Local artists from the mile-high mountain community of Wrightwood are putting together the town’s fourth annual literary festival the last weekend of September.
Guest faculty this year include novelist and publisher Yi Shun Lai (author of Not a Self-Help Book: The Misadventures of Marty Wu), the cross-genre poet Nicelle Davis (The Walled Wife), and journalist-poet Alejandro Escudé (My Earthbound Eye), with a keynote presentation and conversation with award-winning Young Adult author and poet Ron Koertge (Shakespeare Bats Cleanup).
In addition to the usual fiction, poetry, and editing workshops, the festival features new classes in parody songwriting, news poetry, community building, and the business of being an author. Some workshops are geared toward experienced writers, while others are offered for more casual readers.
For $55, festival registration includes any two workshops, lunch, the keynote presentation, and free entry into the annual “soapku” contest and Wrightwood Poetry Slam. Saturday night and Sunday festivities are free to the public, including the guest faculty reading, a group hike, presentation of the annual Young Authors Award, and a poetry slam, where poets will compete in a rowdy contest of verse for a $200 prize. Find more at https://www.wrightwoodlitfest.com
From September 30th to November 18th, Inlandia Institute in partnership with Riverside Art Museum will present writing workshops using inspirations by current exhibitions at RAM to give voice to the migration stories of our multicultural community.Workshop participants will view artworks and with guided writing prompts reflect on their family's migration stories, or imagine their own creative immigration adventure.
Join Frances J. Vásquez on September 30, 2:00 p.m. -- 4:00 p.m. for a workshop inspired by the exhibition of authentic ancient treasures, Uncovering Ancient México: The Mystery of Tlatilco.
Join Frances again on November 18, 2:00 p.m. -- 4:00 p.m. for a workshop focusing on two art exhibitions as the spark for writing stories of migration and immigration, Codex Rodriguez-Mondragon by Sandy Rodriguez who makes powerful historical and visual linkages to present day ICE agents... and Refugee Stories by Kathryn Clark who, in a series of embroidery panels and works on paper that follow the journey of Syrian refugees into Europe.
The workshops are free for RAM members; included with paid general admission.
About Frances J. Vásquez
Frances J. Vásquez facilitates Tesoros de Cuentos writing workshops in Casa Blanca and is a contributor to the Inlandia Literary Journeys column in The Press-Enterprise and The Sun. She Graduated from UCR with BS and MBA Degrees. Frances serves on the Inlandia Institute Board and is a member of the Multicultural Council of the Riverside Museum Associates.
Registration required by form AND email (inlandiamemoir@gmail.com).
Check back for Winter dates and availability.
The Rancho Mirage workshop meets Mondays at the Rancho Mirage Public Library, located at 71-100 CA-111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270. They can be reached at (760) 341-7323.
The Riverside Poetry in Motion workshop meets every Tuesday at the Janet Goeske Foundation & Senior Center, located at 5257 Sierra St, Riverside, CA 92504. They can be reached at (951) 351- 8800.
The Redlands workshop meets every Wednesday at the Joslyn Senior Center, located at 21 Grant St, Redlands, CA 92373. They can be reached at (909) 798-7550.
The Riverside workshop meets every other Saturday at the Riverside Public Library, located at 3581 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501. They can be reached at (951) 826-5201.
The Corona workshop meets every other Saturday at the Corona Public Library, located at 650 S Main St, Corona, CA 92882. They can be reached at (951) 736-2381.
The Riverside Poetry in Motion workshop meets every Tuesday at the Janet Goeske Foundation & Senior Center, located at 5257 Sierra St, Riverside, CA 92504. They can be reached at (951) 351- 8800.
On Saturday, October 6th, develop your public reading skills and gain confidence to share your work in front of an audience. Learn techniques to prepare for public readings, reduce fear before readings and on stage, work with a mic, and give readings that engage audiences and leave them wanting more. You’ll also get practice and one-on-one supportive, useful feedback.
This event begins at 2:00 p.m. The SSgt Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library is located at 2985 Madison St. Riverside, CA 92504.
