12 literary reading series in Los Angeles

Hot Dish at 826LA

One great way to find a writing community: Becoming a regular at a local reading series.

To help you do that, I’ve put together a list of my favorite reading series. Just to be clear, many more readings happen in town. Indie bookstores, writing programs, and literary journals often host their own series. Plus, lots of one-off events happen everywhere from tiny coffee shops to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. And there are other reading series I haven’t included on this list, sometimes because they’re more private, salon-type events, other times because I simply don’t know about them yet.

Thus: Here’s my far-from-exhaustive list, going from the cozier, more local community based series on to the bigger venues with bigger names.
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Hot Dish at 826LA

Hot Dish Reading Series
This one’s a favorite of foodies. Organized by local writers Summer Block and J Ryan Stradal, Hot Dish brings together yummy eats with literary readings — to raise money for the educational nonprofit 826 LA.

Hot Dish happens roughly quarterly, although the last Hot Dish of 2018 happened back in August — and I was part of the lineup! It had a cheese-and-crackers theme, with most of the food brought to the party by volunteer-attendees who wanted to contribute to the cause. There was also wine and a half dozen great readings broken up with an intermission so people could eat and drink more. Cost: Usually $6, all of which goes to support 826LA.

Vermin on the Mount
Organized and hosted by Jim Ruland, Vermin on the Mount readings happen once every couple months at Book Show in Highland Park. Each event features short readings by a handful of eclectic writers — some on book tour, some local. Plus, there’s a raffle with free prizes for attendees, ranging from books by featured authors to Vermin T-shirts. Contact Jim to submit your own work to be considered for a reading spot. More: Vermin on the Mount: An irreverent reading series in LA and San Diego.

Cupcakes at Library Girl event Ruskin Group Theatre

Library Girl
Created by Susan Hayden, Library Girl events feature a handful of mostly-local readers plus a musical act. The first event of 2019 will be themed “Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)” — and feature a taco cart, dessert, and commemorative souvenirs. Go for the literature and music — and complimentary snacks and dessert. Cost: $10, all of which is donated to Ruskin Group Theatre. More: Library Girl: A Santa Monica reading series with sugar and soul.

Poetic Research Bureau

PRB describes itself as a “valise fiction and portable literary service in Northeast Los Angeles” — which basically means PRB is an artsy, Duchampian, surrealist-influenced L.A. poetry collective with a love of the avant garde. Its long-running event series mostly writers and artists, many experimentally exploring new forms. Cost: Free, donations welcomed.

Why There Are Words LA

Founded by Peg Alford Pursell in Sausalito back in 2010, the series came to Los Angeles in February 2017, thanks to a couple of my favorite local literary people, Ashley Perez and Patrick O’Neil. Events have moved around — when I got to read in the series back in April last year, it happened in a sunny Koreatown living room — though the last few have happened at Kaffebaren downtown. Skylight Books always shows up to sell the authors’ books. Free.

New Short Fiction Series
Actors and writers unite at this long-running spoken word series. Every second Sunday of the month, actors read stories by west coast authors, giving the tales a performative flair. Most events happen at The Federal Bar in North Hollywood, but occasionally the readings roam around. My favorite was when my grad school friend Bryan Hurt’s story was read by Ryan Klamen at the Annenberg Beach House; Helen Hunt was in the audience, and came up afterwards to compliment them. The series is hosted by Sally Shore. Cost: $10-$20.

Roar Shack reading series at 826LA in Los Angeles

Roar Shack
Organized and hosted by local writer David Rocklin, these monthly readings in Echo Park each feature short readings by a handful of mostly-local authors, punched up with a musical performance and a little healthy writing competition called Livewrite. Contact David to get on the events email list — or to submit your own work to be considered for a reading spot. More: Roar Shack: A Monthly Echo Park reading series with music and a Livewrite.

WCCW Reading Series

Held at the Women’s Center for Creative Work, this quarterly event is put together by Nina Rota and Sara Finnerty. Each event boasts the same theme as the current WCCW programming.

