Spotlighted Literary Events

Apr. 17th, 3:00 pm: Come participate in another edition of the Mini-Sledgehammer Writing Contest presented by Indigo Editing & Publications. After a reading by Alan Dubinsky—the winner of last year’s contest—the audience will receive prompts and will have 36 minutes to write their own short stories. All entries will be judged on the spot and winners will take home prizes. The Mini-Sledgehammer Contest is free and open to the public—the event is hosted at Floyd's Coffee Shop in Old Town (118 NW Couch Street, Portland).

Apr. 20th, 6:00 pm: The New Oregon Interview Series is turning its eye toward the literature and arts in Portland. Join host Nora Robertson as she leads a discussion with artist/curator Nan Curtis, filmmaker/architecture critic Brian Libby, and writer Floyd Skloot. How is the Portland art scene in dialogue with other regions? How does our art allow us access to the outside world? The event is free and also includes an open wine and beer bar. Follow the discussion at White Stag Block (70 NW Couch Street, Portland).

Apr. 21st, 8:00 pm: Join the release party for Jeff Parker's latest graphic novel Underground. Parker, a local writer and comic book artist, twists the man versus nature story, moving the action to the caves of Kentucky. Parker has worked with DC, Dark Horse, Image, and Marvel. Celebrate this arrival of another great graphic novel at Things from Another World (4133 NE Sandy Boulevard, Portland).

Picture Credit: Cover of Underground #3 by Steve Lieber and Jeff Parker

Spotlighted Literary Events

Apr. 3rd, 4:00 pm: A reading by Andrew Michael Roberts, a 2009 Oregon Book Awards finalist in Poetry, will be followed by a few readings from other new writers. Roberts has published two award-winning chapbooks of his poetry. The event is free and open to the public—come hear the new works of poetry at the Corvallis Public Library (645 NW Monroe Avenue, Corvallis).

Apr. 6th, 7:00 pm: Come participate in the latest Mini-Sledgehammer Writing Contest! Indigo Editing & Publications presents a miniature version of the annual Sledgehammer Writing Contest. After a reading by Alan Dubinsky—the winner of the last year’s contest—the audience will receive prompts and will have 36 minutes to write their own short stories. All entries will be judged on the spot and winners will take home prizes. The Mini-Sledgehammer Contest is free and open to the public—the event is hosted at Blackbird Wine Shop (3519 NE 44th Avenue, Portland).

Apr. 8th, 7:00 pm: Peter Rock will be reading from his most recent novel My Abandonment, an account of a father and daughter who spend four years living in Portland's Forest Park. Based on a true story, Rock's novel focuses on this life on the fringe of society—the father and daughter who disappeared only days after being brought from the woods to the city. The reading is free and open to the public—Rock will be reading at Broadway Books (1714 NE Broadway, Portland).

Spotlighted Literary Events

Mar. 13th, 3:00 pm: Join Alan Dubinsky and the growing team of Indigo Editing & Publications for the first Mini-Sledgehammer Writing Contest of 2010. After a reading by Dubinsky—the winner of the last year's Sledgehammer Writing Contest—the audience will receive prompts and have 36 minutes to write their own short stories. All entries will be judged on the spot and winners will take home prizes. The Mini-Sledgehammer is free and open to the public. This event is hosted at Sweetpea Baking Company (1205 SE Stark, Portland).

Mar. 15th, 5:00 pm: Powell's Books presents the third annual Smallpressapalooza, a five-hour reading marathon featuring both zine authors and writers working with independent publishers. With over a dozen speakers, this year's line-up includes poets, artists, novelists, publishers, and zinesters. The Portland Mercury provides a peak at a few of the selected speakers. The writers will gather at Powell's City of Books on Burnside (1005 W Burnside, Portland).

Mar. 18th, 7:00 pm: Oregon author Martha Gies and Jules Boykoff, Associate Professor of Political Science at Pacific University, present "'We're going to defend ourselves': The Portland chapter of the Black Panther Party & local media response." Special guests Kent Ford and Percy Hampton, original members of the Portland chapter of the Black Panther Party, will also help lead the discussion of Portland's political past. Sponsored by the Northwest History Network, this lecture will be at the Architectural Heritage Center (701 SE Grand, Portland).

Original photo credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattimattila/ / CC BY 2.0

Spotlighted Literary Events

Dec. 12th, 2-4 pm: Mini Sledgehammer features a 36-minute writing contest and a reading from last summer's Sledgehammer winner, Alan Dubinsky. St. Johns Booksellers, 8622 N. Lombard, Portland.

Dec. 12th, 6 pm: Stumptown Underground releases its 4th anthology, Terrible Lizards. It's all about dinosaurs, so dress to impress! Hosted by Guapo Comics & Books in Portland (6350 SE Foster Rd)

Dec. 13th, 1-4 pm: Steve Williams and Constance Hall lead "Mapping Your Childhood" workshop, helping you put the pen to paper and conjure past memories of adolescence and earlier. Cost is $25 and proceeds benefit the 100th Monkey Studio (workshop located at the 100th Monkey Studio: 110 SE 16th Ave)

Dec. 18th, 6:30 pm: Write Around Portland celebrates its 10th anniversary with the release of a fall anthology. Workshop participants will read at the First United Methodist Church in Portland (1838 SW Jefferson St). Write Around Portland creates community-building workshops for individuals living in poverty, dealing with illness, facing isolation or experiencing other barriers.

Spotlighted Literary Events

Nov. 29th, 4 pm: Dozens of sci-fi writers, including Star Trek's Dean Wesley Smith, gather to sign as part of Sci-Fi Authorfest III at Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing (3415 SW Cedar Hills Crossing). Costumes encouraged.

Dec. 2nd, 7-9 pm: First Wednesdays @ Blackbird Wine Shop in Portland with readers Michael Shay, Ric Vrana, Roger Truax and David Matthews. 21 & over.

Dec. 2nd, 5:30 pm: Christina Perozzi and Hallie Beaune's new book, The Naked Pint, introduced at a beer pairing tasting, hosted at 23Hoyt in Portland. Call 503.445.7400 for required reservations. $20 a person.

Dec. 5th, 1 pm: Mini Sledgehammer Contest at the Cloud and Leaf Bookshop in Manzanita, OR. A reading from Sledgehammer winner Alan Dubinsky, and a 36 minute writing contest.

Dec. 6th, 1-5 pm: Writing Out the Holidays workshop, presented by Portland Women Writers. So many stories to tell of holidays past, present and future. Hosted by Jennifer Springsteen (4111 NE 109th Ave. Portland) $60, register by email: jennspring@pdxwomenwriters.com.