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20 OCTOBER 2022 — thursday
- Grand Piano TV presents a series of live readings and performances, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the final publication of The Grand Piano: An Experiment in Collective Autobiography/San Francisco 1975-1980, a series of autobiographical writings centered on ten Bay Area poets, this week features poet and playwright Carla Harryman, Adorno's Noise, online via Zoom, free, 5:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsceyrrDwrEtHr06pb8qItOsP9H6jP2mvq)
- Bookshop West Portal presents fiction writer Naseem Jamnia, reading from and discussing their debut novel, The Bruising of Qilwa, a fantasy introducing a queernormative Persian-inspired world, in conversation with science fiction writer and essayist Charlie Jane Anders, Never Say You Can't Survive, Bookshop West Portal, 80 W Portal Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 pm PDT (More information here: www.bookshopwestportal.com/event/naseem-jamnia-bruising-qilwa-conversation-charlie-jane-anders)
- Award-winning author Joan Frank, Where You're All Going: Four Novellas, winner of the Mary McCarthy Prize for Short Fiction, reads from and discusses two new books, Late Work, a literary autobiography in essays, and Juniper Street, a novel, winner of the C&R Press 2021 Fiction Award, audience Q&A and book signing will follow, Copperfield's Books, 775 Village Court, Santa Rosa, free, 7:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.copperfieldsbooks.com/event/joan-frank-1)
- The Green Arcade presents a reading from the novel My Blue Coiling Snake, My Empty Room, by writer and artist Lynn Crawford (d. 2017), posthumously published by her longtime partner Ellen Leonard through Clover Heights Publishing, Leonard will be joined by some of Lynn Crawford's friends for a reading in celebration of her life and work, McRoskey Mattress Co., Third Floor, 1687 Market Street, San Francisco, free, 6:30 pm PDT (More information here: thegreenarcade.com)
- Litquake continues with a multitude of readings, panel discussions, and literary performances, on an array of topics such as poetry, short fiction, fantasy and science fiction, comedy, literary translation, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers, films, and publishing, with bestselling authors including Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Ericka Huggins, San Francisco Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin, Diana Kapp, Greg Sarris, Charlie Jane Anders, Avotcja, Jacqueline Woodson, Vanessa Hua, and many more, in various venues around San Francisco, both free and ticketed events (More information here: www.litquake.org)
- Fabulosa Books presents novelist K.M. Soehnlein, The World of Normal Boys, winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Men's Fiction, discussing his new book, Army of Lovers, in conversation with author Jesse Ataide, Queer Modernisms, offsite at Strut, 470 Castro Street, San Francisco, free/suggested donation $5-$10, 7:00 pm PDT (More information here: www.fabulosabooks.com/eventsart.html)
- Poets & Writers presents the Third Thursday Poetry and Jazz Reading Series, featuring improv jazz by the Original Ensemble, a small jazz combo made up of a guitar, bass, and drums, plus visiting musicians, followed by a featured reading by a visiting poet TBA, and an open mic, Arena Market & Café, 185 Main Street, Point Arena, free, 7:00-9:00 pm PDT (More information here: www.bmoreyou.net/event/third-thursday-poetry-jazz-8)
21 OCTOBER 2022 — friday
- Litquake continues with a multitude of readings, panel discussions, and literary performances, on an array of topics such as poetry, short fiction, fantasy and science fiction, comedy, literary translation, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers, films, and publishing, with bestselling authors including Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Ericka Huggins, San Francisco Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin, Diana Kapp, Greg Sarris, Charlie Jane Anders, Avotcja, Jacqueline Woodson, Vanessa Hua, and many more, in various venues around San Francisco, both free and ticketed events (More information here: www.litquake.org)
22 OCTOBER 2022 — saturday
- The Ina Coolbrith Circle presents a reading celebrating Yearning to Breathe Free: A Community Journal of 2020, featuring poet and human rights advocate Mary Susan Gast, editor of the newspaper column "Going the Distance," and poet and critic Mary Eichbauer, Poetry's Self-Portrait: The Visual Arts as Mirror and Muse in René Char and John Ashbery, followed by an open mic, hosted by Deborah Schmidt, online via Zoom, free, 2:00 pm PDT (RSVP to attend: www.coolpoetry.org/meetings.html)
- Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center presents poet Cynthia Guardado, Endeavor, reading and discussing her new collection, Cenizas, joining Guardado are poets Andrés Sanchez, This Body, and Xochitl-Julissa Bermejo, Posada: Offerings of Witness and Refuge, with music by Lillyflor del Valle, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice Beach, Los Angeles, free, 7:00-10:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.beyondbaroque.org/calendar.html)
- Fourth Saturdays Reading Series presents poets Ron Koertge, The Ogre's Wife, Olympusville, and Katrinka Moore, Diminuendo, Claremont Helen Renwick Library, 208 N. Harvard Avenue, Claremont, free, 2:00 pm PDT
- Litquake 2022 concludes with Lit Crawl SF, the world's largest literary pub crawl, in an array of venues throughout San Francisco's Mission District; Highlights of Phase 1: 5:00 pm PDT, The Chapel, 777 Valencia Street: "Poets Crawleate: Bay Area Poet Laureates Represent!," celebrates Bay Area poet laureates Tongo Eisen-Martin (San Francisco), Tshaka Menelik Imhotep Campbell (Santa Clara County), Aileen Cassinetto (San Mateo County), Jen Siraganian (Los Gatos), and former laureate Maw Shein Win (El Cerrito); Highlights of Phase 2: 6:30 pm PDT, Stage Werx, 446 Valencia Street: "Manic D Press Reunion," featuring a dozen literary stars from one of San Francisco's legendary underground publishers; 6:30 pm PDT, Dog Eared Books, 900 Valencia Street: Reading hosted by ZYZZYVA, A San Francisco Journal of Arts & Letters, winner of the 2022 NCBR Recognition Award, featuring past contributors Dana Johnson, Lucy Corin, Vanessa Hua, Michael Jaime-Becerra, and Dean Radar; Highlights of Phase 3: 8:00 pm PDT, Medicine For Nightmares, 3036 24th Street: AGNI celebrates its 50th year in print, featuring Marilyn Abildskov, Abby Caplin, David Goguen, and Shruti Swamy; all Lit Crawl events free, 5:00-9:00 pm PDT (More information here: www.litquake.org)
23 OCTOBER 2022 — sunday
- Join California Poets in the Schools for a community open mic reading, open to anyone age fourteen or over, three-minutes per reader, open mic slots are first come, first serve, with readings by featured poets TBA, come to read or to listen, online via Zoom, free, 7:00-9:00 pm PDT (Register/sign up for the open mic: www.californiapoets.org/events/virtual-open-mic-6)
- Small Press Traffic presents a conversation with Mayra A. Rodríguez Castro, writer and translator, editor of Dream of Europe: selected seminars and interviews: 1984-1992 and recipient of the Anne Waldman Fellowship in 2019; Castro will respond to ideas about the personal equation, poetry, appearance, and perspective, online, free, 11:00 am PDT (RSVP to attend: www.smallpresstraffic.org/upcomingevents/mayra-rodriguez-castro)
- Beatnik Café presents a night of poetry featuring Bill Ratner, Fear of Fish, and Marc Olmsted, What Use Am I a Hungry Ghost?, followed by an open mic reading, three-minutes per reader, hosted by Hanna Pachman, in person at the tea café Hey Hey, 1555 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, 4:00-6:00 pm PDT (More information here: www.facebook.com/events/1640666163020121)
24 OCTOBER 2022 — monday
- Bird & Beckett Books and Records presents biographer and novelist Hilary Holladay, discussing her new book, The Power of Adrienne Rich, about the life and writings of influential poet and feminist Adrienne Rich (1929-2012), in conversation with researcher and editor Tate Swindell, Bird & Beckett Books and Records, 653 Chenery Street, San Francisco, 7:00 pm PDT (More information here: birdbeckett.com)
- Skylight Books presents poet and short story writer Bojan Louis, Currents, winner of the American Book Award, discussing his new collection of stories, Sinking Bell, in conversation with writer and musician J.J. Anselmi, Out Here on Our Own, Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, 7:00 pm PDT (More information here: www.skylightbooks.com/event/skylight-bojan-louis-presents-sinking-bell-jj-anselmi)
25 OCTOBER 2022 — tuesday
- The San Francisco Public Library presents fiction writer and essayist Jonah Raskin, reading from and discussing his new novel, Beat Blues, San Francisco 1955; Raskin talks about how the literature of the Beat Generation inspired his work, North Beach General Floor Area, 850 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, free, 5:00-6:00 pm PDT (More information here: sfpl.org/events/2022/10/25/author-writing-fiction-about-luminaries-beat-generation)
- Cobalt Poets presents a reading featuring poet Robbi Nester, Narrow Bridge, with open mic to follow, online via Zoom, free, 7:30 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.poetrysuperhighway.com/cobalt/calendar.html)
26 OCTOBER 2022 — wednesday
27 OCTOBER 2022 — thursday
