Two poets, two authors and a screenwriter walk into a library. This may sound like the set-up to a bad joke, but the Coastal Dunes branch of the California Writers Club is instead aiming for an afternoon of creative inspiration and celebration.
“Our Literary Voices Build Community,” offered as a free event on Saturday, October 4 from 1 to 5 p.m., is part of a statewide recognition of California Writers Week (declared in 2003 by the California State Assembly as the third week in October each year).
The gathering will be held in the Shepard Room of the Santa Maria Public Library and is open to anyone with an interest in writing.
Doors open at 12:30 p.m. After brief opening remarks, Santa Barbara County Poet Laureate George Yatchisin and Chryss Yost, a former Santa Barbara County Poet Laureate, will read and discuss their work at 1:15 p.m.
Suspense novelist Rolynn Anderson and Young Adult author Mark Parsons will talk about the craft of writing fiction at 2:15 p.m.
Screenwriter David Congalton follows at 3:15 p.m. with stories about his most recent screenplay, Mrs. Strissel and the Dogs, currently in pre-production.
From 4:15 to 4:45, an “open mic” will spotlight recent winners of the Coastal Dunes Flash Fiction competition.
“Whether you’re a starting writer, a seasoned one, an avid reader, or simply curious about the creative process, our event offers a space to listen, learn, and connect,” says Viviana Hall, who is helping to organize the event.
No registration is necessary. Refreshments will be served.