Ann Frank Day 2025 at Central Library, LAPL – In-Person Event

Join us for a presentation of the Anne Frank LA Humanitarian Award to Holocaust Survivor, Dorien Grunbaum, and an award ceremony for the student winners of Anne Frank LA’s “Your Story Matters” essay contest. Following the ceremony, we will enjoy a screening of the film, Where is Anne Frank.

This event is made possible by Anne Frank LA, Anne Frank Fonds, Purple Whale Films, and the Los Angeles Public Library.

Where: Central Library, LAPL, Mark Taper Auditorium

Date: Monday the 12^th

Time: 4 pm – 7:30 pm

Address: 630 W. 5^th St., Los Angeles, CA 90071

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/anne-frank-2025

Book Club: James at Sun Valley Branch Library, LAPL – Online Event

Join us for a lively book discussion. We meet online via Google Meet.

May: James by Percival Everett

Where: Sun Valley Branch Library, LAPL

Date: Monday the 12^th

Time: 4:45 pm – 5:30 pm

Address: Online Event (see site)

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/sun-valley-branch-book-club-4

Evening Book Club: Hello Beautiful at Manhattan Beach Library, LACL – In-Person Event

Patrons can enjoy a facilitated discussion of fiction and nonfiction titles. A limited amount of titles are available for attendees at the library. For adults.

May Selection: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, so when he meets the spirited and ambitious Julia Padavano in his freshman year of college, it’s as if the world has lit up around him. But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’ unshakeable devotion to one another. An exquisite homage to Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, Little Women, Hello Beautiful is a profoundly moving portrait of what is possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it.

Where: Manhattan Beach Library, LACL

Date: Monday the 12^th

Time: 5 pm – 6 pm

Address: Online Event (see site)

Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/13297716

YA for Adults Book Club: Wrath and the Dawn #1 at Cellar Door Bookstore – In-Person Event

Cella Door welcomes participants to discuss Wrath and the Dawn #1 by Renée Ahdieh.

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So, it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi’s wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch…she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.

Renée Ahdieh is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her spare time, she likes to dance salsa and collect shoes. She is passionate about all kinds of curry, rescue dogs, and college basketball. The first few years of her life were spent in a high-rise in South Korea; consequently, Renée enjoys having her head in the clouds. Wrath of the Dawn is her debut.

Where: Cellar Door Bookstore

Date: Monday the 12^th

Time: 6 pm

Address: 473 E. Alessandro Blvd., Suite B, Riverside, CA 92508

Website: https://www.cellardoorbookstore.com/event/ya-adults-book-club-wrath-and-dawn

To the Bloom Presents: Yesika Salgado Workshop: Love Language via Zoom – Online Event

Join Yesika Salgado for a one-time writing workshop titled Love Language, focusing on generating poetry with the writer as the main subject.

All levels. $60 fee

Where: To the Bloom Online Event via Zoom

Date: Monday the 12^th

Time: 6 pm – 8 pm

Address: Online Event

Website: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1243391613810335&set=a.435041841311987

Robertson Readers Book Club: Moloka’i at Robertson Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event

Join us for a book club at Robertson Branch. We will discuss the book and share other interesting books we have been reading. New members are welcome!

Print copies of each book will be available for checkout in the branch beginning three weeks prior to the book club meeting date, while supplies last.

Upcoming meeting:

May 12: Moloka’i by Alan Brennert

Where: Robertson Branch Library, LAPL

Date: Monday the 12^th

Time: 6:30 pm

Address: 1719 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90035

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/robertson-readers-book-club-6

Rupo Open Mic at Back to the Grind in Riverside – In-Person Event

RUPO Open Mic is every Monday Night at Back to the Grind in Riverside.

Every Monday at 7 pm to 9 pm. Sign-ups are at 6:30 pm and in person only, $4 cash admission. See you then!

NOTE: See site for link and details.

Where: Back to the Grind, Riverside

Date: Monday the 12^th

Time: 7 pm – 9 pm

Address: 3575 University Ave. Riverside, CA 92501

Website: https://www.facebook.com/backtothegrind

Andrew Porter, with Jonathan Blum and Holiday Reinhorn, & The Imagined Life at Book Soup – In-Person Event

Andrew Porter, in conversation with Jonathan Blum and Holiday Reinhorn, will discuss and sign The Imagined Life.

From the award-winning, internationally acclaimed writer, a taut, elegiac novel about a man trying to uncover the truth about the father who left him behind.

Steven Mills has reached a crossroads. His wife and son have left, and they may not return. Which leaves him determined to find out what happened to his own father, a brilliant, charismatic professor who disappeared in 1984 when Steve was twelve, on a wave of ignominy.

As Steve drives up the coast of California, seeking out his father’s friends, family members, and former colleagues, the novel offers us tantalizing glimpses into Steve’s childhood—his parents’ legendary pool parties, the black-and-white films on the backyard projector, secrets shared with his closest friend. Each conversation in the present reveals another layer of his father’s past, another insight into his disappearance. Yet with every revelation, his father becomes more difficult to recognize. And, with every insight, Steve must confront truths about his own life.

Andrew Porter is the author of the story collections The Disappeared and The Theory of Light and Matter and the novel In Between Days. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, he has received a Pushcart Prize, a James Michener/Copernicus Fellowship, and the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction. His work has appeared in One Story, Ploughshares, American Short Fiction, Narrative, The Southern Review, and on public radio’s Selected Shorts. Currently, he teaches fiction writing and directs the creative writing program at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX.

Where: Book Soup

Date: Monday the 12^th

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Address: 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069

Website: https://www.booksoup.com/event/andrew-porter

At Skylight: Christina Li & The Manner of Dreams at Skylight – In-Person Event

Christina Li will discuss and sign The Manner of Dreams.

Christina Li’s haunting novel The Manner of Dreams, is about the secrets that lie in wait in the crumbling mansion of a former Hollywood starlet, and the intertwined fates of the two Chinese American families fighting to inherit it.

Vivian Yin is dead. The first Chinese actress to win an Oscar, the trailblazing ingénue rose to fame in the eighties, only to disappear from the spotlight at the height of her career to live out the rest of her life as a recluse.

Now her remaining family members are gathered for the reading of her will, and her daughters expect to inherit their childhood home: Vivian’s grand, sprawling, Southern California garden estate. But due to a last-minute change to the will, the house is passed on to another family instead—one that has suddenly returned after decades of estrangement.

Told in dual timelines, spanning three generations, and brimming with romance, betrayal, ambition, and sacrifice, The Manor of Dreams is a thrilling family gothic that examines the true cost of the American Dream—and what happens when the roots we set down in this country turn to rot.

Christina Li is the award-winning author of children’s and young adult books Clues to the Universe, Ruby Lost and Found, and True Love and Other Impossible Odds, which have been selected as a Washington Post summer book club pick, one of the NPR and New York Public Library Best Books of the Year, and recognized for the Asian Pacific American Librarians’ Award for Best Children’s Literature. She graduated from Stanford University with degrees in Economics and Public Policy. She grew up in the Midwest and California but now resides in New York. The Manor of Dreams is her adult literary debut.

Where: Skylight

Date: Monday the 12^th

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Address: 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027

Website: https://www.skylightbooks.com/event/skylight-christina-li-presents-manor-dreams

Chris Santiago and Cathy Linh Present Their Books: Small Wars Manual: Poems and Becoming Ghost: Poetry, respectively, at Vroman’s – In-Person Event

Chris Santiago will read and discuss Small Wars Manual, a far-reaching collection of erasures and original poems examining the long shadow of American militarism and imperialism.

Stemming in part from a disturbingly mundane military document of the same name, Small Wars Manual is a how-to for imperialism that critically dismantles itself with each passing line, “a pidgin // containing elements // of animus and // insubordination.” In its wake, the very boundaries of oppression and resistance, art and justice, and power and truth exploded.

Cathy Linh will read and discuss Becoming Ghost, the long-awaited sophomore poetry collection on familial estrangement, the Vietnam War, and Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now.

The follow-up to her acclaimed poetry debut Split, Becoming Ghost documents Cathy Linh Che’s parents’ experiences as refugees who escaped the Vietnam War and then were cast as extras in Francis Ford Coppola’s film Apocalypse Now, placing them at the margins of their own story. The poetry collection uses persona, speculation, and the golden shovel form as a means of moving Vietnamese voices from the periphery to the center. The speaker’s disownment raises questions about the challenges of using parents as poetic subjects, telling familial stories to a broader public, and the meaning of forgiveness.

Where: Vroman’s

Date: Monday the 12^th

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Address: 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101

Website: https://vromansbookstore.com/event/2025-05-12/chris-santiago-reads-small-wars-manual-poems-and-cathy-linh-che-reads-becoming

Monday Night Fiction Workshop via Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center – Online Zoom Event

This free Monday Night Community Writing Workshop led by Raquel Baker is a workshop in which participants are asked to bring copies of 2-3 pages of fiction to read, and to use for critique and discussion. Registration is required.

Raquel Baker earned a PhD in English Literary Studies from the University of Iowa and an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Postcolonial and Transnational Literatures at California State University Channel Islands, teaching courses on creative writing and contemporary African literatures. Raquel has published poetry in Africology and The Arrow; fiction in Enculturation, The Daily Palette, The Womanist, and Crux; and non-fiction in Little Village; and has done readings with the Ventura County Poetry project. Raquel is passionate about discussing everything related to the craft and social significance of literature!

Where: Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center – Online event

Date: Monday the 12^th

Time: 7:30 pm – 10 pm

Address: Zoom Online Event (see site)

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/monday-night-fiction-workshop-tickets-1354928289989

Lit Angels: Heal Through Writing with Francesca Lia Block at Village Well Books & Coffee – In-Person Event

Let Francesca help you with all aspects of your writing!

Do you want to write professionally or for personal satisfaction and healing but aren’t sure where to start and need some inspiring tips and support? Do you have a project that needs revision? Are you feeling stuck creatively? Join acclaimed author and writing instructor Francesca Lia Block for a discussion of her 12 Questions followed by free writing and Q&A. Come be a part of the supportive Lit Angels writing community and consider writing a story to share at our Valentine’s event on 2/7 for possible submission in Lit Angels Journal.

Francesca Lia Block is the author of more than thirty books of fiction, non-fiction, short stories and poetry, and has written screenplay adaptations of her work. She received the Spectrum Award, the Phoenix Award, the ALA Rainbow Award and the 2005 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as other citations from the American Library Association, and from the NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW, and PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY. Currently she teaches creative writing at UCLA Extension, Antioch University, Pocket MFA, and numerous workshops across the country. Francesca also edits LIT ANGELS, a literary journal available on Substack. Her latest novel is HOUSE OF HEARTS now out in paper ack. https://www.francescaliablock.com/

Note: Please RSVP at site.

