Litquake 2017
Fans of literature rejoice! From October 6-14 the great city of San Francisco will host the annual Litquake, an event that rejoices in books, letters, writers, and everything in between. More than just a book festival, Litquake is an event that attracts some of the most important artists working in the publishing world today and gathers them in fascinating groups for panel discussions, lectures, interviews, presentations, and roundtables. Anyone who considers themselves a “reader” should block of their calendar during the early weeks of October and take advantage of this massive literary event that will likely, as it always is, rank as one of the most important book-related events of the year.
Celebrating its 18th year of operation. Litquake has been shaking up the publishing world since its inception nearly two decades ago. Each year the experience just keeps getting better and the roster of major writers keeps getting bigger. This year, with the turbulent political scene roiling around us and the hope of a sane future seeming to drift further and further away from us, Litquake stands as a beacon of hope with many of its events geared towards helping us process how best to live and act in the coming years.
Some of the most notable panelists and events include:
- Chris Kraus in conversation with Dodie Bellamy
- Jon Boilard, Carolyn Cooke, Peg Alford Pursell, and Dave Madden in conversation around the short story form
- Literary Death Match, a fan favorite that pits well known authors against one another in a judged read-off
- Dr. Charles Garfield and Josh Kornbluth discuss the importance of volunteer work
- A presentation by the filmmakers Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine about their groundbreaking film work on Isadora Duncan’s contribution to the world of dance.
- Numerous comedians and writers (including Allison Mick, BettaWork, Natasha Muse, and Baruch Parras-Hernandez) performing dramatic readings of the absurdist, gay, activist, author Chuck Tingle’s erotic writings, including “Pounded in the Butt by the Sentient Manifestation of My Own Climate Change Denial.”
- Amber Tamblyn, Carvell Wallace, Laleh Khadivi and others reading stories around the “hero” theme
- Typewriter Rodeo, where poets work up a sweat writing poems based on themes called out to them by audience members.
It will be a wild ride, but it will be worth it.
As well as all of the above, Litquake will feature plenty of opportunities for book signings and purchasing, so don’t forget a durable bag to store your new literary treasures!
Litquake takes place throughout the city, so be sure to check out their website for specific event details, times, and ticket prices (where applicable). Happy reading!