Summer is winding down in LA, but BookSwell has been keeping busy with a full literary calendar, and we have a jam-packed episode for you.  First up, BookSwell was on the scene at the Inaugural Little Literary Fair, or LITLIT. Managing Editor Cody Sisco was joined by co-host Rachelle Yousuf for this “pop-up book fair” at Hauser and Wirth in DTLA, where they chat about what they’ve been reading lately. Cody also conducted a series of flash interviews with Rachel Wills, Candysse Miller, and Katelyn Keating at LITLIT, that are short, sweet and packed with information. Rachel Wills recently launched her online Queer Femme Literary Magazine, Gayettes. Follow them on Instagram @gayettesmag for updates, and of course, niche queer memes. Candysse Miller gives us the rundown on Interlude Press, an award-winning boutique press with a focus on LGBTQ fiction, but a firm belief that “a good book is a good book.” Interlude has an amazing slate of upcoming new releases that you won’t want to miss. Finally, Cody gets to chat with Katelyn Keating, BookSwell Contributor and Book Event Organizer extraordinaire, who was critical to bringing the first ever Little Literary Fair to life.

After that, Cody sits down for a longer conversation with author, activist and artist Sehba Sarwar. Sehba’s novel, Black Wings was finally released in the US earlier this year, after originally being published in Pakistan in 2004. Keep up with all of Sehba’s readings, art performances and publications on her website, or by checking our very own Events Navigator.

Rounding out the episode, Shannon Eagen discusses some upcoming literary events that will be particularly appealing to writers and creators of their own content.

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Events Mentioned:

• August 22 Dorinne Kondo discusses and signs “Worldmaking”
• August 25 Celebrate Our Words with Sehba Sarwar
• August 29 Howard Suber and John L. Geiger discuss “Creativity and Copyright”
• August 30 Dora Malech discusses and signs “Stet”

Books Mentioned:

Black Wings by Sehba Sarwar

Pride Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev

The Patternist Series by Octavia Butler

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

How to Be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters

The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic by F.T. Lukens

Monster of the Week by F.T. Lukens

Shine of the Ever by Claire Rudy Foster

Bowlaway by Elizabeth McCracken

 

 

 

 

We are at the height of Summer Reading Season, and this episode is jam-packed with book recommendations from our co-hosts Cody Sisco, Sarah LaBrie, Rachelle Yousuf, and Dan Lopez. They chat what they love and what they hate in bookish events, how the setting of a story can be a character of its own, and revelations (or lack thereof) in celebrity memoirs. They’re joined by Sanura Williams, from My Lit Box, who is dedicated to promoting the work of authors of color through her literary subscription box. My LitBox would be a perfect gift for the indecisive book lover in your life–Sanura picks hot new releases and mails them straight to your door (along with some other literary goodies!). Finally, if you’ve been out of town on a summer vacation, why not hit up some literary events that celebrate LA while you’re home? Shannon Eagen has event recommendations for the next two weeks of July that are all about Los Angeles locals.

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Events Mentioned:

• July 10 An Evening of Poetry with Red Hen Press 
• July 16 Frank Strausser Discusses and Signs Plastic
• July 19 Made in L.A. launches Chasing the Elusive Dream fiction anthology at Skylight Books
• July 20 and 21 LITLIT, The Little Literary Fair 

 

Books Mentioned:

Mind of My Mind by Octavia E. Butler

Patsy by Nicole Dennis-Benn

Lot by Bryan Washington

Cruising: An Intimate History of a Radical Pastime by Alex Espinoza

Bluebird Bluebird by Attica Locke

The Cutting Season by Attica Locke

Corazón by Yesika Salgado

Jello Girls by Allie Rowbottom

**Netflix Recommendation!**

“When They See Us” dir. by Ava DuVernay

Summer has finally arrived in sunny Los Angeles, and we hope you all had a wonderful Pride Weekend! Dan Lopez and Cody Sisco are here to dig deep into Michelle Obama’s runaway hit, Becoming, and Dan recommends books that fill his very particular current obsessions — LGBTQ YA and Sci-Fi! After that, enjoy Cody’s conversation with Shonda Buchanan that covers the history of World Stage Press, Leimert Park, and Shonda’s own imprint at Tsehai Books — Harriet Tubman Press. You won’t want to miss Buchanan detail her moving journey of self-discovery and owning her identity, and the cherry on top of this interview is a truly phenomenal reading of one of her poems. You can find out more about Shonda on her website, and while you’re exploring, be sure to check out World Stage Press and Eso Won Books. And finally, are you looking for events that don’t feature the typical glossy beach reads of the summer season? Shannon Eagen has you covered with some June book signings (and a book club!) celebrating slightly less mainstream genres. Enjoy!

