Dear Ron:
On behalf of the NO/AIDS Task Force, I would like to thank you for agreeing to participate in the second annual Saints and Sinners Literary Festival. We are honored to count you among our special guests and look forward to your participation. Registration is already double of that a year ago. So that is good news.
If you haven't had the chance yet, you might want to take a look at our website: www.sasfest.com. It includes a complete participant list, the schedule of events, and venue locations. The weekend promises to be filled with interesting discussion and the sharing of ideas.
Saturday, May 8
11:30 a.m. O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Pub;upstairs
Harrington Park Press Reading Series (each author will read 10 minutes or less)
Robert Taylor
Ron Suresha
Elyn Selu
Katy Coyle
Robert L. Giron
Jamie Joy Gatto
4:00 p.m. House of Blues;Voodoo Lounge
Beyond Monosexuality: Is There a Separate Bisexual, Transgender, & Polymorphous Literature?
Gay and lesbians are just now awakening to the presence of bisexual, transgendered, polymorphous, and otherwise queer folks belonging to a larger body politick and literature of sexual minorities. In light of the recent controversial book banning in the newly renamed GenderQueer category of the Lambda Literary awards, how do bi, trans, and poly writers figure into queer literature? Other than thickening the alphabet soup; what do non-monosexuals queer writers have next to contribute to and learn from GLBTIQA literature, and the gay/lesbian civil rights movement?
Panelists: Patrick Califia, T. Cooper, Jamie Joy Gatto, Elyn Selu;
Moderator: Ron Suresha
Sunday, May 9
2:30 p.m. House of Blues;Voodoo Lounge
My Book Is Out; Now What? Self-Promotion and Marketing for Authors
After the publisher has done all they plan to do to publicize a book (mailing review copies, maybe setting up an interview or bookstore signing), what can authors do to promote themselves? Discover how to set up appearances, be a good interview guest, help booksellers sell your book, and promote your book online and through telephone and radio. Also learn the social-change aspects of book promotion: how you can use a tour not only to sell your books, but to do community organizing and generate discussion.
Panelists: Paul Marquis, Suzi Parker, David Rosen, Ron Suresha;
Moderator: Jim Gladstone
Pre-Conference Open House/Kick-off Reception:
I especially hope folks can come out 5:30-7:30pm Thursday to the pre-conference Open House, with Felice Picano and T Cooper reading, at Faubourg-Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen Street. Admission is free: cocktails and light refreshments will be available. This pre-conference event is a benefit to support the primary GLBTQ bookstore for the New Orleans region, Faubourg-Marigny Art & Books (FAB), so please come ready either to buy some books or to throw a few bucks in the hat. A bookstore like FAB is an incredible asset that deserves support from everyone in the GLBTQ community, so come and have a drink with us as we celebrate GLBTQ literature in the community.-Ron Suresha
Adjunct Event on Thursday, May 6:
Faeries, Witches and the Underworld Tradition
Thursday, May 6, 7:30 – 10 PM
Esoterica Occult Goods
800-353-7001/ 504-581-7711
541 Rue Dumaine, New Orleans, LA 70116 http://www.onewitch.com
Come and discover the mysterious world of the Fey. Stories of Faeries, spirits intimately connected with the land beneath our feet, are found in cultures all over the world. They are sometimes playful, beautiful, mischievous or terrible. Tales of European witchcraft show the bond between these spirits and the wise woman or man. They build connections to these magical beings to transform themselves, their communities and the world. In the modern era, the word fairy or faery can mean nature spirits, elementals, devas, ancestor spirits or the otherworldly shining ones. In this interactive workshop, we will focus on the faery traditions of the underworld, using meditations, ritual and offering to build a bridge to the world below us and evoke healing and balance in our lives. Excerpted from Christopher's 2005 release, The Temple of Shamanic Witchcraft: Shadows, Spirits and the Healing Journey.
Christopher Penczak
torcboy@aol.com
www.christopherpenczak.com
Author of The Inner Temple of Witchcraft, City Magick and Spirit Allies.
