LitPDX seeks to amplify marginalized voices, and welcomes all, their ideas, their events, and their words.

For details regarding specific events please contact the organizers or venues. If you are an organizer or venue and would like to reach out to us please feel free to contact us or submit an event using our submission form. We’d love to hear from you!

Teen Book Club

Books Around the Corner 40 NW 2nd Street, Gresham

This book club is ran by the teens who attend. No adults allowed. The teens have chosen The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King. One of the most unique tales that master storyteller Stephen King has ever written--a sprawling fantasy of dark magic and the struggle for absolute power that utterly transforms the destinies of two brothers born into royalty. Through this enthralling masterpiece of mythical adventure, intrigue, and terror, you will thrill to this unforgettable narrative filled with relentless, wicked enchantment, and the most terrible of secrets.... Available at a 15% discount to order if you plan on attending the book club. Email us to order it or come in!

Free

PDX October Happy Hour

The Pied Cow Coffehouse 3244 SE Belmont Street, Portland

It's our regular monthly meetup. Let's chat, have a drink, talk about what we learned at September's Red Pencil conference, and enjoy time with our fellow editors. Held at Pied Cow Coffeehouse (3244 SE Belmont St., Portland, Oregon). Open to all editors. Free to attend; food and drink available for purchase Contact host Alison Cantrell (alisonjcantrell@gmail.com) for questions and more information.

Free

Slamlandia October Literary Arts Show ft. Chris Gonzalez

Literary Arts 925 SW Washington Street, Portland

Join us on OCTOBER 10TH for our second Thursday Poetry Open Mic and Slam! This is a qualifying slam to get into our WOWPS finals later this year. Doors and sign-ups are at 6:30 PM Get there on time to get a spot in the open mic or slam! Show begins at 7:00 PM Literary Arts 925 SW Washington Street Portland, OR 97205 This show is all ages. Please see our Accessibility and Safer Space info below. No door admission. We will have a feature from the fantastic Chris Gonzalez! Chris Gonzalez is an educator, journalist, playwright, poet, musician, and creative-collaborator based in Portland, Oregon. Chris has been a featured poet for the past six years, performing alongside International Slam Champions Saul Williams and Shane…

Free

Rob Carney and Scott Poole

Another Read Through 3932 N Mississippi Ave, Portland

An evening of newsworthy and humorous poems by 2019 Washington State Book Award finalist Rob Carney and former House Poet of NPRs Live Wire!, Scott Poole. Rob’s The Book of Sharks is a finalist for the Washington Book Award. Scott will be selling a special limited edition of an art book of 20 poems and 20 original paintings. Rob Carney is originally from the northwest (Puyallup, Tacoma, Spokane) and now lives in Salt Lake City. He is the author of five books, most recently The Book of Sharks (Black Lawrence Press, 2018), which is a finalist for this year’s Washington State Book Award for Poetry (winner to be announced Saturday Oct. 12, so think good thoughts, please). His collection 88 Maps (Lost Horse Press, 2015) was…

Free

Arn Strasser

Broadway Books 1714 NE Broadway, Portland

Portland poet and artist Arn Strasser joins us to read from his latest book, Remedies. Remedies, Strasser's fifth collection of poetry, is organized around what can be seen as remedies: nature, art, journeys, reflection, and love. The poems are drawn from four previous books of poetry and are accompanied by Strasser’s full-color illustrations. Strasser’s other books include Terrain, Incidental Longing, To the Poet Listening, and Before Dreaming, all published by Budding Branch Books. Strasser was born in Zurich, Switzerland, and grew up in Great Neck, outside of New York City. He is well respected for his art work, which has been shown at a variety of galleries -- and one of his gorgeous pieces is on display behind the counter at Broadway Books. He is…

Free

Well-Read Black Girl Book Club

Powell's City of Books 1005 W Burnside Street, Portland

Black women and Black nonbinary people are invited to join us every second Thursday of the month for the Well-Read Black Girl Book Club. The American Booksellers Association is partnering with Well-Read Black Girl founder Glory Edim to amplify diverse voices and support emerging writers through discussions of classics and newly published work, all written by Black authors. This month we’re reading My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. Join us!

Free

Deadly Diversions Book Group

Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton

This month our group meets to discuss Mark Pryor’s Hugo Marston mystery series. Join us!