Where: Village Well Books & Coffee

Date: Tuesday the 13^th

Time: 10 am – 11 am

Address: 9900 Culver Blvd. #1B, Culver City, CA 90232

Website: https://shop.villagewell.com/events/1885820250506

Nonfiction Book Club: The Boys of Riverside at Agoura Hills Library, LACL – In-Person Event

Join the Nonfiction Book Club to discuss The Boys of Riverside by Thomas Fuller. For adults.

This is the story of a deaf football team and a quest for glory.

Where: Agoura Hills Library, LACL

Date: Tuesday the 13^th

Time: 2 pm -3 pm

Address: 29901 Ladyface Ct., Agoura Hills, CA 91301

Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/13301429

Author Oliver Chin: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac at Hacienda Heights Library, LACL – In-Person Kids & Family Event

Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with author Oliver Chin, creator of the popular series Tales from the Chinese Zodiac. He will read his story The Year of the Snake and demonstrate how to draw a snake. For ages 5 – 12 with parent or caregiver.

Coloring sheets with characters from the book The Year of the Snake will be available to take home.

Attendance is limited, and advance registration is required. Please register every individual in your party, including kids. This will be used to save your spots in the program. We cannot guarantee availability for any unregistered attendees.

Where: Hacienda Heights Library, LACL

Date: Tuesday the 13^th

Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Address: 16010 La Monde St., Hacienda Heights, CA 91745

Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/13551288

Silver Lake Book Club: A Fever in the Heartland at Silver Lake Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event

Join us to discuss wonderful books, from new bestsellers to old favorites. The meetings are held in person, unless circumstances warrant a hybrid meeting with Zoom added.

May selection: A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan

Where: Silver Lake Branch Library, LAPL

Date: Tuesday the 13^th

Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Address: 2411 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/silver-lake-book-club-0

World Cultures Reading Circle: Mina’s Matchbox at Westchester – Loyola Village Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event

Join us as we discuss Mina’s Matchbox: A Novel by Yōko Ogawa.

New members welcome!

Where: Westchester – Loyola Village Branch Library LAPL

Date: Tuesday the 13^th

Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Address: 7114 Manchester Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90045

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/world-cultures-reading-circle-14

Graphic Novel & Comic Book Club for Adultsat Palms – Rancho Park Branch Library, LAPL – Online Event

Join us each month for a comic book & graphic novel book discussion. A great starting point for new or devoted fans of the genre. Copies available at the reference/information desk and as ebooks (hoopla and/or Overdrive).

This month’s book is Asterix Volume 1: Collects Asterix the Gaul, Asterix & the Golden Sickle, and Asterix & The Goths.

RSVP:

This program meets via Google Meet. Please email prncho@lapl.org to be added to the mailing list.

Where: Palms – Rancho Park Branch Library LAPL

Date: Tuesday the 13^th

Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Address: Online Event (see site)

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/graphic-novel-comic-book-club-adults

Open Mic Readings Every Tuesday at the Aftermath Bar, Sherman Oaks – In-Person Event

CALLING ALL WRITERS! Every Tuesday we’ll be having Open Mic Readings open to the public! Read your poems, fiction, and spoken word at our open mic reading EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT from 7 pm – 10 pm!

Read your poetry, fiction, spoken word, or lyrics.

Free event. 21+

Note: Please RSVP at site.

Where: The Aftermath Bar

Date: Tuesday the 13^th

Time: 7 pm – 10 pm

John Mason, in conversation with Elliot Mintz, will discuss and sign Smile: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson.

The story of Brian Wilson’s legendary SMiLE album from Beach Boys authority David Leaf. The story of SMiLE is a story without precedent, appropriate for music that was and remains groundbreaking.

This is the first book to tell the full story of Brian Wilson and SMiLE, including the details of the original SMiLE recording sessions and their increasingly legendary status as well as the final release of the album, the accompanying concerts and film, and its afterlife. With over two dozen new interviews as well as generous excerpts from his extended 2004 interviews with Brian Wilson and SMiLE collaborator Van Dyke Parks, the book tells the story of SMiLE by those who were there in 1966 and from the participants in its 2004 resurrection, including all the members of Brian Wilson’s band. It also features fan memories of what it was like to see Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE and what it meant to them.

Where: Book Soup

Date: Tuesday the 13^th

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Jamie Loftus will celebrate the paperback release of her debut book of investigative nonfiction, Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs.

Jamie Loftus is a comedian, Emmy-nominated TV writer, and podcaster. She’s worked as a staff writer on Teenage Euthanasia, Robot Chicken, and Star Trek: Lower Decks, and wrote and starred in her own web series for Comedy Central. She writes and hosts popular limited-run podcasts—”My Year In Mensa” (2019), “Lolita Podcast” (2020), “Aack Cast” (2021), and “Ghost Church” (2022)—and cohosts, with screenwriter Caitlin Durante, a podcast on the How Stuff Works Network called “the Bechdel Cast.” She has her baby teeth bronzed and loaded into a slingshot.

Where: North Figueroa Bookshop

Date: Tuesday the 13^th

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Address: 6040 North Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90042

Website: https://northfigbookshop.com/event/#calendar-8a0f87f6-17d6-4f10-9815-04df4c8251ba-event-m9aca3rr

Mystery Book Club: Saltwater: A Novel at pages: a bookstore – Online Event

We read new release mysteries. Book selection is done by email voting prior to each meeting so that the following month’s book will be available at the preceding month’s meeting.

Participants will read Saltwater: A Novel by Katy Hayes.

On glittering Capri, anything can be a mirage. And no one holds a grudge like family.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters comes an electrifying thriller about an opulent family retreat to Italy that’s shattered by the resurfacing of a decades-old crime.

Facilitated by Bobby Mccue.

NOTE: See site for link and further details.

Where: pages: a bookstore

Date: Tuesday the 13^th

Time: 7 pm

Address: 904 Manhattan Ave. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Website: https://pagesabookstore.com/event/2025-05-13/mystery-book-club

Sara Aziza, Safia Elhillo, Yahya Ashour & WAWOG at Stories Books & Café – In-Person Event

See site for Details.

Where: Stories Books & Café

Date: Tuesday the 13^th

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Address: 1716 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026

Website: https://storiesla.com/events

The Virtual Cobalt Series & Open Mic: Rick Lupert & Guest Gil Arzola – Online Zoom Event

Cobalt Poets Reading & Open Mic and host Rick Lupert welcomes guest Gil Arzola to read and discuss his work.

Gilbert Arzola is a Mexican American award-winning poet and the author of The Plate Don’t Move. This page is to promote and share his publications with all who wish to enjoy them.

Where: Cobalt Poets – Online Zoom Event

Date: Tuesday, the 13^th

Time: 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

The nation’s largest weekly spoken word Open Mic event is 26 years strong. DPL is a community space for every poet to be heard. They provide a platform to celebrate poetry while using it as the foundation for creativity, innovation, and expression across an array of media outlets.

$10 donation. Do NOT line up prior to 7:30 pm Free parking adjacent to the theater.

Masks are encouraged.

Where: Greenway Court Theatre

Date: Tuesday, the 13^th

Come write with us!

Many people believe that a morning writing practice is key to finding your voice, your story and, in this case, your community! At the Village Well!

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at 8:30 am come join acclaimed author and writing instructor Francesca Lia Block for a brief intro and 40 minutes of free writing on any topic without judgement. Afterwards, you will be able to share a bit about your process and ask Francesca questions about your writing.

Francesca Lia Block is the author of more than thirty books of fiction, non-fiction, short stories and poetry, and has written screenplay adaptations of her work. She received the Spectrum Award, the Phoenix Award, the ALA Rainbow Award and the 2005 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as other citations from the American Library Association, and from the NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW, and PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY. Currently she teaches creative writing at UCLA Extension, Antioch University, Pocket MFA, and numerous workshops across the country. Francesca also edits LIT ANGELS, a literary journal available on Substack. Her latest novel is HOUSE OF HEARTS now out in paper ack. https://www.francescaliablock.com/

Note: Please RSVP at site.

Where: Village Well Books & Coffee

Date: Wednesday the 14^th

Time: 8:30 am – 9:30 am

Join us for engaging discussions at our monthly Mystery Book Club meeting! Here’s our upcoming schedule:

May: Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

NOTE: See site for details.

Where: West Valley Regional Branch Library, LAPL

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 10:30 am

Address: 19036 Vanowen St., Reseda, CA 91335 

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/mystery-book-club-2

Wednesday Book Club: The Women at Westchester – Loyola Village Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event

Join us to discuss The Women by Kristin Hannah.

New members welcome!

Where: Westchester – Loyola Village Branch Library, LAPL

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 10:30 am

Address: 7114 W. Manchester Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90045

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/wednesday-book-club-20

Say the Word Poetry & Open Mic Features David A. Romero at LASC Little Theater – In-Person & Online Hybrid Event

Join us for Say the Word Poetry & Open Mic featuring LASC Students and featured poet David A. Romero, author of My Name is Romero and Diamond Bars II.

Attend in person and online at: 832 7175 6250

Where: LA Southwest College Department of English, Little Theater

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 11 am – 1 pm

Bel Canto Books & Intertrend are delighted to host authors Sarah Ahn, Nam Soon Ahn, and C.B. Lee with Clash of Steel, for a book signing at Intertrend.

Nam Soon Ahn immigrated to America in the 1990s and after finding her footing through various challenges and successes, she purchased a restaurant specializing in Asian noodle dishes in 2008 and successfully operated it for nearly a decade. Her philosophy on cooking and eating foods is to make them as delicious as possible, asserting that there are no inherently “bad” ingredients or foods—they are all meant to be enjoyed. She and her daughter, Sarah Ahn, co-authored a cookbook titled, Umma: A Korean Mom’s Kitchen Wisdom and 100 Family Recipes.

Sarah Ahn is ATK’s social media manager and the creator of the Ahnest Kitchen website. She records her experiences on Instagram and TikTok of living with her Korean immigrant parents, chronicling her mother’s cooking, grocery shopping trips, and more. Many of Sarah’s posts have gone viral with 10+ million views and they have sold grocery stores out of product. She has been featured on NBC News, ABC News, Yahoo News, and Good Morning America. Nam Soon Ahn learned to cook from her mother in Korea before immigrating to America in the 1990s. She owned and operated an Asian noodle restaurant for nearly a decade.

C.B. Lee is an author of young adult and middle grade fiction including the NYT Bestseller Minecraft: The Shipwreck. Their works also include the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selected A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix, the Lambda Literary Award nominated Sidekick Squad series, Ben 10 graphic novels, Out Now: Queer We Go Again, and From A Certain Point Of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Lee’s work has been featured in NPR, Teen Vogue, Wired Magazine, Hypable, Tor’s Best of Fantasy and Sci Fi and the American Library Association’s Rainbow List.

Intertrend is a multicultural agency that understands the intersection of culture, emerging trends, and the interaction between brands and consumers.

RSVP at site link.

Where: Bel Canto at Intertrend, Long Beach

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 12 pm

Address: 228 East Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/intertrend-api-author-talk-book-signing-tickets-1334144073839?aff=oddtdtcreator

Artesia Book Club: James at Artesia Library, LACL – In-Person Event

Join us for a book discussion. The book for May is James by Percival Everett. Foe adults.

