Atlanta Queer Lit Festival

AQLF Events for Autumn

2011-10-13T22:26:00.001-04:00

AQLF has decided to end its annual weekend festival after five years. Instead, we will be hosting events year-round or partnering with other organizations to present LGBTQ programming to Atlanta. We have a very exciting calendar of upcoming events this fall. Check them out!

Thursday, October 20, 6 to 8:00 p.m.
AQLF Graphic Intervention Reading
Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)
The Atlanta Queer Literary Festival partners with MODA as part the museum's Graphic Intervention: 25 Years of International AIDS Posters exhibition. Local poets will read poems inspired by posters on display. Expected to read are Cleo Creech, Franklin Abbott, Megan Volpert, Collin Kelley and more. MODA, 1315 Peachtree St. (across from the High Museum). www.museumofdesign.org.

Saturday, October 22, 1-6 p.m.
Athens Queer Literary Afternoon (AQLA)
Hendershot's Coffee Bar, Athens
This special event will feature Amanda C. Gable (Georgia's Author of the Year 2010) and Franklin Abbott (chairperson of the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival), Janine Aronson, Ben Hudson, Tricia Lootens, Alice Mohor (and Lois), Aralee Strange and Bellah Sparxx!Open Mic with Athens' own Avid Bookshop selling LGBTQ books of poetry, prose, fiction and non-fiction.UGA and community writers are welcome to read as well, published or unpublished. Hendershot's Coffee Bar, 1560 Oglethorpe Dr. For more information and directions, visit this link.

Saturday, October 29, 7:30 p.m.
Poetry Atlanta & AQLF Present VOICES CARRY
Philip Rush Center
Poetry Atlanta and Atlanta Queer Literary Festival present the seventh annual reading featuring poets Cecilia Woloch, Rupert Fike, Alice Lovelace, Franklin Abbott and Karen Head. Collin Kelley will host. Free! Philip Rush Center, 1530 DeKalb Ave. (same building as Radial Cafe).

Tuesday, November 8, 6:15 p.m.
Premiere of A Portrait of Peaches
Philip Rush Center
Queer folk have been the gatekeepers between the everyday and spirit worlds in myriad ways in many indigenous societies. How are are artists, poets and musicians queer shamans in our postmodern world? One question leads to another and another. On Tuesday evening, November, we will debut A Portrait of Peaches directed and produced by Taryn Lee Crenshaw and Jessica Burton. The evening will begin with a potluck and the film will be followed by a conversation on queer aesthetics. Philip Rush Center, 1530 DeKalb Ave. (same building as Radial Cafe).

Wednesday, November 9, 7:30 p.m.
An Evening of Spoken Word with Kimberly Dark
Bound to Be Read Books
Kimberly Dark’s spoken word shows have twice been named on Curve magazine’s top 10 performances of the year and, in 2010, Campus Pride named her one of the “Top 25 LGBT Favorites” on Campus Pride’s 2010 “HOT LIST!” – the ‘best of the best’ in LGBT actors, comedians, performers, and more – diverse, provocative, inspiring, and enlightening. Bound to Be Read Books, 481-B Flat Shoals Ave., East Atlanta Village. www.boundtobereadbooks.com

November 10-13
Tim Miller's Lay of the Land
7 Stages Theatre
Gay and human rights activist Tim Miller returns to 7 Stages with his all new queer tale. Lay of the Land is Tim Miller’s saucy, sharp-knifed look at the State of the Queer Union during a time of trial! Lay of the Land friskily gets at that feeling of gay folks being perpetually on trial, on the ballot, and on the menu.Call 404.523.7647 for reservations. Ask for the special AQLF price. 7 Stages, 1105 Euclid Ave. www.7stages.org

Saturday, November 12, noon
A Conversation on Race & Gender in Queer Culture
Auburn Avenue Research Library
A free event with some of Atlanta's notable members of the LGBTQ community on race and gender in queer culture. More details on panelists soon. The event is free and open to the public. 101 Auburn Ave. www.afpls.org

Photos from Big Joy Salon

2011-08-28T13:04:00.003-04:00

Julie Bloemeke and Cleo Creech

Cal Gough

A'Roara Thunder

Brent Calderwood

Julie Bloemeke

Chad Shone and Griff Tester

Don Perryman

Rupert Fike

Big Joy Salon Benefit & Reading, Aug. 26

2011-08-24T13:05:00.001-04:00

AQLF is hosting a reading/screening/benefit for the Big Joy Project which is making a film about the late filmmaker, poet, playwright and faerie shaman James Broughton (aka Big Joy). Join us and lots of queer poets, radical faeries, sisters of perpetual indulgence and avant garde cinephiles for an evening of spoken word, film and faerie buffet. The event will be held at The Rush Center, 1530 DeKalb Avenue. Doors open at 6:30, the reading begins at 7:30 and after a dalliance the films begin around 9. $5 donation is requested (please give more if you can and less if need be). Feel free to bring food and bev for the buffet. Of course there will be door prizes, faerie dust and Big Joy blessings. For more on the film project go to www.bigjoy.org. The Rush Center is next to the Radial Cafe and across from the Candler Park Marta Station. Free parking.

Remembering Blair

2011-07-25T13:42:00.003-04:00

We were stunned to hear of the weekend death of poet, singer and spoken word artist David Blair from Detroit. He was a past performer at AQLF, National Slam Champ and friend to us all. You can read more about him in this article in the MetroTimes. Below is Blair performing at AQLF 2010.

2011 AQLF Festival Photos

2011-06-29T17:16:00.000-04:00

Keynote speakers Bryan Borland and Theresa Davis with broadside contest winner Brent Calderwood.

Brent Calderwood

Daniel Allen Cox reads from "Krakow Melt"

AQLF co-director and poet Megan Volpert

The opening night event at Charis Books was standing room only.

Theresa Davis Delivers Keynote, Performs at 2011 AQLF

2011-06-28T22:22:00.000-04:00

Local favorite Theresa Davis, talks about her influences and perspectives. Theresa tells about her recent slam championship. She also performs Going on a Bender, 451, and "Breathing Lessons".

Part 1, Keynote Address

Part 2, Keynote and Going on a Bender

Part 3, Views and Perspectives, Crazy Stuff Kids Think

Part 4, Theresa performs 451

Part 4, Breathing Lessons

Brent Calderwood Reads His Winning Entry in the Broadside Competition

2011-06-27T21:13:00.000-04:00

Brent Calderwood reads his poem "Golden Hour" that won this years broadside competition. He also reads "The Headless Men' and "Elegy." Brent will be spending some time in Atanta doing readings in the area, so please look for these upcoming events.

This year's broadside, email us for info on getting a copy of this or past broadsides.

Below Brent reads some of his work.

Golden Hour

The Headless Men

Elegy

Bryan Borland of Sibling Rivalry Press Delivers Keynote Address

2011-06-27T00:28:00.000-04:00

Catch Bryan's keynote address where he reads his "Flawed Families in Biblical Times", he also discusses his connection with Ganymede Press, starting Sibling Rivalry Press and discusses LGBT Publishing.

Panels, workshops, readings and slam!

2011-06-25T10:06:00.002-04:00

Join us today in Decatur for a full day of workshops, readings, and panels starting at 11 a.m. at the Decatur Library, 215 Sycamore Street. And don't forget tonight's AQLF Poetry Slam at Java Monkey Coffee House in Decatur. See the full schedule at this link.

AQLF Keynote Event Tonight!

2011-06-24T00:01:00.000-04:00

Tonight is keynote night at AQLF! Please join us at the Georgia Center for the Book Auditorium at the Decatur Library (lower level), 215 Sycamore Street. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Meet our keynote speakers:

Bryan Borland is a Pushcart-nominated poet from Little Rock, Arkansas, and the owner of Sibling Rivalry Press. His first book, My Life as Adam, was one of only five collections of poetry included on the American Library Association's "Over the Rainbow" list of notable LGBT-themed books published in 2010. He is the founding editor of Assaracus, the only print journal in the world dedicated exclusively to the poetry of gay men. His work has appeared in Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, Breadcrumb Scabs, Referential Magazine, vox poetica, Ganymede, and Velvet Mafia, among others. For more about Bryan, visit his website at www.bryanborland.com.

Theresa Davis is a poet, spoken word artist and teacher. In 2011, she won the Women of the World Poetry Slam held in Columbus, Ohio. She has released two albums of her work, This is for Family and The Uncivil War, as well as two published collections, Torn and Head Games. She is a member of The Word Diversity Collective/Art Amok and represented Atlanta as a member of the 2006 - 2010 Art Amok Slam Team. Davis has shared the stage with Eve Ensler, Jane Fonda, Pearl Cleage and Doria Roberts in The Vagina Monologues, with Berniece Johnson Reagan (Sweet Honey in the Rock) and recently with Def Poet Jon Goode in their joint production of Wish You Were Here at 7 Stages Theater in Atlanta. www.theresa-davis.com

The Festival Begins Tonight!

2011-06-23T00:00:00.007-04:00

The 2011 AQLF kicks off tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Charis Books and More in Little Five Points with a reading hosted by actress and poet Lisa Allender.

Readers will include: Don Perryman, Sharon J. Sanders, Alice Teeter, Reginald Jackson, David-Matthew Barnes, Iyana, Bailey White, Dustin Brookshire, Jef Blocker and Jessica Hand.

Charis is located at 1189 Euclid Avenue. Visit Charis online for more information and directions at www.charisbooksandmore.com.

Broadside Winner Announced!

2011-06-17T16:14:00.001-04:00

The winner of the 2011 AQLF Broadside Contest chosen by poet Mark Doty is Brent Calderwood. His limited edition, signed broadside will be for sale during the festival. We are excited that Calderwood will be joining us in Atlanta to read his winning poem during the Keynote Addresses on Friday, June 24, 7:30 p.m. at the Decatur Library. See the full schedule of events at this link.

Calderwood is a San Francisco-based writer and editor. He is an Associate Editor at LambdaLiterary.org, Book Review Editor for A&U Magazine, and Bay Area Editor for the journal Locuspoint. He has received awards and fellowships from the Lambda Literary Foundation, the San Francisco Public Library, the Horizon Foundation, the Napa Valley Writers Conference, and the Squaw Valley Community of Writers. His poems have appeared in The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, American Poetry Journal, Gertrude, The Innisfree Poetry Journal, and in the books Poets 11, Solace in So Many Words, and the forthcoming Divining Divas. His website is www.brentcalderwood.com.

AQLF 2011 Schedule!

2011-06-07T09:11:00.001-04:00

The schedule for AQLF 2011 is now posted at this link and you can access it from the tab at the top of the page. Please note that the schedule and performers are subject to change. We hope you'll join us June 23-25 for the readings, workshops and panels.

Scenes from the Howl-a-Thon

2011-06-07T02:03:00.000-04:00

Collin Kelley and Alice Lovelace opened the evening with Ginsberg's "America"

Lisa Allender and Julie Bloemeke were the "Howlettes"

Karen G. reads from Howl

Cleo Creech reads Sphincter

The organizer of the Howl-a-Thon, Rupert Fike


The crowd listens to Theresa Davis read from Howl at the First Existentialist Congregation in Atlanta.

Photos by Colin Potts and Collin Kelley

Howl-A-Thon is Friday!

2011-05-30T13:25:00.000-04:00

Please join the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival and Poetry Atlanta in presenting an evening of Allen Ginsberg at the First Existentialist Congregation in Candler Park, 470 Candler Park Drive, on Friday, June 3, 7:30 p.m. Come listen to some of Atlanta's most talented poets read from his works. It promises to be a trippy evening. $5 Suggested Donation, benefit for AQLF.