Free

Enough Is Enough: How Students Can Join the Fight for Gun Safety

Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd, Beaverton

Michelle Roehm McCann’s Enough Is Enough (Simon Pulse/Beyond Words) is a young activist’s handbook to joining the fight against gun violence to make schools safer for everyone. McCann deftly explains America’s gun violence issues – myths and facts, causes and perpetrators, solutions and change-makers – and provides a road map for effective activism.

Free

WRITING & THE BODY: FALL, Oct. 10-13

The Corporeal Writing Center 510 SW 3rd Ave #101, Portland

This workshop is sold out - please use this link to sign up for the waitlist. Jennifer Pastiloff and Lidia Yuknavitch are now running their infamous workshop three times a year! Lucky for us since this workshop has been selling out a year in advance for awhile now. Jenn & Lidia are both renowned in their fields in their own right, and both of them are known for their inventive, non-traditional methods. Together they lead you to your most creative place by tapping into your body first, and then picking up the pen. But don't worry! You do not have to be a published or experienced writer or yogi- we are looking for people who have heart. You have a desire to write? You have a body?…

$850

For Colored Folks

Ruby Receptionists 805 SW Broadway, Portland

WHAT IT IS: A book club geared to cultivating joy and empowerment for people of color. The book lists will include non-fiction written by POCs and some fiction as well. Donations are not required to attend, but if you'd like to donate to contribute to snacks and beverages that we bring feel free to Cash app me at $BriaunaMcKizzie or venmo me at brigirl ABOUT THE SPACE: The meetings will be held at my job, Ruby Receptionists, which is located on the 9th floor of the Fox Tower. Free parking on the street after 7:00 PM. It's also located like 5-7 minutes from the max. Carpooling would be great, too. I live on the west side and would be happy to have other West siders…

Free

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic Featuring Jonathan Oak

Angst Gallery 1015 Main St, Vancouver

Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic Hosted by Christopher Luna and Toni Lumbrazo Luna of Printed Matter Vancouver Featuring Jonathan Oak 7 pm Thursday, October 10 Open mic sign up begins at 6:30 and closes at 7 $5 Suggested donation (for featured poet) Angst Gallery 1015 Main Street Vancouver, WA 98660 angstgallery.com Food and libation provided by Niche Wine Bar, 1013 Main Street Sound provided by Briz Loan & Guitar: http://briz.us/ LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY, ALL AGES, AND UNCENSORED SINCE 2004 Jonathan Oak is the author of two poetry books, Sutly fucked ↑ and Things I Forgot To Say, as well as the upcoming novel Jerry. He has lived and performed in Portland for the last six years. He was part of the VAMP reading series in San…

Free – $5

Unleash the Dragon Within

Powell's Books on Hawthorne 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland

In Unleash the Dragon Within (Blue Snake), psychology professor and respected kung-fu instructor Steven Macramalla introduces the six Animals of Ch’ien-lung, an 18th-century kung-fu practice based on the Animal archetypes of three great cats and three great snakes. Unleash the Dragon Within includes cutting-edge neuroscientific research on the mind-body relationship.

Free

Thom Hartmann

Powell's City of Books 1005 W Burnside Street, Portland

Taking his typically in-depth, historically informed view, Thom Hartmann asks: What if the Supreme Court didn't have the power to strike down laws? In The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America (Berrett-Koehler), the progressive radio host explains how the Supreme Court has spilled beyond its constitutional powers – and how we the people should take that power back.

Free

Not good enough! – Leland Cheuk, Yuvi Zalkow, Michelle Fredette

Rose City Book Pub 1329 NE Fremont, Portland

Join Plonk for readings on aiming high and not quite making it. We're pleased to host , who's promoting his book, , , reading a short piece on being not good enough to even write about not being good enough, and on taking Roller Derby 101, and you know, not being a natural. Come on out for the readings and to learn about Create More, Fear Less, the organization that supports school kids who suffer from anxiety.

Free

The Devil You Know

Chapel Theatre 4107 SE Harrison St, Milwaukie

Hey, champ! Thanks for checking out Telltale. This is a monthly curated storytelling event for people that like to get vulnerable and take no shit. We are into genuine connection, laughter, heartbreak, poignant moments, and community building. We are now in our third season, and we are very excited for all the shows coming up this year. At Telltale, you can expect 8-10 performers sharing something with you, in the way that feels right to them--so there will be a mix of comedy, stories, music, essays, and more. Your evening will likely include honesty, swear words, enthusiasm, resistance, alcohol if that floats your boat, excellent pizza, dark humor, and some rad raffle prizes. You might make a new friend. You know how hard it is…

$8