Some important information that you need to know:
Friday, May 7
The information/registration desk will be located at OFlaherty's Irish Channel Pub at 508 Toulouse Street. Beginning on Friday, May 9 at 9:00 a.m. participants and registrants can check in to get their badges and any tickets ordered. As a speaker, your badge will get you into any panels, workshops, or readings that you would like to attend. I hope you will be going to some of the various discussions throughout the weekend. There will also be a Festival program available listing all the events and locations along with speaker photos and bios.
The event begins on Friday with a series of Master Classes. These were sold as a separate ticket to the public, but again are open to any speakers. I am going to list the classes below. If you are in town on Friday and would like to attend any of these;your speaker badge will get you in.
The bookseller for the event is Barnes and Noble.
Friday, May 7
Master Classes/Workshops (complete descriptions are on the web site at www.sasfest.com)
10:00 a.m. O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Pub;Concert Room
Jess Wells: Grace and Grit;Making Time for Creativity
10:00 a.m. O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Pub;upstairs
Felice Picano: Literary Character Building;How to Make Your Written
11:30 a.m. O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Pub;Concert Room
Michelle Tea: Writing Your Life Fabulous
11:30 a.m. O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Pub;upstairs
Nick Street: The Editor as Publication Midwife
1:30 p.m. O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Pub;Concert Room
Val McDermid: Get a Clue to your Characters
1:30 p.m. O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Pub;upstairs
Bob Smith: You Think that’s Funny;Comic Writing
3:30 p.m. O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Pub;Concert Room
Christopher Rice: Finding your Hero's Voice in a Thriller
3:30 p.m. O'Flaherty's Irish Channel Pub- upstairs
Ann Bannon & Karin Kallmaker: What's Love Got to Do with It?—Writing Romance
Also on Friday, May 7 there is a Welcome Party in the French Quarter that everyone is invited to…
Hosted by Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain
Owners of Ambush Magazine
5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
828 Bourbon Street
Come experience true Southern Hospitality in a beautiful courtyard on Bourbon Street. A chance to meet the authors that will be speaking during the weekend as well as some of New Orleans; colorful characters. There will be plenty of spirits provided including Abita Beer and Rain Vodka along with hors d'oeuvres by Whole Foods Market. A little lagniappe to get the weekend started.
Special Event:
Suspect Thoughts is proud to be a sponsor of Saints and Sinners and would like to invite all you wicked word-lovers to a special Night of Suspect Thoughts!;
Friday, May 7 at 9:00 p.m.
The Bullpen at Cowpokes
2240 Saint Claude/504-947-0505
Hosted by: Ian Philips (Editor in Chief) and Greg Wharton (Publisher)
Featuring readings by Patrick Califia, M. Christian, Wayne Courtois, Jamie Joy Gatto, Jim Gladstone, Martin Hyatt, Sean Meriwether, d. Travers Scott.
www.suspectthoughtspress.com
Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9 is when there will be the panel discussions and readings along with a special event on Saturday night. The panel discussions will begin on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. At the end of this letter, I will paste in your participation.;..date, time, panelists, moderator, contact info. Each moderator will receive a guide sheet and will be contacting you before the event to get input towards the discussion of your panel(s).
Saturday, May 8
Literotica sponsored by STARbooks Press
An evening of WETNIGHMARES, WET DREAMS
Saturday, May 8 from 7:00 ; 9:00 p.m.
Readings from Wet Nightmares, Wet Dreams, the new erotic anthology edited by Michael Huxley.
Featured Authors/Readers: Dale Chase, M. Christian, Jameson Currier, Jamie Joy Gatto, Todd Gregory, Ian Philips, Felice Picano, Rob Stephenson, Sage Vivant, and Greg Wharton
Hosted by the infamous and beguiling Blanche Debris
And to finish the weekend….
Closing Reception
Sunday, May 9
Upstairs at the Bourbon Pub/Parade
801 Bourbon Street
4:00 p.m.; 6:00 p.m.
A chance to wrap up the weekend with old and new friends alike. This informal reception will be emceed by Michelle Tea.
The Closing will also include the induction of the new members to the Saints and Sinners Literary Hall of Fame.
**There is still plenty of time to register for the event! …please pass along the word to anyone that you think may be interested in attending.
Thanks again for agreeing to participate. We're really looking forward to seeing you!
Let me know if there is any more information that you need.
All the best,
Paul J. Willis
Festival Coordinator
Saints and Sinners Literary Festival
pjwillisnola@aol.com
