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
Small and Self-Publishing Faire (Bold Coffee & Books)
Saturday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m. | Bold Coffee & Books, 1755 SW Jefferson St. Portland, OR
BOLD Coffee & Books, Two Rivers Bookstore, and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More are collaborating to bring you the second-ever S2: Small and Self-Publishing Faire this spring! The faire will feature author and small press booths in the morning and afternoon, an early evening mixer, and then readings by vendors and featured authors. With book signings, raffle prizes, a flash writing contest, and more, it’s sure to be a great time!
Comics Anthology Release Party (IPRC)
Sunday, May 18, at 4:00 p.m. | IPRC, Main Studio, 318 SE Main St., Ste. 145, Portland, OR | FREE
IPRC’s 2024/2025 comix cohorts presents…The Lost Anthology Release Party.
A Staged Reading of Mink River by Brian Doyle (University of Portland)
Monday, May 19 at 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. | Dundon-Berchtold Hall, University of Portland 5000 N Willamette Blvd | Free
This epic, two-part dramatic adaptation of Mink River brings the vivid characters and sparkling stories from Brian Doyle’s masterpiece to life while honoring the authors original voice.
Community Reading and Talk of Ancestor Octavia Butler (Doomteenth/Black Futures Farm)
Monday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m. | Black Futures Farm, 6745 SE 60th St, Portland, OR 97206 | FREE
Let’s talks about the future. Let’s talk about Octavia Butler. Let’s talk about black resilience. For more information visit @doomteenth on Instagram.
Michael N. McGregor in conversation with David Naimon (Broadway Books)
Tuesday, May 20, at 6:00 p.m. | Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway St, Portland, OR 97232 | FREE
Broadway Books welcomes Michael N. McGregor for the official launch of his new memoir An Island to Myself: The Place of Solitude in an Active Life (Monkfish, 2025). He will be joined in conversation with David Naimon, writer and host of the literature podcast “Between the Covers”.
US Poet Laureate Ada Limón (Sitka Center)
Tuesday, May 20, at 6:00 p.m. | Nestucca K-8 School, 36925 U.S. 101 S, Cloverdale, OR 97112 | FREE
Sitka is bringing US Poet Laureate ADA LIMÓN to the Oregon Coast. Join them for a free evening of poetry and inspiration with one of the most celebrated poets of our time. Hear Ada Limón read from her acclaimed works and share insights on the power of language and the natural world.
Mothering as Transformation: An Empowering Poetry Workshop (Portland Poets Exchange)
Saturday, May 3–May 24, at 10:00 a.m. | Online via Zoom | $100
Writing poetry about mothers and the experience of motherhood is not easy because the act of mothering/being mothered is both beautiful and complicated. As more writers explore the lessons unique to this deeply personal passage and bond, the audience for motherhood poetry expands. In this generative workshop, we will explore motherhood/mothering as transformation, read from a diverse selection of mother-poets, and discuss how and why motherhood matters are relevant to all readers.
OMSI After Dark: Brunch Club (OMSI)
Saturday, May 28, from 6:00–10:00 p.m. | OMSI, The Museum 1945 SE Water Ave. Portland, OR 97214 | Tickets start at $27
OMSI After Dark is for guests 21 and over, where you can have a drink while you roam the museum. We have science demos, performances, DJs, artisan food and beverage vendors offering samples, and more.
Pocky & Zines
Friday, May 30, from 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | PCC Rock Creek Campus Building 3, 17705 NW Springville Rd, Building 3, Portland, OR 97229 | Free
A 3-station zine event where participants are free to roam in whatever order they choose. Free snacks. Zine workshop. Mini zine fest. Possibly a raffle drawing.
Rhythm, Rhyme, and Revolution: Crafting Transformative Messages (Oregon Humanities)
Saturday, May 31, from 12:00–4:00 p.m | Leaven Community Center, 5431 NE 20th Ave, Portland OR 97211 | Sliding scale $0–25
Join cultural activist, emcee, poet, and writer Mic Crenshaw for an interactive workshop exploring the power of rhythm, rhyme, and storytelling as tools for self-expression and social change.
A Juneteenth Celebration ((Doomteenth/Black Futures Farm))
Thursday, June 19, from 7:00–9:00 p.m | Black Futures Farm, 6745 SE 60th St, Portland, OR 97206 | FREE
An art and literature experience at Black Futures Farm.