Books are available for checkout at the library. Some titles are available as free downloadable eBooks or digital audiobooks from LA County Library at lacountylibrary.org.

All interested people are welcome and invited to attend.

NOTE: See site for details.

Where: Artesia Library, LACL

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 1 pm – 2 pm

Address: 18801 Elaine Ave., Artesia, CA 90701

Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/13531578

Poets Café via KPFK 90.7 FM – Live On-Air Event

Poets Café celebrates Poetry. This program is a weekly half-hour literary arts discussion and reading program featuring guest authors and their works.

Poetry From Around the World is a segment of this series offered monthly on the 2^nd Monday of the month on KPFK Los Angeles 90.7 FM.

NOTE: See site for details.

Where: KPFK 90.7 FM

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 2 pm – 2:30 pm

Address: On-air Event (live)

Website: https://www.kpfk.org/on-air/poets-cafe/

Oliver Chin Author Visit: The Year of the Snake at Hermosa Branch Library, LACL – In-Person Kids Event

Join us as we celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Author Oliver Chin as he shares his book The Year of the Snake from the popular series Tales from the Chinese Zodiac. For ages 5 – 12.

NOTE: See site for details.

Where: Hermosa Beach Library, LAPL

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 3 pm – 4 pm

Address: 21052 Devonshire St., Chatsworth, CA 91311

Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/13326870

2^nd & 3^rd Grade Book Club at pages: a bookstore – In-Person Kids Event

2ND & 3RD GRADE BOOK CLUB: Meets monthly, generally on the first Wednesday of each month at 4:30 pm. We read new releases of early grade fiction. Book selection is done by voting at each meeting.

Participants will discuss The Green Kingdom by author Cornelia Funke.

Enter the story of Caspia, who sets out to solve a series of riddles, and as she does, she meets friends she never could have imagined.

Anywhere can feel like home if you are brave enough to put down new roots…

Caspia’s summer is transformed when she discovers a bundle of letters containing ten botanical riddles in this enchanting adventure.

NOTE: See site for details.

Where: pages: a bookstore

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Address: 904 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Website: https://pagesabookstore.com/event/2025-05-14/2nd-3rd-grade-book-club

Book Club: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store via Malibu Library, LACL – Online Event

Join us to discuss a beautiful and life affirming novel about love, community and a murder mystery, James McBride’s The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store was the winner of the 2024 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. For Adults.

The Malibu Library Bookclub is now available on Zoom. Participate from the comfort of home! Contact the librarian at cfischer@library.lacounty.gov or call 310.456.6438 to be added to Zoom participation.

NOTE: See site for details.

Where: Malibu Library, LACL

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 5 pm – 6:30 pm

Address: Online Event (see site)

Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/13329629

Reading in Bed with Jessica: L.A. Poet Society via 101.5 FM – Live On-Air Event

Reading in Bed with Jessica hosts poets and writers in conversation and is aired weekly on 101.5 FM.

Jessica Wilson Cardenas is the founder of the Los Angeles Poet Society.

Guests: TBA

This program is offered weekly on radio in Los Angeles 101.5 FM.

NOTE: See site for details.

Where: 101.5 FM

Date: Wednesday the 14^th

Time: 6 pm – 8 pm

Address: On-air Event (live at 101.5 FM)

Website: https://www.lapoetsociety.org/events

Book Club: The Indigo Girl via Pacoima Branch Library, LACL – Online Event

Join us to discuss The Indigo Girl by author Natasha Boyd.

NOTE: See site for details.

Where: Pacoima Branch Library, LAPL

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 6:30 pm

Address: Online Event (see site)

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/pacoima-book-club

Sarah Manguso, with Lisa Locascio Nighthawk, & Questions Without Answers at Diesel, A Bookstore – In-Person Event

Sarah Manguso, in conversation with Lisa Locascio Nighthawk, will discuss Questions Without Answers.

​​​​​​​ When Sarah Manguso opened a Twitter account and posted this single (and only) tweet, she immediately received hundreds of answers. Many, she discovered, were intelligent, intuitive, inventive, and philosophical. For Manguso, these responses seemed to form a “choral philosophy” that she believes disappears from most people’s lives in kindergarten. As she says in her illuminating foreword, “These questions are cute by the word’s original definition, swift and piercing. They cut to the quick.”

Gathering more than one hundred of the best questions from this poll and bringing them brilliantly to life with illustrations by New Yorker cartoonist Liana Finck, Questions Without Answers ranges from the ridiculous to the sublime—encompassing birth, death, poop, dinosaurs, and everything in between—to show us the wit and wisdom of little people in all their wondrous glory.

Sarah Manguso is the author of nine books, most recently the novels Liars and Very Cold People. Her other books include a story collection, two poetry collections, and several acclaimed works of nonfiction. Her work has been recognized by an American Academy of Arts and Letters Literature Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Hodder Fellowship, and the Rome Prize. She lives in Los Angeles. http://www.sarahmanguso.com

Lisa Locascio Nighthawk is the chair of the Antioch MFA in Creative Writing and the executive director of the Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference. Her novel Open Me was published by Grove Atlantic in 2018. She writes a newsletter called Not Knowing How. https://lisalocascio.com/

Where: Diesel, A Bookstore

Date: Wednesday the 14^th

Time: 6:30 pm

Address: 225 26^th St., #33, Santa Monica, CA 90402

Website: https://dieselbookstore.com/event/2025-05-14/sarah-manguso-lisa-locascio-nighthawk

Memoir Launch: Abby Reyes & Truth Demands at Village Well Books & Coffee – In-Person Event

Join us at Village Well Books & Coffee for a book launch celebrating the release of Truth Demands by Abby Reyes.

Abby will trace the personal and political aftermath of the 1999 murders of three land rights advocates—her partner Angeleno Terence Freitas among them–near Indigenous U’wa territory in Colombia, where oil pipelines are a magnet for armed violence. She will share the sweeping saga as it moved from the cloudforests of Colombia to the streets of Los Angeles to the highest human rights tribunals in the Americas.

More than the politics, Abby will share her parallel journey as she navigated the waters of grief and loss. She will invite us into conversation about what it takes to keep showing up for justice and for our collective future even when the waters remain turbulent.

Joining Abby is journalist Emily Beyda, a family friend of Terence Freitas.

This evening is the sole Los Angeles book launch event for Truth Demands. We are honored to host Abby and invite you to join us in welcoming the Los Angeles friends and family of Terence Freitas together with others who have stood alongside Pueblo U’wa from the early days of street protest here in LA all the way to their most recent victory at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Reserve your tickets on EVENTBRITE!

Where: Village Well Books & Coffee

Date: Wednesday the 14^th

Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Join us for a book discussion and light refreshments! This month, read The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai. Copies of the books are available at the library. For ages 18+.

Refreshments generously provided by the Friends of the Hawthorne and Wiseburn Libraries.

Down a quiet backstreet in Kyoto exists a very special restaurant. Run by Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare, the Kamogawa Diner serves up deliciously extravagant meals. But that’s not the main reason customers stop by.

The father-daughter duo are ‘food detectives’. Through ingenious investigations, they are able to recreate dishes from a person’s treasured memories – dishes that may well hold the keys to their forgotten past and future happiness. The restaurant of lost recipes provides a link to vanished moments, creating a present full of possibility.

NOTE: See site for details.

Where: Wiseburn Library, LAPL

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 6:45 pm – 7:45 pm

Miranda July, in conversation with Isabelle Aluquerque, will discuss and sign All Fours.

The New York Times bestselling author returns with an irreverently sexy, tender, hilarious and surprising novel about a woman upending her life.

A semi-famous artist announces her plan to drive cross-country, from LA to NY. Thirty minutes after leaving her husband and child at home, she spontaneously exits the freeway, checks into a nondescript motel, and immerses herself in an entirely different journey.

Miranda July’s second novel confirms the brilliance of her unique approach to fiction. With July’s wry voice, perfect comic timing, unabashed curiosity about human intimacy, and palpable delight in pushing boundaries, All Fours tells the story of one woman’s quest for a new kind of freedom. Part absurd entertainment, part tender reinvention of the sexual, romantic, and domestic life of a forty-five-year-old female artist. Once again, July hijacks the familiar and turns it into something new and thrillingly, profoundly alive.

NOTE: RSVP VIA EVENTBRITE

Where: Book Soup at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles

Date: Wednesday the 14^th

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Address: 540 S. Commonwealth Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90020

Website: https://www.booksoup.com/event/miranda-july

Ashley Herring Blake, with Amy Spaulding, & Dream On, Ramona Riley at The Ripped Bodice – In-Person Event

Ashley Herring Blake, in conversation with Amy Spaulding, will discuss her new romance novel Dream On, Ramona Riley.

There will be a book signing to follow the discussion.

NOTE: RSVP for this ticketed event.

Where: The Ripped Bodice

Date: Wednesday the 14^th

Time: 7 pm – 9 pm

Address: 3806 Main St., Culver City, CA 90232

Website: https://www.therippedbodice.com/events-and-tickets

RECESS Open Mic is at SIPA HQ, Palms Up Academy – In-Person Event

RECESS Open Mic is at SIPA HQ on Wednesdays.

This dynamic open mic is the most accessible public program in the Palms Up Academy curriculum and manifests their mission statement in a physical (and digital) space.

Join them at the intersection of Historic Filipino town & The World: Search to Involve Pilipino Americans.

NOTE: See site for RSVP, cost, guidelines, and details.

Where: SIPA HQ

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 7 pm – 9:30 pm (Doors at 6:30 pm; Open Mic at 8 pm)

Address: 3200 W. Temple St., Ste. 100, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Website: https://www.palmsupacademy.com

Mariah Blake, with Rosanna Xia, & They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals at Vroman’s – In-Person Event

Mariah Blake, in conversation with Rosanna Xia, will discuss They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals.

A landmark investigation of the chemical industry’s decades-long campaign to hide the dangers of forever chemicals, told through the story of a small town on the frontlines of an epic public health crisis.

In 2014, after losing several friends and relatives to cancer, an unassuming insurance underwriter in Hoosick Falls, New York, began to suspect that the local water supply was polluted. When he tested his tap water, he discovered dangerous levels of forever chemicals. This set off a chain of events that led to 100 million Americans learning their drinking water was tainted. Although the discovery came as a shock to most, the U.S. government and the manufacturers of these toxic chemicals—used in everything from lipstick and cookware to children’s clothing—had known about their hazards for decades.

In They Poisoned the World, investigative journalist Mariah Blake tells the astonishing story of this cover-up, tracing its roots back to the Manhattan Project and through the postwar years, as industry scientists discovered that these chemicals refused to break down and were saturating the blood of virtually every human being. By the 1980s, manufacturers were secretly testing their workers and finding links to birth defects, cancer, and other serious diseases. At every step, the industry’s deceptions were aided by our government’s appallingly lax regulatory system—a system that has made us all guinea pigs in a vast, uncontrolled chemistry experiment.

