Cynthia Hogue
Photo: University of Arizona Poetry Center
Cynthia Hogue, Louise Nayer, Tennison S. Black
3 DECEMBER 2023 — sunday
Poetry Flash presents a reading by poet and translator Cynthia Hogue, instead, it is dark, poet and memoirist Louise Nayer, Narrow Escapes, and Tennison S. Black, Survival Strategies, a National Poetry Series selection, Art House Gallery & Cultural Center, 2905 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, two blocks north of Ashby BART, refreshments, free, 3:00 pm PST (poetryflash.org).
Thank you for continuing to support Poetry Flash and our reading series.
Featured books for this reading will be available for signing at the event and at bookshop.org/shop/poetryflash.
MORE ABOUT THE READERS
Tennison S. Black's new collection, Survival Strategies, was selected for the National Poetry Series by Adrienne Su. Donald Revell says, "With each poem, experience—whether tender or catastrophic—is birthed into new competence and clarity. There is a profound and literal refreshment in this book, one urgently needed now." Tennison Black's writing appears in SWWIM, Hotel Amerika, Booth, Bacopa Review, Wordgathering, New Mobility, and elsewhere. They are managing editor of Sundress Publications and Best of the Net and are the editor of the anthology on contemporary disability, A Body You Talk To. They live in Washington State.
Cynthia Hogue's tenth poetry collection is instead, it is dark. Ilya Kaminsky says, "How do other people's memories come to live in our bodies, how do they travel by means of language, from one human bod`y to another, across time and miles, painful miles? I ask this question out of sorrow, yes, but also in wonder, upon reading Cynthia Hogue's beautiful, transformative instead, it is dark, a book not of tales or dreams or historical accounts but of memories that survive us, that have already surviveds us, as they've entered the lyric. Open this book on almost any page and you will see not just World War II history, or its aftermath, but also what such histories do to our minds.…" Her recent ekphrastic Covid chapbook is Contain, and her new collaborative translation from the French of Nicole Brossard is Distantly, from Omnidawn. Among her honors are a Fulbright Fellowship to Iceland, two NEA Fellowships, and the Landon Translation Award from Academy of American Poets. She was the inaugural Marshall Chair in Modern and Contemporary Poetry at Arizona State University. She lives in Tucson.
Louise Nayer's new book is Narrow Escapes: A Memoir. Katherine Seligman says, "Narrow Escapes is a riveting, beautifully told story of Nayer's journey across continents, but also through layers of grief from a childhood trauma, as she learns to find her way home. I will not forget this book." Louise Nayer's prose and poetry books include Keeping Watch; The Houses Are Covered in Sound; Burned: A Memoir, an Oprah Great Read and winner of the Wisconsin Library Association award; and How to Bury a Goldfish: 113 Rituals for Everyday Life, co-authored with Virginia Lang. Her writing appears in OZY, San Francisco Chronicle, Wear Your Voice, Arizona Daily, and elsewhere. Louise Nayer is a member of the Writer's Grotto, and teaches through OLLI UC Berkeley. She lives in San Francisco.