Hitched
This quarterly reading series is unique in that it features pairs of writers — “as a way of celebrating the relationships we build as writers that are integral to our success and the successes of those around us.” Local poet Xochitl Julisa-Bermejo organizes these events, which always aim to give voice to marginalized voices. Her website isn’t always updated; check Facebook for the latest events. Free. More: Getting Hitched before the New Year.

Sumarr Reading Series
Organized by Diana Arterian, Sumarr readings happen once every few months, featuring a handful of mostly local readers plus a musical guest. It all happens at a cute little book store called The Pop-Hop in Highland Park. I read for this series earlier this year. Free.

Hammer Museum readings
UCLA’s contemporary museum brings to campus a great lineup of writers . Held in the spacious annex, the readings often draw a hundred or so people and usually also feature a conversation with a UCLA professor and a Q&A with the audience, followed by a book signing.

The crowd will include a mix of book lovers and UCLA students — many, I suspect, strongly encouraged by their professors to attend. Some of my favorite readings here include one by Mary Gaitskill, who talked about everything and everyone from Monica Lewinsky and Gloria Steinem, and another by Dana Spiotta, who talked about her early days working with Gordon Lish with great humor. Extra bonus: There’s always complimentary coffee, tea, and cookies. Free.

Aloud Lecture Series
The Los Angeles Public Library holds this fantastic series at the pretty downtown library, in an amphitheater that seats several hundred. Events range from a featured reading with a big name novelist to multi-author discussions of major socio-political issues (e.g. The Pursuit of War Criminals from Nuremberg to the War on Terror).

Because of the events’ popularity, free reservations are required (paying library members get first dibs) — and often “sell” out, though you’ll likely get in if you just show up because a lot of these free ticket holders end up not showing up. Don’t totally count on that though: I got in the standby line for a George Saunders reading once but was turned away; my friend and I ended up eating our sorrows at Mas Malo then returning to queue up for the book signing. Free, with reservations.
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Reading series do tend to come and go. Since I wrote the original version of this post back in 2016, Dirty Laundry LitTongue and Groove, The Table, and The Window @ A.G. Geiger are no longer, while the Griffith Park Storytelling Series and Angels Flight Literary West Salons have become so occasional I’ve had to take them off the list. However, new ones also pop up all the time —

Are there other public reading series I should have included in this list? Let me know in the comments —

Originally posted 12/21/16; Last updated 2/17/19

Hot Dish photo by Lauren Eggert-Crowe

12 best bookstores in Los Angeles for writers

Dana Johnson at The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles

What makes a bookstore great for writers? There’s the usual stuff all readers want, like nicely organized shelves, a pleasant browsing atmosphere, and if possible, a coffee shop.

But as a writer, I also want the bookstore to be the hub of a literary community. That means I favor bookstores with a knowledgeable staff that reads and recommends books, that carries books and chapbooks and zines put together by locals, that hosts regular readings that introduce me to new writers — from the very famous to the locally beloved to the unknown indie.

So — Here’s a list of my 11 favorite local bookstores. Pick one to visit next week:
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Skylight Books, Los Feliz.

Wondering if the latest celebrated novelist is coming to town on book tour? If she is, chances are, she’ll read at Skylight. Most of Skylight’s events are free — and many feature local authors. My own book launch happened there a couple Aprils ago —

This welcoming spot hosts a book club I love and has a super-friendly staff whose recommended books are highlighted with little personal notes right on the shelves. Become a regular and sign up for the Friends with Benefits program to save money all year.

Skylight Books. 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles.

Dana Johnson at The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles

The Last Bookstore, Downtown LA.

California’s largest used and new book and record store sells new and used books — as well as vinyl records and graphic novels — on two gigantic floors with arches and tunnels constructed from old books. This spot too hosts a lot of readings, as well as storytelling acts, zany book clubs, and other unique events. Earlier: The Last Bookstore: A Literary labyrinth in downtown LA.

The Last Bookstore. 453 S Spring St., Los Angeles.

Vroman’s Bookstore, Pasadena.

If this bookstore were closer to me, I’d hang out there all the time. Alas, it’s all the way in Pasadena — so I only make it out a few times a year. But Vroman’s is a grand center of the local literary community. The spacious bookstore spans three floors, hosts readings many days of the week, and is home to a bunch of different book clubs.

Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena.

Book Soup in West Hollywood

Book Soup, West Hollywood.

