Random Notes

• Sunday 6/21 7pm, writing group mate J. Ryan Stradal reads at Book Party–a reading series I’m unfamiliar with, at the Mandrake Bar (2692 La Cienega in Culver City).

• Sunday 6/28, the New Short Fiction Series (LA’s ‘live literary magazine’) and Other Voices (formerly a top-notch literary journal, and now, as part of the Dzanc family, publisher of fine books) co-sponsor an evening of readings from Billy Lombardo’s How To Hold a Woman and Gina Frangello’s Slut Lullabies–wine & hors d’oeuvres at 7pm, readings at 7:30–at LIME Studios, 1528 20th Street, Santa Monica.

• Theatre 68 in Hollywood rolls on with their 13 By Shanley series, an ambitious rotation of 13 plays by Pulitzer- and Oscar-winning writer John Patrick Shanley (don’t be put off if you were, as I was, disappointed with the film version of Doubt), now extended through Aug. 16: I can personally vouch for the Deborah Geffner-directed Beggars in the House of Plenty, Shanley’s most autobiographical play. Check out this don’t vote-style promo on YouTube.

• The PEN Center Emerging Voices fellowship program is accepting applications through Aug. 14–the program provides supportive but rigorous mentoring for emerging voices from a culturally diverse background.

• Friend and Pushcart Prize-winner Sage Marsters (a writer to watch out for) has a new story online at Open Letters (a new journal to me) called Yellow–aspiring writers would do well to observe how Sage adeptly packs her stories with telling details.

• Long-time mentor and popular UCLA Writer’s Program instructor Lou Mathews has a new story, “At the DMV,” in the most recent issue of Short Story, one of my favorite literary journals.

Halloween Stories

• New up on the fine online journal Failbetter, “Huevos” by Lou Mathews. Not exactly a bedtime story for the kids. But a fine piece of writing, and it takes you somewhere. (Lou is the author of the novel L.A. Breakdown, and a popular instructor at the UCLA Extension Writers Program.)

• On a lighter note, check out an excerpt of the New Short Fiction Series performance of Christopher Meeks’s short story “Dracula Slinks Into the Night” on YouTube.

Literary LA This Weekend

• Pale House Press presents their first literary event in over a year, dubbed Medicine Show, at Taix, 1911 West Sunset in Echo Park, Friday Oct 24 10pm. The events features Michael Stock, Rachel Williams, and Barnaby Slater, with live music by the Titans. Pale House is a local indie press that has produced a short story collection and the litmag Society. Past events have featured writer and indie film director Allison Anders, and writers such as Larry Fondation and Rachel Resnick. No cover.

• Tongue & Groove, Conrad Romo’s hapnin’ literary gathering at the Hotel Cafe, 1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga in Hollywood. On Sunday Oct 26 6pm, the show features Lou Mathews (author of LA Breakdown, with credits that include Tin House, Black Clock and many others); Mary Otis (author of Yes, Yes, Cherries, one of my favorite recent story collections); as well as Susan Hayden, Lisa Orkin, and musical guest Logan Heftel. $6 cover.