About liz gonzalez
liz gonzález is the author of Dancing in the Santa Ana Winds: Poems y Cuentos New and Selected (Los Nietos Press 2018). liz earned a BA in Theatre Arts and has almost 30 years experience sharing her writing to audiences of different ages and backgrounds. She recently performed her work at KPCC's Unheard LA-Live in Baldwin Park, and an excerpt of her performance was used in their radio promotion. Her poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction have appeared in the City of Los Angeles Latino Heritage Month Calendar and Cultural Guide, Inlandia: A Literary Journey, BorderSenses, and The San Francisco Chronicle. She is the author of the poetry collection Beneath Bone (Manifest Press 2000). Her awards include an Arts Council for Long Beach Professional Artist Fellowship, an Elizabeth George Foundation Artistic Grant, and residencies at the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Lucas Artists Residency Program, and Hedgebrook. liz grew up in the San Bernardino Valley and currently lives in Long Beach. She directs Uptown Word & Arts, promoting literature and the arts, and is an instructor for the UCLA Extension Writers Program. Lizgonzalez.com
Registration required by form AND email (inlandiamemoir@gmail.com).
Check back for Winter dates and availability.
The Rancho Mirage workshop meets Mondays at the Rancho Mirage Public Library, located at 71-100 CA-111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270. They can be reached at (760) 341-7323.
The Riverside Poetry in Motion workshop meets every Tuesday at the Janet Goeske Foundation & Senior Center, located at 5257 Sierra St, Riverside, CA 92504. They can be reached at (951) 351- 8800.
The San Bernardino workshop meets every other Tuesday at the Rowe Branch Library, located at 108 E Marshall Blvd, San Bernardino, CA 92404. They can be reached at (909) 883-3411.
Registration required by form AND email (inlandiafiction@gmail.com).
Check back for Winter dates and availability.
The Palm Springs workshop meets Tuesdays at the Palm Springs Public Library, located at 300 S Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. They can be reached at (790) 322-7323.
The Redlands workshop meets every Wednesday at the Joslyn Senior Center, located at 21 Grant St, Redlands, CA 92373. They can be reached at (909) 798-7550.
The Ontario workshop meets every other Wednesday at the Ovitt Library, located at 215 E C St, Ontario, CA 91764. They can be reached at (909) 395-2004.
The Colton workshop meets every other Thursday at the Advance to Literacy Center, located at 656 N 9th Street, Colton. They can be reached at (909) 370-5083.
The Riverside workshop meets every other Thursday at the Riverside Public Library, located at 3581 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501. They can be reached at (951) 826-5201.
The Riverside Poetry in Motion workshop meets every Tuesday at the Janet Goeske Foundation & Senior Center, located at 5257 Sierra St, Riverside, CA 92504. They can be reached at (951) 351- 8800.
Are you or do you know a local (Inland So Cal) writer?
Do they:
• Live or work in the Inland Southern California?
• Write in the voice of Inlandia that conveys a sense of the area and/or its people?
• Have a willingness to work in public and community programs or service?
• Have an interest in and a willingess to inspire and mentor other creative writers?
• Have an accessible body of critically acclaimed or significant work?
• If so, has it been published in the last ten years?
• Do you believe they would be willing to accept the responsibilities of the Inlandia Literary Laureate?
If you can answer YES to these questions, SUBMIT your nomination before October 15, 2018.
This is a two-year appointment and comes with a $5000 stipend.
Literary Laureate Committee Chair: Tim Green, RATTLE editor
Literary Laureate Jurors:
• Jamie Asaye FitzGerald, Poets & Writers Readings & Workshops Program, West
• Lester Graves Lennon, author of MY FATHER WAS A POET
• Nikia Chaney, outgoing Literary Laureate
Registration required by form AND email (inlandiamemoir@gmail.com).
Check back for Winter dates and availability.
The Rancho Mirage workshop meets Mondays at the Rancho Mirage Public Library, located at 71-100 CA-111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270. They can be reached at (760) 341-7323.
The Riverside Poetry in Motion workshop meets every Tuesday at the Janet Goeske Foundation & Senior Center, located at 5257 Sierra St, Riverside, CA 92504. They can be reached at (951) 351- 8800.
Registration required by form AND email (inlandiafiction@gmail.com).
Check back for Winter dates and availability.
The Palm Springs workshop meets Tuesdays at the Palm Springs Public Library, located at 300 S Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. They can be reached at (790) 322-7323.
