Lit from Below: An Evening of Poetry & Prose from Portland’s Underground

Devin Devine has been performing slam poetry since 2013, and represented Spokane at the National Poetry Slam in 2015, 2017, and 2018. An international performer, Devin has done slam across North America from Washington to Texas to Toronto to Massachusetts and nearly every gas station in-between. Her full-length poetry collection, Drinking to Sainthood, is available now through Game Over Books.

Ken Yoshikawa is a poet, actor, and playwright from Portland, Oregon. In his theatre career he’s appeared at Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland Center Stage, NW Children’s Theatre, Oregon Adventure Theatre, and Portland Playhouse. In 2019 he released his first spoken word album Quiver (Lightship Press), and performed his autobiographical poetic solo play The Art of Fly Swatting at the Pan Asian Repertory off-broadway in NYC. His poems have appeared in Nailed Magazine, Letters from the Void, Hapa Mag, and Discover Nikkei. His first full length poetry book, Monster Colored Glasses is out now on Lightship Press.

Schuyler Peck is the author of To Hold Your Moss-Covered Heart (Recenter Press, 2019), A Field of Blooming Bruises (Words Dance, 2016), and a forthcoming book of poetry, You Look Like Hell (Game Over Books, 2023). Her work can also be found in Hooligan Magazine, Crooked Arrow Press, Rising Phoenix Review, JuxtaProse Magazine, Thought Catalog, and more. She loves you. More about Schuyler can be found on Instagam @hiitssky.

Timothy Day lives with a cat named Posey, does improv, obsesses over the aesthetic of his apartment, and works as a cog in the Whole Foods machine. A collection of his short stories, Discount Ceremony, is available for preorder now from Game Over Books.

Jae Nichelle is the author of the poetry chapbook The Porch (As Sanctuary) and the full-length collection God Themselves. She was the inaugural poetry winner of the John Lewis Writing Award from the Georgia Writers Association, and her poetry has appeared in Best New Poets 2020, The Washington Square Review, The Offing Magazine, Muzzle Magazine, and elsewhere. Her spoken word poems have been featured by Write About Now, Speak Up Poetry Series, and Button Poetry. Additionally, her viral piece about anxiety titled "Friends With Benefits" has amassed millions of views online and counting.

Matan Gold is a Black & Filipino(x) writer from the San Fernando Valley. His essay 'We Real Cool' was selected for the 2020 Best American Essays 'Notable List'. His essay 'Wade in the Water' was a finalist for Black Warrior Review's 2020 Non-Fiction Prize. He's probably walking his dog.

Julia Gaskill (she/her) has competed multiple times on national stages and toured with her poetry across North America. Her work has been published through Vagabond City Lit, Nailed Magazine, Knight’s Library Magazine, and more, and her poems have been featured on the YouTube channels SlamFind, Write About Now, and Button Poetry. She was included in the anthologies In Absentia in 2020 and Excelsior! in 2022. Julia is the author of four chapbooks, runs the mic Slamlandia, co-created the Bigfoot Regional Poetry Slam, and is the creator of the spoken word album, Stouthearted Bitch. Her debut full length collection, weirdo, is out now from Game Over Books. It goes without saying, she loves Muppets more than you. Find out more about Julia at @geekgirlgrownup on Twitter and Instagram or at juliagaskill.com.

Benjamin Kessler is the author of the story collection Of This World, available for preorder through Game Over Books. He is a Goldenberg Prize for Fiction recipient and former Editor-in-Chief of Portland Review. When they let him, he teaches fiction at Portland State University.