Launch party for Six Three Whiskey magazine at 826LA Mar Vista

Six Three Whiskey, the brand new print & online LA-based literary journal edited by Chris LeGras, launches tonight with a reading and party at 826LA Mar Vista. Come celebrate their debut with a room full of writers, stories from the inaugural issue, and a wine flight, with wines generously donated from Beckmen Vineyards and Ranchita Canyon.

Readers include: 
Lou Mathews
Alison Turner
Rob Roman
Steven John 
George Ducker (reading William Faulkner) 
and myself (doing a short wine lecture)

Doors at 7:30pm, event starts at 8:00pm
Cost: FREE (but a suggested donation of $5 for wine, in support of 826LA). Non-alcoholic beverages will also be provided.


McSweeney's & HOT DISH present Lucy Corin and Victoria Chang at 826LA Mar Vista

Monday, August 12th, come to 826LA Mar Vista for a party celebrating the new McSweeney's releases of Lucy Corin's 100 Apocalypses and Other Apocalypses and Victoria Chang's The Boss. Also featuring readings from Jim Ruland (Big Lonesome), Lenore Zion (Stupid Children), comedy from Kyle Kinane, and music from Annie Stela.

Doors at 7:30, event begins at 8:00. Advance tickets $10 or free with the purchase of Lucy's or Victoria's book, and available here at the 826LA Store. The 826LA Mar Vista space is small, so advance purchase is highly recommended.

Hope to see you there.

 

(and huge thanks to Lyndsey Lesh for the poster) 

 

The Saturday Rumpus interview with Cecil Castellucci

Today at The Rumpus, author Cecil Castellucci and I talk about her astonishingly diverse body of work, YA authors, letters from fans, odd ducks, high school, the 10-year waiting list for artists, the book that influenced her most, and much more. If you're not familiar with Cecil yet -- you should be -- she's one of the most wildly intelligent, supportive, kind, and articulate writers working today in Los Angeles. Get to know her.

HOT DISH on the PEN Center Literary Stage

One week from tomorrow, on the PEN Center Literary Stage at The Jubilee: HOT DISH a la carte w/ Nikki Darling, Rico Gagliano, Summer Block Kumar, Anthony Miller, and myself. Friday, June 7th at 8:00 pm -- but come at 6:00 pm to catch Conrad Romo's Tongue & Groove and PEN Emerging Voices beforehand.

 

The California Prose Directory: Now for sale

The California Prose Directory, a new anthology of California writing edited by Charles McLeod and featuring Andrew Foster Altschul, Stephen Elliott, Sarah LaBrie, Dinah Lenney, Lisa Locascio, myself, and many more -- is now for sale at Skylight Books, Book Soup, Powell's, Amazon, and other retailers. There are some truly excellent stories in here, folks -- check it out.

California Prose Directory reading at Stories Books

This Thursday, May 23rd at 7:00 pm, I'll be reading "The Augustus Mackinnon Story" from the California Prose Directory anthology at Stories Books in Echo Park. Special thanks to Hobart who originally published this story & nominated it for a Pushcart Prize all the way back in 2006. 

HOT DISH in Silver Lake

Join us in Silver Lake for a Sunday evening literary house party, hosted by Summer Block Kumar & J. Ryan Stradal at the beautiful home of Joshua Wolf Shenk in the hills overlooking the reservoir. Featuring writers Ann Friedman, Ben Loory, and Diana Wagman. 5:00 pm Sunday May 12th -- contact me directly for directions & further details. 

Reading / eating tonight at Muddy Leek

There will be amazing food from master chef Whitney Flood and new stories from Rico Gagliano, Zoe Ruiz, and myself, 8:00 pm tonight at the Muddy Leek in Culver City. Jonathan Gold seems to like this place. Produced by Conrad Romo & Tammy Abell.

HOT DISH February 10th

Have a mimosa and Sunday Brunch with the Hot Dish gang, with stories & music from Amelia Gray (THREATS, Museum of the Weird, AM/PM), Summer Block Kumar, LaMuff (Gold Lamé), Wendy Molyneux (Bob's Burgers, Everything Is Wrong With You), Joshua Shenk (Lincoln's Melancholy) and myself.