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Events Mentioned:

• June 11 Ted Chiang discusses and signs Exhalation
• June 12 Amanda Montell discusses and signs Word Slut
• June 13 Sarah Gailey discusses and signs Magic for Liars
• June 14 Alex Espinoza discusses and signs Cruising: An Intimate History of a Radical Pastime
• June 17 Graphic Novel Club reads The Prince and the Dressmaker

 

Books Mentioned:

American Lion by Jon Meacham

Becoming by Michelle Obama

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

No Ashes in the Fire by Darnell Moore

Packing for Mars by Mary Roach

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach\

The Lady from the Black Lagoon by Mallory O’Meara

June is just around the corner, and even though it’s been cold and gloomy in LA, it’s officially time for Summer Reading! Jump start your summer TBR with some wonderful recommendations from Cody Sisco, Sarah LaBrie and Irene Yoon. They also touch on trends in literary events attendance, and how reading to stay current on the news can cut in on the time you spend reading for pleasure. After that, Cody sits down with Roxana Preciado, to talk about her writing process and her incredible triumphs in the face of adversity. Roxana published her first book, Not a Fairytale in 2015, and has already released two more books of poetry, Not a Writer, and Hood Educated. She talks about finding her own community within the world of LA indie writers, and how she hopes to be a beacon for young, queer immigrants. Finally, June is Pride Month, and Shannon Eagen has selected some great events focused on LGBTQ authors for you to attend in the next two weeks.

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Also Available Here:

Events Mentioned:

• May 29 Lambda Literary Award Finalists Reading
• June 1 Mason Funk discusses The Book of Pride
• June 2 Bryan Washington discusses Lot: Stories
• Judith Branzburg discusses and signs The Liberation of Ivy Bottini
• June 11 Ted Chiang discusses and signs Exhalation
• Pop Up Magazine (various dates)

 

Books Mentioned:

Late in the Day by Tessa Hadley

The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray

Hood Educated by Roxana Preciado

The Flight Portfolio by Julie Orringer

The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson

Exhalation by Ted Chiang

All Ships Follow Me by Mieke Eerkens

Lot: Stories by Bryan Washington

The first two weeks of May have been a flurry of literary excitement, but the BookSwell Intersections team feels like we’re STILL recovering from the LA Times Festival of Books… Listen to Managing Editor Cody Sisco and Co-Host Dan Lopez debrief on that festival, as well as Dan’s new job in publishing, and some theatrical literature featuring with LGBTQ characters that he’s recently revisited. The meat of this episode is a fantastic interview with author, poet, activist and inter-country adoptee Julayne Lee. Her recent memoir in poems, Not Your White Savior, deals with her journey from a South Korean orphanage to a Midwestern Christian family, and the myriad issues transracial adoptees face. Learn more about Julayne, her upcoming work, and the workshops she facilitates for writers of color at her website.  We finish our episode with an extended rundown of upcoming events from Shannon Eagen, including some specific panel recommendations for the LitFest Pasadena.

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Also Available Here:

Events Mentioned:

• May 15 Chris Kattan Presents “Baby Don’t Hurt Me”
• May 16 Julie Orringer discusses and signs “The Flight Portfolio”
• May 17 Karen Tongsen discusses and signs “Why Karen Carpenter Matters”
• May 18-19 LitFest Pasadena 
• May 25 Malaka Gharib discusses and signs “I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir”
• Community Literature Initiative (various dates)

 

Books Mentioned:

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Made in LA Anthology

The Inheritance by Matthew Lopez

Angels in America by Tony Kushner

Boys in the Band by Mart Crowley

Not My White Savior by Julayne Lee

Guesthouse for Ganesha by Judith Teitelman

Rules for Visiting by Jessica Frances Kane

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer

Episode 3 is here, and our listeners are in for a treat. To kick things off, Managing Editor Cody Sisco does a lighting round book roundup with Sarah Labrie. After that, enjoy an extended interview between Cody and rising literary star Patrick Nathan. His debut novel, Some Hell caught the attention of readers and critics alike. The heartbreaking coming-of-age/coming-out story was a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice, and is a 2019 Lamdba Literary Award finalist. We’re so grateful Patrick took the time out of his busy schedule to chat about his career, his upbringing in small-town Minnesota, and the increasing demands placed on authors in the contemporary publishing landscape. Finally, we’re excited about all things Literary LA in April but as usual…the list is overwhelming. Lucky for you, BookSwell Contributor Shannon Eagen is here to give a roundup of some of the “can’t miss” events for lit fans that are looking to support underrepresented voices in our crowded literary scene.

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Events Mentioned

• April 2 Stephen Rowley discusses and signs The Editor
• April 3 The Los Angeles Poet Society presents selections from The Coiled Serpent
• April 9 The AfroFuturism Book Club with Tyree Boyd-Pates
• April 13-14 LA Times Festival of Books
• End of April Homocentric Reading Series

 

Books Mentioned

Baby of the Family by Maura Roosevelt

The Other Americans by Laila Lalami

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Some Hell by Patrick Nathan

Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James

On Photography by Susan Sontag

The Civil Contract of Photography by Ariella Azoulay

There There by Tommy Orange

Grace by Natashia Deon

The Coiled Serpent

Lily and the Octopus by Stephen Rowley

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

We’re back for Episode 2! Today, BookSwell’s Managing Editor Cody Sisco is joined once again by Irene Yoon, Sarah Labrie and Dan Lopez. Rachelle Yousuf is our latest addition to the Intersections crew, a book event coordinator with The Freya Project and YALLWEST. In this episode, they confess to skipping events to stay home and read, turning away from literary fiction and local authors who truly capture the spirit of Los Angeles in their work.