Featured poets include: Alice Lovelace, Collin Kelley, Franklin Abbott, Cleo Creech, Mindy Friedman, Karen Head, Kodac Harrison, M. Ayodele Heath, Theresa Davis, JC Reilly, Sharan Strange, Megan Volpert, Dan Veach and a few surprise guests. Rupert Fike is your host.

Atlanta Howl-a-Thon: A Night of Allen Ginsberg

2011-05-08T18:59:00.000-04:00

Join us at 1st E in Candler Park on Friday night, June 3rd for an full evening of Allen Ginsberg. We'll have a group of some of Atlanta's best poets and writers reading from a number of his works.

Doors open at 7:30.
470 Candler Park Dr., NE
Atlanta, GA

See below a video with AQLF Chair Franklin Abbott and MC Rupert Fike discuss this exciting event, the importance of Ginsberg and his work, as well as recite some of their favorite passsages.

Daniel Allen Cox & Craig Gidney at AQLF 2011

2011-05-05T20:24:00.001-04:00

Daniel Allen Cox is the author of the novel Shuck, shortlisted for a Lambda Literary Award and a ReLit Award, and Krakow Melt, shortlisted for a Lambda Literary Award and the Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBT Fiction. Both are published by Arsenal Pulp Press. A Turkish-language version of Krakow Melt is forthcoming from Istanbul-based publisher Altikirkbes. Daniel was named by After Elton as one of its “Favorite Gay Canucks.” He has performed widely across North America and lives in Montreal, where he is a fiction mentor in the Quebec Writers’ Federation Mentorship Program and is working on a screenwriting project.

Craig Laurance Gidney is the author of the Lambda Literary Award nominated collection Sea, Swallow Me & Other Stories. He is an editor at Lethe Press and lives and writes in Washington, DC.

Donate to AQLF & Win Royal Wedding swag

2011-04-28T20:58:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is the Royal Wedding and our AQLF friend and supporter Karen Head brought this official magnet back from a recent trip to London. The magnet features William and Kate and is perfect for the Anglophile in your life. The person who makes the biggest donation by 11:59 p.m. ET on April 29 will get the magnet. To make a donation via PayPal just click the Donate button in the sidebar.

AQLF is a nonprofit organization, so your donations go directly to programming and aiding in bringing authors to Atlanta for the festival. This year's AQLF is June 23-25.

Cheers!

2011 AQLF Keynotes Announced

2011-04-24T12:40:00.000-04:00

Sonia Tetlow Set from AQLF Eddie's Benefit Now on Youtube

2011-04-23T19:53:00.000-04:00

Hey gang, if you couldn't make it to the Eddie's benefit, we have the entire Sonia Tetlow set now uploaded on our YouTube channel. We were so fortunate to have the talents of this uber talented singer/songwriter at the show.

Check out the whole set here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A89D39A8E2A75C12

There's a great performance with local slam master Karen G. performing "Incessant"

Sonia does everything from soulful ballads like "Trading Water."

To rocking out with "Free to Rock 'n Roll."

As well as the fun "I've Been Trying to Tell Ya."

Check out Sonia on MySpace.

If you couldn't make the benefit, you can also still make contributions via this website.

Tonight's the Night! AQLF Benefit Eddie's Attic: Featuring Bucky Motter and Sonia Tetlow

2011-04-17T10:23:00.001-04:00

Tonight's the big night, doors open at 5, show at 6. Come early for a bite to eat.

Show your support for AQLF's fifth anniversary season by catching this great show by the talented singer/songwriters Bucky Motter and Sonia Tetlow.

For more info and to buy tickets, check out the Eddie's website.

AQLF Benefit Show This Sunday, Eddie's Attic: Featuring Bucky Motter and Sonia Tetlow

2011-04-15T19:09:00.000-04:00

Just as a bit of a teaser, as a preview of the exciting show we have lined up on Sunday at Eddie's, check out these videos from our featured performers.

Bucky Motter

BUCKY MOTTER is a gender queer performing songwriter, rocker, and competitive bodybuilder who has opened for BB King, Melissa Ferrick and the Manhattan Transfer. He has two critically acclaimed CD's, Outta Control and Pleasure and Pain, on his own Hey MISTER! Records label. Currently, he is playing his own music with beloved bassist, Jerry Peek, and playing bass and co-writing with the Atlanta power-pop band, Flat Cat.

Sonia Tetlow

SONIA TETLOW fronts the band, Herman Put Down The Gun, and plays banjo in the "alterna-grass" group, Roxie Watson. As the former singer and guitarist for the punk-rock trio, STB (Sonia Tetlow Band), with two critically acclaimed albums, Tetlow also played in Cowboy Mouth for several years. A diverse and talented multi-instrumentalist, she has toured extensively, performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show," and has opened for Patti Smith, Shawn Mullins and Indigo Girls.

Wishing All Our AQLF Peeps - Happy National Poetry Month!

2011-04-08T06:10:00.000-04:00

AQLF Fundraiser at Eddie's Attic, April 17

2011-03-16T22:31:00.000-04:00

THE AQLF BENEFIT SHOW returns to Eddie's Attic in Decatur on Sunday, April 17, at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) for a rocking good time with Bucky Motter and Sonia Tetlow. These two friends of the festival represent some of the very best in Atlanta's GLBTQ entertainment, and will showcase the devastatingly good songwriting and hilarious wit that have earned them each the title of "Hometown Hero." Proceeds from the show will support the 5th Annual Atlanta Queer Literary Festival, bringing amazing queer literature and performance to you for free during Stonewall Weekend this June.

BUCKY MOTTER is a gender queer performing songwriter, rocker, and competitive bodybuilder who has opened for such artists as: BB King, Melissa Ferrick and the Manhattan Transfer. He has two critically acclaimed CD's, "Outta Control" and "Pleasure and Pain," on his own Hey MISTER! Records label. Currently, he is playing his own music with his beloved bassist, Jerry Peek, and playing bass and co-writing with the Atlanta power-pop band, Flat Cat.

SONIA TETLOW fronts the band, Herman Put Down The Gun, and plays banjo in the "alterna-grass" group, Roxie Watson. As the former singer and guitarist for the punk-rock trio, STB (Sonia Tetlow Band), which released two critically acclaimed independent albums, Tetlow also played bass guitar in Cowboy Mouth for several years. A diverse and talented multi-instrumentalist, she has: toured extensively, performed on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," and has opened for artists, like: Patti Smith, Shawn Mullins and Indigo Girls.

Tickets are only $15 per person or reserve a table for $75 (seats 4). There's also a Dinner & Show discount options now available for both Table and General Admission reservations. Save up to $5 per person! Click this link to buy tickets now!

Eileen Myles at AQLF fundraiser

2011-02-26T23:11:00.002-05:00

If you missed Eileen Myles reading from her novel, Inferno, at Charis Books & More last week, here's an excerpt. Thanks to all those who came out and made a donation to the festival, and many, many thanks to Eileen for coming to Atlanta!

AQLF fundraiser with Eileen Myles, Feb. 23

2011-01-29T12:36:00.001-05:00

Eileen Myles (photo by Leopoldine Core)

AQLF will hold a special fundraiser featuring Eileen Myles with Megan Volpert at Charis Books (1189 Euclid Ave. in Little Five Points) on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 7:30pm A $5 to $10 donation is suggested.

The Atlanta Queer Literary Festival, now in its 5th year, provides a long weekend full of readings, workshops, panels and other literary events that focus on celebrating and connecting the LGBTQ community's literary achievements and aspirations. This year the festival is moving from October to Stonewall Weekend in late June, and as always, it is free and open to all.

Eileen Myles' Inferno (a poet's novel), out now from OR books, chronicles the adventures of a female writer in hell very much like Eileen Myles. Inferno is actually a kunstlerroman. Myles first became known to many people for her openly female write-in campaign for President of the United States in 1991-92. A widely published and anthologized writer, her books include The Importance of Being Iceland/travel essays in art (2009) for which she received a Warhol/Creative Capital art writing grant, Sorry, Tree (poetry) 2007, Tow w/ artist Larry C. Collins (2005), Skies (2001), on my way (2001), Cool for You (novel, 2000), School of Fish (1997), Maxfield Parrish (1995), Not Me (1991), and Chelsea Girls (stories, 1994). She is currently Fannie Hurst Professor at Washington University in St. Louis. She contributes to a wide number of publications including Art Forum, Parkett, The Believer, Vice, Cabinet, The Nation, TimeOut, Book Forum and AnOther Magazine. The Poetry Society of American awarded her the Shelley Prize in 2010. Find out more at www.eileenmyles.com.

Megan Volpert's fourth book is Sonics in Warholia (Slack Buddha Press, 2011). She is Co-Director of the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival, and a high school English teacher with an MFA from Louisiana State University. Predictably, www.meganvolpert.com is her website.

AQLF, Celebrating Our 5th Anniversary in 2011, Thanks for Your Support

2010-12-30T18:43:00.002-05:00

We hope everyone is having a great holiday season and want to extend our best to all our families of all makes and models throughout the community. May the New Year bring you and yours happiness, prosperity, creativity, and fulfillment.

We'd like to thank all our supporters over the years and especially this past year for making AQLF 2010 so successful. We look forward to our big 5th anniversary in 2011.

We're moving AQLF back to the summer so we're on a shortened planning/budgeting schedule. We'd appreciate your continued support. If you have any charity spending left in your budget before the end of the year, please keep us in mind.

A letter of thanks

2010-11-01T22:06:00.002-04:00

There are many people to thank for making the 4th Atlanta Queer Literary Festival so worthwhile. I am deeply grateful to co-directors Megan Volpert and Collin Kelley for the hours and hours of planning they put in to bring the festival program together and to our Media Director Cleo Creech who held the camera that recorded most of the festival as well as the subsequent art exhibits and dance festival as well as coordinating all of our social media.

Over the next few months Cleo will be posting videos on our website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. Many thanks to Morris Gardner, Kerrie Cotten Williams and Wesley Chenault of the Auburn Avenue Research Library for their many contributions including the live streaming of our keynote speakers. Our keynote speakers Cary Alan Johnson and Ana Bozicevic gave inspiring talks, our broadside contest winner Ed Madden read his poem "Jubilate" and I highly recommend watching them at this link.

We had had over 40 individuals who participated as panelist, speakers or gave readings -- our thanks to them all especially to Alice Teeter and Freddie Styles who gave the closing talks on "Queer Creativity." In addition to the folks at Auburn Avenue we want to thank our other venue hosts: Michael Shutt and Danielle Steele of the Emory University Office of LGBT Life, Sara Look, Angela Brown, Elizabeth Anderson, Angela Gabriel and the women of Charis Books and More and Charis Circle, Philip Rafshoon and his staff at Outwrite Books and Coffeehouse, Joe Davich at the Decatur Library and the Georgia Center for the Book, the good folks at Java Monkey (special thanks to our slam performers Blair, Joanna Hoffman and Gabe Moses) and Carol Sandiford, D.Patton White, Marsha Mitchner and the members of the First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta.

