The inaugural event of Poems & A Movie (a brand new series combining film, writing, and community) will take place on August 8th, 6:30-10pm, at Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture (3645 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104) with the Philadelphia premiere of Sometimes I Dream in Farsi, an award-winning film by indie filmmaker Dr. Pirooz Kalayeh, along with readings by three literary superstars: Porochista Khakpour (author of Tehrangeles, 2024), Alina Pleskova (author of Toska, 2023), and Violet Gehringer (author of I Love You It, Looks Like Rain, 2017).

Co-presented by Be About It Press with Cannonball and Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, the event weaves personal and political intersections into an exploration of identity, expression, and cultural bonds. Sometimes I Dream in Farsi examines a traumatic racist incident in Kalayeh's childhood and examines the role that therapy and discussion offer as a path forward for children and adults who have endured similar encounters. Khakpour, Pleskova, and Gehringer offer intimate readings connecting a wide range of shared experiences. 

This event is also support by Philly Iranians, a coalition of local volunteers advocating for a free Iran alongside the #WomenLifeFreedom revolution. 

Tickets: https://shorturl.at/bSXbd  

Thursday, August 8

Doors at 6:30

Event 7-10pm

$10 suggested donation 

Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture

3645 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (ADA accessible)

No one turned away for lack of funds

Light refreshments will be served. 

If you are not able to pay the suggested ticket price but still want to help support this event, please share this post, invite your friends, or simply RSVP and show up! 

Richard Loranger is a multi-genre writer, performer, musician, visual artist, and all-around squeaky wheel, currently residing in Oakland, CA. He is the founder of Poetea, a monthly literary conversation group. His publications include the books Sudden Windows, Poems for Teeth, The Orange Book, ten chapbooks, and work in over 100 magazines and journals. He curates the reading series Babar in Exile, and the queer talk and reading series #we. You can find more about his work and scandals at www.richardloranger.com.

Amy Berkowitz is the author of Tender Points, originally published by Timeless, Infinite Light in 2015 and rereleased by Nightboat Books in 2019. Other writing has appeared in publications including Bitch, McSweeney’s, Jewish Currents, Wolfman New Life Quarterly, and 580 Split. She lives in a rent-controlled apartment in San Francisco, where she’s writing a novel.

Kimi Sugioka, educator, song writer, poet, mother, and lover of cats and birds, has published two books of poetry; the newest of which is Wile & Wing on Manic D Press.

Alexandra Naughton is the editor in chief of Be About It Press, and author of ten poetry collections includingYou Could Never Objectify Me More Than I've Already Objectified Myself, her most recent a place a feeling something he said to you, and a novel American Mary. She lives in the Bay Area with her cat, Sookie, and you find links to her work and more at alexandranaughton.com

Doors 8:30
Readings 9:30

Woolsey is located via a flight of stairs. Check back here for a stream of the reading.

Moondrop Productions Presents a killer line up of readers, reading about regret and hindsight.

Readings from Guy Biederman, Garret Murphy, LD Green, Ashlee Beals, Michael L. Palmer, Kai Sugioka-Stone, Kimi Sugioka, Christine Kammler, Peggy Morrison, Alexandra Naughton, Lisa Lim, Norma Smith, Steven Grey, Steven Black, Sara Biel

PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS: Lauren Wheeler and Vernon Keeve III

Beasts of Bourbon returns with a stellar lineup of kick ass writers poets and musicians to close out the New Year with it's second edition featuring Kim Shuck, James Cagney, Cassandra Dallett, Juba Kalamka, Alexandra Naughton and Red O' Hare with musical guests Oddly Even (featuring Ashley Macachor and Calvin Sturges.)

Since November 19th Guatemalan-Slovak poet Ivanna Baranova has been touring across Canada and the US with her debut full-length poetry collection CONFIRMATION BIAS (Metatron Press, 2019). Now after a month, it's finally here in Oakland, CA at Wolfman Books or one night only. I mean the book will be there afterwards (if it isn't sold out!) but she won't, so please join us for this launch event featuring readings from:

☾ Ivanna Baranova
☾ Ren Cook
☾ Alexandra Naughton
☾ Brent Reichenberger
☾ Jesse Prado

☾

Confirmation bias is the tendency to interpret new evidence in support of one's existing beliefs or theories. In her stunning debut poetry collection, Ivanna Baranova excavates notions of evidence, existence, and resiliency in an attempt to transcend the beliefs that demand our psychic reproduction. Desire, affect, anger, and healing collide in Baranova’s metaphysical observations of her lived experiences―feminine conditioning, racialization, Slavic and Latinx diaspora, experimental therapy, and nausea under capitalist hegemony. Whether through the lens of astrology or philosophy, algorithms or substance use, CONFIRMATION BIAS considers the obstacles of being, relating, and rebuilding in the face of sociocultural fragmentation and imminent global collapse. The resulting poems are bright with insight, crackling with humour and idiom, and burning with unforgettable intellect, authenticity, and compassion.

