Events Archives - Page 9 of 15

February 6, 2017October 6, 2023

I’ll be at AWP in DC signing and reading from Cake Time

Will you be in Washington DC later this week? If so, let’s catch up! I’ll be signing books — and reading — and singing karaoke — at the AWP conference, and hope to see your friendly face —

AWP, for those who don’t know, stands for Association of Writers & Writing Programs — a professional organization for writers with a focus on college and university writing programs. Each year, AWP has an annual conference that brings many thousands of people together, and this year that conference happens February 8 – 11 at Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington DC.

And I’ll be there! First, about the book signing: Officially, Cake Time isn’t out until April 6, 2017 — but early copies of my novel-in-stories will be available at AWP! Please come by the Red Hen Press booth — # 412/414/416 — to check out a copy and say hello. I’ll be there all three days:

* Thurs, Feb. 9, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
* Fri, Feb. 10, 10:30 am – 11:30 am
* Sat, Feb. 11, 11 am – noon

Continue reading “I’ll be at AWP in DC signing and reading from Cake Time”

January 26, 2017October 6, 2023

Library Girl: A Santa Monica reading series with sugar and soul

Feed your literary soul — and your sweet tooth too! One Sunday a month in Santa Monica, the Library Girl reading series treats you to cupcakes before entertaining you with a themed lineup of readers — all in the lovely, intimate Ruskin Group Theatre.

In fact, the first Library Girl event of the year earlier this month had not just cupcakes, but tacos and gorditas too. We all ate a full meal (there was a cash bar too) while mingling out front and in the lobby — then filled the little theater for the readings.

Who is the Library Girl? That would be Susan Hayden (below), who’s been organizing this series for half a decade now! Each month’s event has a theme, and January’s was Weird Scenes Inside The Goldmine — the subtitle for the recently-published anthology, Los Angeles In The 1970s.

After an introduction by Susan — and a musical performance by her son, Mason Summit — a half dozen contributors read an eclectic mix of work from the anthology: Deanne Stillman’s hilarious musings on perfectly manicured gas station gardens, Jim Natal’s thought-provoking poetry, and much more.

The next Library Girl event, titled First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, will have a Valentine’s Day theme, featuring couples reading — and of course, sweet desserts. Go hear Jesse Welles Nathan and Stephen Nathan, Lin Benedek and Tom Benedek, Claire Holley and Chad Holley, Beth Ruscio and Leon Martell, Celeste Wesson and Robert Ward!

Tickets are $10 — all of which is donated to Ruskin Group Theater. I recommend buying them in advance through the Ruskin’s website, because the event can sell out.

Library Girl. Second Sunday of every month, 7 pm – 10 pm. Ruskin Group Theatre, 3000 Airport Ave., Santa Monica.

Earlier: 12 literary reading series in Los Angeles

January 24, 2017October 6, 2023

West Hollywood Women’s Book Club: Women connect over books by women

It’s a well-known fact that women read more books than men. Go to any book club or author event, and chances are, women will far outnumber men. One public book club in the L.A.-area has wholly embraced this phenomenon — by going women-exclusive. The West Hollywood Women’s Book Club is dedicated to bringing women together — to discuss books by women!

Co-sponsored by the City of West Hollywood’s Women’s Advisory Board, this book club meets at the West Hollywood Library once a month to discuss books by both local and internationally renowned authors — while providing a space for women to connect with other women.

I went to my first book club meeting earlier this month, walking into the modern, spacious community meeting room right at start time. A couple dozen women already sat chatting at white desks — arranged into a large square for easy group discussion. Everyone had a handwritten table name card; the librarian in charge gave me a blank one to fill out. At side tables were coffee, cookies, and advance review copies of various novels, free for the taking!

January’s book pick was The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman. Soon after 7 pm, the discussion began! One of the club members kicked off the discussion by asking what everyone thought about the book, and we actually went around the circle, each of us sharing our general impressions of the novel.

Then the real discussion started. A lot of people really seemed to have enjoyed the book. Others, like me, found it rather predictable and formulaic. But the talk was overall enthusiastic and lively, with many women sharing tidbits from their own lives as they related to the plot and characters. Basically, I found the discussion more riveting than the book!

I loved a lot of things about this library book club. While different club members take turns leading the discussion each month, the librarian in charge helps facilitate things by sending out the Meetup event announcements and taking suggestions and setting up polls to figure out future book club reads. The librarian also collects the name cards for reuse — and makes sure library copies of next month’s picks are available!

I also met some lovely women, and after the official meeting ended, had some nice conversations about coffee shops, walking in LA, and, well, book clubs. The crowd here skewed slightly older — There were a good number of well-read retirees — but the group really included women of all ages.