Daily Listings
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12 OCTOBER 2024 — saturday
- The Garlicky Group of Poets welcomes all for their monthly poetry reading and open mic; Come perform and listen to poetry in a relaxed, judgment free environment, Gilroy Library, 350 West Sixth Street, Gilroy, free, 3:30 pm PDT (For more information, visit: sccl.bibliocommons.com/events/65691a42067df23e0029839b)
- The Great Valley BookFest is a family-friendly festival celebrating literacy in California's Central Valley; Event includes more than thirty author talks on six stages, a costume parade, slam poetry performances, street performers, cooking demos, self-publishing seminars, writers' workshops, new and used booksellers, scavenger hunts, arts & crafts, plus gourmet food and beverage vendors, free, The Promenade at Bass Pro, 280 Lifestyle Road, Manteca (For more information, visit: gvbookfest.org)
- Litquake welcomes Felice Laverne, Hilary Swanson, and Annie Tucker for a discussion on the craft of ghostwriting, San Francisco Public Library, Saroyan Gallery, 100 Larkin Street, Sixth Floor, San Francisco, free, 12:30 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/behind-the-veil-ghostwriting-101-registration-1003392001487?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)
- Litquake presents the SF Neo-Futurists who will perform their flagship show "The Infinite Wrench," featuring thirty original short plays, personal storytelling, poetry, dance, audience participation, and more, 447 Minna Street, San Francisco, admission starts at $10, 9:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-infinite-wrench-tickets-764199149227)
- Litquake presents a panel featuring Ellen Barry, Andrea Canaan, Lisa Clapper, Natalie Devora, Juli C. Lasselle, Jessica Millett, and Suma Nagaraj focused on writing exercises using the Radical Creative Womanist Workshopping and Reflection in Community (RCWWRC) workshopping model, San Francisco Public Library, Saroyan Gallery, 100 Larkin Street, Sixth Floor, San Francisco, free, 2:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/radical-creative-womanist-workshopping-and-reflection-in-community-registration-1003393164967?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)
- Litquake presents "Black Poetics, Black Worldbuilding," a discussion with panelists Darius Simpson and Nefertiti Asant on how they use poetry to dissect and analyze the worlds of white supremacy, settler-colonialism, and heteropatriarchy, San Francisco Public Library, Saroyan Gallery, 100 Larkin Street, Sixth Floor, San Francisco, free, 3:30 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/black-poetics-black-worldbuilding-registration-1003397517987?aff=ebdssbcategorybrowse/a>)
- Litquake presents "Irregular Feedback: Writers on Music," an evening of writers writing about music inspired by the music criticism and archival work of writer Hanif Abdurraqib, featuring Hieu Minh Nguyen, Phoebe Cakes, Safia Elhillo, José Vadi, and Anna Shults Held, led by cultural critic and essayist Micheal Foulk, The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco, $14-$18, 7:30 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/irregular-feedback-writers-on-music-tickets-1000903648757?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)
- Poetry Nap in collaboration with Litquake presents "The Enchanting Secret of the Opalescent Moon," an evening of poetry and music at the Chabot Planetarium, Telescopes open for use after the show, Chabot Space and Science Center Planetarium, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland, $30-$40, 8:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: poetrynap.com/tickets)
- The Tahoe Literary Festival will be a two-day event celebrating Tahoe literary artists and will feature author panels, an open mic night, sessions on topics for writers, author readings, and reading and storytelling for children; more information to be announced; Various locations, 2300 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, Ticket price TBA, 6:30 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.facebook.com/events/1875028486260301/?ref_source=NEWS_FEED&paipv=0&eav=AfbGCDrMTmDXb09ROmiP-V2Id3DrPG1LHzeJLL4PsGtnNXQwNNmc8ChLJV-2I2s-F4A&_rdr)
13 OCTOBER 2024 — sunday
- "Writing Toward the Light" online workshop will be led by author Maggie Smith, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, and poet Danusha Laméris, Bonfire Opera, four Sundays in October (October 6, 13, 20, and 27); Workshop sessions will include a craft discussion, a Q&A period, and an in-class writing session, Virtual on Zoom, $250, 4:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.danushalameris.com/offers/xFozUZVF/checkout)