Also featuring: Rena Durrant's "Egg Puff" casserole, Amelia Gray's homemade scones, Sarah Tomlinson's crumb cake, a secret culinary contribution from Erin Hickey, a constant supply of mimosas -- and more.

Happening at and in support of 826LA, 1714 W. Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park, 12 noon on Sunday, February 10th. $5 at the door.

Super Bowl Preview

My annual Super Bowl preview is up, at The Rumpus. I read between 70 and 80 articles while researching this piece this year, and this weekend's game truly has some impressive and grotesque underlying stories. Huge thanks to Brooke Delaney, Amelia Gray, and Joe Mikan for the help getting this beast into decent shape.

 

 

Interview with Ann Friedman for The Rumpus

Last week, I caught up with one of my favorite people, writer/editor/force of nature Ann Friedman. We discussed Tomorrow magazine, Hillary Clinton, dance floor injuries, "breakup season," and much more. Read the whole interview here.

HOT DISH tonight

Summer and I are taking this HOT DISH off -- and it could be our biggest one yet. Rico Gagliano (Dinner Party Download), Jillian Lauren (Some Girls; Pretty), Lauren Eggert-Crowe (In the Songbird Laboratory), Amy Robb, and Julie Gordon read tonight, with hot apple cider, wine, and more desserts than you can handle. Doors at 8:00, event starts 30-40 minutes later, at 826LA Echo Park on 1714 Sunset Blvd. $5.00 at the door to benefit 826LA.

Two Readings in November

Reading a brand new story for David Rocklin's Roar Shack series, 5:00 pm Sunday, November 11th, at The Last Bookstore in downtown Los Angeles. I'm sharing the bill with the excellent Lauren Eggert-Crowe and Jason Gutierrez, among others.

On Wednesday, November 14th, I'm in Zoe Ruiz's series READINGS, at 7:30 pm at Stories Books in Echo Park. Local literary powerhouses Natashia Deon, Eve Troeh, Antonia Crane, and Carson Mell will be joining me for that one. It's $5 and benefits 826LA.

HOT DISH at 826LA Echo Park, September 5th

Hot Dish returns with an evening of desserts and dessert drinks, plus stories from Eve Troeh, Adam Novy, Mary Hamilton, Sofiya Alexandra, Summer Block Kumar, and myself.

Come in, sample the homemade dessert selection (pies, tarts, cupcakes & more), grab a drink, and get comfortable. $5.00 (which goes to 826LA) gets you in and gets you all of the delicious food & alcohol you can stand. 1714 W. Sunset Blvd, doors at 9:00 pm, event starts around 9:30.

Two Events

Tomorrow at 3:00 pm, as part of The Curiosity Project in downtown LA, I'm doing a lecture on the history, migration, and manifold expressions of wine grapes (with free examples). Then, at 5:00 pm, I'm reading with three excellent fellow writers as part of a literary event at Atwater Crossing -- where I'll be breaking out a brand-new, never-before-heard story about a tragic parade in Venice. Email me with questions or for more details on either.

Roar Shack Reading Series

Tonight, at 5:00 pm at Stories Bookstore in Echo Park: Come see Chiwan Choi (Abductions), Jillian Lauren (Some Girls, Pretty) & Shilpa Agarwal (Haunting Bombay), with music from Scott Shriner (Weezer) and something spontaneous from me and local writer/musician Ameni Rozsa.

Issue #6 of Midwestern Gothic

My story "Little Funerals," featured in the current issue of the excellent Upper Midwest journal Midwestern Gothic, is out today. Details here: http://midwestgothic.com/

Los Angeles release party for Jac Jemc's MY ONLY WIFE

Tonight at 826LA Echo Park, I'm hosting a night of readings and cocktails, featuring touring author Jac Jemc (in celebration of her debut novel) with L.A. all-stars Ann Friedman, Nikki Darling, and Sarah Tomlinson.

$5 goes to support 826LA, gets you stories from these awesome writers, and all the drinks you want until we run out. Doors at 5:30.