1:00-1:45 PM

What Work Is

Reading Venue: Fresno Music Academy & Arts: Vista Theatre (1296 N. Wishon Ave)

• Linnea Alexander (she/her)

• Jack Chavoor (he/him)

• Will Freeney (he/him)

• Dani Potter (she/her)

Our readings respond to the Phil Levine poem as we reflect on how work shapes us and our relationships. Does the work we choose feed our writing? If so, how? Does it take away the time and energy we need for our creative endeavors? How do we cope with that? What jobs have we taken for sheer survival? Our pieces of creative nonfiction ponder those questions as well as exploring the way work can surprise us or reveal hidden aspects of ourselves.

Nurturing Old Nightmares: Converging into Adulthood

Reading Venue: Goldstein’s (1279 N Wishon)

• Kirk Alvaro Lua

• Jessica Ruth Turney-Lua

• Esmeralda Gamez (she/her)

• Xai Lee

Four former classmates reconnect after years of having graduated from Fresno State’s MFA Program to read together one more time. They will explore the anxieties and fears that arise from aging, starting new families or new chapters in their lives, and the attempts of leaving childhood behind. Time proves that it passes quickly and it’s understood to reconcile the future, past and present anxieties must converge, nurturing adulthood where beautiful things can happen. Join these writers as they open up about nurturing old nightmares of childhood and find the joy that can come from overcoming the fear of adulthood.

Calling Out Across Time

Reading Venue: Hart's Haven Used Bookstore (950 N. Van Ness Ave)

• Ethan Chatagnier (he/him)

• Connie Owens Patton (she/her)

• Talia Lakshmi Kolluri (she/her)

• Jim Schmidt (he/him)

If the collective body of literature is a conversation that crosses time and space, then each written work is an everlasting snapshot of an individual voice. In this reading, four Fresno based writers will read poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction all representing unique voices that capture a specific moment in time. 

Immigrants Writing in the Diaspora

Reading Venue: Splash (644 E Olive)

• Arthur Kayzakian (he/him)

• Shadab Zeest Hashmi (she/her)

• Rooja Mohassessy (she/her)

• H. Tahkouhie Antaramian (she/her)

Readings featuring Pakistani, Iranian, and Armenian writers in the diaspora. The afternoon will feature a series of poetry readings, offering a glimpse into the unique experiences and perspectives of the writers exploring themes of identity, displacement, and resilience. Following the readings, there will be a short Q&A session, allowing the audience to engage directly with the poets, fostering a deeper understanding and connection. This event not only celebrates literary expression but also strengthens community bonds through shared narratives.

Redemption Song

Reading Venue: Mi Cafesito (1495 N. Van Ness Ave)

• Ruben Elias Mejia (he/him/his)

• Megan Mendes

• Jacob Anthony Reina (he/him/his)

• Gavin Garza (he/him/él)

"Redemption Song" is a collective of two published writers and two published poets dedicated to weaving narratives of triumph and tragedy through the mediums of poetry, song, and spoken word. Our mission is to share our personal journeys, from overcoming obstacles to celebrating victories, in hopes of inspiring others on their paths. Through our performances, we aim to create a space where vulnerability and resilience intersect, inviting audiences to connect with our stories on a deeply human level. Join us on our journey as we navigate life's highs and lows, crafting our own redemption songs along the way.

Girls! Girls! Girls!

Reading Venue: Sour Milk (1474 N. Van Ness Ave)

• Taylor Seals (she/her)

• Emily Peacock (she/her)

• Leslie Kay Quintana (she/her)

• Angelina Leaños (she/her)

In this reading, four queer women writers from Fresno come together to share their unique tellings of girlhood. Yes, girlhood as in nail polish and bathroom gossip but also girlhood as in too-tight jeans, sex shame, sunburns, brewing potions in the backyard, kissing other girls, and figuring out how diverse girlhood can be. The reading will explore themes of family, addiction, human experiences, and the queer-identity. “Girls! Girls! Girls!” is the reclamation of all girlhoods and the celebration of their differences.

Perspective, Simultaneity, and the Reading of Trees

Reading Venue: Spectrum Art Gallery (608 E. Olive Ave)

• John Hales (he/him)

• Corrinne Clegg Hales (she/her)

• C.G. Hanzlicek (he/him)

• Megan Anderson Bohigian (she/her) 

The nonfiction writer and essayist John Hales, and the poets Corrinne Clegg Hales, C.G. Hanzlicek, and Megan Anderson Bohigian, read from new and published prose and poetry that expands the potential of perspective, reach, and the closely observed--in the way that tall trees stretch their roots as they find the sun--bark, sap, branches, and all, alive, growing, above and below the ground.

After Displacement: Finding Home in the Present Landscape

Reading Venue: Teazer World Tea Market (645 E. Olive Ave)

• Yia Lee (she/her)

• Jer Xiong (she/her)

• Maiyang Dove (she/her)

• Nou Her (she/her)

With 50 years of the Hmong diaspora in the United States, four women writers gather to read new prose works of nonfiction and fiction reflecting on contemporary Hmong American culture. Looking at a variety of big and small moments and trends in the community, like the U.S. Olympian Sunisa Lee’s gold metal win, the bygone era of Hmong-dubbed movies, to the shifting definition of what makes a 'family,' they hone in on what these experiences offer and how they shape the modern Hmong identity, ultimately imagining what the next 50 years may hold.

¡Speaking Axolotl: The Fresnasos Edition!

Reading Venue: Tower Yoga: The Lotus Room (626 E. Olive Ave)

• Maria Esquinca (she/her)

• Rolando André López Torres (he/him)

• Tatiana Luboviski-Acosta (they/them)

• Josiah Luis Alderete (cheese/queso)

Speaking Axolotl La Area Bahia’s long running monthly Latinx reading series comes to Fresno for a chingon afternoon of decolonized verses, Spanglish poesia, bilingual chismes y Latinx spoken word.