Drawing on years of on-the-ground reporting and tens of thousands of documents, Blake interweaves the secret history of forever chemicals with the moving story of how a lone village took on the chemical giants—and won. From the beloved local doctor to the young mother who took her fight all the way to the nation’s capital, citizen activists in Hoosick Falls and beyond have ignited the most powerful grassroots environmental movement since Silent Spring.

Humane and revelatory, this book will provoke outrage—and hopefully inspire the change we need to protect the health of every American for generations to come.

Mariah Blake is an investigative journalist whose writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Mother Jones, The New Republic, and other publications. She was a Murrey Marder Nieman Fellow in Watchdog Journalism at Harvard University.

Where: Vroman’s

Date: Wednesday the 14^th

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Address: 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101

Website: https://vromansbookstore.com/event/2025-05-14/mariah-blake

Anansi Virtual Writers Workshop at The World Stage – In-Person Event

The Anansi Writers Workshop was founded in 1990 by Kamau Daáood, Akilah Oliver, Nafis Nabawi and Anthony Lyons. In 1993, Michael Datcher initiated the development of a three-part format for the workshop. Our tradition of a community workshop began in the late 1960s at the Watts Writers’ Workshop, where World Stage co-founder Kamau Daáood started his writing career. For general information and booking, contact V. Kali, the Anansi Writers Workshop Coordinator, at vkaliflowers@gmail.com.

• 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm — Formal workshop;
• 8:30 pm – 9:00 pm — Sonja Marie;
• 9:05 pm – 10:00 pm — Open mic.

Over the last 25 years, millions have appreciated Sonja Marie’s poetic prowess as one of three writers featured on the multiplatinum soundtrack, “Waiting to Exhale” with her song, “And I Gave My Love to You” and as a collaborator with musical icons such as Whitney Houston and Teena Marie.

Although music and poetry have afforded Sonja many opportunities to write—two solo poetry/music CD’s; included in five poetry anthologies, and her own poetry eBook, “Thoughts and Wishes After the Storm”—she is equally proud of her work as CEO of Wordlife Astrology.

Suggested: $10.00 Donation via PayPal: The World Stage Gallery.

NOTE: See site for further details and any change in the schedule. Contact kaliflowers@gmail.com or call (323) 293-2451. 

Where: The World Stage

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 7:30 pm – 10 pm

Address: 4321 Degnan Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008

Website: https://www.instagram.com/p/DH_iBedvp6E/

Wednesday Night Poetry Workshop with Tom Laichas via Beyond Baroque – Online Event

The West Coast’s longest-running free poetry workshop is offered by Beyond Baroque on Zoom and welcomes new and seasoned poets to share their work and provide feedback. Please be prepared to share one poem. This workshop will be hosted via the Zoom video-conferencing platform. Please be prepared to share one poem.

Please spend some time before the workshop learning how to share documents via Zoom. It will keep the session moving if you’re able to make your poem viewable quickly and easily. An instructive video is available at the site.

The workshop can sometimes reach high levels of attendance, which means not everyone will get a chance to read every session.

Tom Laichas is author of four books of poetry, including Three Hundred Streets of Venice California (FutureCycle Press, 2023) and the forthcoming Landscapes From An American Afterlife (The Los Angeles Press, 2025). His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Plume, BarBar, The Los Angeles Times, the Irish Times, The High Window Review (UK), and elsewhere. He is the winner of poetry prizes from Jabberwock Review, Puerto del Sol, and Prime 53, and has been shortlisted in competitions sponsored by The Moth (Ireland), Aesthetica, Arts & Letters, New Letters and Gunpowder Press. He lives with his family in Venice, California.

NOTE: See site for further details, tickets, and information. 

Where: Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 8 pm – 10 pm

Address: Online event (see site)

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wednesday-night-poetry-workshop-tickets-1358458087709

Poetry Nights with East Los Soul at East Los Angeles Rising Youth Club – In-Person Event

East Los Soul presents Poetry Nights every Wednesday from 8 pm – 9:45 pm at East L.A. Rising Youth Club. Poetry starts at 8:15 pm.

Featuring theme: Moms Rule the World

Hosted by John White, with vibes by DJ Hennytee.

Where: East Los Angeles Rising Youth Club

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 8 pm – 9:45 pm (Doors at 7:30)

Host Ben Trigg and Two Idiots Peddling Poetry welcome featured guests. Raquel Reyes-Lopez and Derrick Brown.

Raquel Reyes-Lopez is a first-generation chicane poet. Her poetry advocates mental health awareness, speaks of infertility struggles, highlights tones of death, and loss. Her debut poetry chapbook Born to Electrify was published by Sadie Girl Press. Her work appears in Rattle #52, Wild Roof Journal #20, and other publications.

$4 cover fee, cash only

NOTE: See site for further details.

Where: The Ugly Mug, Orange

Date: Wednesday, the 14^th

Time: 8 pm – 10 pm

Address: 261 N. Glassell St., Orange, CA

Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/1349719316161497

Lit Angels: Heal Through Writing with Francesca Lia Block at Village Well Books & Coffee – In-Person Event

Let Francesca help you with all aspects of your writing!

Do you want to write professionally or for personal satisfaction and healing but aren’t sure where to start and need some inspiring tips and support? Do you have a project that needs revision? Are you feeling stuck creatively? Join acclaimed author and writing instructor Francesca Lia Block for a discussion of her 12 Questions followed by free writing and Q&A. Come be a part of the supportive Lit Angels writing community.

Francesca Lia Block is the author of more than thirty books of fiction, non-fiction, short stories and poetry, and has written screenplay adaptations of her work. She received the Spectrum Award, the Phoenix Award, the ALA Rainbow Award and the 2005 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as other citations from the American Library Association, and from the NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW, and PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY. Currently she teaches creative writing at UCLA Extension, Antioch University, Pocket MFA, and numerous workshops across the country. Francesca also edits LIT ANGELS, a literary journal available on Substack. Her latest novel is House of Hearts now out in paperback. https://www.francescaliablock.com/

Come make some magic at the Village Well! All genres and levels are welcome!

Reserve your tickets on EVENTBRITE!

Where: Village Well Books & Coffee

Date: Thursday the 15^th

Time: 10 am – 11 am

Address: 9900 Culver Blvd. #1B, Culver City, CA 90232

Website: https://shop.villagewell.com/events/1880320250515

Mystery Book Discussion: In a House of Lies at Palms – Rancho Park Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person Event

Join us for engaging conversation about whodunnits, thrillers, and cri-fi. Light refreshments will be provided by Friends of the Palms Rancho Park Library. We meet on the 3rd Thursday of the month with the exception of June this year. Copies are available at reference and as ebooks.

Participants will discuss In a House of Lies by Ian Rankin.

Where: Palms – Rancho Park Branch Library, LAPL

Date: Thursday the 15^th

Time: 1:30 pm

Address: 2920 Overland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90064

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/mystery-book-discussion-1

Immersed in a Sea of Light: Yiddish Essays, Short Stories, and Poems Set in Los Angelesat Central Library, LAPL – In-Person Event

Join us to hear Rabbi Zachary Golden and Rabbi Henry Hollander present selections from Yiddish essays, short stories and poems set in Los Angeles for Jewish American Heritage Month. Rabbi Hollander will introduce and Rabbi Golden will perform texts in the original Yiddish and English translation.

Where: Central Library, LAPL, Meeting Room A

Date: Thursday the 15^th

Time: 4 pm – 5:30 pm

Address: 630 W. 5^th St., Los Angeles, CA 90071

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/immersed-sea-light-yiddish-essays-short-stories-and-poems-set-los-angeles-0

Arroyo Seco Writing Group at Arroyo Seco Regional Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person & Online Hybrid Event

Writers of any level of experience are invited to join our writing group to practice both writing short pieces across many genres and sharing your writing with others. Each month we will engage in a different writing prompt preparing our own short work in response and bringing it to share at our meeting.

If you are unable to join us in person you are welcome to join us virtually.

RSVP:

Contact us at ayosco@lapl.org for this month’s writing prompt or to request the meeting link.

Where: Arroyo Seco Regional Branch Library, LAPL

Date: Thursday the 15^th

Time: 6 pm

Address: 6145 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90042

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/arroyo-writing-group-0

Poetry Workshop with Martin Jago at Silver Lake Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person & Event

The Poetry Workshop invites new and seasoned poets to share new work and provide feedback, facilitated by British American poet Martin Jago. This weekly two-hour workshop is suitable for adults, and the group is limited to a maximum of twelve participants.

Attendees should bring their own poetry to share, a notebook, and a pen.

Where: Silver Lake Branch Library, LAPL

Date: Thursday the 15^th

Time: 6 pm

Address: 2411 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039

Website: https://lapl.org/whats-on/events/poetry-workshop-martin-jago

Montana Branch Book Club at Montana Branch Library, LAPL – In-Person & Event

This community-led, monthly book discussion group meets in person at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at the Montana Branch. This book group discusses a mix of fiction and nonfiction titles, often on topics chosen from current events. To register, email library@santamonica.gov. Supported by the Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library.

Participants will discuss The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann.

Where: Montana Branch Library, SMPL

Date: Thursday the 15^th

Time: 6 pm – 7:30 pm

Cella Door welcomes participants to discuss Norwegian by Night (A Sheldon Horowitz Novel #2) by author Derek B. Miller.

Sheldon Horowitz—widowed, impatient, impertinent—has grudgingly agreed to leave New York and move in with his granddaughter, Rhea, and her new husband, Lars, in Norway—a country of blue and ice with one thousand Jews, not one of them a former Marine sniper in the Korean War turned watch repairman. Not until now, anyway.

Home alone one morning, Sheldon witnesses a dispute between the woman who lives upstairs and an aggressive stranger. When events turn dire, Sheldon seizes and shields the neighbor’s young son from the violence, and they flee the scene. As Sheldon and the boy look for a safe haven in an alien world, past and present weave together, forcing them ever forward to a wrenching moment of truth.

Derek B. Miller is an American novelist, who worked in international affairs before turning to writing full-time. He is the author of five previous novels, all highly acclaimed: Norwegian by Night, The Girl in Green, American by Day, Radio Life and Quiet Time (an Audible Original). His work has been shortlisted for many awards, with Norwegian by Night winning the CWA John Creasey Dagger Award for best first crime novel, an eDunnit Award and the Goldsboro Last Laugh Award. How to Find Your Way in the Dark was a Finalist for the National Jewish Book Award and a New York Times best mystery of 2021.

Where: Cellar Door Bookstore

Date: Thursday the 15^th

Time: 6 pm

Address: 473 E. Alessandro Blvd., Suite B, Riverside, CA 92508

Website: https://www.cellardoorbookstore.com/event/mystery-book-club-norwegian-night

Special Event: Ashley Brown on the Legacy of Althea Gibson: Serving Herself at Chevalier’s – In-Person Event

A Collaborative Event with the Los Angeles Tennis Club!

