Scared of missing this year’s spooky literary offerings? Check out these eerie events taking place leading up to and on festival day!
COVER TO COVER EVENTS
HOCUS Presents SHAPESHIFTING: A Live Reading Event
Monday, October 28, at 7:00 p.m. at Rose City Book PubThis SHAPESHIFTING event will feature literary readings on the topics of transformation, mutation, and lycanthropy, along with assorted ceremonials. Bring only your imagination and a willingness to engage with the unknown!
Everyday Horrors: A Free Halloween Zines Making Workshop
Wednesday, October 3, at 4:00 p.m. at Reed Zine Library
Create a zine from vintage Halloween and horror clip art about horrors from mundane occurrences…like waking up late, getting a stain on a brand new shirt or, worse, having spinach stuck in your teeth on a first date!
Last Words at Death’s Door
Wednesday, October 30, at 7:00 p.m. at Nomadic Vintage Rugs
Discuss whether the language of the dying points the way to a transcendent world beyond our own with Portland authors Sallie Tisdale (Advice for Future Corpses) and Elizabeth Fournier (The Green Burial Guidebook).
Booed and Confused: Ghosting in the Dating Game
Thursday, October 31 at 7:00 p.m. at Grand Gesture Books
A storytelling event where we confronts our ghosts (no, we will not drunkingly text them in the middle of the night) and the unresolved feelings surrounding the situation. Come for the storytelling, stay for the love.
FESTIVAL DAY*
Think Out Loud: In Too Deep
10:00–11:00 a.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ
Andrew Child discusses his most recent thriller, In Too Deep: A Reacher Novel, a gripping continuation of the bestseling Jack Reacher series he co-authors with his brother Lee Child. Interview by OPB’s Dave Miller, host of Think Out Loud.
American Horror Stories
1:30–2:30 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ
Authors Brian Evenson (Good Night, Sleep Tight) and Stephen Graham Jones (I Was a Teenage Slasher and The Angel of Indian Lake) present their modern takes on horror decidedly rooted in Americana. Joined by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr (Sacred Folks), whose books have been finalists for multiple horror awards, this panel is perfect for horror enthusiasts, fans of Americana, and the unique overlap of those genres.
Hauntings: Alisa Alering & Layla Martínez
3:30–4:30 p.m. at Portland’5: Brunish Theatre
Haunted houses, a mountain that sighs, ghosts and angels, monsters made of ink. . . it’s spooky season at this haunting discussion. In turns both terrifying and otherworldly, author Alisa Alering opens the door to the hidden world of Smothermoss. Layla Martínez’s debut novel, Woodworm, with its grisly, mystical vision of justice for an unjust world, announces a terrifying new voice in international horror. Moderated by Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya (Helen House).
* Festival Admission:
General Admission passes are required for all Portland Book Festival events. Full-priced passes are $18 in advance and $25 day-of and include a $5 book fair voucher! Youth 17 & under or with a valid high school ID, veterans, and active military receive free passes! $5 Arts for All passes available for those with a SNAP/Oregon Trail Card ($5 book fair voucher not included with free or discounted passes).
Swing by the advance box office at Portland’5 Centers for the Arts’ Antoinette Hatfield Hall (1111 SW Broadway) Wednesday, October 30th through Friday, November 1st from noon–6:00 p.m. to pick up your wristband and skip the box office line on festival day.
Learn more at pdxbookfest.org
Thank you to our 2024 Portland Book Festival sponsors