- Litquake presents "Is Nonfiction Literature? Exploring the Intersection of Fact and Art," writers Tom Barbash, Lindsey Crittenden, Glen David Gold, and Rachel Howard, with moderator Jason Roberts, a discussion about nonfiction and its categorization within the literary arts, San Francisco Public Library, Saroyan Gallery, 100 Larkin Street, Sixth Floor, San Francisco, free, 2:30 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/is-nonfiction-literature-exploring-the-intersection-of-fact-and-art-registration-1003401590167?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)
- Litquake welcomes writers Eirinie Carson, Christopher D. Cook, Sabina Khan-Ibarra, Jesus Francisco Sierra, and Rowena Leong Singer for "Celebrating Defiance, Resisting Silence," a discussion of identity, activism, and the pursuit of justice, to give insights into how American culture and politics impact their daily lives as members of under-represented communities, SAGRADA, 4926 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, free, 7:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrating-defiance-resisting-silence-registration-1003981073417?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)
- Litquake and Philippine American Writers and Artists, Inc. (PAWA) present The Filipino American International Book Festival (FilBookFest), a festival celebrating diverse voices and Filipino authors featuring keynote speaker Elaine Castillo, How to Read Now: Essays, San Francisco Public Library, Saroyan Gallery, 100 Larkin Street, Sixth Floor, San Francisco, free, 12:30 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.filbookfestival.org)
- Litquake welcomes writers Susan Kiyo Ito, Margaret Juhae Lee, Grace Loh Prasad, and Leslie Absher for "Subterfuge and Secrets: Memoirists Who Go Undercover to Learn the Truth," a discussion about using creative nonfiction to write imagined scenes, and lying, eavesdropping, and/or employing subterfuge to gain access to off-limit material for their memoirs, San Francisco Public Library, Saroyan Gallery, 100 Larkin Street, Sixth Floor, San Francisco, free, 4:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/subterfuge-and-secrets-memoirists-who-go-undercover-to-learn-the-truth-registration-1003402623257?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)
- Litquake and The Lost Church present "Modern Magic" featuring writer Michelle Tea, Modern Magic, and its companion Modern Tarot, in conversation with Diana Helmuth, The Witching Year, during intermission author Rana Tahir's will share her "Choose Your Own Adventure"-inspired tarot deck, and Julia Halina Hadas's WitchCraft Cocktails will be served, moderated by MK Chavez, The Lost Church, 988 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, $18, 8:15 pm PDT (For more information, visit: thelostchurch.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a0FTU00000AFhN52AL)
- Litquake presents "How Mighty Is the Small, Independent Press?" a panel moderated by Tania Malik with Nina Schuyler, Grace Loh Prasad, and Carol LaHines who will share a frank discussion about their experiences being traditionally published by small, independent presses, San Francisco Public Library, Saroyan Gallery, 100 Larkin Street, Sixth Floor, San Francisco, free, 1:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/how-mighty-is-the-small-independent-press-registration-1003400677437?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)
- Poetry Flash presents a poetry reading featuring Patricia Caspers, The Most Kissed Woman in the World, and Annie Stenzel, Don't misplace the moon, Art House Gallery & Cultural Center, 2905 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, two blocks north of Ashby BART, refreshments, free, 3:00 pm PDT (poetryflash.org).
14 OCTOBER 2024 — monday
15 OCTOBER 2024 — tuesday
- Litquake and City Lights present a reading by novelist Caro De Robertis, The Palace of Eros, and Navid Sinaki, Medusa of the Roses, a queer literary noir, Virtual, free, 7:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/caro-de-robertis-and-navid-sinaki-tickets-995563616577?aff=oddtdtcreator)
- Litquake and Telegraph Hill Books welcome Kemi Ashing-Giwa, This World is Not Yours, Evette Davis, The Others, Hana Lee, Road to Ruin, and Julia Vee, Blood Jade, for "New Encounters of the Weird Kind: Fresh Voices in Sci-Fi and Fantasy," a discussion on contemporary science fiction and fantasy writing moderated by author Isaac Fellman, Dead Collections, Telegraph Hill Books, 1501 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, free, 7:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/new-encounters-of-the-weird-kind-fresh-voices-in-sci-fi-and-fantasy-tickets-1004186347397?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)
- Books Inc. Berkeley welcomes documentarian Stephen Most for a discussion of his book, River of Renewal, detailing the history of the Klamath Basin; Books Inc., 1491 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, free, 7:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/stephen-most-at-books-inc-berkeley-tickets-961710210127)
