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!

Back Fence PDX: RUSSIAN ROULETTE

The Old Church Concert Hall 1422 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR, United States

STORYTELLERS:  CHRIS WILLIAMS Past Winner, Creator of Front Porch Sessions and The Turnout Storytelling Series at The Secret Society, Does a Spon-On Marlon Brando Impression (Heavier Marlon Brando), Has Never Drank Coffee Ever, Not Once, In His Life, KATIE PIATT Past Winner, Member of That’s What She Said Queer Comedy Collective, Seasoned Performance Artist, Grandma in Training, ALEX DANG Writer, Program Specialist at Literary Arts, Knows Too Much About the Show Friends, Former Speech and Debate Champion, and three other fantastic storytellers! Hosted & Produced by B. FRAYN MASTERS & MINDY NETTIFEE Music by DJ BOBBY D from XRAY.fm ASL Interpretation by BLAKE WALES DOORS 6:30PM ⎮ SHOW 7:30PM $16-26 ADVANCE ⎮ $20 DOOR — Note: We will have walk-up tickets set aside for sale at the door. VIP ticket holders will receive $10 GC…

$16 – $26

The Moth: StorySLAM: Backfired

Holocene 1001 SE Morrison St, Portland, OR, United States

BACKFIRED: Prepare a five-minute story about the best laid plans that... weren't. From bungled diamond heists to busted dinner reservations, tell us about foolproof schemes gone bad, a cunning plot that went awry. Muffler malfunctions also welcome. This venue is 21+ *Tickets for this event are available one week before the show, at 12pm PT / 3pm ET. *Seating is not guaranteed and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before the show. Admission is not guaranteed for late arrivals. All sales final. Media Sponsors: OPB and Literary Arts

$15

Storytime with Mayor Bemis

Books Around the Corner 40 NW 2nd Street, Gresham, OR, United States

Join us for a special storytime with Mayor Bemis at Books Around the Corner. Mayor Bemis will read a few stories to the children. After he'll do a Q&A about government, being mayor and Gresham Reads. The Gresham Reads program provides access to books through free book kiosks at a variety of Gresham restaurants. It promotes literacy and encourages the love of reading. Sign our Gresham Reads banner with your name and favorite book when you attend and we'll hang the banner! We will give 15% off every new or gently used book you purchase at Books Around the Corner to donate to the program AND we'll donate a matching number of books. Celebrate reading and community by spending the afternoon with Mayor Bemis at…

Free

For Colored Folks

Ruby Receptionists 805 SW Broadway, Portland, OR, United States

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

Reading: Gary Corbin

Rose City Book Pub 1329 NE Fremont, Portland, OR, United States

Gary is an award-winning author, editor, and playwright in Camas, WA, a suburb of Portland, OR. Whether staging a new play, completing his next novel, researching an article, or playing a part in a film or on stage, Gary loves to tell compelling stories – and to help others tell theirs. An experienced and accomplished editor, Gary has helped many other authors and organizations tell their own story through editing, research, document analysis and doctoring, and ghostwriting. Whether you write long or short, fact or fiction, poetry or prose, self-published or traditionally published work, Gary can help you with structure, clarity, and of course, strong, clean text. No matter what medium or format you prefer, Gary Corbin helps storytellers like you improve your craft and…

Free

Close Your Eyes

Chapel Theatre 4107 SE Harrison St, Milwaukie, OR, United States

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. The shows this year so far are already ridiculously good. Come see what’s next! 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 often a few raffle prizes. You might make a new friend. You know how hard it is to make new friends as…

$8

Darlinghurst Funeral Rites: Mark Mordue – Launch & Reading

Mother Foucault's Bookshop 523 SE Morrison St, Portland, OR, United States

In urgent, iPhone bursts, Darlinghurst Funeral Rites and its companion collections capture Sydney from its 1980s punk scene to the present, fleeting moments of fatherhood, love & estrangement, and the life and underlying strata of Sydney’s suburban landscapes. One of Australia’s truest beat poets, he is shaped by Walt Whitman, WH Auden, and Bob Dylan, Marc Bolan and the Jam.

Free

For Colored Folks

Ruby Receptionists 805 SW Broadway, Portland, OR, United States

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

ROAR: FAMILY

Magenta Theater 1108 Main St, Vancouver, WA, United States

Details TBA.

$15

Rev. Lenny Duncan Dear Church Book Tour

Central Lutheran Church 1820 NE 21st Ave, Portland, OR, United States

Join us as we welcome Rev. Lenny Duncan to Portland. His forthcoming book, a love letter written to the ELCA, is a challenge and gift to our denomination. Come and hear his questions, vision, and passion. Learn more about Pr. Lenny at www.lennyduncan.com. From his website: Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the U.S Lenny Duncan is the unlikeliest of pastors. Formerly incarcerated and homeless, he is now a black preacher in the whitest denomination in the United States: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Shifting demographics and shrinking congregations make the all headlines, but Duncan sees something else at work—drawing a direct line between the church’s lack of diversity and the church’s lack of vitality. The…

Free