This bookstore’s a popular place for local literary types, with a big magazine rack out front, floor-to-ceiling bookcases with handwritten staff recommendations, and readings scheduled most days of the week. Sign up for Book Soup’s email list to hear about future events. If you’ve got a KCRW fringe benefits card, you can get 10% off your book purchases. Earlier: Book Soup: A Literary spot on Sunset Strip.

Book Soup. 8818 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood.

Chevalier’s Books, Larchmont.

This cozy bookstore on Larchmont is a local gem, sometimes collaborating with nearby businesses for fun events — like a reading plus whiskey tasting from Larchmont Village Wine, Spirits & Cheese. But the best known events here are part of the bookstore’s All Lit Up series hosted by local writer Rich Ferguson, when writers read, musicians play, and open mic participants perform on the fly.

Chevalier’s Books, 126 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles.

DIESEL, A Bookstore, Brentwood.

Located in the Brentwood Country Mart, this pretty bookstore hosts lots of publications parties for local authors, usually drawing a well-heeled Brentwood-y crowd. A monthly Diane Leslie’s Book Group event lets you discuss a popular new book — for $20 plus a book purchase. There’s also used to be a Diesel in Malibu, but alas, that store has closed.

DIESEL, A Bookstore, 225 26th St. Santa Monica.

Book Show in Highland Park Los Angeles

Book Show, Highland Park.

If you long for an indie bookstore with that fiercely unique vibe, pop in to Book Show. The collection of new and used books are an eclectic, community-oriented mix. Many are written by local authors. Even my own chapbooks are on the shelves! The place hosts a regular lineup of events. There are readings, of course, but also open mics and other performances. Workshops range from screenplay writing and ghost hunting! Earlier: Book Show: A Carnivalesque bookstore in Highland Park.

Book Show. 5503 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles.

Other Books, Boyle Heights

This brightly-lit and eclectically curated book, comics, and record store in Boyle Heights is a gem of a place. There’s a strong focus on here by works by marginalized voices and international and independent works. It’s a great place to discover literature in translation. The bookstore has a partnership with Seite Books and Kaya Press, and often hosts readings affiliated with those presses.

Other Books. 2006 E Cesar E Chavez Ave., Los Angeles.

Beyond Baroque, Venice.

Honestly, Beyond Baroque’s bookstore’s kind of hard to shop at, since it’s basically only open at odd hours on the weekends. However, this literary arts center is the place to go for poetry readings. There are also monthly open mics, free writing workshops (these draw a usually small and very eclectic crowd) and other community events at its little dark theater.

Beyond Baroque. 681 N. Venice Blvd., Venice.

Zoe Ruiz, Doug Manuel, Siel Ju, Lisa Locascio, Brandon Som at the Crevasse in Los Angeles reading with Kaya Press at Stories Books and Cafe

Stories Books & Cafe, Echo Park.

Some bookstores readings feature wine, but if you like to browse through books with a beer in hand, Stories is the place to go. This nice neighborhood bookstore has an equally nice cafe with green juice from Juice Served Here, avocado toast, mattes, and beer and wine. There’s a lovely sunny patio out back where you can write and read — or take in a reading or concert or comedy show, depending on what’s on the calendar (The photo above is from a Kaya Press reading at Stories that I participated in). Plus, Stories is right next to 826 LA, so you can stop by for a drink after a Roar Shack reading.

Stories Books & Cafe, 1716 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles.

The Pop-Hop, Highland Park.

I discovered this boutique bookstore via the Sumarr Reading Series, which holds occasional events in this sunny little space. The shelves here are highly curated. You’ll find small press books, lit zines, gently read novels looking for new homes, and other knickknacks.

The Pop-Hop, 5002 York Blvd, Los Angeles

Flintridge Bookstore & Coffee House, La Cañada Flintridge.

This big, multi-story bookstore has much the same feel as Vroman’s — except it is even farther away and thus not a frequent destination for me. In fact, I’ve only been there once, when I read for a Los Angeles Review event. But the place holds a good number of community events — including monthly readings for the poetry journal Rattle — and features a great reading space for authors.