- Writers Read Ukiah presents a reading featuring poet Armand Brint, first Poet Laureate of Ukiah, recipient of a Jane Reichhold International Haiku Prize, and author of In the Name of Wonder, Brint's reading will be followed by an open mic, six minutes per reader, Grace Hudson Museum, 431 South Main Street, Ukiah, free, 7:00 pm PDT (More information here: www.gracehudsonmuseum.org/new-events)
- Book Passage presents award-winning author Joan Frank, Where You're All Going: Four Novellas, winner of the Mary McCarthy Prize for Short Fiction, reading from and discussing two new books, Late Work, a literary autobiography in essays, and Juniper Street, a novel, winner of the C&R Press 2021 Fiction Award, Book Passage, 51 Tama Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, free, 6:00 pm PDT (More information here: www.bookpassage.com/event/joan-frank-late-work-juniper-street-corte-madera-store)
- Left Margin Lit presents the workshop "When Life Gives You Lemons: Embracing Cliché," led by poet Shara Lessley, The Explosive Expert's Wife, winner of the Sheila Margaret Motton Book Prize, attendees of the workshop will examine cliché as a generative resource and inspiration, as well as how to reevaluate language and make what is old new again, two Thursdays, October 27 and November 3, online via Zoom, $195, 6:00-8:00 pm PDT (Enroll here: www.leftmarginlit.org/when-life-gives-you-lemons-lessley)
- City Lights Books presents poet J. Estanislao Lopez, discussing his new collection, We Borrowed Gentleness, in conversation with poet and editor Kaveh Akbar, Pilgrim Bell, online via Zoom, free, 6:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: citylights.com/events)
- Beyond Baroque presents a reading by two Los Angeles-based indie presses, SunFlower Station and Not A Cult, featuring poets Sheila J. Sadr, Alexandra Jade, Tori Gesualdo, Edwin Bodney, A Study of Hands, and Paasha Motamedi, with a DJ set by DJ Ghosthouse, in-person and livestreamed on YouTube, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice Beach, Los Angeles, free, 7:00 pm PDT (Register to attend: www.beyondbaroque.org/calendar.html)
28 OCTOBER 2022 — friday
- Westside Sparkling presents "A Flight of Poets," an evening of poetry paired with sparkling wines, featuring poet and translator Brenda Hillman, In A Few Minutes Before Later, former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass, Time and Materals, winner of the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, and poet Iris Jamahl Dunkle, West: Fire: Archive, Westside Sparkling, 14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Healdsburg, $55, each ticket includes the wine tasting, a charcuterie box, and a choice of a signed copy of Hillman, Hass, or Dunkle's book, 5:30-7:00 pm PDT (Purchase tickets here: www.exploretock.com/bacchuslanding/event/364494/a-flight-of-poets-featuring-brenda-hillman-robert-hass-iris-jamahl-dunkle-and-westside-sparklingc)
- Join poet Ellen Bass, Indigo for the fifth series of Living Room Craft Talks, a series of talks exploring the craft of poetry with a different guest poet each week, with guest appearances from Ada Limón, recently named U.S. Poet Laureate and author of The Hurting Kind, Chris Abani, Smoking the Bible, Diane Seuss, Frank: Sonnets, Donika Kelly, The Renunciations, Naomi Shihab Nye, The Tiny Journalist, and Jane Hirshfield, Ledger, each week focuses on a different subject of poetry and teaches practical techniques that students can integrate into their own writing, online, runs six weeks, October 28-December 9, with a break on November 25, $300, full and partial scholarships available for BIPOC writers and those with financial needs, 9:00-11:15 am PDT (Register to attend: www.ellenbass.com/events/living-room-craft-talks-the-fifth-series/?mc_cid=7ca5cf6540&mc_eid=65eb098795)
29 OCTOBER 2022 — saturday
- Point Reyes Books presents award-winning poets Brenda Hillman, Practical Water, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Award for Poetry, and Robert Hass, Time and Materials, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, reading and discussing Hillman's new collection, In a Few Minutes Before Later, in person, Dance Palace, 503 B Street, Point Reyes Station, free, 4:00 pm PDT (More information here: www.ptreyesbooks.com/event/brenda-hillman-and-robert-hass)
- Join essayist Isidra Mencos as she celebrates her debut book, Promenade of Desire, a rich memoir about the author's life growing up in 1960s Spain, and her activism, sexual awakening, and search for intimacy in the aftermath of a repressive dictatorship, with a reading and Q&A with Brooke Warner, publisher of She Writes Press, followed by a salsa lesson with Felipe EldelaClave and party with DJ Luis Medina, in person, The Beat Dance Studio, 2560 Ninth Street, Suite 119, Berkeley, free, 7:30-10:30 pm PDT
30 OCTOBER 2022 — sunday
31 OCTOBER 2022 — monday
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