Zinesters Talking at MCL

When you think of the library, a few things may come to mind: librarians in cardigans and glasses that shush you if you're too loud, fines you don't want to pay, long lines for the computer....but what about zines?

That's right, zines! Did you know that Multnomah County Library is actually one of the greatest resources in Portland for zines and zine events? Zines, short for magazines, are self-published little gems of creativity that can range in topics from building a backyard chicken coop to autobiographical comics. Not only does MCL have a great zine collection available for checkout, but they also host a speaker series called Zinesters Talking where zinesters from both near and far talk about their work and zine culture. The series is currently in its fifth year, and there is only one session left, so be sure to check it out!

Tuesday, November 3, 6:30–7:45 p.m. Central Library, U.S. Bank Room

Historic Zinesters Talking:

Discuss the recent history of chapbooks, poetry and zines in Portland with Kevin Sampsell (co-author of Haiku Inferno; publisher, Future Tense Books; and small press champion, Powell's City of Books) and Leanne Grabel, poet (Lonesome and Very Quarrelsome Heroes, Short Poems by a Short Person), performer and teacher. Both events in the Historic Zinesters Talking series will be recorded and cataloged in the library's podcast collection.

Spotlighted Literary Events

Date: TONIGHT! Friday, June 5
The latest original noir anthology from New York-based publisher, Akashic books, "Portland Noir is sure to both charm and frighten readers familiar with this northwest hub and intrigue those who have never traveled to this proudly weird city." Celebrate the "dark, rainy" Portland underbelly with a book launch party featuring editor Kevin Sampsell and contributors Jonathan Selwood, Luciana Lopez, and Chris A. Bolton.
When: 7:30p
Where: Powell's, 1005 W. Burnside Portland OR
Cost: Free
Check out Akashic books for more details.

Date: Saturday, June 6
Vancouver bookstore, Cover to Cover, hosts a writers' mixer for Northwest inkslingers every first Saturday of the month. This month writing guru Jessica Page Morrell discusses "How to Write the Bad Guys in Fiction." Teaching from her newest book, Bullies, Bastards and Bitches, Morrell shares tips on how to "create antagonists with many dimensions who are worthy adversaries for your protagonists."
When: 5-6:30p
Where: Cover to Cover Books, 1817 Main St. Vancouver WA
Cost: Free
Contact: phone 360-514-0358 or visit the website www.covertocoverbooks.net/events.html. Check out Jessica Morrell's website: http://www.writing-life.com/

Date: Tuesday, June 9
The all-woman Portland Playback Theater Ensemble is performing at In Other Words Books and Resources. Through a unique form of improvisational theater incorporating audience participation into a dramatic interpretation, Playback Theater seeks to "[bring] women together through story...to [create] a ritual space where any story - however ordinary, extraordinary, hidden or difficult - might be told, and immediately made into theater." Whether to share or simply witness stories, all are welcome.
When: 7:30p
Where: 8 B NE Killingsworth St Portland OR
Cost: Free or sliding scale donation
Visit the store website for more details.

Date: Thursday - Saturday, June 11-13
Calling all writers, publishers and readers north of the 54th parallel! "A Free Celebration for All Ages with Those Who Write About The Great Land." The University of Alaska Fairbanks is hosting the Alaska Book Festival. Featuring panel discussions, workshops and author readings commencing with a lecture by Willie Hensley who will discuss his book, Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: A Memoir of Alaska and the Real People. Many events are held on the UAF campus and the guest artists also make appearances throughout the Fairbanks community.
When: See the schedule of events
Where: UAF
Cost: Free
For more information visit: www.uaf.edu/bookfestival/