16 OCTOBER 2024 — wednesday
- Point Reyes Books presents Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Hernan Diaz, Trust, for a discussion of his book, In the Distance, Venue TBD, Fairfax, 7:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.ptreyesbooks.com/event/hernan-diaz)
- Litquake presents "Are Writers of Color Allowed to Not Write About Race?" a discussion on the subject of what writers of color are permitted to write about, with Pia Chatterjee, Vanessa Hua, Dominic Lim, and Preeti Vangani, Clio's, 353 Grand Avenue, Oakland, free, 7:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/are-writers-of-color-allowed-to-not-write-about-race-tickets-1004291471827?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)
- Litquake presents "Savoring Stories: How Food Writing Cooks Up Culture, Advocacy, and Healing," a World Food Day event featuring writers Viola Buitoni, Maria Finn, Soleil Ho, Tu David Phu, and Dr. Linda Shiue in discussion on the role of food writing in advancing food justice, sustainability, equitable access to nutritious meals, and how narratives can drive change and advocacy in the food system, Mechanics' Institute, 57 Post Street, San Francisco, $15, 6:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/savoring-stories-how-food-writing-cooks-up-culture-advocacy-and-healing-tickets-911405868487?aff=oddtdtcreator)
- The South Pasadena Public Library presents a free interactive poetry writing workshop led by City of South Pasadena Poet Laureate Ron Koertge, Shakespeare Bats Cleanup, South Pasadena Library Community Room, 1115 El Centro Street, South Pasadena, free, 6:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/poetry-writing-workshops-with-south-pasadena-poet-laureate-ron-koertge-tickets-778003127297?aff=ebdssbdestsearch)
17 OCTOBER 2024 — thursday
- Warwick's welcomes novelist Louis Bayard, The Pale Blue Eye, to discuss his latest book, The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts, Virtual on Zoom, free, 4:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.warwicks.com/event/bayard-2024)
- City Lights Booksellers & Publishers welcomes author Steve Wasserman for a reading to celebrate the publication of, Tell Me Something, Tell Me Anything, Even If It's a Lie: A Memoir in Essays, In conversation with author Adam Hochschild, King Leopold's Ghost, Online, Free, 7:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/steve-wasserman-in-conversation-with-adam-hochschild-tickets-998674320777?aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail&ref=eemail&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite)
18 OCTOBER 2024 — friday
19 OCTOBER 2024 — saturday
- Litquake in collaboration with KQED Fest presents "The Rise of the Book Ban & the Freedom to Read," a discussion on book banning with San Francisco City Librarian Michael Lambert, Becka Robbins from Books Not Bans, Authors Against Book Bans member Maggie Tokuda-Hall, and Maia Kobabe, award-winning author of Genderqueer, in recent years the most banned book in the U.S., The Commons at KQED, 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, free, 4:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-rise-of-the-book-ban-the-freedom-to-read-tickets-1001455409087?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)
- Litquake presents "Poetry World Series," an improvisational poetry challenge where audience members have an opportunity to give award-winning poets freestyle topics, featuring poets Armen Davoudian, Luiza Flynn-Goodlett, Cindy Ok, Joseph Rios, Mimi Tempestt, and Dashaun Washington, Daniel Handler returns as emcee, Andrew Sean Greer, and Brynn Saito will score, The Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd Street, San Francisco, $17-$20, 7:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/poetry-world-series-litquake-edition-tickets-1004310789607?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)
20 OCTOBER 2024 — sunday
- "Writing Toward the Light" online workshop will be led by author Maggie Smith, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, and poet Danusha Laméris, Bonfire Opera, four Sundays in October (October 6, 13, 20, and 27); Workshop sessions will include a craft discussion, a Q&A period, and an in-class writing session, Virtual on Zoom, $250, 4:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.danushalameris.com/offers/xFozUZVF/checkout)
- Litquake in collaboration with the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival presents "Out Loud: A Celebration of Queer Poetics," a reading featuring queer poets MK Chavez, Hilary Cruz Mejia, Jessica Ke'mani Hairston, Syd Staiti, Yeva Johnson, and Evelyn Donji, Esplanade, Yerba Buena Gardens, 700 Mission Street, San Francisco, free, Noon PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/out-loud-a-celebration-of-queer-poetics-tickets-1001461507327?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)