The Redlands workshop meets every Wednesday at the Joslyn Senior Center, located at 21 Grant St, Redlands, CA 92373. They can be reached at (909) 798-7550.
The Riverside workshop meets every other Saturday at the Riverside Public Library, located at 3581 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501. They can be reached at (951) 826-5201.
The Corona workshop meets every other Saturday at the Corona Public Library, located at 650 S Main St, Corona, CA 92882. They can be reached at (951) 736-2381.
The Riverside Poetry in Motion workshop meets every Tuesday at the Janet Goeske Foundation & Senior Center, located at 5257 Sierra St, Riverside, CA 92504. They can be reached at (951) 351- 8800.
Registration required by form AND email (inlandiamemoir@gmail.com).
Check back for Winter dates and availability.
The Rancho Mirage workshop meets Mondays at the Rancho Mirage Public Library, located at 71-100 CA-111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270. They can be reached at (760) 341-7323.
The Riverside Poetry in Motion workshop meets every Tuesday at the Janet Goeske Foundation & Senior Center, located at 5257 Sierra St, Riverside, CA 92504. They can be reached at (951) 351- 8800.
The San Bernardino workshop meets every other Tuesday at the Rowe Branch Library, located at 108 E Marshall Blvd, San Bernardino, CA 92404. They can be reached at (909) 883-3411.
For the October 23 workshop with Allyson at the Rowe Branch, we will have a special guest: Marilyn Kallet, Poet Laureate of Knoxville, TN, will be dropping in to hold a special workshop: “Praise Songs in a Troubled Time”. All workshop participants are invited to attend.
Marilyn Kallet is the author of 18 books, including How Our Bodies Learned, The Love That Moves Me and Packing Light: New and Selected Poems, poetry from Black Widow Press. She is Poet Laureate of Knoxville, Tennessee. She has translated Paul Eluard’s Last Love Poems, Péret’s The Big Game, and co-translated Chantal Bizzini’s Disenchanted City. Her other volumes include children’s books, essays, anthologies of women’s literature. Dr. Kallet is Professor Emerita at the University of Tennessee, where she taught for 37 years. For a decade, she has also led poetry workshops for VCCA-France, in Auvillar. She has performed her poems on campuses and in theaters across the United States as well as in France and Poland, as a guest of the U.S. Embassy’s “America Presents” program.
Registration required by form AND email (inlandiafiction@gmail.com).
Check back for Winter dates and availability.
The Palm Springs workshop meets Tuesdays at the Palm Springs Public Library, located at 300 S Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. They can be reached at (790) 322-7323.
The Redlands workshop meets every Wednesday at the Joslyn Senior Center, located at 21 Grant St, Redlands, CA 92373. They can be reached at (909) 798-7550.
The Ontario workshop meets every other Wednesday at the Ovitt Library, located at 215 E C St, Ontario, CA 91764. They can be reached at (909) 395-2004.
The Colton workshop meets every other Thursday at the Advance to Literacy Center, located at 656 N 9th Street, Colton. They can be reached at (909) 370-5083.
The Riverside workshop meets every other Thursday at the Riverside Public Library, located at 3581 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501. They can be reached at (951) 826-5201.
The Riverside Poetry in Motion workshop meets every Tuesday at the Janet Goeske Foundation & Senior Center, located at 5257 Sierra St, Riverside, CA 92504. They can be reached at (951) 351- 8800.
Registration required by form AND email (inlandiafiction@gmail.com).
Check back for Winter dates and availability.
The Palm Springs workshop meets Tuesdays at the Palm Springs Public Library, located at 300 S Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. They can be reached at (790) 322-7323.
The Redlands workshop meets every Wednesday at the Joslyn Senior Center, located at 21 Grant St, Redlands, CA 92373. They can be reached at (909) 798-7550.
The Riverside workshop meets every other Saturday at the Riverside Public Library, located at 3581 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA 92501. They can be reached at (951) 826-5201.
The Corona workshop meets every other Saturday at the Corona Public Library, located at 650 S Main St, Corona, CA 92882. They can be reached at (951) 736-2381.
8:30 am: 2018 WRIGHTWOOD LITERARY FESTIVAL