Literopolis: A Weekly Round-up Of Portland Literary Events

Monday, October 06, 2014

Deborah Reeves, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Photo Credit: ~Brenda-Starr~ via Compfight cc

Portland loves itself some tall (and not so tall) tales, and there's a veritable smorgasbord of storytelling events to choose from this Saturday.

Back Fence PDX hosts a special Russian Roulette storytelling event as part of Design Week Portland. With Music by Bobby from Sex Life DJs, and Saint Cupcakes served at intermission. Don't wait to buy your tickets, as this event is certain to sell out! 7 p.m., Disjecta 8371 N. Interstate Ave. $15 advance | $18 door

The Mystery Box Show presents another night of sex-centric stories. This is Portland's only live storytelling series that is dedicated to true stories of sex and sexuality. 7 p.m., 3939 N. Mississippi St. $14-$16

And the wonderful Portland Story Theater presents Urban Tellers and real-life stories from within the city's urban community. 7 p.m., Alberta Abbey, 170 NE Alberta St. $15 advance tickets

Also Happening in Portland This Week:

Kick off your week with How To Take A Bullet: A Red Hot Reading at the Waypost. Oakland poet Hollie Hardy will be joined by locals Lizzie Acker, Maria DeLorenzo, and Martha Grover for an evening of poetry, prose, and $6 Monday Margaritas.

Irish theater company, Corrib Theatre presents a staged reading of Spokesong, a play about the owner of a Belfast bicycle shop. The reading will take place at Artists Repertory Theatre on Monday. 7:30 p.m., 1515 SW Morrison St. $10.

And on Monday at Another Read Through, local author Kate Gray will read from her debut novel, Carry The Sky, which was released last month to much acclaim. 7-8 p.m., 3932 N Mississippi St. Free

Also on Monday, Annie Bloom's Books presents Portland authors Samuel Snoek-Brown (author of Hagridden) and Eva Hunter (author of the memoir, A Little Mormon Girl). 7p.m., 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, Free

Tuesday: Broadway Books presents Ted Mahar and Through The Seasons With Dulcy, a collection of gardening columns written by his late wife, Dulcy Mahar, for The Oregonian. 7-8 p.m., 1714 NE Broadway St. Free

On Wednesday, 11 Portland writers come together for an evening of fiction readings, and live music from The Year And The Day, at Legion Hall in the Alberta District. See Facebook for reader details. 7 p.m., 2104 NE Alberta St. Free

Also on Wednesday, local author Suzy Vitello joins Jennifer Longo at Powell's Cedar Hill's Crossing location. Vitello's latest young adult novel is The Empress Chronicles, and Longo makes her YA debut with Six Feet Over It, about a girl stuck living in a cemetery. 7 p.m., 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. Free

Pen and Ink: Tattoos & the Stories Behind Them is the brainchild of Buzzfeed Books Editor, Isaac Fitzgerald, and illustrator, Wendy MacNaughton. On Thursday at Powell's, they will join Cheryl Strayed, Carson Ellis, and other guests to celebrate the book and regale us with their tattoo tales. 7:30 p.m., 1005 W Burnside St. Free

At Powell's on Hawthorne Thursday evening, Oregon author and anthropologist, Elizabeth Enslin, will read from While the Gods Were Sleeping: A Journey Through Love and Rebellion in Nepal. 7:30 p.m., 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Free

On Thursday, Broadway Books presents local author, Alice Hardesty, and her personal memoir: An Uncommon Cancer Journey: The Cosmic Kick That Healed Our Lives. 7-8 p.m., 1714 NE Broadway St. Free

At Glyph Cafe & Art Space on Thursday, seven authors read from work inspired by the pieces in Entitled-A Group Show, which is October's featured exhibition. 6-7 p.m., 804 NW Couch St. Free

Also on Thursday, the English Department at Reed College presents poet Bruce Smith as part of its Visiting Writer Series. Smith is the author of six poetry collections and has been a finalist for both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. 6:30 p.m., Performing Arts Building, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd. Free

Friday: Portland author of the acclaimed Mink River, Brian Doyle, celebrates his latest book Children and Other Wild Animals, a collection of vignettes that explores encounters with creatures of all shapes and sizes. 7:30 p.m., 1005 W Burnside St. Free

At Powell's Cedar Hills on Saturday, The League of Extraordinary Writers presents a writing workshop for young adults: Putting New Spins on Old Tales with author Estela Bernal. 2 p.m., 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd. See Powells.com for further details.

On Sunday afternoon, Oregon Book Award-winning poet, James Grabill, will read from his new collection of ecology-themed prose poems, Sea-Level Nerve. 4 p.m., Powell's Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Free

Later on Sunday, Marlon James presents A Brief History of Seven Killings at Powell's on Burnside. This novel explores the attempted assassination of Bob Marley in the late 1970s. 7:30 p.m., 1005 W Burnside St. Free

Sunday: Write Bloody Publishing presents a book release party for its founder, Derrick Brown, and his latest poetry collection, 'Our Poison Horse'. 7-10 p.m., 1001 SE Division St. Free

Portland Poetry Slam continues Sunday at Glyph. See Facebook for more information. 7 p.m., 804 NW Couch St. $5 suggested donation.

Deborah Reeves is an Irish writer, happy to call Portland home after many years of traveling. An avid reader, she blogs about books and writing at deborahrosereeves.com. You can reach her @debrosereeves on Twitter.