I’ll definitely be at the next book club meeting because the February book is Grace by L.A.’s own Natasha Deon. Even better, Natasha will be at the book club herself! I’m not sure how the author’s presence will affect the discussion of the book, but I’m looking forward to it.

Want to come to the next book club meeting? Join the Meetup group, and show up Feb. 7. See you there!

West Hollywood Women’s Book Club. West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood. First Tuesday of every month at 7 pm.

Earlier:
6 Book Clubs in Los Angeles to join in 2017
7 Best public libraries in Los Angeles for writers

December 14, 2016October 5, 2023

Tongue & Groove: A Monthly literary variety show at Hotel Cafe

Literary readings often happen in makeshift spaces: classrooms, coffee shops, someone’s tiny studio apartment. But one Los Angeles reading series — Tongue & Groove — puts writers on a famous spot: The main stage at Hotel Cafe.

Hotel Cafe’s known as an intimate performance space for musicians in Hollywood — but Tongue & Groove takes over the venue one Sunday a month, each evening event featuring a handful of writers reading fiction, poetry, personal essays, and spoken word.

Organized by Conrad Romo, this reading series is now in its 13 year. Attendees queue up at Hollywood and Cahuenga, pay the $7 cover, then enter the darkened space to buy drinks and chat before sitting down at one of the tables or couches to take in the show. In keeping with the spirit of the place, a musical act also performs.

The next Tongue & Groove event happens this Sunday, Dec. 18 at 6:30 — and I hope you can make it because I’ll be reading — alongside Bonnie Johnson and Samantha Emily Evans. See you there —

Tongue & Groove. One Sunday a month, 6 pm at Hotel Cafe, 1623 N Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles. Cost: $7.

Earlier: Roar Shack: A Monthly Echo Park reading series with music and a Livewrite

November 9, 2016October 5, 2023

Melrose Bellow: An eclectic literary night in Hollywood 11/12

On the heels of Lit Crawl LA comes a brand new night of literary fun. On Sat., Nov. 12, Melrose Bellow will bring stand-up comedy, poetry, live music, and stories about everything from the desert to the sea to venues up and down Melrose Avenue.

Organized by Conrad Romo — best known as the guy behind the long-running Tongue & Groove reading series — Melrose Bellow features two rounds of pre-event happenings from 5 pm to 7 pm. Pick from a NaNoWrimo meetup, a block carving workshop, and an interactive poetry-improv hybrid performance.

Then comes the main event: two rounds of literary events, with a half dozen different happenings to pick from for each round. Here are my picks for each round:

Round 1 at 7 pm: Story Salon and the Mean Kind at Debonair, 7364 Melrose Ave.

Apparently Story Salon is LA’s longest running storytelling venue — How have I never heard of this series? — and The Mean Kind is a group of writers with ties to the South. Brandon Jordan Brown, Rachel McLeod Kaminer, and Chris L. Terry will read — Their work may or may not be about the South.

Round 2 at 8 pm: The Nervous Breakdown at Debonair, 7364 Melrose Ave.

Online lit zine The Nervous Breakdown will feature readings from Steve Abee, Dennis Cruz, and Milo Martin.

Other events include Rogue Machine Theatre’s Rant & Rave, a Women of the Rumpus reading, a Stand Up Bus featuring an open mic, and of course, a Tongue and Groove reading. Check the Melrose Bellow website for the full schedule.

Earlier: 7 big annual literary events in Los Angeles to put on your calendar now

November 3, 2016October 5, 2023

Come see Meredith Alling & me at Skylight Books 11/15

I’ve always wanted to do a live interview with a writer I admire — and this month, I’m finally getting that chance! Meredith Alling‘s debut book of short stories, Sing the Song (Future Tense), comes out in a couple weeks — and in celebration, Meredith and I will chat it up at Skylight Books!

Meredith Alling & Siel Ju: Reading & Conversation
When: Tuesday, November 15, 2016, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Where: Skylight Books, 1818 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles

Meredith will first read from Sing the Song. The stories in this collection are strange and quirky and eclectic and funny. In one, a slightly-lost woman starts copying the fashion style of truant kids that hang out near her house. In another, a girl waits at the front of the line for a sample sale to start — only to pass out from anxiety. In between are short surreal flash pieces — about precocious babies, sagacious hams, and other bizarre things. You can read one of my favorites, “Insubordination,” at Spork Press.

Preorder the book — or come to the event and buy one there! An official launch party happens that Saturday, Nov. 19, at Verdugo Bar. Hope to see you at one or both events —