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Events Mentioned

• March 7 Nina Revoyr A Student of History at Skylight
• March 10 Headcase: LGBTQ writers at Skylight
• March 31 Robert Inman presents An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles
• May 3-4 YALLWEST Book Festival 

 

Books Mentioned

Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James

Headcase edited by Stephanie Schroeder and Teresa Theophano

A Student of History by Nina Revoyr

Lost Canyon by Nina Revoyr

False Calm by Maria Sonia Cristoff

Wired for Story by Lisa Kron

The Design and Engineering of Curiosity by Emily Lakdawalla

Heaven, My Home by Attica Locke

For our first episode, BookSwell’s Managing Editor Cody Sisco sat down with Director of the LA Review of Books/USC Publishing workshop Irene Yoon, professional book club facilitator Sarah Labrie, and local author/bookseller Dan Lopez. This week they address the best events they’ve been to recently, the March events they can’t wait for, and underrepresented authors finding mainstream audiences.

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Also Available Here:

 

Events Mentioned

• March 1 Jill Abramson The Truth Merchants at ALOUD Series
• March 4 Queer Book Club with CB Lee
• March 7 Nina Revoyr A Student of History at Skylight
• March 10 Rita Osei #WOMAN poetry book launch at Brewery Arts Complex
• March 10 Headcase: LGBTQ writers at Skylight
• March 12 Ali Liebegott The Summer of Dead Birds at Skylight
• March 25 Matt de la Pena at Vroman’s Superman: Dawnbreaker 

 

Books Mentioned

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

 

Leading Men by Christopher Castellani

 

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

 

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

 

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

 

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

 

The Hate U Give by Angie Jones

BookSwell Intersections: Connecting Los Angeles readers to the literary events that matter most. 

Music credits:

Chill Wave Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

May is upon us Intersections listeners, and we at BookSwell are ready to dive into a brand new month of literary excitement. First up this week is a special one-on-one chat between BookSwell Managing Editor Cody Sisco and Intersections Co-Host Rachelle Yousuf. Rachelle gives the rundown on upcoming festival YALL West, and sneaks in some great YA recommendations. Cody then sits down with author and artistic innovator Judith Teitelman to chat about her soon-to-be released debut novel, Guesthouse for Ganesha. The central character kicks off her journey of discovery with a samosa… it’s magical realism and spiritual transformation in one delightful novel. Rounding out the episode, Contributor Shannon Eagen will tease some fantastic events in the first two weeks of May.

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Events Mentioned

• May 1 Jaime Hernandez discusses and signs “Is This How You See Me?”
• May 2 Viet Thanh Nguyen discusses “The Displaced”
• May 3-4 YALLWEST Book Festival 
• May 3 Cara Robertson discusses and signs “The Trial of Lizzie Borden”
• May 7 Filmmaker Dustin Lance Black discusses “Mama’s Boy: A Story from Our Americas”
• May 10 Judith Teitelman reads from “Guesthouse for Ganesha”
• May 13 David Randall discusses and signs “Black Death at the Golden Gate”
• Drunken Masters Series (various dates)

 

Books Mentioned

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

The BookSwell team has been swamped with all the amazing literary happenings about town this month. For Episode 4, Cody, Sarah, Irene, and Rachelle gathered to chat about struggling to finish books, the nature of time and space, and escaping the LA bubble. Cody then sat down with local author and journalist Lynell George, author of After/Image: Los Angeles Outside the Frame, to discuss the importance of place and community in the arts, and how those spaces have evolved since her teenage years of frequenting the Venice institution Beyond Baroque. Lynell is a pillar of the LA literary community, and her insights into the shape and structure of this town are not to be missed. And finally, Shannon is back to guide you through events coming up in the final two weeks of the month. If you’re interested in applying to the LARB/USC Publishing Workshop you can get more information on their website.

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Events Mentioned

• April 19 Kenji C. Liu and Heidi Andrea Restrepo Rhodes read from their poetry collections
• April 24 Victoria Shorr discusses and signs “Midnight: Three Women at the Hour of Reckoning”
• April 25 Marc Weingarten discusses and signs “Thirsty”
• April 27 Indie Bookstore Day (at ALL of your favorite indies) 
• Drunken Masters Series (various dates)

 

Books Mentioned

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Mem by Bethany Morrow

Warlight by Michael Ondaatje

The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell

Interment by Samira Ahmed

The Octopus Museum by Brenda Shaughnessy

The Collected Schizophrenias by Esme Weijun Wang

After/Image by Lynell George

Cake Time by Siel Ju

Small Fry by Lisa Brennan-Jobs

Heavy by Kiese Laymon

Looking for Lorraine by Imani Perry