Join Kristy Athens on May 24th for a debut Portland reading of her fantastic new book, Get Your Pitchfork On (GYPO).

The book is chock full of tips and factoids for city-dwellers  moving to the country. City mice contemplating such a move would be well advised to pick up this book and see what you’ll be up against. Or, you could just jump headlong into the adventure and experience first hand some of the, ahem, trials and tribulations encountered by Kristy.

Here’s a fun video book trailer with some of the highlights!

When: Thursday, May 24th 7:30 PM
What: Get Your Pitchfork On reading
Where: Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214-5145

This is a must do, Portland! Our very own treasure, and my mentor, Tom Spanbauer heads a powerhouse line-up of local contributors to Publication Studios’ new anthology The Frozen Moment: Contemporary Writers on the Choices That Change Our Lives on Monday, May 7th.

Tom will read from his upcoming novel, I Loved You More, and his stunning short non-fiction narrative The Visitations and joining him will be recent Oregon Literary Fellowship recipient Margaret Malone, Pushcart prize nominated and extremely awesome Liz Prato, and the fabulous Michael Sage Ricci.

But wait, there’s more! Actress, dancer and writer Christine Calfas reads and performs unseen work. Kathleen Lane and JW Griffith will also read from their contributions to the anthology.

The Frozen Moment: Contemporary Writers on the Choices that Change Our Lives, is an anthology edited by local writer Colin Farstad.

The Frozen Moment is available here, at the reading, and at select bookstores.

Come out–I’m even missing workshop for this I’m so excited!

When: Monday, May 7th 7:00 PM
What: The Frozen Moment reading
Where: Someday Lounge, 125 NW 5th Portland, OR

Cheryl Strayed’s fantastic memoir, Wild, is a week from its March 20th pub date, and those of you in the Pacific Northwest have several opportunities to hear her read!

A co-member of “the hottest writing group in Portland” for several years, Cheryl’s work and spirit has rocketed into the stratosphere of late. Coming out as the popular advice columnist “Sugar” last month, and recently inking a deal with Reese Witherspoon for a film option based on her epic PCT journey, the planets have converged in our little city to make Cheryl the hottest thing in Portland, and we couldn’t be more proud of her.

Aside from her obvious hotness, Cheryl is pure sweetness, and if you’ve never seen her read publicly, you’re in for a treat. Here are the whens and wheres, locally. Go to her website to find out more about her national tour stops.

Come out!

The Chronology of Water, the intensely powerful memoir by local author Lidia Yuknavitch, was a top-ten bestseller at independent bookstores throughout Portland, Oregon in 2011 — and continues to sell and sell.

Besides winning a boatload of awards and recognitions, the book is a finalist for an Oregon Book Award (OBA ceremony is April 23). The book also was one of six books selected for recognition by the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association.

Local bookstore supporter that she is, Lidia has opted to receive her PNBA Award at Broadway Books! Portlanders, come on out on Tuesday, March 6th, at 7 pm for some nosh and celebratory beverages with which to toast Lidia (and her local publisher, Hawthorne Books) and to hear Lidia read from her book. And maybe she’ll tell us just a little bit about her forthcoming novel, due out in the fall.

Come out!

When:Tuesday, March 6th 7:00 PM
What: Lidia Yuknavitch’s Award Ceremony
Where: Broadway Books

Writers! Be on the cutting board edge and participate in SoulPancake’s new “Perspectives” column, WRITERS’ KITCHEN. At the beginning of each month, WRITERS’ KITCHEN curators, Author, Holiday Reinhorn and Editor, Erin Reel will serve up a given “theme” for you to chew on that is vital in one way or another to the writers’ life and process. Get in on the fun!

When: Live now!
What: A new place for writers to gather and share writers’ life recipes
Learn more: SoulPancake Perspectives

Get thee to San Francisco on Valentine’s Day! The popular advice columnist for The Rumpus will reveal his/her secret identity amid fanfare and celebration at the Verdi Club.

The artist currently known as Sugar will be live and in conversation with Rumpus Editor Stephen Elliott, as well as folks whose letters he/she has answered. Music by Pocket Full of Rye and The Yellow Dress. And comedy by the amazing Janine Brito!

Great deals on Sugar mugs and posters, as well as chances to win great prizes in our monthly porn raffle and many other surprises.

$10, cheap! You can’t afford not to go!

When:Tuesday, February 14th 7:00 PM
What: Sugar’s Coming Out Party
Where: The Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa Street
Buy Tickets!

The latest book by Pacific Northwest writer, Sarah Jio. In the summer of 1942, 21-year-old Anne Calloway, newly engaged, sets off to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora Bora. More exhilarated by the adventure than she ever was by her predictable fiancé, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry. Their friendship soon blossoms into something more, and under the thatched roof of a beach bungalow the two share a private world — until they witness a gruesome crime. Westry is suddenly redeployed, and the idyll vanishes into the winds of war. A timeless story of enduring passion, Sarah Jio‘s novel The Bungalow (Plume) chronicles Anne’s determination to discover the truths about life and love that have haunted her for 70 years.

When:Tuesday, February 7th 7:00 PM
What: Sarah Jio reading from her new novel, The Bungalow
Where: Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing
Learn more: Powell’s Calendar

Are you ready to publish a novel in 2012? This class is for any and everyone who has a so-called failed, forgotten, or otherwise seemingly intractable (but complete) draft haunting his or her hard drive, ready to be revived. You’ll learn how to honestly assess your manuscript’s big picture issues, including plot, structure, pacing, and character. You’ll also learn a few Jedi mind tricks professional editors use to help authors complete stunning revisions (and catch the attention of agents and publishers). If you’re serious about getting your work out of your head this year and into print (or e-book), 2012′s creative writing kick-off class from Indigo Editing is not to be missed.

When: Saturday, January 28th 10:00 – 11:30 AM
What: Resuscitating the Novel: Bringing Old Work Back to Life
Susan DeFreitas, Indigo Editing & Publications
Cost: $45
More Info: click here

Crow Arts Manor presents:

The Frozen Moment: Contemporary Writers on the Choices that Change Our Lives

Chloe Cadwell, Monica Drake, Brian S. Ellis, Roy Coughlin, and musical guest Curious Hands will be entertaining the masses. Free event with suggested donation of $5. It’s for art, people!

When: Tuesday, January 10th 8:00 PM
What: A reading by some totally hip and cool writers
Where: Blue Monk on Belmont
Learn more: Small Doggies Reading Series