Prominent authors to appear at 26th Annual Literary Arts Festival
The 26th annual Grossmont College returns April 25 for a week of virtual events featuring acclaimed authors and poets from around the nation who will read their work, teach their craft, and discuss sources of their inspiration.
鈥淭he Literary Arts Festival from Grossmont College鈥檚 Creative Writing Program is the leading festival of its kind in the region, and we are proud to bring together so many distinguished writers to discuss their craft and share their work with our students and the entire community,鈥� said festival and Creative Writing Program Co-coordinator Adam Deutsch.
All events are open and free to the public. Biographies of the writers, as well as workshop descriptions, bibliographies and registration links are available at .
Following is the festival鈥檚 lineup of events:
Monday, April 25, 2 to 3:15 p.m.
Why Literature Matters
A panel of Grossmont College students, faculty, and administrators share personal accounts of the role literature has played in their journeys, advocating the relevance of literature and its potential to inspire change.
Monday, April 25, 7 to 8:15 p.m.
Maggie Downs
Journalist and nonfiction writer Maggie Downs will read from her award-winning grief memoir, 鈥淏raver Than You Think: Around the World on the Trip of My (Mother鈥檚) Lifetime鈥� (Counterpoint 2020).
Tuesday, April 26, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Chris Baron
Chris Baron is the award-winning author of two middle grade novels-in-verse: 鈥淎ll of Me鈥� (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan 2019); and 鈥淭he Magical Imperfect鈥� (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan 2021).
Tuesday, April 26, 7 to 8:15 p.m.
New Voices
Exceptional writers from this semester's creative writing classes and workshops perform some of their best new and original works of fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, drama, spoken word, mixed media word art, and other innovative forms.
Wednesday, April 27, 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.
Manuel Paul Lopez
Chicano border poet and CantoMundo fellow Manuel Paul L贸pez reads from his forthcoming collection, 鈥淣erve Curriculum鈥� (Futurepoem 2022). Previously published works include 鈥淭hese Days of Candy鈥� (Noemi Press, Akrilica Series 2017); 鈥淒eath of a Mexican and Other Poems鈥� (Bear Star Press, 2006); and 鈥淭he Yearning Feed鈥�.
Wednesday April 27, 2 to 3:15 p.m.
Erin Rodondi
Poet Erin Rodoni presents a reading from her newest collection, 鈥淎nd If the Woods Carry You鈥� (Southern Indiana Press 2021), winner of the 2020 Michael Waters Poetry Prize.
Wednesday, April 27, 7 to 8:15 p.m.
Cherie Dimaline
Cherie Dimaline is the highly acclaimed author of the young adult novel, 鈥淭he Marrow Thieves鈥� (DCB 2017), that captured book of the year honors on numerous lists and has been translated into several languages.
Thursday, April 28, 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.
Kosoko Jackson
Maryland native Kosoko Jackson is the author of the newly released, 鈥淚鈥檓 So (Not) Over You鈥� (Berkeley Romance 2022), an adult #OwnVoices queer romcom novel. Other releases include 鈥淎 Place for Wolves鈥� (2019); the time-travel adventure, 鈥淵esterday Is History鈥� (2021); and 鈥淪urvive the Dome鈥� (March 2022).
Thursday, April 28, 7 to 8:15 p.m.
Marco Wilkinson
The Literary Arts Festival closes with essayist, creative nonfiction writer, and ecopoet, Marco Wilkinson reading from his acclaimed first book, 鈥淢adder: A Memoir in Weeds鈥� (Coffee House Press 2021).
Guest readers and presenters at literary events are neither censored for language nor edited for the content of their readings, which may at times be considered suited for mature audiences only. Visitors who may be sensitive to such language and topics are urged to research the writers in advance using the event pages the Literary Arts Festival website,
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