We want to thank Charis Books again for selling books at our keynotes and Jef Blocker and Jeff McCord of Bound to Be Read Books for selling books on Saturday. For our fabulous sweets and bagels we want to thank Aleta and Alex Aaron of Goldberg's Deli. Without the generous help of our sponsors we would not be able to produce this totally free event. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to P.D. Publishing for their generous help, to Strange Apples, Inc for their organizational support and to the following for their gifts: Daniel Terry, Jessica Handler, Robert Wood, Karen Head, Mike Crandall, Libby Ware, Don Perryman, Roger Bailey and David Pratt. Our media sponsors, Mike Fleming of Project Q and Laura Douglas Brown, Dyana Bagby and Tim Boyd of The Georgia Voice were essential in getting the word our and we thank them.

A final thanks to DJ Get'um Gurl for the good music at the after party. Please check in with us on the website for updates on next year's festival and attendant activities and please consider making a tax deductible donation to AQLF via PayPal in the sidebar. We need your support to keep the ball rolling.

Franklin Abbott, AQLF co-founder and Chairperson

Photos from the 2010 festival!

2010-10-17T14:28:00.000-04:00

Poet Karen Head read during the opening night event at Charis Books.

Writers who performed during the opening night event at Charis included, from left, Alice Teeter, Timothy Wright, Bailey Lynn, Karen Head, Antron-Reshaud, Maudelle Driskell and Mose Hardin.

AQLF founder Franklin Abbott listens as Outwrite Books owner Philip Rafshoon introduces the Jewish Showcase held on Thursday night at Outwrite.

Mindy Friedman was the host for the Jewish Showcase at Outwrite.

Poet Megan Volpert read during the Jewish Showcase.

Writer Jonathan Lerner read during the Jewish Showcase.

Joanna Hoffman performs during the Jewish Showcase.

Ana Bozicevic was one of the keynote speakers at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on Friday night.

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission executive director Cary Alan Johnson was also a keynote speaker.

Bound to Be Read Books was the bookseller during the Saturday sessions at the Decatur Library.

Poet Steven Reigns performed Saturday.

Miss the KeyNote? You Can Still Watch it Online.

2010-10-16T09:57:00.000-04:00

Viewership on our livestream channel quickly maxed out last night so many of you signing on hoping to catch it may have missed that opportunity. It was indeed a great event with poet Ana Božičević's comments and poetry, Ed Madden's reading from his prize winning poem "Jubilate" and then a rousing speech by international rights activist, Cary Allen Johnson. Click pic below to go to video.

Readings, panels and more

2010-10-16T00:05:00.001-04:00

It's a full day of readings and panels followed by a poetry slam. AQLF moves to the Decatur Library today starting at 10 a.m. with brunch and then great readings by such folks as Amy King, Steven Reigns, David Pratt, Eliott Mackle, David-Matthew Barnes and many, many more. Then at 7 p.m., the action moves to Java Monkey Coffee House in Decatur for the Queer Slam featuring Blair, Joanna Hoffman and more. See the full schedule of the day's events at this link.

Keynote Address Tonight

2010-10-15T12:46:00.000-04:00

Cary Alan Johnson

Ana Božičević

featuring Ana Božičević and Cary Alan Johnson, plus reading/presentation by Broadside Contest Winner, Ed Madden. You don't want to miss this event! And if you can't be there in person, be sure to watch on UStream.

Jewish Showcase tonight at Outwrite

2010-10-14T16:41:00.000-04:00

AQLF 2010 continues tonight at 7:15 p.m. at Outwrite Books in Midtown with our Jewish Showcase featuring Jonathan Lerner, Joanna Hoffman, Megan Volpert and host Mindy Dawn Friedman.

You definitely don't want to miss Jonathan Lerner, who was a founding member of the radical Weather Underground in the 1970s, and the author of the novel Alex Underground, a coming out story set in that milieu. His previous novel was Caught in a Still Place. He is also a magazine editor and feature writer specializing in architecture, urbanism and design. He has been an Atlanta resident since 1990, and for several years was an organizer of the Gay Spirit Visions Conference.

Can't Make it to ATL? AQLF Keynotes to be Livestreamed

2010-10-14T09:58:00.000-04:00

Our exciting lineup of keynote speakers for Friday night will be available via ustream.tv for anyone who can't make it to Atlanta. So please follow us live at this event if you can.

We have a whole section on the website dedicated to this evening with poet Ana Božičević and Cary Alan Johnson, Executive Director of the International Gay & Lesbian, Human Rights Commission. Check out that information and videos here.

It will also include Ed Madden reading his winning poem, Jubiltate, from the annual broadside contest.

Click here to access the livestream telecast on u-stream. This will be broadcast live from the Auburn Avenue Research Library.

Friday, October 15 - 7:30 pm.

If you can't be there in person, please join us online.

AQLF 2010 has begun!

2010-10-13T23:15:00.000-04:00

The 2010 Atlanta Queer Literary Festival is officially underway! The opening night event at Charis Books & More featured, from left, Alice Teeter, Jeffrey Wright, Bailey Lynn, Karen Head, Antron-Reshaud, Maudelle Driskell and Mose Hardin.

Broadsides to be Unveiled at AQLF

2010-10-13T01:31:00.000-04:00

Ed Madden's winning poem "Jubilate" will be featured as this year's official commemorative broadside in the ongoing AQLF Broadside Series. Ed will be reading the work and presented with the work in a special presentation after the Keynote speeches on Friday night. Copies will be available for purchase that night and throughout the festival.

The Festival Begins Wednesday

2010-10-11T19:50:00.000-04:00

The 2010 Atlanta Queer Literary Festival kicks off Wednesday night (Oct. 13) at 7 p.m. at Charis Books and More in Little Five Points with a reading by some of Atlanta's most talented LGBT voices. The line-up includes Karen Head, Maudelle Driskell, Alice Teeter, Timothy Wright, Phyllis Free, Mose Hardin, Reginald Jackson, Antron-Reshaud and Bailey Lynn. Hosted by Collin Kelley. Charis is located at 1189 Euclid Avenue. The event is free!

For the complete schedule for this year's festival, click this link.

AQLF at Atlanta Pride 2010

2010-09-27T13:10:00.000-04:00

Atlanta Pride Literary Showcase

Saturday, Oct. 9, 1:30 p.m. at Budweiser Stage, Piedmont Park

AQLF will feature poets and writers reading from their work followed by a Q&A. You'll also find out more about the upcoming festival! Schedule to appear:

Theresa Davis: Slam champ and spoken word artist Theresa Davis has represented Atlanta on both the Java Monkey and Art Amok Slam Teams and performs at colleges and universities around the country. She appeared in The Vagina Monologues with Jane Fonda, Pearl Cleage and Eve Ensler, and is the author of two poetry collections, Head Games and Torn.

Franklin Abbott: Franklin is the author of the poetry collections Mortal Love and Pink Zinnias, and was the editor of the critically acclaimed anthology Boyhood: Growing Up Male from the University of Wisconsin Press. He is the founder of the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival.

Cleo Creech: Poet, essayist and blogger Cleo Creech is the editor of the anthology Outside the Green Zone and is the founding editor of the Java Monkey Speaksanthology series from Poetry Atlanta Press.

Maudelle Driskell: Maudelle holds an M.F.A. in poetry from Warren Wilson College. She is the recipient of the Ruth Lilly Fellowship, awarded by Poetry magazine and the Modern Language Association. Her work has appeared in Poetry, Kenyon Review, CAIRN, New Orleans Review, All Shook Up, and The Made Thing.

David-Matthew Barnes: Poet, playwright and now novelist, Barnes' young adult novel, Mesmerized, is out in November from Bold Stroke Books. His adult novel,Accidents Never Happen, will be out in 2011.

Lisa Allender: Actress and poet Allender has appeared in Drop Dead Diva, House of Payne and will star in a major motion picture filming in Atlanta this fall. Her poetry collection, Words from Water, is coming soon.

For more about the Pride festival, visit www.AtlantaPride.org.

JUST ADDED:

Mose Hardin is a self-published poet who loves reading everything and who has lived in Atlanta for 24 years and is currently working on his 6th poetry book "Living a POETIC LIFE".

Bailey Lynn is a FtM transsexual in the process of writing a memoir about his experiences. The memoir is a cooperative project with his mother, the poet Ann Lynn. He has read at Outwrite Books and will be a featured writer at the 2010 Atlanta Queer Literary Festival.

AQLF open mic at Outwrite Books, Sept. 21

2010-09-15T23:14:00.000-04:00

Get a sneak preview of the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival on Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m. as Franklin Abbott hosts a special open mic at Outwrite Books, 995 Piedmont Ave. in Midtown. Bring a poem or two to read and find out more about the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival coming Oct. 13-16. www.outwritebooks.com

I See Str8 People - C U Friday Evening, Sept 10 - Check Out Preview Videos!

2010-09-09T19:16:00.000-04:00

We're all very excited about the great lineup for our annual AQLF event I See Straight People, where our straight allies in the community come out to show their support for the festival.

Join us Friday evening, September 10th at 8pm for the AQLF benefit I See Straight People at the First Existentialist Congregation, 470 Candler Park Road overlooking Candler Park. Rupert Fike hosts and our straight allies perform poetry, music and spoken word to raise money for AQLF.

We are excited to announce the following performers will be with us:

Elise Witt and musical friends, Alice Lovelace, Stephen Wing, Bruce Covey, James May, vocals/guitar duo Fortune's Fool and Def Jam poet Jon Goode.

We ask for a $10 donation (tax deductible) and promise a very good time.

Check out these videos to see just a sample of what a great show you're in store for.

John Goode

Alice Lovelace

Elise Witt

I See Straight People benefit, Sept. 10

2010-09-06T21:36:00.000-04:00

I See Straight People, a benefit for AQLF, will take place at the First Existentialist Congregation, 470 Candler Park Road, overlooking Candler Park on Friday, Sept. 10, 8:00 p.m. Rupert Fike hosts for the second year in a row with poetry, music and spoken word to raise money for AQLF. Performers include Elise Witt and musical friends, Alice Lovelace, Stephen Wing, Bruce Covey, James May, Jon Goode and music by Fortune's Fool. A $10 donation (tax deductible) is suggested to help continue the programming of AQLF.

AQLF at Decatur Book Festival: Rigoberto Gonzalez Editor "Camino del Sol: Fifteen Years of Latina and Latino Writing"

2010-09-02T19:44:00.000-04:00

Camino del Sol: Fifteen Years of Latina and Latino Writing

Sunday, 2:30 Decatur Conference Cntr Stage (Ballroom A)

Rigoberto Gonazalez is the Editor of Camino del Sol: Fifteen Years of Latina and Latino Writing and author of eight other books. His awards include a Guggenheim, an NEA, The Poetry Center Book Award and the Before Columbus American Book Award for his memoir, Butterfly Boy: Memories of a Chicano Mariposa. He is contributing editor for Poets and Writers Magazine, on the Executive Board of Directors of the National Book Critics Circle, on the Board of Directors of Fishouse Poems: A Poetry Archive, and on the Advisory Circle of Con Tinta, a collective of Chicano/ Latino activist writers. He writes twice a month a Latino book column, now entering its seventh year, for the El Paso Times of Texas.

Here's an interview with Rigoberto from last year:

Rigoberto's books include: Camino del Sol: 15 Years of Latina and Latino Writing, The Mariposa Club, Men without Bliss, Other Fugitives and Other Strangers, Butterfly Boy: Memories of a Chicano Mariposa, Antonio's Card/La Tarjeta de Antonio, Soledad Sigh-Sighs/Soledad Suspiros, Crossing Vines, So Often the Pitcher Goes to Water until it Breaks.