Join us for a very special evening featuring a talk with Ashley Brown, author of Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson.

In her groundbreaking work, Brown explores the life and legacy of Althea Gibson (1927–2003), the first African American tennis player to win titles at Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals (1957–1958). Gibson also became the first African American woman to compete on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour in 1963. Despite facing systemic racism and gender discrimination, Gibson broke barriers in sports, challenged societal norms, and redefined possibilities for future generations.

Drawing on an extensive array of primary sources—including oral histories, correspondence, and thousands of newspaper and magazine articles—Brown situates Gibson’s story within the broader contexts of American culture, social movements, and the intersection of race, class, gender, and sports.

The event is free to attend, but RSVPs are highly encouraged because space is limited.

Where: Chevalier’s

Date: Thursday the 15^th

Time: 6:30 pm – 8 pm

Address: 133 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004 

Website: https://chevaliersbooks.com/event/2025-05-15/special-event-ashley-brown-legacy-althea-gibson

Special Event: Clarence Wooten & CoFounder.AI at pages: a bookstore – In-Person Event

Clarence Wooten’s CoFounder.AI is a practical guide forentrepreneurs to harness AI as a transformative “cofounder,” enabling startups to achieve 10x more with 10x fewer resources. The book outlines five stages of startup success—Conceptualize, Launch, Iterate, Scale, and Exit—and provides actionable strategies, tools, and insights tailored to each phase. Wooten shares lessons from his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of cofounder dynamics, fundability criteria, and building a “minimal lovable product” that delights customers.

He advocates a “shareholder first” mindset and highlights AI’s evolving role in enhancing customer service, marketing, and product development. By leveraging AI, entrepreneurs can streamline operations, innovate faster, and gain a competitive edge. The companion CoFounder.AI platform ensures entrepreneurs stay updated with the latest AI tools and workflows, keeping the content relevant in the rapidly changing landscape.

Key takeaways include AI’s role in reducing startup costs, strategies for navigating funding and partnerships, and the value of creating products people truly love. This is a must-read for anyone seeking AI-powered entrepreneurship success.

Where: pages: a bookstore

Date: Thursday the 15^th

Time: 6:30 pm – 8 pm

Address: 904 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Get your tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/all-womens-open-mic-tickets-943697603937?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Where: Village Well Books & Coffee

Date: Thursday the 18^th

Time: 7 – 10 pm

Welcome to DEEP CUTS Open Mic, a safe and inclusive space to share your jokes & poetry. Hosted by Christian Cintron at LA’s best tattoo shop.

Where: The Painted Lady LA Tattoo Parlor

Date: Thursday the 18^th

Time: 7 pm

Address: 4220 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90029

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deep-cuts-open-mic-tickets-686117996397?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

L.A. Harbor Lights: Poetry Night with Steven Hendrix at L.A. Harbor College – In-Person & Online Zoom Event

L.A. Harbor Lights is hosted by Christian Lozada and will feature Steven Hendrix. This poetry night includes a workshop, open mic, and anthology launch.This is your chance to write and share your voice, captivate an audience, become part of the writer community, and get a free book.

Steven Hendrix co-hosted the pop-up bookstore and reading series Read On Til Morning in San Pedro, CA and is co-author of Leave with More Than You Came With and the chapbook Every Breath Matters Most.

Where: L.A. Harbor College Little Theater

Date: Thursday the 15^th

Time: 7 pm – 8:30 pm

Blair

Where: L.A. Harbor College, Arena Theater

Date: Thursday the 15^th

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Address: 

Website: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJZOJiPRuL-/

Tribute to The Doors with L.A Poet Society & Jessica Wilson at L.A. Vintage, SFV – In-Person Event

See you for a Doors movie screening, lyric poetry workshop, and alter to Val Kilmer at L.A. Vintage in San Fernando.

Explore the realm of Lyric Poetry, create, and write with us, in honor of Poet, Jim Morrison, and his legacy.

$10: supplies included.

Where: 1984 Vintage, with L. A. Poet Society

Date: Thursday the 15^th

Time: 7 pm

Many people believe that morning writing practice is key to finding your voice, your story and, in this case, your community! At the Village Well!

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at 8:30 am come join acclaimed author and writing instructor Francesca Lia Block for a brief intro and 40 minutes of free writing on any topic without judgement. Afterwards, you will be able to share a bit about your process and ask Francesca questions about your writing.

About the instructor:

Francesca Lia Block is the author of more than thirty books of fiction, non-fiction, short stories and poetry, and has written screenplay adaptations of her work. She received the Spectrum Award, the Phoenix Award, the ALA Rainbow Award and the 2005 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as other citations from the American Library Association, and from the NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW, and PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY. Currently she teaches creative writing at UCLA Extension, Antioch University, Pocket MFA, and numerous workshops across the country. Francesca also edits LIT ANGELS, a literary journal available on Substack. Her latest novel is HOUSE OF HEARTS now out in paperback. https://www.francescaliablock.com/

Come make some magic at the Village Well! All genres and levels are welcome!

Where: Village Well Books & Coffee

Date: Friday the 16^th

Time: 8:30 am – 9:30 am

Address: 9900 Culver Blvd. #1B, Culver City, CA 90232

Website: https://shop.villagewell.com/events/2491220250516

Pajama Storytime at Once Upon a Time, Montrose – In-Person Kids & Family Event

Our most popular story time is ready to delight and dazzle! This is also the prime time to see Pippi Longstocking, our bookstore cat in action.

There is a large FREE parking lot off Florencita Dr. as well as metered parking along Honolulu Ave. and Montrose Ave.

Free to attend.

NOTE: Free to attend.

Where: Once Upon a Time, Montrose

Date: Friday, the 16^th

Time: 9:30 am

Address: 2207 Honolulu Ave., Montrose, CA 91020

¡Hora de cuentos bilingüe! Exponer a tus hjijos a varios idiomas es de gran beneficio para su aprendizaje y desarrollo, y qué mejor que hacerlo en esta divertida actividad en donde leeremos un maravilloso cuento en inglés y en español.

Where: Village Well Books & Coffee

Date: Friday the 16^th

Time: 11 am

See you for a night of local talent, food, coffee and cocktails at The Den Cafe. A stage that’s been a home for OC’s artist since 1999.

Sign-ups start at 5:30 with @rodharrison66

Music starts at 6 pm

Spoken word and poetry are welcome!

Where: The Den Café

Date: Friday the 16^th

Time: 6 pm (Doors at 5:30 pm)

Address: 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 9270

Website: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHuMOcESB9H/?hl=en

Book Soup & One Institute Present: Caro De Robertis, in conversation with Alex Espinoza & So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color at Book Soup – In-Person Event

Caro De Robertis, in conversation with Alex Espinoza will discussSo Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color. 

From the acclaimed novelist, a first-of-its-kind, deeply personal, and moving oral history of a generation of trans and gender nonconforming elders of color—from leading activists to artists to ordinary citizens—who tell their own stories of breathtaking courage, cultural innovations, and acts of resistance.

So Many Stars knits together the voices of trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, and two-spirit elders of color as they share authentic, intimate accounts of how they created space for themselves and their communities in the world. This singular project collects the testimonies of twenty elders, each a glimmering thread in a luminous tapestry, preserving their words for future generations—who can more fully exist in the world today because of these very trailblazers.

The anecdotes in these pages are riveting, joyful, heartbreaking, full of personality and wisdom, and artfully woven together into one immersive narrative. In De Robertis’s words, So Many Stars shares “behind-the-scenes tales of what it meant—and still means—to create an authentic life, against the odds.”

Where: Book Soup

Date: Friday the 16^th

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Address: 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069

On April 9th, 2019, Jonathan got the dreaded call: his father Thomas had been rushed to the ER. He’d known for a while that Thomas’s health was in decline, but at this pivotal moment, he had no choice but to step into the role of caretaker—a role Thomas himself was never able to grasp.

In The Mind is Burning, Jonathan recounts the stranger-than-fiction true story of the Hirsch family. Thomas was a Hungarian refugee turned spiritual seeker, and Jonathan was along for the ride as his parents chased the high of enlightenment, vacillating between following their doctrine to earn affection and finding his own voice. Thomas’s quest eventually led them to Franklin Jones: known as either a charismatic, eccentric guru or a cult leader and sexual predator, depending on whether you were inside or outside his orbit.

Jonathan left home the day he turned eighteen, but almost twenty years later, he was pulled back into the chaotic fold when, just as he approached the biggest milestone of his career, Thomas was diagnosed with dementia. He became one of millions of Americans in the “sandwich generation”: middle-aged adults simultaneously responsible for young children and aging parents. For Jonathan especially, that duty of care was fraught with emotional landmines, every impossible hardship of the present dredging up painful memories from the past—memories that were slipping away from Thomas day by day.

This poetic yet propulsive memoir was created for the listening experience, and poses the question: What do we owe each other as family?

Where: North Figueroa Bookshop

Date: Friday the 16^th

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Address: 6040 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90042

Website: https://northfigbookshop.com/event/#calendar-8a0f87f6-17d6-4f10-9815-04df4c8251ba-event-m96chvrt

At Skylight: Jennifer Hope Choi, with Aja Gabel, & The Wanderer’s Curse at Skylight – In-Person Event

Jennifer Hope Choi, in conversation with Aja Gabel, will discuss The Wanderer’s Curse.

A Korean mother runs off to Alaska, sparking a greater season of wandering. Could her daughter be destined for the same?

When Jennifer Hope Choi first stumbled upon the “curse” known as yeokmasal—an allegedly inheritable affliction causing one to roam farther and farther from home—she immediately consulted her mother. “Oh yeah,” Umma quipped. “I have that.” Technically this wasn’t a revelation. Since 2007, the no-nonsense open-heart surgery nurse had moved suddenly from the Golden State to the Last Frontier, shuttling over the next decade through seven states.

This probing memoir follows Choi through her many former homes, from a crumbling Chinatown tenement to a haunted museum in Georgia. Connections emerge, between her curious trajectory and idiosyncratic Korean identity narratives: a mystical Korean dog breed, pro golfers, modern Korean cults, the four pillars of destiny, and Korean American art. One question lingers throughout her search: What might be gained from living in residence with uncertainty?

The Wanderer’s Curse is an electric mother-daughter story, exploring ideas of belonging, self-determination, and possibility, leaving readers to wonder what we take with us generation to generation, what we wish we could leave behind, and how we move on.

Jennifer Hope Choi is a National Magazine Award–nominated editor at Bon Appétit. Her writing has been anthologized in The Best American Travel Writing and has appeared in the New York Times, Guernica, Lucky Peach, VQR, BuzzFeed, and the American Scholar.

Aja Gabel is the author of The Ensemble, and her novel Lightbreakers will be released in November, both from Riverhead Books. Her prose can be found in The Cut, LA Times, Buzzfeed, BOMB, and elsewhere. She studied writing at Wesleyan University and the University of Virginia and has a PhD in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Houston. She currently lives and writes in Los Angeles.

