{"id":86855,"date":"2025-09-26T14:04:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T14:04:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/86855\/"},"modified":"2025-09-26T14:04:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T14:04:12","slug":"fishtrap-fireside-returns-and-the-oregon-book-awards-author-tour-oregon-artswatch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/86855\/","title":{"rendered":"Fishtrap Fireside returns and the Oregon Book Awards Author Tour \u2022 Oregon ArtsWatch"},"content":{"rendered":"

I saw thousands of pumpkins last night
come floating in on the tide,
bumping up against the rocks and
rolling up on the beaches;
it must be Halloween in the sea.<\/p>\n

\u2014 The Pumpkin Tide by Richard Brautigan<\/p>\n

October is the perfect excuse to share a short and sweet Halloween poem \u2014 and rather than offer something spooky from Poe or Yeats, a five-liner from Brautigan holds the ideal energy for the coming month. While Halloween-themed literary events are few, this month\u2019s calendar is packed with readings and book release celebrations courtesy of Roundabout Books, Annie Bloom\u2019s Books, Literary Arts, and others.<\/p>\n

In Eastern Oregon, Fishtrap kicks off the 13th season of the Fishtrap Fireside<\/a> series on Oct. 3. The evening, sponsored by The Bookloft, will feature readings by Wallowa County writers Zanni Schauffler, poet and Oregon Literary Fellowship recipient; Trilby Shirley, Fishtrap member; and Eliot Treichel, Oregon Book Award winner and author of A Series of Small Maneuvers. The monthly reading series, created to celebrate the region\u2019s diverse voices, features a range of genres, including poetry, fiction, history, humor, and memoir. For those who can\u2019t attend in person, viewers can stream online at Fishtrap\u2019s YouTube Channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Becky Ellis will read from her Oregon Book Award-nominated book, \u201cLittle Avalanches,\u201d in Enterprise.<\/p>\n

Fishtrap will also host the Oregon Book Awards Author Tour<\/a>, presented by Literary Arts, at 7 p.m. Oct. 17, featuring creative nonfiction finalist Becky Ellis, creative nonfiction finalist tina ontiveros, and fiction finalist Charlie J. Stephens. Ellis, Write Around Portland facilitator and author of Little Avalanches, will read from her nominated book along with ontiveros, writer, teacher, bookseller, and author of Rough House; and Stephens, owner of Sea Wolf Books & Community Writing Center in Port Orford and author of A Wounded Deer Leaps Highest. Join all three authors for readings, refreshments, book signings, and conversation at the Fishtrap location in Enterprise.<\/p>\n

\"\"Charlie J. Stephens will read from \u201cA Wounded Deer Leaps Highest\u201d during the Oregon Book Award Author Tour at Fishtrap.<\/p>\n

WEEK 1: OCT. 1-7<\/strong><\/p>\n

Justin Hocking in Conversation With Erica Berry<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Broadway Books
6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2
Broadway Books\u00a0
1714 N.E. Broadway St., Portland
Free<\/p>\n

Justin Hocking, author of the Oregon Book Award winning The Great Floodgates of the Wonderworld: A Memoir, will read from his new memoir, A Field Guide to the Subterranean: Reclaiming the Deep Earth and Our Deepest Selves. Originally from Colorado, Hocking explores the relationship between underground geography and healing childhood wounds that exist beneath the surface. He will be joined by Erica Berry, author of Wolfish: Wolf, Self, and the Stories We Tell About Fear.<\/p>\n

Sponsor<\/p>\n

\"Portland<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

First Matter Press 2025 Book Launch<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Literary Arts and First Matter Press
6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4
Literary Arts
716 S.E. Grand Ave., Portland
Free<\/p>\n

First Matter Press will celebrate the launch of their newest titles: The Dying Room by Annemarie Eayrs, recipient of the 2025 Prima Materia First Chapbook Award; bilingual poetry collection Brava by Violeta Garza; first you must destroy the world by Claudia Saleeby Savage, which draws from erasure poetry; and waling waling palpitations by nawa angel a.h., a genre-bending debut. All feature cover art by Pearlyn Tan. All authors will be at Literary Arts to read from their books.<\/p>\n

Reading: Jewish Women\u2019s Storytelling Collective<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Annie Bloom\u2019s Books
7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6
Annie Bloom\u2019s Books\u00a0
7834 S.W. Capitol Hwy., Portland
Free<\/p>\n

Four members of the Jewish Women\u2019s Storytelling Collective \u2014 Gail Pasternack, Cassandra Sagan, Melissa Carpenter, and Rivkah Coburn \u2014 will share work from their new anthology, The Rooster Princess and Other Tales: Jewish Stories Re-Populated with Spunky Heroines, Wise Women, Brave Crones, and Powerful Prophetesses. The collection, edited by Pasternack with cover design by Sagan, features elements of folk tales, poetic language, and sacred Jewish texts.<\/p>\n