AQLF at Decatur Book Festival: Writer Spotlight: Charles Jensen with "The First Risk"

2010-09-01T20:25:00.000-04:00

Saturday, 11:15 at Decatur Conference Cntr Stage (Ballroom A)

Charles Jensen is the author of three chapbooks, including Living Things, which won the 2006 Frank O’Hara Chapbook Award, and The Strange Case of Maribel Dixon (New Michigan Press, 2007). His first full-length collection, The First Risk, was published in 2009 by Lethe Press and was a 2010 Lambda Literary Award finalist.

Check out Charles' website here.

Below Charles Jensen reads "The American chef and the native onion have been enemies..." from his manuscript NANOPEDIA: THE SMALLEST AMERICAN REFERENCE

AQLF at the Decatur Book Festival: Persistent Voices, An Anthology of Poets Lost to AIDS

2010-08-31T21:00:00.000-04:00

Decatur Conference Center Stage (Ballroom B) Saturday, 10:00 am - 10:45 am

Local poets Franklin Abbott, Megan Volpert, Theresa Davis, Cleo Creech and Collin Kelley read from an anthology of noted poets lost to AIDS along with editor David Groff.

During a recent interview on The New Gay website, Philip Clark commented that:

"Almost without fail, when I uncovered more, I would find out that the poet had died of AIDS. Almost everyone whose work I admired was dead. It really made me think about how impermanent literature can be without an author there to promote it, especially gay written work that has never truly broken into mainstream consciousness. I’ve dedicated myself since then to keeping these writers’ memories alive, and Persistent Voices is a big piece of that. Walta, Essex, Jim, and Tim are all among the book’s contributors, so I’m trying to give back to writers whose words really sustained me during my high school years and beyond."

Read the rest of this interview at The New Gay here.

See a reading by co-editor Philip Clark:

100819 Kirk Read Persistent Voices Poets Lost to AIDS Philip Clark from In Studio on Vimeo.

There's also an excellent interview with David Groff on "Fogged Clarity - An Arts Review" here.

Decatur Book Festival Spotlight - Rakesh Satyal

2010-08-26T19:53:00.000-04:00

One of the great author's AQLF is happy to help sponsor at the Decatur Book Festival this year is Rakesh Satyal, who will be reading from his novel Blue Boy.

Rakesh is also an accomplished cabaret singer, and you have to love an author who sets his Lammie award speech to Lady Gaga.

If we're lucky we might get treated to some of his cabaret act. Here's Rakesh singing Bieber

Though you may like his Fiona Apple "Slow Like Honey":

Read biography, reviews and more on Rakesh's work at his website www.rakeshsatyal.com.

AQLF at the Decatur Book Festival

2010-08-22T19:29:00.000-04:00

AQLF is proud to partner with the Decatur Book Festival in presenting these exciting events. The festival runs Labor Day Weekend from September 3-5. Check out the DBF website for directions, full schedules and other great events. http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/.

Persistent Voices:
An Anthology of Poets Lost to AIDS

David Groff

Decatur Conference Center Stage
(Ballroom B) Saturday, 10:00 am - 10:45 am

From Reinaldo Arenas, Tory Dent, and James Merrill to Paul Monette, Essex Hemphill, and Joe Brainard, Persistent Voices memorializes these poets and many others by presenting their work—often dealing with AIDS but also about other enduring topics—in the context of an unending epidemic that has profoundly affected our literature.

Local poets Franklin Abbott, Megan Volpert, Theresa Davis, Cleo Creech and Collin Kelley read from an anthology of noted poets lost to AIDS along with editor David Groff.

Get more details on this author's DBF events page here. Check out more about the book here.

Charles Jensen
The First Risk

Saturday, 11:15 at Decatur Conference Cntr Stage (Ballroom A)

Charles Jensen is the author of three chapbooks, including Living Things, which won the 2006 Frank O’Hara Chapbook Award, and The Strange Case of Maribel Dixon (New Michigan Press, 2007). His first full-length collection, The First Risk, was published in 2009 by Lethe Press and was a 2010 Lambda Literary Award finalist.

More details on this author's DBF events page here.
Check out the author's website here.

Rakesh Satyal

Blue Boy

Saturday, 3:00 at Decatur Conference Cntr Auditorium

As an only son, Kiran has obligations — to excel in his studies, to honor the deities, to find a nice Indian girl, and, above all, to make his mother and father proud — standard stuff for a boy of his background. Kiran's not-so-well-kept secrets don't endear him to any group. Playing with dolls; taking the annual talent show way too seriously...the very things that make Kiran who he is also make him the star of his own personal freak show...

Get more details on this author's DBF events page here.

Check out more about the author here.

Rigoberto Gonzalez
Camino del Sol: Fifteen Years of Latina and Latino Writing

Sunday, 2:30 Decatur Conference Cntr Stage (Ballroom A)

Rigoberto Gonazalez is the author of eight books and the editor of Camino del Sol: Fifteen Years of Latina and Latino Writing. The recipient of Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships, winner of the American Book Award, and The Poetry Center Book Award, he writes a Latino book column for the El Paso Times of Texas.

More details on this author's DBF events page here.
Check out the author's website here.

GA Voice Does Feature on Decatur Book Festival & AQLF

2010-08-20T17:02:00.000-04:00

Read about the gay writers at his years Decatur Book Festival. AQLF is partnering with DBF this year to help bring a number of GLBT writers to the Festival.

Read more here.

AQLF Announces 2010 Broadside Contest Winner: Ed Madden with "Jubilate"

2010-08-18T19:10:00.000-04:00

The Atlanta Queer Literature Festival is proud to announce this year's winner of our annual broadside competition:

Ed Madden

of Columbia, South Carolina

with his poem Jubilate.

Ed has been invited to read the poem as part of the opening night/keynote ceremonies. The work will also be illustrated and designed into a broadside by a noted local Atlanta artist and printed as part of the AQLF broadside series. Copies will be available at the festival (and online).

Our judge this year was C. Dale Young who had this to say about Ed's winning piece:

"To take Christopher Smart's odd and oddly wonderful poem and "revise" it with a queer sensibility is a daring move, but it works and works beautifully. I love the way this poem stands on its own and casually nods at its forebear. The poem is gorgeous in the way it is both playful and serious, comic and heartbreaking. And in the end, it is a metaphysical poem that questions our perceptions of what is right and what is not. It ends with that stunning couplet: "For what you do when you are confused / will make you certain", a true queer metaphysical statement if I have ever heard one. "

So we are thrilled to present the winning work by Ed Madden:

Jubilate

For I will read queer things in punk magazines in English.
For we will talk about David Bowie and Rod Stewart in art.
For I will watch Sting sing ‘Don’t stand so close to me’ on Friday Night Videos
as I lie on a bed in Sheryl Honey’s house my senior year,
for I will lie on the bed with Elizabeth, who loaned me the magazines,
for I will lie on the bed with Paul, the quarterback with perfect hair and tanned ankles,
for we will watch Sting sing ‘Don’t stand so close to me.’

Let us rejoice with Rod Stewart, who says
no point in talking when there’s nobody listening.
Let us rejoice with Sting, who sings,
don’t stand so, don’t stand, don’t stand.
Copa Cabana, Mama Mia, Amen.

For there is a bar in Oxford called the Jolly Farmer.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising,
thou understandest my thought afar off.
For there I will meet a man named David,
for we will hear the Pet Shop Boys sing, ‘Take a chance on me.’
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me—
For we will wait in line to enter Heaven, where I will dance with David—
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there—
for I will hear a remix of ‘Even better than the real thing’
and we will leave together—
if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there.

For what you do when you are confused
will make you certain.

Runner up was Jim Nawrocki with his fine work, Thomas Eakins unveils his painting, Swimming, for Walt Whitman (1885), we will feature Thomas Eakin's piece in a later posting.

THANKS! For Making the AQLF Eddie's Attic Benefit Such a Success!

2010-08-16T18:06:00.000-04:00

Thanks to all thos who helped make the first Atlanta Queer Literary Festival Benefit Show at Eddie's Attic such a huge success. We had great ticket sales and raised a significant amount to help bring in authors for the main event on October 13-16. Without the assistance of our dirty dozen devoted queer performers who generously donated their time and skills, this event would not have been possible. There was some mean slide guitar, improvised drum collaboration, fierce keyboards, a barrel of laughs, and a good time had by all.

See the sample video below from our delightful evening. Go to the AQLf YouTube Channel to see all the songs and comedy acts, that link here.

If you like what you see, remember that it's never too late to donate to AQLF through the PayPal button on our website.

AQLF Eddie's Attic Benefit, See You Tomorrow!

2010-08-11T20:59:00.000-04:00

Project Q does a nice write up on the upcoming AQLF Benefit. http://tiny.cc/ymq6t

Here's the "Dirty Dozen"!

Look forward to seeing everyone there! Thanks for all your support!

Tickets $12 online before the show, $15 at the door.

Eddie's Attic AQLF Benefit: Comedy Spotlight

2010-08-10T20:54:00.000-04:00

They're Just Funny That Way

Only a couple of days left until the August 12th AQLF Eddie's Attic Benefit. We're lucky enough to have a great line up of local comedy talent for the show. In addition to the fine music acts we have a generous helping of GLBT acts to tickle your queer funny bone.

Alyssa Barnett-Schott

For over fifteen years, Alyssa Barnett-Schott has been spreading laughter with her own style of short, fat, jewish, dyke comedy. Originally from New Jersey, she has performed all over the southeast including Atlanta and Charlotte pride festivals. Alyssa lives in Pine Lake, GA with her partner Barbara and their 3 year old daughter Ellery.

Mindy Dawn Friedman

Mindy is a comedian who has survived both the mullet and bolo-sporting eras of women in comedy. She mixes acerbic witticisms with an ounce of truth and a healthy suspension of disbelief to serve up a satisfying comedic meal. Though, not unlike Chinese food, her comedy leaves you hungering for more an hour later. Mindy Dawn has performed with comedians including Sabrina Matthews, Ellen DeGeneres, Ray Romano, Paula Poundstone, and Elvira Kurt. Embracing the stereotype, she lives in Decatur with her wife, Megan. Their pet dog is forthcoming.

Vivian Alford

Vivian is a mild mannered librarian by day and a killer stand up comedian by night. She's performed at the Punchline, Funny Farm, Relapse Theatre and even in Alabama. She's a small town girl with a big outlook on life.

Sanders Hulsey

Sanders has performed at countless events at “The Gay AA” including producing Burst Into Merriment Comedy Night/Auction I and II in which he performed as well. He has performed at such Atlanta clubs as The Red Chair (no he is NOT the reason they closed down), Actor’s Express, Kavarna and Eddie’s Attic. He has been a featured comic at Eddie’s Attic for the 2009 and 2010 Gay Pride Comedy Shows. Most recently he co-produced a monthly comedy show at Kavarna in Oakhurst Village.

Tickets available online at Eddie's Attic Website here, buy early guarantee a seat. Group tables also available, so make it a night out with your friends. Tickets will also be available at the door.

For more information on the full line up, times, directions, etc. check our earlier post here.

AQLF Eddie's Attic Benefit: Artist Spotlight: Lucas Miré

2010-08-09T21:14:00.000-04:00

Lucas Mire to feature music from his upcoming album at AQLF Eddie's Attic benefit.

In a recent interview with Atlanta INtown magazine Lucas Mire was asked about his newest project.