Where: Skylight

Date: Friday the 16^th

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Address: 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027

Angela Jaeger is a singer, writer, and teacher who founded the late 1970s obscure No Wave band the Stare Kits and has recorded with The Bush Tetras, Pigbag, David Cunningham, and The Monochrome Set, amongst others.

Adele Bertei began playing music in Cleveland with Pere Ubu’s legendary Peter Laughner, and as an original member of the Contortions, produced by Brian Eno on No New York. She was the pioneering creator of The Bloods—the first out, queer, all-women-rock band. She is the author of two previous books: Peter and the Wolves (a memoir) and Why Labelle Matters, a finalist for the 2022 Lambda Literary Awards. Twist: Tales of a Queer Girlhood is her origin story.

Where: Stories Books & Café

Date: Friday, the 16^th

Time: 7 pm – 9 pm

Address: 1716 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026 

Website: https://storiesla.com/events

Open Mic Nightat Underdog Bookstore, Monrovia – In-Person Event

Open Night Mic features local performers, musicians and more!

Free, All Ages. Walk-ins are welcome. Or sign-up at bit.ly/underdogopenmic

Where: Underdog Bookstore

Date: Friday, the 16^th

Time: 7 pm – 9 pm

Address: 312 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia, CA 

Website: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJcghljsWaB/

Radha Vatsal, with Naomi Hirahara, & No. 10 Doyers Street, at Vroman’s – In-Person Event

Radha Vatsal, in conversation with Naomi Hirahara, will discussNo. 10 Doyers Street.

Archana Morley knows what it’s like to be an outsider. As a woman journalist from India making her way through the cutthroat world of tabloid newspapers, she’s always on the lookout for untold stories.

In the aftermath of a bloody shooting in Chinatown, Archana finds her most challenging subject-the dreaded gangster Mock Duck. But she realizes that things are not as they seem when the mayor declares Chinatown must be demolished, and the authorities raid Mock’s home and tear apart his family. She embarks on a quest for the truth that leads her from gritty alleys to the back-room politics of City Hall and beyond.

Inspired by real events, No. 10 Doyers Street is a gripping novel of New York City on the cusp of modernity, as seen through a unique immigrant perspective.

Where: Vroman’s

Date: Friday the 16^th

Time: 7 pm – 8 pm

Address: 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101

Website: https://vromansbookstore.com/event/2025-05-16/radha-vatsal-conversation-naomi-hirahara-discusses-no-10-doyers-street

Tavi Gevinson, with Guests, Reads Fan Fiction: A Satire Night at Heavy Manners Library – In-Person Event

This event features special Guests: Briana Gonzalez, Maya Binyam, Maril Lodi, Dylan Tupper Rupert.

Where: Heavy Manners Library

Date: Friday the 16^th

Time: 8 pm

Address: 1200 N. Alvarado St. Unit D, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Website: https://heavymannerslibrary.com/events

The Golden Mean: A USC & Beyond Baroque Reading Series at Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center – In-Person & Livestream Hybrid Event

Join us in The Golden Mean for a mix of poetry and prose by writers from USC and beyond!

The is the second installment of The Golden Mean, a quarterly reading series that brings together poets from USC’s PhD in Creative Writing & Literature program with other notable poets from Los Angeles and beyond. Featuring readings by Bryan Byrdlong, James Ciano, Blas Falconer, James Fujinami Moore, and Austen Leah Rose. Hosted and curated by L.A. Johnson.

Bryan Byrdlong is a Black poet from Chicago, Illinois. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from the Helen Zell Writers Program. He has been published in Guernica Magazine, The Kenyon Review, and Poetry Magazine, among others. Bryan received a 2021 Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowship from the Poetry Foundation. His debut collection Strange Flowers was published with YesYes Books. He is currently a PhD student in Creative Writing at USC in Los Angeles.

James Ciano’s debut collection of poetry, The Committee of Men, is forthcoming from BOA Editions in May of 2026. He holds an MFA from New York University and a PhD in Creative Writing and Literature from the University of Southern California. He has received scholarships from the Vermont Studio Center and the Community of Writers, and his recent poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Blackbird, The Southern Review, The Yale Review, Bennington Review, Copper Nickel, and The Missouri Review. He is the 2025-2027 Creative Writing Fellow in Poetry at Emory University.

Blas Falconer is the author of four poetry collections, including Rara Avis (Four Way Books, 2024). Falconer is the recipient of a poetry fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and a Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award from Poets & Writers. He teaches in the MFA program at San Diego State University and is the editor-in-chief at Poetry International Online.

James Fujinami Moore’s debut poetry collection is indecent hours (Four Way Books, 2022), winner of the 2023 GLCA New Writers Award in Poetry and the 2024 AAAS Outstanding Achievement Book Award in Poetry, and finalist for the Golden Poppy’s Martin Cruz Smith Award & the Lambda Literary Award in Bisexual Poetry. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in the Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day, Asimov’s Science Fiction, Barrow Street’s 4×2, Boston Review, The Brooklyn Rail, Guesthouse, Jet Fuel Review, The Margins, the Pacifica Literary Review, and Prelude. He has received fellowships from Poets House, Bread Loaf, and the Frost Place, and received his MFA from Hunter College in 2016.

Austen Leah Rose is the author of Once, This Forest Belonged to a Storm, winner of the Juniper Prize for Poetry. She has a PhD from the University of Southern California and received an MFA in poetry from Columbia University. Her poems have appeared in The Sewanee Review, The Iowa Review, Narrative, AGNI, and elsewhere. She is currently a Dornsife Fellow at the University of Southern California where she teaches poetry.

Following the readings, be sure to join us for a reception & book signing.

Where: Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center

Date: Friday the 16^th

Time: 8 pm – 9:30 pm

Address: 681 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90291

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-golden-mean-a-usc-beyond-baroque-reading-series-tickets-1334776254709?aff=oddtdtcreator

SWAAM Spoken Word Art & Music Event at Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center – In-Person Event

SWAAM Spoken Word Art & Music is offered every 1st & 3rd Friday of the month and hosted by Loranzo Frank.

Featured guests: TBA

Tickets at Eventbrite.

NOTE: See site for details.

Where: Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center

Date: Friday, the 16^th

Time: 8 pm – 12 am

Address: 4305 Degnan Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90008

Website: https://www.depoet.info/swaam

Third Fridays Rapp Saloon Reading Series & Open Mic with host Elena Secota at Rapp Saloon, Santa Monica – In-Person & Online Hybrid Event

Third Fridays at Rapp Saloon: Open Mic & Featured Readers, will be this week, and is offered every 3^rd Friday of the month by host Elena Secota.

First Friday: Cynthia Alessandra Briano

Second Friday: Russell Greene

Third Friday: Elena Secota

Fourth Friday: Jim Bolt

Fifth Friday: James Evert Jones

This is a hybrid event, live in-person while offering a Zoom option for our performers and guests.

Our featured guest poets and artists this month TBA.

NOTE: See site for details.

Where: Rapp Saloon at HISUA – In-Person & Online Event

Date: Friday, the 16^th

Time: 8 pm – 11 pm

Address: 1436 2nd St., Santa Monica, CA 90402

Date: Saturday, the 17^th (and 18^th)

Time: 10 am

Often the “Muse” comes from the quotidian aspects of everyday living: watering our plants, a faded sign we see on the street, browsing the fruit aisle, a Polaroid that catches our eye, a conversation we overhear. But many times, a poem is born from deep emotions—memories of our past, a special wedding, falling in love or suffering through a difficult breakup, death of a loved one. This is also where poems come from.

Each week’s session will explore a variety of poems that deal with specific topics, such as memory, love, grief, and humor. We will explore how poets deal differently with similar subjects—how some sad topics and events can be written about in a humorous way. Reading other people’s poems will provide students with ideas and prompts for their own work. This fun, inspiring, and provocative examination of poems that deal with the core topics of Poetry and Memory, Poetry and Humor, Poetry and Grief, Poetry and Love will be used as prompts for student’s automatic writing which they will share in class. Through positive, constructive, nonjudgmental feedback offered in a cozy and creative environment, each student will receive encouragement and unique recognition and will go home with work they can develop into poems. Sponsored by the Friends of the West Hollywood Library.

Attendance is limited, and advance registration is required. This will be used to save your spot in the program. We cannot guarantee availability for any unregistered attendees. This is the second of a three-program series that will be held on May 3, 10, and 17. Each program date has its own event page. Please register individually for all of the dates you would like to attend.

Where: West Hollywood Library, LACL

Date: Saturday, the 17^th

Time: 10:30 am – 1:30 pm

Address: 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 

Website: https://visit.lacountylibrary.org/event/13146717

Storytime and Arts and Crafts with Frida Kahlo’s Flower Crown Author and Illustrator at Cellar Door Bookstore – In-Person Event

Cellar Door welcomes us to make a flower crown with author Nydia Armendia-Sánchez and illustrator Loris Lora to celebrate their brand new picture book Friday Kahlo’s Flower Crown! There will be a storytime and various arts and crafts, including the opportunity to make your own flower crowns! Join us for a morning of stories and flower crowns! Everyone of all ages is welcome!!!!

Nydia Armendia-Sánchez was mesmerized by Frida Kahlo’s sweeping brows and colorful artwork as a child. As an adult, Armendia-Sánchez continued to explore Frida’s paintings and began to wonder how Frida got her flower crown, and so, the idea for Frida Kahlo’s Flower Crown blossomed! Armendia-Sánchez also draws inspiration for her picture books from her Guatemalan and Basque heritage. She was awarded the Sustainable Arts Foundation Illustrated Children’s Book Award and named a finalist for the We Need Diverse Books Walter Grant. Armendia-Sánchez lives in Los Angeles, CA, with her husband and their two imaginative children.

Loris Lora is an award-winning Latina illustrator and designer from Southern California. Her sense of color and design sensitivity brings a playful approach to her compositions. She has been awarded two Pura Belpré Honor awards for May Your Life Be Deliciosa and Phenomenal AOC: The Roots and Rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Like Frida Kahlo, she finds inspiration in her own garden, observing the wide range of colors, textures, and the occasional squirrel sampling an orange. Lora lives with her family in Riverside, CA.

Mundial Coffee will sell coffee, lavender lemonade, and matcha for those of you craving something refreshing and tasty!

Where: Cellar Door Bookstore

Date: Saturday the 17^th

Time: 11 pm – 12 pm

Calling all writers! The Glendale Poet Laureate Program invites you on Saturday, May 17 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm at Glendale Community College’s Learning Center for the next installment of our workshop-reading series which also includes the launch of our poetry anthology Jewel City Review, Volume 2.

We’ll develop poems and explore craft alongside featured poets Lester Graves Lennon (Altadena Poet Laureate), Priscilla Wathington (Paper and Stick), and Arminé Iknadossian (All That Wasted Fruit).

This workshop is free and open to the public, and all levels of experience and language backgrounds are welcome!

RSVP/Registration at site.