Flintridge Bookstore & Coffeehouse. 1010 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge.
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Left out of this list are bookstores I’ve heard are great like Gatsby Books in Long Beach and Pages in Manhattan Beach — simply because they’re pretty far away.

I’ve also excluded bookstores with a narrow focus (e.g. children, travel) — as well as used bookstores, for the most part, though Los Angeles is home to many I love. Just in walking distance from me are Alias Books and SideShow Books, a handful of thrift shops that always seem to have hardcover copies of Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom on sale for three bucks, and a nice woman with a table piled with used books at the West LA Farmers Market on Sundays.

Are there other LA bookstores writers should know about? Let me know in the comments —

Originally published 11/21/16; last updated 8/27/19

7 big annual literary events in Los Angeles to put on your calendar now

Southern California Poetry Festival

If you’re here reading this, you’re likely a writer, and if you’re a writer, you’re likely really good at spending long swaths of time alone — because that’s basically what you need to do, to write.

For those times you need a little break from the isolation, here are seven big literary fetes where you can meet other people more comfortable in solitude:

Lit Crawl Los Angeles NoHo Arts District

Lit Crawl LA. The North Hollywood Arts District becomes the hub of Literary LA for one night each year, when irreverent readings and other fun happenings take place everywhere from local dive bars to fancy theaters. The night’s set up so that each of the three hours of the event, a dozen or so events happen concurrently, with a few minutes in between each hour to let crawlers get to their next event. Then there’s an afterparty at the end, with drinks and nibbles and socializing. Free, except for the ticketed afterparty.

More: Lit Crawl LA: A Night of literary happenings in North Hollywood

la-art-book-fair-2016

LA Art Book Fair. If artsy books are your thing, make your way to Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair in the spring to see artists’ books, monographs, zines, and more from international presses and indie publishers alike. The weekend event attracts tens of thousands each year. Free.

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. One weekend in April, USC brings together thousands of of Angelenos who come to hear Q&As with famous authors, literary panels, poetry readings, and more. Hundreds of booths will hawk everything from curious new diet cookbooks to self-published fan fiction to strange newfangled religions — as well as the more staid literary fare. Plus, there are tents for various topics, like kids, travel and cooking. I recommend taking the Expo there to avoid the crazy parking situation. Free (there’s a small fee to reserve tickets to popular events though you can take your chances in the standby line; the afterparty with famous authors costs real money).

Litfest Pasadena. This spring book festival brings together literary Pasadena, with events happening all over the cute town, from from Vroman’s Bookstore to Pasadena Playhouse. Last year’s event included a flash writing workshop and a discussion of Yelp reviews. Free.

The Tempest at Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival

Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival. Every summer, Angelenos get a chance to see two of Shakespeare’s plays performed free in Griffith Park. Go ready to picnic, snacks and pillows in tow. Sunscreen recommended. Free.

More: 5 tips for enjoying the plays.

Pasadena Festival of Women Authors. Started back in 2009 by a couple Pasadena residents, this annual event brings seven or so authors to give keynotes and breakout sessions. Past featured authors include Yaa Gyasi (Homegoing) and Pasadena’s own Victoria Patterson.  Enjoy morning coffee and pastries as well as a midday lunch, plus book sales and signings throughout. Cost: $100 for the 2019 festival; tickets sell out early.

Southern California Poetry Festival

Southern California Poetry Festival. The first SoCal PoFest happened in 2016 at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach –I enjoyed reading with the Los Angeles Review crew — and organizers have since made it an annual thing. Free.

Originally published 9/19/16, last updated 2/17/19

Event poster images courtesy of respective organizations / Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival photo courtesy of Grettel Cortes Photography / bottom photo by Siel Ju

The Table: A Reading series that mentors would-be lit event hosts

So you’d like to start a reading series — but don’t know where to start. Well, now there’s a reading series to help you with that!

The Table Reading Series pairs would-be lit event hosts in need of guidance with more seasoned mentors who have lit event organizing experience under their belt. From planning the reader line-up to budgeting to promoting the event, the newbies get the help they need planning one event for the series, while mentors get to pass on their knowledge and know-how. The idea is that organizing one event for The Table will empower the new hosts with the experience and confidence they need to plan more events on their own.