"My main goal with the new record was to have it sound a lot more like my live shows than my first album. I wanted it to be truer to who I am as a live artist. It has a kind of alt-country sound: There’s lots of acoustic guitar, pedal steel, piano, Wurlitzer, Hammond organ. I’d work at my full-time career job until 1 p.m., then head to the studio for 8 hours of work there. Clay pushed me to trust the music I’d written and to be okay with how I’d performed it that day. Most of the songs on Never Regret the Nights are about a relationship I was in a couple of years ago, but the last song “Happy,” is one of the first I’d ever written. The songwriting here is consciously more simple and direct than on my first record."

Lucas was kind enough to share a sample of this new work:

Check out samples of Lucas Mire's work from his previous three albums at his website here.

Order your tickets for the Eddie's Attic AQLF Benefit before they're all gone on the Eddie's website here.

For more information about the rest of this exciting lineup check out the full lineup here.

AQLF Eddie's Attic Benefit Artist Spotlight: Angela "Bucky" Motter

2010-08-07T19:31:00.000-04:00

Bucky Motter is a gender queer performing songwriter, rocker, and competitive bodybuilder. He is a veteran of the Atlanta music scene and has opened for such artists as BB King, Indigo Girls, Melissa Ferrick, Sonia Leigh, and the Manhattan Transfer. He has two critically acclaimed CD's: Outta Control and Pleasure and Pain on his own Hey MISTER! Records label. Currently he is playing his own music with his beloved bassist Jerry Peek and playing bass and co-writing with the Atlanta power pop band Flat Cat.

You can sample some of the music off Bucky's latest album Pleasure and Pain here.

Check out a video of Bucky performing Girls Talk below.

We're so excited to have Bucky performing at the AQLF Benefit. You can still get tickets for the April 12th event on the Eddie's Attic site here. Group tables are available, and tickets will be sold at the door if still available.

And for more information about the rest of the exciting lineup and other details check our web site here.

AQLF Eddie's Attic Benefit Artist Spotlight: Andy Ditzler

2010-08-06T19:22:00.000-04:00

This last week leading up to our big benefit at Eddie's Attic we'll be spotlighting different artists that will be performing at the event. Today we'd like to showcase the exciting work of Andy Ditzler.

Many of you may already know Andy from his work with Frequent Small Meals and their mounting of house concerts, salons and other arts events around town.

You may also know Andy through his love of film and particularly the rare avant garde works whose screenings are made possible through Film Love. Andy is one of the leading experts in Atlanta on avant garde film and has been interviewd on the topic by Atlanta Magazine, Arts Papers, AJC, and WABE. Creative Loafing called him "An Atlanta film culture treasure."

For the AQLF Benefit you'll be enjoying what cdbaby refers to as "...an intricate musical mosaic: 21st-century pop songs with an overlay of jazz, samba, rock, and electronica. Holding it all together at the core are Ditzler’s piano, voice, melodies and lyrics". You can sample some of Andy's music at cdbaby here.

Here's a sample of Andy's talent and creativity. The video for his work Solstice:

Solstice from Andy Ditzler on Vimeo.

Tickets are going fast so order your today to see Andy perform. Tickets for the Eddie's Attic AQLF Benefit can be purchased here.

To see the rest of the exciting line up and for other information, please vist the AQLF website here.

INtown Magazine Features Two ATL Musicians Performing at AQLF Benefit

2010-07-28T18:10:00.000-04:00

Atlanta INtown features two local musicians in their recent The Sound of Intown music edition that can also be caught next month at AQLF's Eddie's Attic benefit (Aug. 12th). We're happy to have these two up-and-coming talents in our lineup.

Click on the links below the pictures to read more about these artist at Atlanta INtown, and see video clips of recent performances.

Ken j. Martin

Lucas Mire

Check out previous post for the entire lineup.

Tickets are on sale NOW, through Eddie's Attic website at this link. Order tickets early as we anticipate a sell out.

AQLF Spotlight in GA Voice

2010-07-27T16:33:00.000-04:00

GA Voice does a spotlight feature on AQLF.
Check it out here.

Atlanta Queer Lit Fest - Now on Twitter

2010-07-25T17:33:00.000-04:00

Follow AQLF now on twitter at http://twitter.com/AQLF

We have our Eddies' Attic Benefit coming up August 12, exciting events in connection with the Decatur Book Festival in September, then the AQLF main event in October. Sign up to follow us now so you don't miss any announcements, updates or breaking news.

Atlanta Queer Literary Festival Benefit Show

2010-07-12T15:41:00.000-04:00

Queer up your Calendar Now!

Thurday, August 12th
Doors open 6:30 pm , Show Starts at 7:00 pm

The AQLF Benefit Show is part music, part comedy, and all very queertastic. The music line-up includes local favorites KenJ, Lucas Miré and the legendary Bucky Motter, plus keyboard wizards Andy Ditzler and Guyton Maurice, and the debut of Julia Carroll and Amy Lashley's new band, Without a Net. The comedy line-up includes the host of Comedy Night at Eddie's, Alyssa Barnett-Schott, plus newly resurrected heroes Mindy Dawn Friedman and Vivian Alford, and the king of catty, Sanders Hulsey. Taken together, this dirty dozen is the very best in GLBTQ entertainment that Atlanta has to offer. Proceeds from the show will support the 4th Annual Atlanta Queer Literary Festival, bringing amazing queer literature and performance to you for free every October.

Tickets for this unique fundraising event on Thursday, August 12th, are already on sale through the Eddie's Attic website. Advanced tickets are $12, $15 at the door, and it costs $60 to reserve a table for four. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show begins at 7:00pm. For Directions and other info.

The AQLF Benefit Show Lineup

6:30
Doors Open

7:00
KenJ, Lucas Miré, Alyssa Barnett-Schott, Bucky Motter

8:00
Mindy Dawn Friedman, Without A Net

9:00
Vivian Alford, Andy Ditzler, Sanders Hulsey

10:00
Guyton Maurice

More Information About the Artists:

KenJ

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia Ken j. is acsending towards international regard for his vocal flair and songwriting prowess. He's notable lyrics range from heartfelt ballads to revolutionary anthems evoking memories of music legends Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley.

KenJ's latest album is 3 Years 8 Days.

Lucas Miré

2006 OutMusic Award nominee for Outstanding Male Debut, Forever's Not As Long As It Used To Be.
Voted Best of Gay Atlanta by readers of Southern Voice 2007

"Lucas Miré is not your average singer-songwriter. Aside from having compelling melodies and insightful, poignant lyrics, Miré's gentle pop songs possess that special and rather rare quality - the one that makes you tune right in and eat up every word."
-- Edie Carey, Singer-Songwriter

Alyssa Barnett-Schott

For over fifteen years, Alyssa Barnett-Schott has been spreading laughter with her own style of short, fat, jewish, dyke comedy. Originally from New Jersey, she has performed all over the southeast including Atlanta and Charlotte pride festivals. Alyssa lives in Pine Lake, GA with her partner Barbara and their 3 year old daughter Ellery.

Angela “Bucky” Motter

Bucky Motter is a gender queer performing songwriter, rocker, and competitive bodybuilder. He is a veteran of the Atlanta music scene and has opened for such artists as BB King, Indigo Girls, Melissa Ferrick, Sonia Leigh, and the Manhattan Transfer. He has two critically acclaimed CD's: Outta Control and Pleasure and Pain on his own Hey MISTER! Records label. Currently he is playing his own music with his beloved bassist Jerry Peek and playing bass and co-writing with the Atlanta power pop band Flat Cat.

Mindy Dawn Friedman

Mindy is a comedian who has survived both the mullet and bolo-sporting eras of women in comedy. She mixes acerbic witticisms with an ounce of truth and a healthy suspension of disbelief to serve up a satisfying comedic meal. Though, not unlike Chinese food, her comedy leaves you hungering for more an hour later. Mindy Dawn has performed with comedians including Sabrina Matthews, Ellen DeGeneres, Ray Romano, Paula Poundstone, and Elvira Kurt. Embracing the stereotype, she lives in Decatur with her wife, Megan. Their pet dog is forthcoming.

Without a Net Amy Lashley and Julia Carrol

Amy and Julia have been performing separately for several years. They have recently joined forces to become the Atlanta-based duo Without A Net. Both have featured on each others solo recordings (2008 and 2006, respectively) and, despite their penchant for being musical control freaks individually, when creating together they manage to craft songs both beautifully and effectively. The duo draws its influence from artists such as Patty Griffin and Antje Duvekot, with songs that range from fun and silly to honest and heart-wrenching. Instrumentation includes both acoustic and bass guitars, as well as the not-so-predictable lap steel, nose whistle, and other random stringed/skinned/percussive instruments. The music is crafty, their stage presence present, and their banter will not put you to sleep.

Vivian Alford

Andy Ditzler

Atlanta composer, performer, and curator, Andy Ditzler, is the founder and artistic director of record label and production company, Frequent Small Meals. He studied percussion at Indiana University, School of Music, and has worked in genres from classical and jazz to free improvisation and rock. As composer and performer, Ditzler explores video, audio phonography, and other multimedia forms. His one-man theater show Yes and No was commissioned in 2002 by Clayton State Theater. In 2006 he released his first music CD, Songs From Yes and No, The holiday‐themed single Solstice followed in 2008.

Sanders Hulsey

Sanders has performed at countless events at “The Gay AA” including producing Burst Into Merriment Comedy Night/Auction I and II in which he performed as well. He has performed at such Atlanta clubs as The Red Chair (no he is NOT the reason they closed down), Actor’s Express, Kavarna and Eddie’s Attic. He has been a featured comic at Eddie’s Attic for the 2009 and 2010 Gay Pride Comedy Shows. Most recently he co-produced a monthly comedy show at Kavarna in Oakhurst Village.

Guyton Maurice

Voted “Best Male Musician” 2009 by Southern Voice readers, Guyton continues to make appearances promoting his highly acclaimed album 20 Questions, He plays a variety of venues and festivals from Savannah and Atlanta to L.A. and San Diego and all points in between. Guyton’s melodic piano stylings vary from the beautifully classical to the theatrical and quirky . He commands precise control and clarity across a powerful 4-octave range. Stylistically he has been compared to Rufus Wainwright, Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Freddie Mercury and George Michael. Any fan of “sophisticated pop” will appreciate his originality and true musicianship.

Broadside Contest Deadline Extended to July 15!

2010-06-29T18:50:00.001-04:00

Have you entered the AQLF Broadside Contest yet? If not, you have a grace period! The new deadline is July 15. Please scroll down or click the link in the menu bar on how to enter your writing (in any genre) for a chance to win $200, 100 copies of the broadside and an opportunity to read at AQLF 2010!

AQLF 2010 Keynote Speakers

2010-04-28T19:46:00.000-04:00

We are pleased to announce our keynote speakers for AQLF 2010.

Cary Alan Johnson, executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Co

mmission and editor of Go the Way Your Blood Beats: An Anthology of Lesbian and Gay Fiction by African-American Writers. For more about Johnson, visit www.IGLHRC.org.

Jennifer Finney Boylan, a professor at Colby College and author of ten books, including She's Not There: a Life in Two Genders and I'm Looking Through You: Growing Up Haunted. She is also a nationally known advocate for Civil Rights. www.jenniferboylan.net.

Both Johnson and Boylan will speak on Friday, October 15, 7 p.m. at the Auburn Avenue Research Library. Mark your calendars now!

AQLF 2010 Broadside Contest!