☾

IVANNA BARANOVA is a Guatemalan-Slovak writer and photographer from the Pacific Northwest. Her work has appeared in Blush Lit, glitterMOB, Hobart, Montreal Review of Books, Peach Mag, VICE, and elsewhere. She is a graduate of the University of British Columbia, with a Bachelor’s in Philosophy, Social Theory, and Creative Writing. She lives in Brooklyn. Find her at www.ivannabaranova.com.
JESSE PRADO’s chapbooks include notes from work (2018) and at work i think i accidentally downloaded a virus (2018).

JESSE PRADO's chapbooks include notes from work and at work i think i accidentally downloaded a virus (2018).

ALEXANDRA NAUGHTON is a writer based in Richmond, California. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of Be About It Press and the author of six poetry collections including You Could Never Objectify Me More Than I've Already Objectified Myself (Punk Hostage Press, 2015), I Will Always Be In Love (Paper Press, 2015), and Rapid Transit (Nomadic Press, 2018). Her first novel, American Mary, was published by Civil Coping Mechanisms in 2016. Her next book Hate Train is forthcoming from Spooky Girlfriend Press.

BRENT REICHENBERGER is a poet, writer, and occultist who lives in the woods in the geographical center of San Francisco. His first chapbook ADORABLE MONSTERS was published by Ghost City Press in 2017. He is currently driving through the fog and looking within.

REN COOK wrote I love shopping (Glow Worm Press).

Join Alexandra Naughton for an evening of spoken word at Naked Bulb August

Alexandra Naughton is a writer based in Richmond, California. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of Be About It Press, established in 2010.

She is the author of six poetry collections including You Could Never Objectify Me More Than I've Already Objectified Myself (Punk Hostage Press, 2015), I Will Always Be In Love (Paper Press, 2015), and I Wish You Never Emailed Me (Ghost City Press, 2016). Her first novel, American Mary, was published by Civil Coping Mechanisms in 2016. Her short story collection, Rapid Transit, was published by Nomadic Press in 2018.

Her writing has been widely published on the web and in print, and she performs regularly in the Bay Area and elsewhere.

Gate and open-mic sign up at 6PM, stage opens at 6:30
Open-mic is 3-5 minutes
Naked Bulb Press books for sale (cash or card)

BYO...
Blanket
Booze
Snack
Writing

What are you doing on Sunday, January 20? It's a few weeks away so you might not have anything planned yet. If you're free, you should totally come to MoonDrop Productions Presents: Trap, Trauma, Transformation.

I will be reading some NEW MATERIAL alongside the likes of:

Andre Wilson, Gina Goldblatt, Vincent Calvarese, Melissa Jones, Giovanna Ortiz De Candia, Colleen McKee, Ruth Crossman, Sara Biel, Dena Rod, Kimi Sugioka, Riss Rosado, Shizue Seigel, Carol Dorf, Jennifer Lewis, C. Rock- AKA Cassandra Rockwook-Rice, Jenee Darden, Anna Allen, Tureeda Mikell, Guy Biederman, Abe Becker, Alexandra Kostoulas, Tawny Porter, Nazelah Jamison, Natasha Dennerstein.

Mark your calendars now <3

join be about it authors and bay area legends for an exciting evening of poetry and music :)

music from:
Chora Sea
SS Spicy (fka Big Thursday): https://www.facebook.com/bigthursdaymusic/
Silverware: https://www.facebook.com/silversilverwareware/

readings from:
Kimberly Kim
Vernon Keeve III
Joanna Anabo
Maggie Grabmeier
Sierra Ventura
Kevin Ridgeway
Paul Corman-Roberts
Theo Konrad Auer
Alex Smith

Catch Be About It zine at the 2018 San Jose ZineCon!! We will be tabling with Snackbar Collective and we will also be doing some performance art! Come and hang out with us <3

Doors open at 7:00 PM; show starts at 7:30 PM SHARP! An amazing gathering of 12-15 writers will read NEVER-BEFORE-READ material (rough drafts / debuts) within a three-minute time limit. Hosted by Zephir O'Meara with music by Chora Sea. 

Featured lineup of writers includes Vernon Keeve III, Alexandra Naughton, Youssef Alaoui, Anna Allen, Sean Labrador y Manzano, Audrey T. Williams, Nazelah Jamison, MK Chavez, William Taylor Jr., C. Anne Gardner, Norma Smith, Trent Tano, Haldane King, Norman Zelaya, Jennifer Lewis, Zane Timmons, Melissa Mella, and Jesse Prado.

Suggested donations of $10-25 will be kindly requested at the door, though no one will be turned away for lack of funds (NOTAFLOF). 

Beer made by Ale Industries on site and wonderful food by Guadalajara Restaurant & Tequila Bar just down the block. All ages are welcome, though profanity will be present.

Get beer. Get lit. Then Get Tacos.

Join us at our Uptown, Oakland, location for an amazing evening of readings, live music, gnosh / refreshments, and friends of Nomadic Press as we launch four new 2018 Spring Chapbook Collection chapbooks byAlexandra Naughton, Jesse Prado, John Gosslee, and Kay Nilsson into the universe!

Readings by all authors and all books will be available for purchase and signing at the event ($10 each). Music by TBA!

Hope to see you there!

Hosted by Ester LeNoir

Featuring performances by:

Sirama Bajo
Alexandra Naughton
Sarah Shanfield
Jessica Yatrofsky

and a musical performance by Julie Kathryn aka I AM SNOW ANGEL