Where: Glendale Community College, Learning Center AD Bldg. Room 232

Date: Saturday, the 17^th

Time: 11 am – 2 pm

Address: 1500 N. Verdugo Rd., Glendale, CA 91208

Meet Sadie. She’s a good mouse. She follows all the rules, listens to Mom, and takes her chores very seriously. Sadie’s bother does not do any of these things. He’d rather let Sadie do all the hard work. After all, she’s so good at it! But every mouse has her limits, and one day Sadie decides she’s had enough. Soon she’s tossing garbage out the windows, making ice cream sundaes on her bed, and creating a tidal wave in her living room. Now she can’t wait for Mom to get home to show her just how bad this good mouse can be.

Elliott Kalan has written for the TV shows Mystery Science Theater 3000, The Who Was? Show, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as well as comic books like Spider-Man and the X-Men. He is the author of Horse Meets Dog and Sharko and Hippo. He lives with his wife and two sons in Los Angeles.

Where: Once Upon a Time

Date: Saturday, the 17^th

Time: 11 am – 12 pm

Address: 2207 Honolulu Ave., Montrose, CA 91020

Sometimes you know just where you are going. Sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you find yourself in an in-between place. A place that is neither here nor there. A place where you can go up or down, left or right. So how do you know which way to go?

Poetic and reassuring, In-Between Places reminds us that sometimes we just need to take a leap to land exactly where we’re meant to be.

Where: Vroman’s

Date: Saturday the 17^th

Time: 11 pm – 12 pm

Address: 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101

Website: https://vromansbookstore.com/event/2025-05-17/alex-killian-grady-mcferrin-read-between-places

Storytime with Tracy Badua & Van Hoang at Bal Canto Books Off-site at Southeast Branch, Torrance Public Library – In-Person MG Event

Join us as for a special conversation with middle grade authors Tracy Badua and Van Hoang!

Learn more at Torrance Public Library.

Where: Bel Canto Off-site at Torrance Public Library, Southeast Branch

Date: Saturday the 17^th

Time: 12 pm – 1 pm

Address: 23115 Arlington Ave., Torrance, CA 90501

NOTE: See link for flyer/schedule and names of poets performing and times for their readings onsite.

Where: L.A. County Fair

Date: Saturday the 17^th

Time: 12 pm – 7 pm

Address: 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768

So began the stories Marjan’s father told her as a little girl—fables like the story of the girl who sprung a unicorn from a hunter’s snare, or the nomad boy who rescued a baby shirdal. Tales of mythical beasts that filled her with curiosity and wonder.

But Marjan’s not a little girl anymore. In the wake of her father’s sudden death, she is trying to hold it all together: her schoolwork, friendships, and keeping her dad’s shoestring veterinary practice from going under. Then, one day, she receives a visitor who reveals something stunning: Marjan’s father was no ordinary veterinarian. The creatures out of the stories he told her were real—and he traveled the world to care for them. And now that he’s gone, she must take his place.

Marjan steps into a secret world hidden in plain sight, where magical creatures are bought and sold, treasured and trapped. She finds friends she never knew she needed—a charming British boy who grew up with a griffon, a runaway witch seeking magic and home—while trying to hide her double life from her old friends and classmates.

The deeper Marjan gets into treating these animals, the closer she comes to finding who killed her father—and to a shocking truth that will reawaken her sense of wonder and put humans and beasts in the gravest of danger.

Kiyash Monsef is an Emmy Award–nominated producer and director; a writer of short stories, videos, comic books, and games; and a designer of innovative conversational and voice interface experiences. He’s the author of Once There Was, which was a finalist for the Morris Award, and Bird of a Thousand Stories.

Where: Cellar Door Bookstore

Date: Saturday the 17^th

Time: 2 pm

Address: 473 E. Alessandro Blvd. Suite B, Riverside, CA 92508

Website: https://www.cellardoorbookstore.com/event/kids-book-club-once-there-was

Feng Shui Poetry & Palm Weaving Workshop with Jen Cheng & Teresa Mei Chuc at Matilija Lending Library – In-Person Event

Jen Cheng and Teresa Mei Chuc invite you to celebrate AANHPI Month with our community class. Write new poetry through the lens of the Five Elements and frame your writing with your palm weaving.

Free event. Donations encouraged.

RSVP bit.ly/palm517

Where: Matilija Lending Library

Date: Saturday the 17^th

Time: 2 pm – 5 pm

Address: 3571 Lexington Ave., El Monte, CA

Website: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJLyhICxEBj/?hl=en

Saturday Afternoon Poetry: Poetry Readings with Don Kingfisher Campbell, Pasadena – Online Event

Featured: MARK STATES & MANI SURI + Poets published in Four Feathers Press online edition: Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Don Kingfisher Campbell hosts and curates these events.

Where: Saturday Afternoon Poetry Online

Date: Saturday, the 17^th

Time: 3 pm – 5 pm

Address: Online Zoom Event (see site)

Website: https://saturdayafternoonpoetry.blogspot.com/

Omega Sci-Fi Project’s: The Tomorrow Prize & Green Feather Award Celebrity Readings and Honors at Vroman’s – In-Person Event

Join us for the Omega Sci-Fi Project’s culminating event, celebrating emerging young writers for their incredible sci-fi stories.

Where: Vroman’s

Date: Saturday the 17^th

Time: 4 pm – 6 pm

Address: 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101

Website https://vromansbookstore.com/event/2025-05-17/tomorrow-prize-and-green-feather-award-celebrity-readings-and-honors:

Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club: Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories at Cellar Door Bookstore – In-Person Event

Participants will discuss The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories by author Susanna Clarke.

An enchanting collection of stories from Susanna Clarke, set in the same world as the award-winning, internationally bestselling Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

This is a spellbinding collection of stories brimming with all the ingredients of good fairy tales: petulant princesses, vengeful owls, ladies who pass their time embroidering terrible fates, endless paths in deep, dark woods, and houses that never appear the same way twice. The heroines and heroes who must grapple with these problems include the Duke of Wellington, a conceited Regency clergyman, an eighteenth-century Jewish doctor, and Mary Queen of Scots, as well as beloved figures from Susanna’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell including Jonathan Strange himself and the Raven King.

Susanna Clarke’s debut novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell was first published in more than 34 countries and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award and the Guardian First Book Award. It won British Book Awards Newcomer of the Year, the Hugo Award and the World Fantasy Award in 2005. The Ladies of Grace Adieu, a collection of short stories, some set in the world of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, was published by Bloomsbury in 2006. Piranesi was a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, and shortlisted for the Costa Novel of the Year Award, the RSL Encore Award and the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Susanna Clarke lives in Derbyshire.

Where: Cellar Door Bookstore

Date: Saturday the 17^th

Time: 5 pm

Address: 473 E. Alessandro Blvd. Suite B, Riverside, CA 92508

Website: https://www.cellardoorbookstore.com/event/sci-fi-fantasy-book-club-ladies-grace-adieu-and-other-stories

Spring Fundraiser: Poetry & Wine Tasting at Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center – In-Person & Livestream Hybrid Event

Join us for a night of poetry, wine tasting, and fundraising at Beyond Baroque this spring!

Join us in the Poets’ Garden at Beyond Baroque for an evening of wine paired with poems. We’ll sample Paso Robles wines from guest winemakers Xochitl Wines and Paco Wines. Each wine will be paired with poems from a Los Angeles poet.

This spring fundraiser will be hosted amongst the flowers in our blossoming, newly-renovated Poets’ Garden. Small bites will be available through the evening, and guests will have the chance to test their palettes in a blind tasting.

Hosted by Beyond Baroque’s Board President, Luivette Resto, the evening features readings by Mimi Tempestt, Mariano Zaro, James Cushing, and Cynthia Alessandra Briano. All proceeds will benefit Beyond Baroque’s programming and mission. Join us for the fundraiser of the season!

Ticket purchase is required. Tickets will be available at the Beyond Baroque bookstore on the day of the event, but we recommend registering in advance through Eventbrite. Masks are encouraged while inside our center.

NOTE: See site for ticket purchase.

Where: Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center

Date: Saturday the 17^th

Time: 6 pm – 8 pm

Address: 681 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90291

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-baroque-spring-fundraiser-poetry-wine-tasting-tickets-1337336843499?aff=oddtdtcreator

Book Launch: Karen F. Ulhmann & Intersections at Village Well Books & Coffee – In-Person Event

Join us for the launch of the debut novel by Karen F Ulhmann! Intersections is the story of a hit-and-run gone wrong, mistaken identities, and a chase to capture a criminal.

Guests will enjoy refreshments and a reading from Ms Ulhmann, followed by a Q&A session and a signing.

Reserve your seat on EVENTBRITE!

Style-guru Charlotte Oakes sells beautiful lifestyles, but her mentally ill daughter is an addict, her long marriage is dead, and she is pregnant with her ex-lover’s baby. Stunned after witnessing a hit-and-run in Chicago that leaves a child dead, Charlotte thinks she sees her Prius fleeing the scene. Her troubled daughter, Libby, is the only one who could have been driving.

His partner and best friend killed in a drug bust, police officer Ed Kelly learns that forensics has found that the fatal bullet came from Ed’s gun. Under internal investigation, Ed copes by filming cars at the site of the recent hit-and-run, hoping to catch the child’s killer. There, he notices Charlotte’s pilgrimages to the makeshift memorial, and over the weeks, the two become unlikely friends sharing intimate stories. But Charlotte won’t trust him with her most vulnerable secret of all: her suspicions about her daughter’s involvement in the accident.

When Ed finally learns the truth, he struggles with his beliefs and duties. If he keeps quiet, he has breached his commitment to the law. But if he does the right thing as an officer, he may send Libby to jail—and lose Charlotte.

Karen F. Ulhmann has published short stories and book reviews in Southern Indiana Review, Story, Whitefish Review, and The Common among others. She won the 2016 Rick Bass/Montana Fiction Award and was longlisted for her collection of short stories by the 2024 Santa Fe Writers Project. Intersections is her debut novel.

Where: Village Well Books & Coffee

Date: Saturday the 17^th

Time: 6 pm

Address: 9900 Culver Blvd. #1B, Culver City, CA 90232

Website: https://shop.villagewell.com/events/2589120250517

Obsidian Tongues Poetry & Open Mic at Lopez Urban Farm, Pomona – In-Person Event

Join us to hear host Cesar K Avelar host Obsidian Tongues Poetry & Open Mic, featuring Jen Cheng, former Poet Laureate of West Hollywood.

Jen Cheng is the author of a poetry collection Braided Spaces, a California Arts Council Fellow, and a Tin House Workshop alumna. She is a multidisciplinary artist who blends East-West influences as Feng Shui Poetry. Jen is the creator and facilitator of Palabras Literary Salon, a BIPOC-centered series. Her writing is found in The Cafe Review, Passengers Journal, and forthcoming in FlowerSong Press and Colossus Press. With stories for tween audiences, mystery detective fans, and queer love, Jen is a cross-pollinator and community curator. Connect with her on social media @JenCvoice or at www.JenCvoice.com

Where: Lopez Urban Farm

Date: Saturday the 17^th

Time: 7:30 pm – 9 pm

Address: 1034 W. Mission Blvd., Pomona, CA 91766

Website: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJaWkhZymai/

Melrose Trading Post Event & L.A. Poet Society at Greenway Arts Alliance at Melrose Trading Post at Fairfax H.S. – In-Person Event

The Melrose Trading Post is a pioneering arts-based marketplace held every Sunday at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, CA with 275 local creative small business vendors, delicious food booths and local live music.

