The Associated Writing Programs (AWP) Annual Conference and Bookfair arrives in Seattle on February 26 at the Washington State Convention Center and Sheraton Seattle Hotel. The literary event will celebrate many of the authors, teachers, students, writing programs, literary centers, and publishers of the Pacific Northwest, with projected attendance estimated at 11,000 to 13,000 attendees over the four days of the conference.
“Such numbers have a tremendous impact on local businesses,” said Oliver de la Paz, vice president of the AWP Board of Directors and chair of the AWP Seattle Conference Committee. “A number of nearby bars, restaurants, galleries, and other such venues have booked reservations for off-site parties, readings, and events.”
Throughout the conference, numerous panels and readings will highlight emerging and established Asian and Asian-American writers. Featured presenters include Gish Jen, Chang Rae Lee, Brenda Shaughnessy, and Amy Tan.
Onsite registration for AWP opens on Wednesday, February 26 at the Washington State Convention Center, at a rate of $190 for members and $285 for nonmembers. Registration includes admission to AWP’s Bookfair, an exhibit area featuring over 650 exhibitors.
Dozens of off-site events featuring API writers are scheduled to take place across the city during AWP. The following events are free and do not require conference registration:
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 6:30 P.M.
Filipino Writers Reading
The Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center, University of Washington, 3931 Brooklyn Ave.
Aimee Suzara (Souvenirs), Reni Roxas (Hangang sa Muli) and Kristin Naca (Bird Eating Bird) read from their works. Co-hosted by the Filipino American Students Association at UW and Pinoy Words Expressed Kultura Arts.
Wednesday, February 26, 7:00 p.m.
Garden House, 2336 15th Ave. S.
Four poets expand the dialogue on race. Aimee Nezhukumatathil reads with others.
Wednesday, February 26, 8:00 p.m.
UW Creative Writing Program Celebration
Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave.
Shawn Wong, Pimone Triplett read with others.
Wednesday, February 26, 8:00 p.m.
Poetry Northwest & Seattle Arts & Lectures Kick-Off
The Pine Box, 1600 Melrose Ave.
Hannah Sanghee Park reads with others.
Wednesday, February 26, 9:00 p.m.
Bat City Review 10th Anniversary Reading & Release Party
Sole Repair Shop, 1001 E. Pike St.
Hoa Nguyen reads with others.
Thursday, February 27, 5:00 p.m.
Rendezvous With Risk/OSU-Cascades Faculty
Red Velvet Lounge, 2322 2nd Ave.
Hoa Nguyen reads with others.
Thursday, February 27, 6:00 p.m.
The Transformation of a Poem
The Project Room, 1315 E. Pine St.
Luisa Ingloria reads with others.
Thursday, February 27, 6:00 p.m.
The Incredible Sestina Anthology Launch Seattle
The Lucid Lounge, 5241 University Way N.E.
With Ravi Shankar and others.
Thursday, February 27, 6:00 p.m.
6 Under 36
Liberty Bar, 517 15th Ave. E.
With Diana Khoi Nguyen and others.
Thursday, February 27, 7:00 p.m.
Courting Risk
Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave.
With Anne Liu Kellor, Jason Koo and others.
Thursday, February 27, 7:00 p.m.
Pinwheel
Belltown Pub, 2322 1st Ave.
With Hoa Nguyen and others.
Thursday, February 27, 7:00 p.m.
Barca Lounge, 1510 11th Ave.
Janice Lee and Tung-Hui Hu read with contributors to the newly released Acts + Encounters and by the writers of eohippus labs. Hosted by Andrea Quaid & Harold Abramowitz with readings by Michelle Detorie, Doug Nufer, Vanessa Place, David Shook, and more.
Thursday, February 27, 7:00 p.m.
Fremont Abbey, 4272 Fremont Ave. N.
Brian Komei Dempster and Sawako Nakayasu read with contributors to Burnside Review, Four Way Books, Canarium Books and Lana Turner.
Thursday, February 27, 7:30 p.m.
Couth Buzzard, 8310 Greenwood Ave. N.