2010-04-02T19:33:00.000-04:00

Writer Eligibility:

-Writer must identify as queer

-Writers of all ages and stages of career are welcome

-Writer cannot have studied creative writing with judge C. Dale Young

Submission Eligibility:

-Work must have a maximum word count of 250

-Work may be in any genre (prose, poetry, all experimental hybrids in between)

-Work content need not be on a queer theme

-Work content must not include writer’s name (judging is blind)

Contest Entry:

-Deadline for submission is July 15, 2010

-Entry fee for each submission is $5, maximum of 5 submissions per writer

-Entry fee paid through PayPal Donation link in the right sidebar. YOU MUST include your name and the title of your work in the notes section of PayPal so that we can match your entry fee with the correct submission.

-Submit work(s) by emailing as one Microsoft Word [last name]_[first name].doc attachment to aqlfcontest@gmail.com, with the subject heading [last name]_[first name]. Include contact telephone number in body of email.

Prizes:

-Winning submission will be published as annual festival broadside. Writer will receive 100 copies, $200 honorarium, and an invitation to read the broadside at keynote address during AQLF (October 13-16, 2010).

-All finalists will be considered for invitation to read at AQLF, winner notified no later than September 1, 2010.

-AQLF reserves the right to cancel the contest in the unlikely event that the contest does not receive at least 50 submissions. Refunds will be made to entrants via PayPal if the contest is cancelled.

Spring Update

2010-03-18T09:32:00.001-04:00

We are planning for the 2010 festival now -- lining up our keynote speakers, going over a list of authors we want to invite and, of course, figuring out how we're going to pay for it all. We need your donations now more than ever. Please consider making a donation to AQLF via the PayPal link in the sidebar. Every dollar goes toward the festival and offsetting the cost of bringing authors to Atlanta for the event.

We'll have another update soon. Thanks for supporting AQLF!

AQLF 2010 Dates Announced

2009-12-21T18:36:00.000-05:00

The fourth annual Atlanta Queer Literary Festival will be held October 13 - 16 at venues in Atlanta and Decatur. More details soon. Remember, you can still make a donation to support AQLF in the sidebar at right.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from all of us at AQLF!

Photos from AQLF 2009

2009-11-08T16:30:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to AQLF organizer, graphics guru and photographer Cleo Creech for these photos.

Alice Teeter read at the opening night event at Charis Books, which was also celebrating its 35th anniversary.

Regie Cabico performed at the My Diva anthology reading at Outwrite Books.

My Diva anthology editor Michael Montlack hosts the reading at Outwrite.

AQLF co-directors Collin Kelley and Megan Volpert.

AQLF founder Franklin Abbott speaks at Charis Books.

Keynote speaker Manil Suri performed at the Auburn Avenue Research Library.

Keynote speaker Staceyann Chin read from her memoir The Other Side of Paradise at the Auburn Avenue Research Library.

Kit Yan performed during the All-Star Slam at Java Monkey Speaks in Decatur.

Joanna Hoffman performed at the All-Star Slam.

Poets Dustin Brookshire and Charles Jensen performed at the Decatur Library.

Post-Festival Event This Morning

2009-11-08T09:24:00.000-05:00

A post-festival service on Queer Creativity will be held this morning at 11 a.m. at The First Existentialist Congregation, 470 Candler Park Dr. Featuring Franklin Abbott, Robin Kemp, John Mifsud, Deb/ra Hiers, Bob Strain and Janet Metzger.

Please note that the award-winning play The Book of Revolutions continues at First Existentialist Congregation on Nov. 12-14. The Nov. 12 show will be a "pay-what-you-can" evening.

May thanks to all the participants and those who attended our events this year. We'll be posting photos soon.

A Day of Readings, Workshops & Slamming

2009-11-07T07:10:00.000-05:00

AQLF presents a day of events at the Decatur Library, 215 Sycamore St. Readings and workshops run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring workshops by Regie Cabico, Joanna Hoffman, Kit Yan and more. Readings of both prose, poetry and non-fiction will feature a special appearance by Terry Galloway reading from her memoir Mean Little Deaf Queer, Collin Kelley reading from his novel Conquering Venus, Charles Jensen reading from his new poetry collection The First Risk and many more.

Tonight, the All-Star Slam at Java Monkey Coffee House featuring Marty McConnell, Ami Mattison, Kit Yan, Regie Cabico, James Caroline, JT Bullock, Theresa Davis and Joanna Hoffman is sure to be the best friendly competition to ever light up an Atlant stage. The evening is hosted by Karen G.

For full details on all of today's events, scroll down to the full schedule.

Update on Emory workshops

2009-11-06T11:16:00.000-05:00

Please be advised that this afternoon's workshop with Staceyann Chin on the Emory University camps has been cancelled because of a travel delay. The workshop with Manil Suri at 3 p.m. will go on as scheduled in the Harlan Cinema on the third floor of the Dobbs University Center. Free and open to the public. Please come out to tonight's keynote address to see both Chin and Suri. Details below.

AQLF Keynote Speakers Tonight!

2009-11-06T09:45:00.000-05:00

Our keynote speakers, Staceyann Chin and Manil Suri, will read tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Auburn Avenue Research Libary, 101 Auburn Ave. There will be an after party at Danneman's Coffee House at 466 Edgewood Ave. following the keynote addresses featuring music by GBmojo and Lucas Mire. It's all free and open to the public!

Staceyann Chin is a fulltime artist. A resident of New York City and a Jamaican National, she has been an “out poet and political activist” since 1998. From the rousing cheers of the Nuyorican Poets' Cafe to one-woman shows Off- Broadway to poetry workshops in Denmark and London to co-writer and performer in the Tony nominated, Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway, Chin credits the long list of "things she has done" to her grandmother's hard-working history and the pain of her mother's absence. Her memoir, The Other Side of Paradise, was published earlier this year to great acclaim. NYU, Pace, Willamette, Holy Cross, Harvard, Cornell, University of Illinois, University of New Hampshire, University of Miami, University of California at San Diego, Boston University, Grinnell College, these are only few of the "institutes of higher education" at which she has shared the stories surrounding her coming. Hands Afire, Staceyann's first one-woman show ran for ten weeks at the Bleecker Theater in the Summer of 2000. The same Off-Broadway Theater welcomed the second show, Unspeakable Things, in the summer of 2001 before she took it to Copenhagen for a week long run. London, Helsinki, Sweden and Norway are in the line-up to see the new generation of the show.

Manil Suri was born and raised in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. He came to the United States as a student when he was twenty. He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland (when not visiting Mumbai) and is a citizen of both the United States and India. Suri’s first published fiction in English was The Seven Circles, a short story that appeared in The New Yorker on Valentine’s Day, 2000. The Death of Vishnu, his first novel, debuted worldwide in India on January 6, 2001. In addition to being published by W. W. Norton in the United States and Bloomsbury in the UK, the novel has been translated into twenty-two foreign languages. Suri was named by Time magazine as a “Person to Watch” in 2000, and he received a Guggenheim Fellowship for fiction in 2004. In addition to being a writer, Suri is also a mathematician. He obtained his PhD in applied mathematics from Carnegie-Mellon University and is a tenured full professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).

My Diva Reading Tonight at Outwrite

2009-11-05T10:49:00.000-05:00

We had a fantastic turnout for last night's opening event at Charis Books and the fun continues this evening with a reading by contributors to the anthology, My Diva: 65 Gay Men on the Women Who Inspire Them. The reading is at Outwrite Books, 991 Piedmont Ave., at 7:30 p.m. Editor Michael Montlack will be on hand to introduce the anthology and read from his essay, along with Collin Kelley, Regie Cabico, Jim Elledge and Cleo Creech.

If a night at the theater is more your thing, The Book of Revolutions by Anthony Garcia-Copian continues tonight at 7 p.m. at First Existentialist Congregation, 470 Candler Park Dr. Pre-show poetry from Robin Kemp & Timothy Wright. Admission is $15.

The Festival Begins Tonight!

2009-11-04T10:16:00.000-05:00

AQLF begins tonight with a kick-off event at Charis Books, which is also celebrating it's 30th anniversary. Charis is located at 1189 Euclid Ave. in Little Five Points. Limited parking available in the Charis lot. There is also street parking and a public lot across Euclid (might be a small charge).

Performers tonight include Lisa Allender (emcee), Malika, Krystal Tift, Alice Teeter, Louisa Merchant, Maudelle Driskell, Sincere, Charlene Ball and Libby Ware.

Come out and join us tonight to get the party started! See the full schedule of events below.

AQLF 2009 Schedule

2009-10-27T21:22:00.000-04:00

Here is the schedule for the Atlanta Queer Literary Festival. Please not that all speakers, times and events are subject to change. Please note that the Tuesday night pre-event, the YouthPride open mic, has been cancelled.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4

Charis Books & More, 7-9PM

1189 Euclid Ave.
Festival kick-off & Charis 30th anniversary celebration
Performers:

Lisa Allender (emcee), Malika, Krystal Tift, Alice Teeter, Louisa Merchant, Maudelle Driskell, Sincere, Charlene Ball and Libby Ware

Play: The Book of Revolutions by Anthony Garcia-Copian, 7-9 PM

470 Candler Park Dr.

First Existentialist Congregation
Winner of the Larry Corse Playwriting Award. Directed by Hollis Smith
Pre-show poetry from Larry Corse & Donovan Brown

(Admission is $15)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5

My Diva Anthology Reading, 7:30 PM

Outwrite Books, 991 Piedmont Ave.
Collin Kelley, Cleo Creech, Michael Montlack (editor), Jim Elledge, Regie Cabico

Play: The Book of Revolutions by Anthony Garcia-Copian, 7-9 PM

First Existentialist Congregation, 470 Candler Park Dr.

Pre-show poetry from Robin Kemp & Timothy Wright

(Admission: $15)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6

Afternoon Workshops at Emory University

Staceyann Chin (CANCELLED) at 1:30 PM and Manil Suri at 3 PM

Both workshops are free and open to the public and held in the Harlan Cinema on the third floor of the Dobbs University Center.

Keynote Reading by Staceyann Chin & Manil Suri, 7-9 PM

Auburn Avenue Research Library, 101 Auburn Ave.

Welcome by Francine Henderson, Library Administrator
Emcee: Franklin Abbott

Keynote After Party, 9 PM-Midnight

Danneman's Coffee House, 466 Edgewood Ave.
Featuring music by GBmojo and Lucas Mire

Play: The Book of Revolutions by Anthony Garcia-Copian, 7-9 PM

First Existentialist Congregation, 470 Candler Park Dr.
Also:

A one-act by Sharon Mathis

Poetry by Brad Fairchild

(Admission: $15)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7

A Day of Readings & Workshops, 9 AM - 6 PM

Decatur Library, 215 Sycamore St.