Bard Bingo (Wonderwood Springs)
Tuesdays, 7:00–9:00 p.m. | Wonderwood Springs, 8811 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203 | FREE
Bard Bingo at Portland Artist Mike Bennett’s Wonderwood Springs is a lively bingo event hosted by a traveling bard’s musical musings. Held every Tuesday night, this event features four exciting rounds with cards priced at $5 each. It’s cash-only, offering chances to win various prizes such as original artwork, stickers, gift cards, lawn signs, and the coveted jackpot.
CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
Resonate: A BIPOC Writing Circle (Write Around Portland)
2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month | 4:00–5:30 p.m. | Online via Zoom
Led by a Write Around Portland facilitator of color, Resonate consists of writing, sharing, and giving strengths-based feedback to each other. No preparation or experience in writing is required! Resonate is a great way to unlock your creativity, build or maintain a writing practice, and get some writing done! REGISTER HERE.
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS
National Book Awards Application (NBA)
Deadline: June 6, 2025 | Fee: $135
All titles must be submitted via the entry form between March 12 – May 14, 2025 to be considered for this year’s Awards cycle.
Blessing the Boats Selections (BOA Editions)
Deadline: July 14, 2025 | Honorarium: $2,500
The Waterston Desert Writing Prize (the Prize) was established in 2014 and inspired by author and poet Ellen Waterston’s love of the High Desert, a region that has been her muse for more than 40 years. Waterston was named Oregon Poet Laureate in August 2024 for a two-year term. The Prize provides financial and other support to writers whose work reflects a similar connection to the desert, recognizing the vital role deserts play worldwide in the ecosystem and the human narrative.
BLR Prizes (Bellevue Literary Review)
Deadline: July 1, 2025 | Prize: $1,000 | Fee: $20
The BLR Prizes award outstanding writing related to themes of health, healing, illness, the mind, and the body. Winners are published in the spring issue of Bellevue Literary Review.
FOR KIDS & TEENS
OPEN CALL: BIPOC Youth Performers (Friends of Noise/Brown Girl Rise)
Friends of Noise is helping Brown Girl Rise host a benefit show at Ethos Music on May 17! There are eight music/poetry sets available. Looking for BIPOC youth ages 8-21. This is a paid opportunity. Contact: ash@browngirlriseportland.org
Alice in Wonderland Jr. (Krayon Kids Musical Theatre)
Friday, May 16, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. | Barclay Theater, 817 12th St. Oregon City, OR 97045 | $10–$15
Krayon Kids Musical Theatre is once again bringing magic to the stage with its upcoming production of Alice in Wonderland Jr. The show features a vibrant cast of talented local kids, ages 7 to 18, who have been hard at work rehearsing for this whimsical adventure.
StoryCraft for Girls (Wild Rivers Collective)
Sunday, May 25, from 1:00–4:00 p.m. | Confluence Arts Center, 20159 Hazelnut Ridge Rd Scotts Mills, OR 97375 | Sliding Scale $11–$111
Magical Story Hour, Crafting, and Council. Intentional Monthly Gatherings for 7-18 year old girls/feminine youth. Mothers, Aunties, and Grandmas welcome!
Bookworm Baby Playgroup (Literacy Kid Lounge)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. | Literacy Kid Lounge, 2200 SE Oak Grove Blvd
Oak Grove, OR 97267 | $10
Connect with other fantastic families and build lasting friendships in this Literacy Baby Playgroup! There is also a lot of crawling over each other and interactive play with toys and books.
IN THE NEWS
Portland students find their voice through Verselandia! annual poetry competition | (City Cast Portland)
Verselandia! featured on OPB’s Think Out Loud | (Literary Arts)
Street Books and A Kids Co. to Receive Oregon Book Awards | (Willamette Week)
RECOMMENDED READING
Picture books for learning useful (and useless) skills (Multnomah County Library)
Mental Health Awareness (Multnomah County Library)
Trans Day of Visibility 2025 (The Bookstore at Literary Arts)
Staff Picks (The Bookstore at Literary Arts)
Oregon Book Award Finalists 2025 (The Bookstore at Literary Arts)
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!