MTP was founded in 1997 with a mission to champion small businesses, art and community. The market funds Greenway Arts Alliance’s arts education programming and provides employment and leadership development opportunities for students at Fairfax High School.

JOIN us in space R18 each Sunday, from 11 am – 5 pm.

All poems are donation based, so you name your price.

NOTE: Check every Sunday for story time and reading events

Where: Melrose Trading Post, Greenway Main Stage at Fairfax HS

Date: Sunday, the 18^th (Every Sunday)

Time: 10 am – 5 pm (market); 11 am – 5 pm (poets on demand)

Address: 7850 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046

Website: https://www.instagram.com

The Conscious Tea Book Club at Bel Canto Books KUBO, Long Beach – In-Person Event

Join us for The Conscious Tea, an online and local book club for Asians in diaspora, hosted by Eileen x Bel Canto Books x KUBO LB.

We will be reading and discussing works that build political education, intersectionality and awareness amongst the Asian community. There will also be a focus on Asian-based authors. Every month we’ll change between fiction and non-fiction to keep it lively and engaging. This is the space where you can share your thoughts and connect respectively.

May – I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang

This event will be held at KUBO LB – 3976 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach CA. Free parking is available on the street and behind the building.

Please join our Discord group discord to talk about the chapters leading up to meeting: https://discord.gg/pmMfKSYj

Where: Bel Canto KUBO

Date: Sunday, the 18^th

Time: 11 am

Address: 3976 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807 

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-conscious-tea-book-club-tickets-1316464714399/

Storytime: Jessica McKay, & Eden’s Light at Chevalier’s – In-Person Event

Jessica McKay will present her debut children’s book Eden’s Light.

Like her favorite superheroes, Eden always knew how to save the day.

That is, until one night, she sees something troubling on the television: the story of a Black man who was unjustly treated and hurt by the police. For the first time, Eden feels scared, and she’s not exactly sure how to explain it. She does know one thing for sure: the dark seems much scarier now than it did before.

Eden’s parents try their best to explain that she is protected and safe, but none of the things that usually soothe her work. It’s only when her mother reminds Eden that people can never take away her inner light that Eden understands her most powerful tool to fight the dark.

Where: Chevalier’s

Date: Sunday the 18^th

Time: 11 am

Address: 133 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004

Gloria has a problem: a cloud won’t leave her be. Can she get rid of it? Open this book to see!

This rhyming story follows Gloria, a grouchy little girl whose emotions manifest as a cloud that follows her everywhere. Gloria does everything she can to get rid of the cloud, but nothing seems to work.

Where: Vroman’s

Date: Sunday the 18^th

Time: 11 am

Address: 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101

Website: https://vromansbookstore.com/event/2025-05-18/local-author-day-young-readers-edition-featuring-jules-horowitz

4th Annual Pomona Poetry & Book Fest (Last Day) at L.A. County Fair, Pomona – In-Person Event

Join us for the 4th Annual Pomona Poetry & Book Fest hosted by Judah 1 and CES ONE of Lionlike Mindstate and featuring 21+ poets and musical guests.

NOTE: See link for flyer/schedule and names of poets performing and times for their readings onsite.

Where: L.A. County Fair

Date: Sunday the 18^th

Time: 12 pm – 7 pm

Address: 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768

Website: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHmbzPaSIfU/?hl=en

Orange County Poet Laureate Office Hours at LibroMobile, Santa Ana – In-Person Event

Calling all writers and poets.

OC Poet Laureate, Gustavo Hernández, will be hosting office hours Sunday, May 18th!

Feel free to stop by.

Can’t make it into LibroMobile? Need a zoom link? Email libromobile@gmail.com.

RSVP

Where: LibroMobile, Santa Ana

Date: Sunday the 18^th

Time: 12 pm – 2 pm

Address: 1150 Bristol St., #A3, Santa Ana, CA 92704

Website: https://www.libromobile.com/event-details/oc-poet-laureate-office-hours-with-gustavo-hernandez-1-2025-05-18-12-00

In-Person Book Signing: Myriam Sandler & Playful by Design at Chevalier’s Books – In-Person Event

Join us for a very special in-person signing with Myriam Sandler, the creator of Mothercould (@mothercould), to celebrate the launch of her debut book, PLAYFUL BY DESIGN: Your Stress-Free Guide to Raising Confident, Creative Kids through Independent Play!

The event is free to attend, but RSVPs are highly encouraged! A limited stock might be available on the day of the event on a first-come, first-served basis.

Myriam Sandler is the creator of Mothercould (@mothercould), a beloved kids’ activity and family lifestyle community trusted by millions of families. As a mother of three, Myriam shares engaging, easy-to-follow video tutorials that offer accessible DIY play ideas, parenting hacks, family travel tips, and more. Mothercould has grown to offer family-friendly, problem-solving products now available at major retailers.

Where: Chevalier’s

Date: Sunday the 18^th

Time: 2 pm – 3 pm

Address: 133 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004

Website: https://chevaliersbooks.com/event/2025-05-18/person-book-signing-myriam-sandler-mothercould-signs-her-debut-book-playful-design

Palabras Literary Salon with Jen Cheng: Featuring Carolyn Huynh & The Family Recipe at Latinx with Plants – In-Person Event

Jen Cheng hosts Palabras Literary Salon a BIPOC-centered literary community event co-hosted with Latinx with Plants, in the open-air greenhouse in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles.

Our May edition features Carolyn Huynh and her new book, The Family Recipe. Guest readers circle is a curated invited list of diverse BIPOC poets, writers, playwrights, creators to read 3-minutes of writing to celebrate the theme of “belonging.” All are welcome to attend.

As Carolyn describes the theme:

How do you belong somewhere that doesn’t feel like home? In THE FAMILY RECIPE, I explore themes of yearning, desire and forgiveness — within families, communities, and self. But belonging can be elusive for many, especially for individuals who battle with displacement, generational trauma, and eldest daughter syndrome.

Invited guest readers include Chen Gu, Sarah Kuhn, Jean Trinh, Luivette Resto, James Fujinami Moore, José Enrique Medina, Cecilia Caballero, James Evert Jones, and more to be announced.

This event is volunteer-run and grassroots-driven.

Please kindly help us with your early RSVP at LINK at website to attend and join in the facilitated discussion. Previous events have sold out so please join the waitlist if the RSVPs are full – people do cancel! We are asking for RSVPs for priority entry due to limited capacity in the back greenhouse patio.

Everyone is welcome. Drop-ins are welcome.

Your donations help us get a headcount and pay for chair rentals and reception for this outdoor event. If you would like to bring cash donation to our event or send other payment, we gladly appreciate your support. *If you’re challenged with limited funds and want to attend, please RSVP and join us.

Please arrive by 1:45 pm as we would like to start at 2pm and finish by 3:30pm to have time for community conversation and reception.

Where: Latinx with Plants

Date: Sunday the 18^th

Time: 2 pm – 3:30 pm (Doors at 1:45 pm)

Address: 2208 Cesar Chavez, Los Angeles, CA 90033

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/palabras-at-latinx-with-plants-may-2025-edition-tickets-1332506957179

Roar Shack Reading Series, with David Rocklin & Featured Guests at Echo Park Time Travel Mart – In-Person Event

Join us for Roar Shack’s May show!

Host David Rocklin welcomes these amazing writers: Erica Blumfield, Angelina Saenz, Cara Lopez Lee, Karen Palmer and Seth Fischer. Don’t miss it!

Where: Echo Park Time Travel Mart

Date: Sunday the 18^th

Time: 4 pm – 6 pm

Address: 1714 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026

A powerful blend of self-help and intimate storytelling, Confused Girl is here to guide women through the turbulence of the modern world and help them fearlessly create the life of their dreams:

Giovanna Silvestre is the creator of Confused Girl in the City, an international activewear brand inspired by unique healing crystals, blending beauty and spirituality. Featured on NBC and in Forbes and LA Yoga, she’s a graduate of the University of Southern California. Transitioning from the entertainment industry, Giovanna embarked on a journey of self-discovery, emerging as a leading lifestyle and wellness influencer, entrepreneur, and writer. Follow her on Instagram @ConfusedGirlLA and subscribe at http://www.confusedgirlinthecity.com.

Where: Village Well Books & Coffee

Date: Sunday the 18^th

Time: 5 pm – 6 pm

Address: 9900 Culver Blvd. #1B, Culver City, CA 90232

Website: https://shop.villagewell.com/events/2604320250518

D.R.I.P. Slam: Defining Resistance in Poetics at Songbird Café – In-Person Event

An innovative, invitational slam. Eight poets all across the United States. A 21+event produced by Lourdes Gan and Christian Perfas.

Fashion has a price tag not everyone can afford. However, style is available to all of us, the expression that we all can own for ourselves. With this event, we aim to celebrate style within the world of spoken word by inviting specific artists whose work and presence clearly speak towards this principle. In addition, we want to challenge the medium of slam and what it can entail, using different criteria than your average competition.

Eight poets, 3 rounds, 1 champion. Food, cocktails and clothing sold with a fashion show and slam.

An OpenHeart.Spoken Word and Soul Stuf Productions

Venue in Chinatown, Los Angeles.

Where: Songbird Café

Date: Sunday the 18^th

Time: 5 pm – 9 pm

Address: 900 North Broadway ##1050 Los Angeles, CA 90012

Featured guest: Rhiannon Cielos Chavez.

Where: Rapp Saloon

Date: Sunday the 18^th

Time: 7 pm – 8:30 pm

Address: 1436 2^nd St., Santa Monica, CA 90402

We read widely across the popular romance genre and focus on examining novels from a writer’s perspective.

Time: 7:15 pm – 8:30 pm

Address: 3806 Main St., Culver City, CA 90232

Website: https://www.therippedbodice.com/events-and-tickets

Poetry Suite Open Mic Night at Thee V Suite in Pasadena – In-Person Event

Welcome to our Open Mic Night at Poetry Suite! Join us for an evening filled with poetry, music, and creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or just starting out, this is the perfect opportunity to share your work in a supportive and welcoming environment. Come express yourself, listen to others, and connect with fellow poetry enthusiasts. Don’t miss out on this chance to shine on stage and experience the magic of our show.

Cost: $15

Where: Thee V Suite

Date: Sunday the 18^th

Time: 7:30 pm – 11 pm

Address: 463 North Lake Avenue Pasadena, CA 91101

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/poetry-suite-open-mic-night-tickets-1348514435979?aff=ebdssbdestsearch