- Beyond Baroque welcomes poet Jose Oseguer, The Milk of Your Blood, for the L.A. book launch of his second full-length poetry collection, And This House is Only a Nest, featuring performances in the Wanda Coleman Theater by poets Elizabeth Metzger, The Spirit Papers, Charles Jensen, Instructions Between Takeoff and Landing, Tamara Miller, and jimmy vega; Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice Beach, Los Angeles, free, 8:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/la-book-launch-and-this-house-is-only-a-nest-by-jose-oseguera-tickets-964096658057?aff=oddtdtcreator)
21 OCTOBER 2024 — monday
- The City of El Cerrito presents a drop-in poetry circle with El Cerrito Poet Laureate Tess Taylor, Rift Zone, Hana Gardens Senior Center, 10870 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, free, 7:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.el-cerrito.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=9395)
22 OCTOBER 2024 — tuesday
23 OCTOBER 2024 — wednesday
- Graywolf Press presents a literary salon featuring an introduction by poet Dana Gioia, Interrogations at noon, followed by a reading and conversation with Maggie Nelson, Like Love: Essays and Conversations, Solmaz Sharif, Customs, Graywolf director and publisher Carmen Giménez, and Graywolf editorial director Ethan Nosowsky; All attendees will receive a custom tote bag; Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, The Store House, 2 Marina Blvd, Landmark Building C, San Francisco, starting at $50, 7:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: graywolfpress.salsalabs.org/50thanniversarysalonsanfrancisco/index.html)
- Linden Tree Books welcomes Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin to discuss their new Middle Grade historical adventure, The Bletchley Riddle, presented off site at Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto, free, 6:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.lindentreebooks.com/events-calendar)
- City Arts and Lectures presents Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between The World & Me, to discuss his new essay collection, The Message, Sydney Goldstein Theater, 275 Hayes Street, San Francisco, tickets start at $54, 7:30 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.cityarts.net/event/ta-nehisi-coates-4)
24 OCTOBER 2024 — thursday
25 OCTOBER 2024 — friday
- Point Reyes Books welcomes Obi Kaufmann to discuss his newest book, The State of Fire: Why California Burns, with watercolor maps and paintings, Red Barn Classroom, 75 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, free, 7:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.ptreyesbooks.com/state-of-fire-kaufmann)
26 OCTOBER 2024 — saturday
- Christian Georgescu's multimedia production House of The Highest and Most Pious (HOTHAMP) "depicts a prosperity preacher's search for meaning as he contends with modern life amid late stage Capitalism", Featuring spoken word performance from S.A. Griffin, Rich Ferguson, Kathleen Florence, and Christine Jordan, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd, Venice Beach, Los Angeles, Free, 2:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/house-of-the-highest-and-most-pious-tickets-962479872207?aff=ebdsoporgprofile)
27 OCTOBER 2024 — sunday
- Small Press Traffic and the Belladonna* School for Feminist Practice and Poetics presents "Reading and Writing through Hoa Nguyen", a four session (October 27, November 10, November 24, and December 8) workshop centered around discussion of Nguyen's work and generative writing exercises, Hosted by author Zoe Tuck, Bedroom Vowel, Virtual on Zoom, $80-200, 1:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.smallpresstraffic.org/event/reading-and-writing-through-hoa-nguyen)
- This house concert will feature the Ursonate, an experimental sound poem composed by the German Dada artist and poet Kurt Schwitters in 1924, and phonetic poetry by Antonin Artaud, Hugo Ball, Raoul Hausmann, and Theo van Dousburg, as well as works composed by Jaap Blonk, held at a private residence in Berkeley, admission $40 via Venmo @harry-bernstein, 5:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.jaapblonk.com/Pages/ontour.html, or email, harry@fullplatemedia.com)
- "Writing Toward the Light" online workshop will be led by author Maggie Smith, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, and poet Danusha Laméris, Bonfire Opera, four Sundays in October (October 6, 13, 20, and 27); Workshop sessions will include a craft discussion, a Q&A period, and an in-class writing session, Virtual on Zoom, $250, 4:00 pm PDT (For more information, visit: www.danushalameris.com/offers/xFozUZVF/checkout)
28 OCTOBER 2024 — monday
29 OCTOBER 2024 — tuesday
30 OCTOBER 2024 — wednesday
31 OCTOBER 2024 — thursday
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