Thaddeus Rutkowski and Kevin Minh Allen read, hosted by Chrysanthemum Literary Society Editor Koon Woon with Open Mic to follow.
Friday, February 28, 3:30 p.m.
Left Bank Books, 92 Pike St.
Janice Lee and others read Spooky Solar Birds.
Friday, February 28 at 4:00 p.m.
Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave.
Brynn Saito and others read for Red Hen Press.
Friday, February 28 at 6:00 p.m.
The Project Room, 1315 E. Pine St.
David Mura and other guest writers read for Lauren K. Alleyne’s “Difficult Fault.”
Friday, February 28 at 6:00 p.m.
Vermillion Art Gallery at 1508 11th Ave.
Sally Wen Mao, Jane Wong and others read for Makeout Creek, OH NO Boys and Smoking Glue Gun Reader in “I’m So Tired 2.”
Friday, February 28 at 6:00 p.m.
JewelBox Theater & Rendezvous Restaurant, 2322 2nd Ave.
Timothy Liu and others read for Bloof + Saturnalia.
Friday, February 28 at 6:30 p.m.
Nitelight Lounge, 1920 2nd Ave.
Timothy Liu and others read for Everyone And Their Mother: SRP at the Nitelight Lounge.
Friday, February 28, 7:00 p.m.
Seattle University Wyckoff Auditorium, 900 Broadway
Aimee Suzara, Barbara Jane Reyes, Jon Pineda, Oscar Penaranda and Rachelle Cruz.Reading hosted by Pinoy Words Expressed, Kultura Arts & the United Filipino Club of Seattle University.
Friday, February 28, 7:00 p.m.
Raygun Lounge, 501 E. Pine St.
Esther Lee, Phong Nguyen and others read for Pop Lit: Writers Wrestling-With And Loving – On Pop Culture.
Friday, February 28, 7:00 p.m.
Alibi Reading Room, 85 Pike St. #410
Alvin Pang, Sawako Nakayasu and others read for Drunken Boat, Ugly Duckling Press, Les Figues and Ahsahta Press.
Friday, February 28, 7:00 p.m.
Sole Repair, 1001 E. Pike St.
Don Mee Choi, Hoa Nguyen and others read for Wave Books & Friends Reading.
Friday, February 28, 7:30 p.m.
Blindfold Gallery, 1718 E. Olive Way
Bhanu Kapill and others read for Animal/Antidote.
Friday, February 28, 7:30 p.m.
Lucid Lounge, 5241 University Way NE
Thaddeus Rutkowski reads with others for Starcherone (Start Your Own Party).
Friday, February 28, 8:00 p.m.
Story Quarterly & Mead Joint & Tran(s) Studies Reading
Velocity Dance, 1621 12th Ave.
With Ru Freeman, Jason Koo and other authors.
Friday, February 28, 8:00 p.m.
Enter the Poet: Newly Published Writers Celebrate Bruce Lee
Nagomi Tea House, 519 6th Ave S. #200
Kundiman and Kaya Press host a Bruce Lee-themed party featuring Kaya Press authors and Kundiman writers with first books published in 2013 and 2014. The lineup includes Tamiko Beyer, R.A. Villanueva, Koon Woon, Vikas Menon, and others.
Friday, February 28, 8:00 p.m.
Canarium Books and Lana Turner Reading
Seattle Unity Church, 200 Eighth Ave. N.
With Cathy Park Hong and others.
Friday, February 28, 8:00 p.m.
VIDA Women in Literary Art
Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave.
Alexander Chee reads with others.
Saturday, March 1, 6:00 p.m.
Alice Blue + Bloof + Coconut
Pine Box 1600 Melrose Ave.
Jiyoon Lee, Dawn Sueoka, and Wendy Xu read with other small press authors, including writers from Seattle’s Alice Blue Books.
For a full listing of off-site events, visit https://www.awpwriter.org/awp_conference/schedule_overview_offsite.
The AWP Conference runs from February 26 through March 1. For more information visit www.awpwriter.org.