Meeting Room
9 AM - Wesley Chenault (presentation)

10AM - Regie Cabico (workshop)
11AM - James Caroline (workshop)
NOON - Bob Strain, Dustin Brookshire, Charles Jensen, Joanna Hoffman (poets reading)
1PM - Kit Yan (workshop)
2PM - Marty McConnell (workshop)
3PM - Ami Mattison (workshop)
4PM - Joanna Hoffman (workshop)
5PM - A reading/discussion by contributors to Femmethology (panel and reading)

Library Auditorium
9AM - Franklin Abbott, Reginald Jackson, Regie Cabico, James Caroline (poetry)
10AM - Cleo Creech, Scott Wiggerman, Yolo Akili, Michael Montlack (poetry)
11AM - Elliott Mackle, Roger Bailey, Jameson Currier, John Mifsud (prose)
NOON - Sara Amis, Catherine Lundoff, Lara Zielinsky (prose)
1PM - Karen G, Jessica Hand, Lakara Foster, Marty McConnell (poetry)
2PM - JT bullock, Megan Volpert, Jim Elledge, Joanna Hoffman (poetry)
3PM - Andrew Beierle, G. Winston James, Collin Kelley (prose)
4PM - Terry Galloway (prose)
5PM - Ami Mattison, Theresa Davis, Charles Jensen, Kit Yan (poetry)

All-Star Poetry Slam Showcase, 7PM-9PM
Java Monkey Coffee House, Decatur
Featuring: Marty McConnell, Ami Mattison, Kit Yan, Regie Cabico, James Caroline, JT Bullock, Theresa Davis and Joanna Hoffman. Hosted by Karen G.

After Party, 9PM-Midnight

Paris Decatur, 308 W. Ponce de Leon

Featuring: Anye Elite, DJ Diablo Rojo and emcee Cowboy Mindy

Play: The Book of Revolutions by Anthony Garcia-Copian, 7-9 PM

First Existentialist Congregation, 470 Candler Park Dr.

Pre-show poetry from Patrique Vosges and Antron-Rechaud
(Admission: $15)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8 (Post Festival Event), 11AM

Queer Creativity

First Existentialist Congregation, 470 Candler Park Dr.

Featuring Franklin Abbott, Robin Kemp, John Mifsud, Deb/ra Hiers, Bob Strain, Ken J. Martin and Janet Metzger.

NOVEMBER 12-14

The Book of Revolutions continues at First Existentialist Congregation. The Nov. 12 show will be a "pay-what-you-can" evening.

I See Straight People, Oct. 24

2009-10-22T12:55:00.000-04:00

Please join AQLF for a fun -- but not frightful -- fundraising event, I See Straight People. This reading will feature straight allies who will be reading from their poetry to help support AQLF. The reading will be held Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the Horizon School Auditorium, 1900 DeKalb Ave.

Featured poets include Cecilia Woloch, Laurel Snyder, Jon Goode, Bruce Covey, Alice Lovelace and Chelsea Rathburn. Rupert Fike will host.

There is no admission charge, but we hope everyone will consider dropping a $10 donation in the AQLF basket.

AQLF at Atlanta Pride, Oct. 31

2009-10-13T19:35:00.000-04:00

AQLF will team up with Charis Books & More to present the Atlanta Pride Literary Showcase on Saturday, October 31, 2:15-4:30 p.m. on the Bud Light Stage in Piedmont Park. Expect to hear poetry, fiction, non-fiction and more. Performers scheduled to appear include novelist Collin Kelley, spoken word performer Theresa Davis and poets Dustin Brookshire and Jessica Hand. For more information and directions inside the park, visit the Atlanta Pride site.

Meet the 2009 Participants

2009-10-03T22:49:00.000-04:00

You can now view the list of 2009 AQLF participants at this link. The list is not 100% complete, and will be updating over the next week as we finalize our authors ahead of the Nov. 4-7 event. Don't forget to check out the schedule for the festival at this link.

Pictured above, left to right: Michael Montlack, editor of the acclaimed anthology My Diva: 65 Gay Men on the Women Who Inspire Them; Terry Galloway, author of the memoir Mean Little Deaf Queer; and our keynote speakers Manil Suri, author of The Death of Vishnu, and Staceyann Chin, author of the bestselling memoir, The Other Side of Paradise.

Dine out for AQLF at Wahoo Grill, Sept. 28

2009-09-15T20:06:00.000-04:00

Join us anytime from 5 to 10 p.m. and show your support for AQLF while enjoying a delicious meal at Wahoo Grill!

Decatur Book Festival Photos

2009-09-07T17:40:00.001-04:00

AQLF hosted a series of events in partnership with the Decatur Book Festival over Labor Day weekend. Here's some photos from the events.

Poets James Allen Hall, left, and C. Dale Young cut up after their reading and signing on Saturday at the Decatur Book Festival.

Poet Dustin Brookshire read on the Local Poetry Stage.

Novelists, from left, Shawn Stuart Ruff, Z Egloff and Collin Kelley during their Q&A session at the Decatur Book Festival.

Collin Kelley reads from his debut novel, Conquering Venus, on the Decatur Conference Center Stage presented by PBA.

Photos courtesy of Julie Bloemeke and Dustin Brookshire

Meet & Greet Your Favorite Lesbian Authors!

2009-08-15T13:03:00.001-04:00

AQLF is partnering with Charis Books & More for a special Meet & Greet on Friday, Sept. 4, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at the store, 1189 Euclid Ave. in Little Five Points. Come and meet your favorite lesbian authors who are in town for the Decatur Book Festival and In the Life Pride Weekend.

Expected to appear: Radclyffe, Fiona Zedde, Skyy, JM Redmann, Z Egloff, Kim Baldwin, VK Powell and D Jackson. They will be signing books and mingling with fans. Feel free to bring books for them to sign, and of course, Charis will have plenty on hand for purchasing if you want to improve your lesbian fiction collection!

AQLF at Decatur Book Festival schedule

2009-08-02T18:07:00.000-04:00

AQLF's partnership with the Decatur Book Festival has come to fruition in a big way. The schedule of featured authors includes Sharon Sanders, Franklin Abbott, Z Egloff, Shawn Stuart Ruff, Collin Kelley, Megan Volpert, Amy King, C. Dale Young, James Allen Hall, Radclyffe, Kim Baldwin and J.M. Redmann. See the full schedule at this link. The festival takes place over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4-6, in Decatur, GA.

AQLF mid-summer update

2009-07-26T19:11:00.001-04:00

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Wahoo Dine Out for AQLF in June. It was a modest success, and we plan to have another one on Monday, Sept. 28. Mark your calendars now and plan to join us at Wahoo to support the 2009 festival.

We've added some great authors to the 2009 festival including Terry Galloway, author of the memoir Mean Little Deaf Queer, and Michael Montlack, editor of the critically acclaimed anthology, My Diva: 65 Gay Men on the Women Who Inspire Them.

The full line-up of authors and a schedule of events will be posted here before the end of summer. We'll also have more information about our collaboration with the Decatur Book Festival over Labor Day Weekend, which will feature appearances by C. Dale Young, Amy King, and James Allen Hall.

Dine Out for AQLF tonight!

2009-06-29T10:24:00.000-04:00

Dine Out for AQLF will be held tonight at Wahoo Grill, 1042 West College Ave. in Decatur, from 5 to 10 p.m. Ten percent (10%) of the evening's food sales go directly to AQLF. Guests must mention they are dining for AQLF in order to be included.

Wahoo has been rated as one of the Top 10 restaurants in the city by Atlanta Magazine, Creative Loafing, Access Atlanta and many more. The menu has an emphasis on seafood, but there is also pasta, chicken, burgers, salads and plenty of options for vegetarians.

Members of the AQLF board will also be dining that evening at 7 p.m., so drop by and say hello and find out more about this year's festival.

Line-Up for Stonewall Reading, June 27

2009-06-21T13:31:00.000-04:00

Readings will take place on Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Atlanta-Fulton County Central Library in Downtown. See the post below for more details.

First Section (10 a.m. - noon)

Franklin Abbott (host)
Patrique Vosges
Bob Strain
Sincere
Guerin Asante
Larry Corse
Lakara Foster
Alice Teeter
Deb/ra Hiers

Second Section (noon - 2 p.m.)

Collin Kelley (host)
Megan Volpert
Theresa Davis
Yolo Akili
Lisa Allender
Elliott Mackle
Kristyl Dawn Tift
Dustin Brookshire
Antron-Rechaud

Third Section (2 - 4:30 p.m.)

Reginald Jackson (host)
Malika
Donovan Brown
Karen G
Jessica Hand
Stanley Fong
Robin Kemp
Cleo Creech
KenJ Martin
Queen Sheba

Stonewall Reading, June 27

2009-06-14T12:33:00.000-04:00

The Atlanta Queer Literary Festival and the Special Collections Department of the Atlanta-Fulton County Library team up to present a day of readings to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which ushered in the gay rights movement in America. Readings will take place on Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Central Library in Downtown.

Performers include: Malika, Patrique Vosges, Larry Corse, Alice Teeter, Elliott Mackle, Robin Kemp, Cleo Creech, Karen G, Dustin Brookshire, Bob Strain, Antron Rechaud, Stanley Fong, Lakara Foster, Megan Volpert, Collin Kelley, Guerin Asante, Queen Sheba, Lisa Allender, Deb/ra Hiers, Jessica Hand, Theresa Davis, Yolo Akili, KenJ Martin, Reginald Jackson, Sincere, Kristyl Dawn Tift and Franklin Abbott.

The library is located at 1 Margaret Mitchell Square in Downtown Atlanta. We strongly encourage visitors to take Marta to the Peachtree Center station. There is an entrance/exit directly across from the library's front door.

Dine Out for AQLF at Wahoo Grill, June 29

2009-05-31T19:21:00.000-04:00

Dine Out for AQLF will be held Monday, June 29, at Wahoo Grill, 1042 West College Ave. in Decatur, from 5 to 10 p.m. Ten percent (10%) of the evening's food sales go directly to AQLF. Guests must mention they are dining for AQLF in order to be included.

Wahoo has been rated as one of the Top 10 restaurants in the city by Atlanta Magazine, Creative Loafing, Access Atlanta and many more. The menu has an emphasis on seafood, but there is also pasta, chicken, burgers, salads and plenty of options for vegetarians.

Members of the AQLF board will also be dining that evening at 7 p.m., so drop by and say hello and find out more about this year's festival.

AQLF Partners with MondoHomo!

2009-04-30T14:07:00.001-04:00

AQLF is joining forces with the MondoHomo Festival for a special evening of poetry and spoken word at Eyedrum Gallery, 290 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., on Thursday, May 21. The evening will include:

Mondo Politico Art Opening

7 p.m. to 1 a.m., $7, all ages!
20+ artists, mixed media curated by Donnie Reider + Kathy King

Then Atlanta Queer Literary Festival (AQLF) co-presents Homo Spoken Sex & Politics!

Hosted by Ché Johnson & DJ E with emcee Seria Mills, and Jed Drummond, Finnegan,Theresa Davis, Stacie Boshma, Royce Hall, Karen G., Kathleen Delaney, Collin Kelley (co-director of AQLF), and Sincere

Music by Gretchen Phillips and Athens Boy's Choir

**OPENING NIGHT SCREENING**
Stories From the Road - A Film About Following PJ Harvey
Directed by Kyle Keyser

For more information about this event and to see the full MondoHomo lineup, visit www.mondohomo.com. AQLF will have a table at the event for you to sign up for our e-mail list, get info about the upcoming festival, find out about our upcoming fundraiser dinner (details here soon) and purchase a limited-edition broadside by National Book Award-winning poet Mark Doty (see previous post below).

Signed, limited-edition Mark Doty broadsides

2009-03-30T20:55:00.000-04:00

We have a small number of limited-edition broadsides featuring Mark Doty's poem "Immanence" for sale. The autographed copies are $20 and unsigned are $15. Doty is a National Book Award winner and was just nominated for a Lambda Literary Award for his collection of new and selected poems, Fire to Fire. You may purchase a copy via PayPal using the link in the right sidebar. The cost includes shipping and handling

All proceeds from the sale of the broadsides will support the 2009 AQLF.

