LitFest Pasadena Comes to the Pasadena Playhouse District May 19 to 20, 2018
The Two Day Literary Festival Includes Dozens of Readings, Panels, and Literary Performances and Features Over 150 Authors at Venues Across the Pasadena Playhouse District
Pasadena, CA (February 21, 2018) –
Save the date for the 7th annual LitFest Pasadena coming up on May 19 and 20, 2018. LitFest Pasadena treats Southern California audiences to an exciting and thought provoking weekend full of diverse literary readings, panels, performances, and activities for all ages and interests. It’s held at venues and on sidewalks throughout the Pasadena Playhouse District.
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It begins every Wednesday at 7:30 pm. Early arrivals step to the mic, sharing a poem in progress to receive much needed feedback. Then they provide feedback to others. V. Kali, author of Hymn (World Stage Press), sits next to the donation box and front entrance and welcomes attendees as they arrive. As host, V. has been a warm presence each week for years, her long beautiful natural hair a thing of legend. As the crowd grows, the list of open mic readers expands before the feature grabs everyone’s attention. Murmurs of “mmm hmm” and “that’s right” arise from the crowd. After, it’s the community-the open mic readers’-turn at the mic. It’s their chance to bring down the house.
The L.A. connection is strong in the winner of the Grammy Award for album notes.
The last time La Palabra was held at Avenue 50 Studios in December, host Karineh Mahdessian couldn’t hold back tears that spoke to the deep connections she’s made during her time as host of the long running open mic reading series. Karineh’s time was coming to a close. The community she helped nurture packed the back room to help send her off.
Los Ángeles poet and writer John Brantingham has been chosen as Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ first Poet Laureate.
Kima Jones is the founder of Jack Jones Literary Arts, a not-yet-3-year-old, three-person L.A.-based book publicity company whose clients are primarily women of color. Jones is a savvy media strategist and creative force, already counting a Pulitzer Prize winner (Tyehimba Jess’ poetry collection “Oilo”) among her campaigns.
Everything must come to an end. Eventually. Los Ángeles writer, author of Grace (Counterpoint, 2016), Natasha Deón, creator of Dirty Laundry Lit, has decided it’s time to end the wildly popular and successful reading series in Hollywood, after seven plus years. It’s best to let Natasha Deón say it in her own words. The following words are taken from a Facebook post she made yesterday.
Friday was the second edition of the open mic Poetry y Pan at Café con Libros in Pomona, hosted by poets and educators Irene Sanchez and Matt Sedillo. The Reading began shortly after 7:30 pm, the Arts District coming to life with music and food. Next door it sounded like a band was playing a familiar Green Day song, kicking off the weekend.
In the spring of 2015, I received a telephone call from the Santa Monica College Foundation asking if I would present the SMC distinguished alumna award to writer Michele Serros, who had been a former student of mine.
Los Angeles Literature 