Dreamed up by Natashia Deon, author of Grace and organizer of the (now sadly defunct) Dirty Laundry Lit reading series, The Table held its first event July 2017, with an event curated by Zoe Ruiz. Since then, there’s been one event a month at the Hollywood Hotel, with a new host or few for each event — and new mentors.

“It’s a one time experience for all, unless a mentee chooses to become a mentor,” Natashia says.

I finally made it to my first The Table reading in February. Themed Writing of Exploration, the event was put together by writers Rachael Warecki and Ashley Perez. There were spirited readings, a short panel discussion, a full bar, and free chocolate on the tables —

Make sure to come to the next The Table event — because I’ll be reading! Also in the lineup are memoirist Patrick O’Neil, poet Julayne Lee, Carl Kemp, and Erika Ayon. The event’s organized by Ramona Pilar and Anita Gill, with Women Who Submit cofounder and poet Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo serving as mentor.

The Table Presents: Redemption
April 15, 2018, 2:30 pm to 5 pm
Hollywood Hotel, 1160 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles

Want to be the next host for The Table — or want to mentor a new host? Just email Natashia at info@tablelit.com to get started. Or  go to an event! “The best way to be involved is to come to the event and find me,” Natashia says. “Let’s chat.”

Why There Are Words LA: A nationwide lit series comes to LA

Lots of cities have great literary reading series — and whenever I happen by one while traveling, I wish there were something like it in L.A. too. Other writers, apparently, have also had this same thought — then actually taken action to make it happen. One San Francisco-area reading series has now spread to seven cities across the United States, from Austin to New York to Los Angeles!

That series is Why There Are Words. Founded by Peg Alford Pursell in Sausalito back in 2010, the series came to Los Angeles in February 2017, thanks to a couple of my favorite local literary people, Ashley Perez and Patrick O’Neil. Each event is held in a different space, featuring a motley crew of writers, some published, some not, some local, some on tour.

And I got to read in the series back in April last year! It happened in a sunny Koreatown living room — readers at the mic up front, wine, drinks, and Skylight Books selling books in the back.

The event happens every other month 2nd Sunday of the month, and the next one — themed “Spring is In the Air” — is coming up Sun., April 8 at 6:30 pm at KaffeBaren in downtown LA. Be there to hear Dana Johnson, Yelena Moskovich, Julia Fierro, Kate Maruyama, and Lisbeth Coiman.

Follow Why There Are Words’ Facebook page to hear of future events.

Earlier: 12 literary reading series in Los Angeles

All Lit Up: Monthly poetry and prose fest at Chevalier’s Books

Start going to literary readings in L.A., and you’ll likely run into Rich Ferguson fairly soon. Rich is a fixture in the L.A. literary community known for three things: His wide-brimmed straw hat, his ability to perform long poems of his from memory, and his fantastic reading series, All Lit Up.

Okay, he’s known for other things too, like his lovely novel, New Jersey Me — but this post is about All Lit Up!

Originally started by Rich and Stephanie Barbé Hammer more than two years ago, All Lit Up is a monthly reading series that happens at Chevalier’s Books, in conjunction with the bookstore’s own Liz Newstat. The format of the event’s shifted a bit over the months, but these days, All Lit Up generally features a trio of readers — with occasional open mics, impromptu readings by local writers who happen to be in the audience, and a closing poetry performance by Rich himself.

Earlier this month, I got to read from Cake Time at All Lit Up, along with Guggenheim fellowship recipient Victoria Chang and Wallace Stegner Fellow Charif Shanahan! It was a fun night — with Morgan Parker (There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé) and a bunch of local poets in the house. I may have been the only non-poet in the place — but they let me read anyway.

Put the next All Lit Up on your calendar now: On Oct. 5, Novelist and filmmaker Tom Stern and poet Billy Burgos will read, along with CLS Ferguson — talented writer and also Rich’s wife — who’ll be celebrating the release of her new book, Soup Stories: A Reconstructed Memoir. The series is always free and open to the public.

All Lit Up. First Thursday of every month, 7 pm. Chevalier’s Books, 126 N Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles. Free.

Earlier: 12 literary reading series in Los Angeles

Top photo by Alexis Rhone Fancher