events, news to share, or opportunities for writers for the In the Community blog and we will consider adding it to the next blog post!
