Category: Articles
Santa Monica Review To Celebrate 30th Anniversary
by Grace Singh Smith
From: SMC In Focus
This year—fall 2018—marks the 30th anniversary of Santa Monica Review (SMR). The national literary arts journal published by Santa Monica College (SMC) showcases the work of established authors alongside emerging writers, with a focus on West Coast fiction and nonfiction; it happens to be the only nationally-distributed literary journal at a community college.
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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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The World Stage and Literary Black Los Ángeles
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.
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Local writer Lynell George wins Grammy for ‘Otis Redding Live at the Whisky A Go Go’
by RANDY LEWIS
From: L.A. Times
The L.A. connection is strong in the winner of the Grammy Award for album notes.
It was awarded to veteran music writer, and former Times staff writer, Lynell George, for her notes for the box set “Otis Redding Live at the Whisky A Go Go: The Complete Recordings,” documenting the soul singer’s incendiary performances at the West Hollywood nightclub in 1966.
There is a New Host for Avenue 50’s La Palabra’s Open Mic Poetry Reading Series
by Brian Dunlap
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.
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John Brantingham: A Poet Laureate
by Brian Dunlap
Los Ángeles poet and writer John Brantingham has been chosen as Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ first Poet Laureate.
Empowering Diverse Writers, Innovaatively
By Agatha French
From: Los Angeles Times
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.
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Saying Good By to Dirty Laundry Lit
by Brian Dunlap
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.
Los Ángeles Writers Publish in 2017
As 2017 comes to a close, a lot of local writers have published in literary journals and magazines. They even published plenty of books. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, mystery novels, literary noveles, poetry of place, among others, It was definitely a year of publishing success in the Los Ángeles literary community. Here is what and where they published. Continue reading Los Ángeles Writers Publish in 2017
