Former Los Angeles Poet Laureate Luis J. Rodriguez preserves the rich, early literary history of L.A.’s Eastside from 1978 to 1984. Alongside writers such as Helena Maria Viramontes, Mary Helen Ponce, and Manazar Gamboa, among others, he helped build the Chicano/a/Latinx literary community that continues to flourish in Los Ángeles today. Continue reading From the Heart of a Writer to the Heart of the World
An interview with poet, L.Á. native, tour guide, journalist and professor, Mike Sonksen. Continue reading Interlitq’s Californian Poets Interview Series: Mike Sonksen, Poet, Performer, Journalist, and LA Tour Guide, interviewed by David Garyan
By Jeffery Fleishman
FROM: Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles is a madman’s prayer wrapped inside a murderous dream.
It’s homeless on sidewalks and hustlers in the hills. It’s laborers and housekeepers, and billboards of lust, dystopia, apes, robots, Chewbaccas, Kim and Kanye, and Lady Gaga’s newest thing. It’s clear skies, no mosquitoes and laser-sculpted people with money, hedgerows and sins. A crime writer can make of it what he or she wants, like “Westworld” or a lover who gives you a kiss and a key, and one day changes the locks.
Continue reading “Literary History: Why L.A. Is The Perpetual Dark Heart of Crime Writing”
Venice’s beloved Small World Books is turning 50 years old in September, making it the oldest general bookstore in Los Angeles.
By Venice Paparazzi
FROM: venicepaparazzi.com
Join in on the anniversary fun on Sept. 12th!
Here is a history on Small World Books!
Venice’s beloved Small World Books is turning 50 years old in September, making it the oldest general bookstore in Los Angeles.
Continue reading “Congrats to Venice’s Small World Books on 50 years!”
by Brian Dunlap
Located between commercial art galleries and tawdry Chinatown gift shops, the Poetic Research Bureau fosters a living room type atmosphere where poets and other wordsmiths share their words. This Chinatown literary space hosts a plethora of poetry reading year round. A place where L.A. poets, writers and others go to read.
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.
Continue reading “The World Stage and Literary Black Los Ángeles”
Los Angeles Literature 