LitWatch

LitWatch February: Valentine’s Day, Neko Case, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and Jess Walter

This month brings Hannah-Jones, author of "The 1619 Project," to Oregon, as well as appearances by poets Ross Gay and Judith Barrington, among others.

LitWatch January: A new literary year begins with a poem a day in William Stafford’s memory

Authors giving readings this month include Erica Berry, Marat Grinberg, Judith Barrington, and Sen. Ron Wyden.

LitWatch December: Literary Arts’ new headquarters opens and Oregon Historical Society spreads holiday cheer

Festive events include opportunities for book shopping, The Moth Mainstage, and a story time for pups.

LitWatch November: Readers, rejoice! Portland Book Festival returns with Ani DiFranco, Richard Powers, and scores more

More than 100 writers and interviewers will talk about books -- fiction, nonfiction, memoir, poetry, graphic novels, and books for children and young readers -- during the Nov. 2 festival.

LitWatch October: Chuck Palahniuk’s new novel, Halloween fun, and Oregon Jewish Voices 2024

The month's literary readings range from ghostly howls to journeys with an imaginary dog, a novitiate nun in the flower power '60s, poetry, memoirs, discovering new places, and more.

LitWatch September: Florence Festival of Books, High Desert Museum Speakers Series, Connie Chung’s memoir, and a novel by Lydia Kiesling

An array of September readings and book gatherings around Oregon ushers in fall reading season.

LitWatch August: Lola Milholland on communal living, Willy Vlautin’s new novel, and First Matter Press’ book launch party

Other literary events include appearances by authors of books on whitewater canoeing in Alaska, Eugene's first organic vegetarian restaurant, and American explorers.

LitWatch July: Summer Fishtrap, the Crater Lake Murders, and a band memoir from the Brian Jonestown Massacre

Other summer events include poetry readings, a memoir by the scion of a gangster family, and a 4th of July book sale in Cannon Beach.

LitWatch June: Bigfoot Poetry Festival, Portland Book Week, and the Rose City Book & Paper Fair

Other June events include two appearances by New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof, a memoir workshop led by Leanne Grabel, and readings by Oregon author Victor Lodato in Bend, Hood River and Sunriver.

LitWatch May: Hillsboro’s Katie Lineburg at Poetry Out Loud, Black rodeo culture in photos, and an evening with David Sedaris

Other bookish events include readings from and release of Write Around Portland's 62nd anthology, readings by Oregon Literary Fellows, and an opportunity to stargaze in Bend.

LitWatch April: Gabrielle Zevin at Everybody Reads, National Poetry Month, Oregon Book Awards, and a talk with Salman Rushdie

Poets aplenty are on the literary calendar this month, as well as journalist Elizabeth Mehren and the Terroir Creative Writing Festival in Newberg.

LitWatch March: Poetry events, a history of the Village Voice, and a staged reading of Brian Doyle’s ‘Mink River’

Other literary events this month include readings by nine writers at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center in Newport and a celebration of small presses.

LitWatch February: Celebrating James Tate, a love-themed poetry slam, and a conversation with novelist Jason Mott

Other bookish events this month include jazz bassist Chuck Israels on his musical memoir, Doran Larson's look at prisons from the inside, and Hamilton Nolan on the labor movement.

LitWatch January: Winter Fishtrap, translation of a 6th-century poet, and the charm of backyard chickens

A new year brings a Fishtrap workshop, as well as authors talking about philanthropy, Higgs boson, and becoming a better cook. And chickens.

LitWatch December: Celebrate Oregon authors at Oregon Historical Society, plus The Moth returns

Settle into winter with a holiday book fair, a new cookbook from a Northwest Jewish kitchen, an author appearance by Henry Winkler, and a solstice story time.

LitWatch November: Portland Book Festival, Walt Curtis tribute, ‘LaMoosh’ children’s book

The Nov. 4 festival lineup includes Viet Thanh Nguyen, Michael Lewis, Roz Chast, Gregory Gourdet, Mitchell S. Jackson, Luis Alberto Urrea, Alice Winn, Jonathan Lethem, Patrick deWitt, Lydia Kiesling, and so much more.

LitWatch October: Bob Welch on the PCT, Mary Beard on ancient Rome, and fighting fire with fire

Warm up with M.R. O'Connor on the science of wildfires, poetry readings, and Halloween story time.

LitWatch September: Climate chaos and plenty of author readings

Authors appearing around the state include Ann Patchett, Chuck Palahniuk, Casey Parks, Paulann Petersen, and others with names not beginning with P.

LitWatch August: Cheryl Strayed to speak at Willamette Writers Conference

Readings in August include the authors of books about a 2,500-mile bike ride, Portland's Forest Park, and comedian Ernie Kovacs.

LitWatch July: Connecting with the Coast in Cannon Beach — and Bend

Everlasting summer brings readings by surfing legend Gerry Lopez and the authors of a new book celebrating Steely Dan.

LitWatch June: A field guide discovers Cascadia through art, ecology, and poetry

Other readings this month feature Portland poet Carlos Reyes, Ken Jennings of "Jeopardy!" fame, and photographer Jamie Beck's exploration of Provence.

LitWatch May: Thich Nhat Hanh disciple Cuong Lu visits Broadway Books

Tom Hanks comes to Portland to talk about his first novel, poet Jessica Mehta heads to Cannon Beach, and Oregon Book Award recipients go on tour.

LitWatch April: Literary Arts’ Oregon Book Awards ceremony & Literary Fellowship reading

It's poetry month. It's Oregon Book Awards month. Authors talk about how to foster community and to preserve Black culture through a feminist lens. And Chewy the Beaver makes a special appearance in Bend.

LitWatch March: 5th Annual Writers Read Celebration pays homage to Papa

March brings ambitious projects: Writers imagining themselves in Ernest Hemingway's shoes, a modern riff on "Finnegans Wake," and a browse of the typical Soviet Jewish bookshelf.

LitWatch February: Love poems, Cheryl Strayed, and a return to Waco, Texas

Love is in the literary air at several readings this month, and Literary Arts looks toward spring with its announcement of 2023 Oregon Book Award finalists.

LitWatch January: To the new year

2023 begins with readings by authors including Erika Bolstad, Nathan Slinker, Leanne Grabel, Bill Siverly, Curtis White, Dianne Stepp, and Josephine Woolington.

LitWatch December: Have a very bookish holiday

This month features author readings, book release parties, a festive holiday storytime, the return of The Moth Mainstage, and Patti Smith at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

LitWatch November: Here Comes the Portland Book Festival

Other events include author readings from the Coast to Eastern Oregon, Anthony Doerr at Portland Arts and Lectures, and the reopening of Multnomah County Central Library.

LitWatch October: Reading lists, author events, and a Fall Festival

Spooky books and sweet books to help set an autumn mood; a festival in Cannon Beach; readings to write home about.

LitWatch September: Here comes autumn

This month’s lit calendar is chock-full of free author readings from the likes of Lidia Yuknavitch, Wendy Red Star, Leanne Grabel, and others.