AQLF 2009 Authors & More!

2009-03-14T20:10:00.001-04:00

We are pleased to announce three of our very special guests for the 2009 Atlanta Queer Literary Festival. Our keynote speakers will be poet and activist Staceyann Chin and novelist Manil Suri, along with special slam poet/musical guests Good Asian Drivers. More featured artists will be announced in the coming months so check back often.

We're also pleased to announce Anthony Garcia-Copian as the winner of the 2009 Larry Corse Playwriting Competition for his play, The Book of Revolutions. The play will be produced during AQLF and the author will be in attendance. More about Garcia-Copian (pictured at left) coming soon.

We'd also like to welcome and thank our new partners and sponsors, including the Decatur Book Festival, Georgia Center for the Book, DeKalb County Public Library and YouthPride. These new partners join our returning sponsors Outwrite Books & Coffee House, Charis Books & More, Emory University, Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library System and First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta to present the 2009 festival. Links for all our sponsors and partners can be find in the right sidebar.

Our partnership with the Decatur Book Festival, which draws a crowd of 70,000-plus every Labor Day weekend, is especially exciting as we will be programing a series of GLBT readings during this spectacular literary weekend. An announcement of those special guests is forthcoming.

Please also note that we have slightly changed our sponsorship and donation levels in the right-hand sidebar. We know economic times are tough, but please consider making a tax-deductible donation to AQLF via PayPal.

AQLF 2009 Update

2009-02-19T11:23:00.000-05:00

We hope everyone is weathering the economic storm and having a good new year. The AQLF Committee has been meeting monthly as we plan for this year's festival, Nov. 4-7. We will soon announce some of the authors and writers taking part in AQLF. We are very excited about all those who have said "yes" to our invitation to give readings, signings and workshops. We will also make an announcement in the coming days about the play that will be performed during the festival. Lot's of good news coming soon. Check back!

In the meantime, please consider making a donation to AQLF to help us offset the cost of bringing the authors in from around the country. AQLF is a nonprofit, so, like Blance DuBois, we are depending on the kindness of strangers and friends alike.

Donate Today!

2008-12-16T14:18:00.000-05:00

The Atlanta Queer Literary Festival would like to thank all of you for your support of the 2008 festival. Plans for the 2009 event, which will be held Nov. 4-7, are under way. We are busy selecting authors and venues, but we are also looking for new funding. We realize the economy is tight, but hope that you will consider making a tax deductible donation to AQLF. There are a number of sponsorship and donation levels available, so please check the sidebar at right and help us to make AQLF 2009 bigger and better.

Congratulations to Mark Doty!

2008-11-20T09:55:00.001-05:00

We just learned that AQLF 2008 keynote speaker Mark Doty has won the National Book Award for his collection of new and selected poems, Fire to Fire. Mark learned the day he arrived in Atlanta for the festival that he had been nominated and the audience at his reading that evening were the first to find out. Congratulations, Mark!

Join The Impact

2008-11-20T09:47:00.000-05:00

While we've been planning for the 2009 festival, Barack Obama has been elected president and a slim majority of voters in California passed Proposition 8, a measure which writes discrimination into the state constitution and bans same sex marriage. Many on our committee were on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol on Nov. 15 during the National Day of Protest and many of our guest writers were speaking out and rallying in their states. Find out how you can support the civil and human rights of all GLBTQ people by visiting JoinTheImpact.com.

2009 AQLF Set for Nov. 4-7

2008-10-26T19:14:00.000-04:00

The planning committee today set the dates for the 2009 AQLF as Wednesday, Nov. 4, to Saturday, Nov. 7. Mark your calendars now! After a successful 2008 festival, we're getting a head start on next year's event, so check back often for updates.

And while you're here, think about making a donation and becoming a patron of the 2009 AQLF. You can make a secure payment via PayPal by following the link in the sidebar.

Thanks to everyone who came out and supported the 2008 festival. We're already excited about next year!

AQLF Photos 2

2008-10-26T13:00:00.000-04:00

Keynote speakers Kate Bornstein and Theresa Davis after their performance at the Downtown Library.

Keynote speakers Mark Doty and Theresa Davis at the Downtown Library after his reading.

Poet Megan Volpert performs at Charis Books & More.

Cliterati co-founder and poet Karen G. performs at Charis.

Atlanta singer/songwriter Ken J. Martin performs at the pre-festival open mic at the Ponce de Leon Library.

Keynote speakers Blair and Daphne Gottlieb at Charis Books.

Photos courtesy of Theresa Davis.

AQLF In Photos Part 1

2008-10-20T15:41:00.000-04:00

The AQLF banner at the Downtown Library (Thanks, Cleo!)

Keynote speakers, l-r, poet Theresa Davis, gender activist and author Kate Bornstein and novelist Gary Zebrun during a Q&A at the Downtown Library on Friday night.

From left, poets Christopher Davis, Ed Madden, Collin Kelley and Jim Elledge with Outwrite Books owner Philip Rafshoon at Saturday's reading.

Poet Ed Madden reads at Outwrite on Saturday night.

Poet and editor Dan Vera reads at Outwrite on Thursday night.

Poet Dustin Brookshire and novelist Kate Evans after her Wednesday night keynote speech at the Downtown Library.

Novelist Paul Lisicky read at Outwrite on Thursday night.

Sister Soami, a co-founder of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and editor at RFD, spoke at Outwrite on Thursday night.

Poet and memoirist Mark Doty gave Wednesday night's keynote address at the Downtown Library, just after finding out that his latest collection, Fire To Fire, was nominated for the National Book Award.

Final Day of AQLF

2008-10-19T10:18:00.000-04:00

Today is the final day of the 2008 AQLF and there's more to see and do before it's all over. At 3 p.m. today at the Downtown Library, Reginald Jackson and Lisa Allender will perform staged readings of new theatre works, including Allender's one-woman show about the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay.

Tonight, our closing event will be held at eyedrum gallery featuring music by Anye Elite, Andy Ditzler, Melanie Hammett, Ken J., Sonia Tetlow and a reading by Robert W. Cabell and much more.

For the full schedule, click the AQLF logo at right. We'll have photos from the festival up tomorrow!

Madden, Vera, Holbrook, Kelley, Today!

2008-10-18T09:13:00.000-04:00

Today is the big day of readings and workshops around the city. At the Downtown Library, workshops on poetry, prose and theatre will begin at 10 a.m. Plus, there will be featured readings by Ed Madden and Dan Vera, Kate Bornstein's workshop and open mic at 3:30 p.m. At Outwrite, Greg Herren, Cleo Creech, Yolo and Jeffery Beam will read at 2 p.m. and Collin Kelley, Jim Elledge and Christopher Davis at 8 p.m. Over at Charis, catch Susan Holbrook, Daphne Gottlieb and Megan Volpert, also at 8 p.m.

Click the AQLF logo at the right to see the full weekend schedule.

Bornstein, Zebrun, Davis, Block & More Tonight

2008-10-17T09:40:00.000-04:00

It's another big evening for AQLF with our second night of keynote addresses by Kate Bornstein (pictured), Gary Zebrun, Theresa Davis and host Megan Volpert at the Atlanta-Fulton County Library Downtown, One Margaret Mitchell Square, 7 p.m. Over at Outwrite Books, Jenny Block reads at 7:30 p.m. and there's another big night of readings at Charis Books in Little Five Points with Lisa Allender, Alice Teeter, Reginald Jackson and Patrique Vosges at 8 p.m. And don't forget, the award-winning play Skin Deep at First Existentialist Church, featuring a pre-show readings by Larry Corse & Brad Fairchild, 7 p.m.

Tomorrow is the big day of readings and workshops around the city. At the Downtown Library, workshops on poetry, prose and theatre will begin at 10 a.m. Plus, there will be featured readings by Ed Madden and Dan Vera, Kate Bornstein's workshop and open mic at 3:30 p.m. At Outwrite, Greg Herren, Cleo Creech, Yolo and Jeffery Beam will read at 2 p.m. and Collin Kelley, Jim Elledge and Christopher Davis at 8 p.m. Over at Charis, catch Susan Holbrook, Daphne Gottlieb and Megan Volpert, also at 8 p.m.

Click the AQLF logo at the right to see the full weekend schedule.

Sanchez, Vera, Lisicky & Gottlieb Tonight!

2008-10-16T09:47:00.000-04:00

If you missed last night's opener, you missed an incredible evening of poetry, prose and non-fiction. Blair inspired and brought down the house with his mix of spoken word and song, especially his cycle of poems about Michael Jackson and his family. Kate Evans read from her novel, For The May Queen, and talked about the challenges of writing a memoir disguised as fiction. And Mark Doty brought the audience to tears with his poem "The Embrace" and then laughter reading from his bestseller, Dog Years. We also celebrated Mark's being named a finalist for the National Book Award for his recent collection, Fire to Fire.

AQLF rolls on tonight with featured readings at Outwrite Books featuring young adult author Alex Sanchez (pictured above), fiction writer Paul Lisicky, poet Dan Vera and essayist Sister Soami DeLux. The evening begins at 7:30 p.m. At the same time, the Cliterati open mic and reading series will be celebrating its eighth anniversary with special readings by Daphne Gottlieb (at left) and Blair at Charis Books in Little Five Points. Theresa Davis and Karen G. are the hosts.

Don't forget tomorrow night is our second big keynote night with Kate Bornstein, Gary Zebrun and Theresa Davis at the Downtown Library.

Doty, Evans & Blair Tonight!

2008-10-15T09:40:00.000-04:00

Tonight is the official kick-off of AQLF with keynote addresses by bestselling poet and memoirist Mark Doty, novelist Kate Evans and spoken word artist Blair at 7:30 p.m. Poet Collin Kelley will emcee. Arrive early to enjoy a reception by our media sponsor Southern Voice at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and will be he held in the auditorium of the Downtown branch of the Atlanta-Fulton County Library, 1 Margaret Mitchell Square. Outwrite Books will be the retailer for this event and authors will be signing books after the event. Free parking is extremely limited in the vicinity of the library (there are lots and decks several blocks away that charge from $10 to $20), so we are encouraging visitors to take MARTA to the Peachtree Center station, just across the street from the library's main entrance.

AQLF Festival Begins Tonight!

2008-10-14T17:21:00.000-04:00

AQLF kicks off with a pre-festival open mic tonight hosted by Karen G. (pictured) -- poet, spoken word artist and co-founder of one of Atlanta's longest running open mic, Cliterati. The event will be held at Ponce de Leon Library, 980 Ponce de Leon Library, in Midtown. Everyone is welcome to bring their best work for this event, which begins at 7 p.m.

And tomorrow night is the official kick-off with keynote addresses by bestselling poet and memoirist Mark Doty, novelist Kate Evans and spoken word artist Blair at 7:30 p.m. Poet Collin Kelley will emcee. Arrive early to enjoy a reception by our media sponsor Southern Voice at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and will be he held in the auditorium of the Downtown branch of the Atlanta-Fulton County Library, 1 Margaret Mitchell Square. We are encouraging visitors to take MARTA to the Peachtree Center station...which is just across the street from the library's main entrance.

AQLF Media Coverage!

2008-10-12T19:37:00.000-04:00

AQLF has gotten plenty of media coverage in the last few days, including and article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Sunday edition. The main article is an overview of the festival and there is a sidebar about key sponsor Atlanta-Fulton Public Library's collection of GLBTQ literature. Our media sponsor, Southern Voice, has a large article in the latest edition as well.