Siel Ju

Tag: literary reading

  • Cake Time gets a review in ZYZZYVA — Plus see you at six October events

    Siel Ju and Lisa Locascio, a few Halloweens ago

    One of my first fiction publications was in the west coast lit journal ZYZZYVA a few years ago. That story’s included in my novel-in-stories Cake Time published a few months ago, and a few days ago, ZZYZZYVA reviewed Cake Time so I feel like the world’s come full circle:

    For Siel Ju’s narrator, there are no easy answers or tidy morals to unpack after a relationship fizzles—that’s just life…. Cake Time is a great story collection for our present moment; an exploration of love, morality, and contentment that proves such concepts can be as murky and uncertain as a wisp of cigarette smoke outside a chic bar.

    I love this review partly because I love ZZYZZYVA but mostly because I’ve always wanted to be mentioned in the same piece as Lorrie Moore and Mary Gaitskill and now I have! Read the full review on ZYZZYVA.

    Then come hang with me in person this Halloween month. I’ll be in costume in some or all of the events and would love to see you there —

    First up, a reading for literary journal The Los Angeles Review, with John Brantingham, Brittany Ackerman, Emma Trelles, and L.A. Times book reporter Agatha French. I am told there will be free booze at this one —

    The Los Angeles Review Reading
    (Facebook event page)
    Friday, October 6, 2017, 7:30 pm
    The Last Bookstore, 453 S Spring St, Los Angeles.

    *

    Then celebrate National Reading Group Month with the L.A. chapter of Women’s National Book Association who’ll be hosting an author panel with me, plus Abbi Waxman (The Garden of Small Beginnings) and Gabrielle Zevin (Young Jane Young) — both of whom I’m excited to meet —

    National Reading Group Month Authors Panel
    (Facebook event page)
    Wednesday, October 11, 2017, 7:30 pm
    Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles

    *

    Mid-month, news site The LA Lit Review will host Indie Author Day with a host of local readers giving short readings. I’ll be one of them — plus there’ll be refreshments, a short film screening, a comedy skit, and an acoustic musical performance.

    Indie Author Day
    Saturday, October 14, 2017, 3 pm – 5 pm
    Junipero Serra branch library, 4607 S Main St, Los Angeles

    *

    Then I’ll be playing host myself, leading a discussion of The Handmaid’s Tale at Pen Center USA’s Edison Book Club. I first read the book back in college; I’m now in the middle of the Hulu series as part of my preparations for this evening. Come for the specialty cocktails!

    Pen Center USA’s Edison Book Club
    (I will host this month’s event; more about the book club here)
    Wednesday, October 18, 2017, 6 pm – 8pm
    The Edison, 108 W 2nd St, #101, Los Angeles

    *

    Near the end of the month, Lit Crawl LA will return to North Hollywood. I’ll be at a Red Hen reading event there — but the schedule still isn’t up so I don’t know when and where it’ll be! For now, just block out the night for the crawl —

    Lit Crawl L.A.
    Wednesday, October 25, 2017, time TBD
    NoHo Arts District, North Hollywood

    *

    And lastly, if you’ve ever wanted to attend a posh literary salon in a private home in North Hollywood, here’s your chance. I’ll be reading with Maggie Smith — Get in touch with me for a private invite.

    Los Angeles Review Salon
    (Private event — Email me for an invite)
    Sunday, October 29, 2017, 2 pm

    *

    It’ll be a busy month and I hope you’ll make time to see me! Come in costume or as yourself and if I don’t see you before then, happy Halloween —

  • Cake Time on the East Coast (and one reading in LA!)

    Cake Time on the East Coast (and one reading in LA!)

    The West Coast tour happened in April, but the East Coast mini Cake Time tour is still coming up!

    But first, I have one reading in Los Angels before flying east. I’ll be one of the guest readers at Lauren Eggert-Crowe’s Bitches of the Drought Chapbook Release Party. It’s free, it’ll be fun, and all sales of chapbooks will go to support progressive causes:

    Bitches of the Drought Chapbook Release Party
    Monday, June 5, 2017, 8 pm
    Stories Books and Cafe, 1716 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles

    Then I’ll be in Brooklyn, New York — where I’ll get to read with fellow Red Hen Press authors Ellen Meeropol and Amy Hassinger:

    An Evening with Red Hen Press
    (Facebook event page)
    Thu, June 8, 2017, 7:30 pm
    Greenlight Bookstore, 686 Fulton St., Brooklyn

    Then I’ll be visiting Philadelphia for the first time, to read with poet Celeste Gainey:

    Siel Ju reads with Celeste Gainey
    (There will be cake!)
    Sunday, June 11, 2017, 2 pm
    Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Ln, Philadelphia

    I’d love to see you there!

    I’ll also be in Toronto mid-June visiting my writer friend Marilyn Duarte and doing tourist things and am planning a small meetup and reading. Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll send an invite —

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

    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

    (more…)

  • One weekend, two readings: Hear me at SoCal Poetry Festival and Roar Shack

    One weekend, two readings: Hear me at SoCal Poetry Festival and Roar Shack

    Roar Shack reading series at 826LA in Los Angeles

    Clear your calendar and come hang out with me at two readings this weekend!

    First up: Southern California Poetry Festival happens all weekend at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. My reading with Red Hen Press happens tomorrow, Saturday, Sep. 10, at 2 pm. Would love to see you there! (More about the festival)

    Secondly: The monthly reading series Roar Shack returns on Sunday, Sep. 11 at 4 pm. I’ll be reading fiction here — along with Natasha Deon, Seth Fischer, Rich Ferguson, and Toni Ann Johnson. (More about Roar Shack)

    Both events are free and open to the public. Come say hello!