\"KatherineThe work of Portland author Katherine Dunn (1945-2016) will be discussed Oct. 7 in conjunction with the release of her short story collection \u201cNear Flesh.\u201d Photo courtesy: Katherine Dunn Archives at Lewis & Clark<\/p>\n

Near Flesh: A Celebration of Katherine Dunn<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Literary Arts
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7
Literary Arts
716 S.E. Grand Ave., Portland
Free<\/p>\n

Jeff VanderMeer, New York Times bestselling author of the Borne novels, and Omar El Akkad, author, journalist, and Oregon Book Award winner, will discuss the work of Katherine Dunn, writer, cult icon, and author of Geek Love. Together they will celebrate the posthumous release of Near Flesh, a previously unpublished collection of stories about motherhood, violence, and yearning.<\/p>\n

WEEK 2: OCT. 8-14<\/strong><\/p>\n

James R. Gapinski in Conversation With Alissa Hattman<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Powell\u2019s Books
7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9
Powell\u2019s Books on Hawthorne
3723 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland
Free<\/p>\n

Sponsor<\/p>\n

\"Clackamas<\/a><\/p>\n

James R. Gapinski, author of Edge of the Known Bus Line, will read from their new book, The Museum of Future Mistakes, winner of the BOA Short Fiction Prize. The magical realism-style story considers the fragility of identity, grief and loss, relationships, love, and the physical relationships people have with their bodies. From doppelg\u00e4ngers and deceased brothers to ex-lovers and childhood scars, Gapinski takes the reader on a wild journey. They will be joined in conversation by Alissa Hattman, author of Sift.<\/p>\n

I Am You: Victoria Redel in Conversation With Kimberly King Parsons<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Literary Arts
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14
Literary Arts
716 S.E. Grand Ave., Portland
Free<\/p>\n

Victoria Redel, author of Paradise and Before Everything, will read from her new release, I Am You. The novel tells the story of love, arts, sex, and politics through the eyes of Gerta Pieters, a rambunctious and rebellious young woman in 1600s Amsterdam. Redel will be in conversation by Kimberly King Parsons, 2025 Oregon Book Award winner and author of We Were the Universe.<\/p>\n

Poetry Reading: Kathleen Flenniken, Jessica E. Johnson, and Adie Steckel<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Up Up Books
7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16
Up Up Books
1211 S.E. Stark St., Portland
Free<\/p>\n

Join Up Up Books for a night of poetry featuring three readers with unique voices. Kathleen Flenniken, former Washington State Poet Laureate, will read from her newest collection, Dressing in the Dark. She will be joined by Jessica E. Johnson, instructor and contributor to Cascadia Field Guide: Art, Ecology, Poetry, reading from her book-length poem Metabolics, as well as Adie Steckel, Portland-area editor and author.<\/p>\n

\"\"Besides writing short stories, Micheal Keefe is a bookseller and publicist at Annie Bloom\u2019s Books, where he will read from his new collection on Oct. 14.<\/p>\n

Reading: Michael Keefe With Joe Wilkins<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Annie Bloom\u2019s Books
7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14
Annie Bloom\u2019s Books\u00a0
7834 S.W. Capitol Hwy., Portland
Free<\/p>\n

Michael Keefe will read from his new short fiction collection, Western Terminus: Stories and a Novella. The collection explores the lives of characters caught between a place of destruction and self-discovery as they strive to find their true selves. Keefe will be joined by Joe Wilkins, author of novels The Entire Sky and Fall Back Down When I Die, in addition to five books of poetry.<\/p>\n

Sponsor<\/p>\n

\"Portland<\/a><\/p>\n

WEEK 3: OCT. 15-21<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Educator and author Daniel Pollack-Pelzner will read from his new book about the life and career of \u201cHamilton\u201d creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.<\/p>\n

Reading: Daniel Pollack-Pelzner\u2019s Lin-Manuel Miranda Biography<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Annie Bloom\u2019s Books
7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21
Annie Bloom\u2019s Books\u00a0
7834 S.W. Capitol Hwy., Portland
Free<\/p>\n

Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, theater and contemporary culture writer for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The New York Times, and educator at Portland State University, will read from his new book, Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist. Pollack-Pelzner (ArtsWatch interview<\/a>) explores the life and career of the Broadway star and award-winning writer through interviews with friends, family members, and colleagues as well as conversations with Miranda. He will be joined by writer, musician, and Torah teacher Alicia Jo Rabins.<\/p>\n

Fall 2025 Timberline Review Showcase<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Broadway Books and Willamette Writers
6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21
Broadway Books\u00a0
1714 N.E. Broadway St., Portland
Free<\/p>\n

John Holloran, editor-in-chief of The Timberline Review, will host a reading from Issue 14 of the literary journal produced by Willamette Writers. The celebration will feature Randy Bynum, author of Tulips Talking Behind My Back; Scott Bigger, poet and fiction author; and Brian Rohr, poet, writer, and author of Shaken to My Bones: A Poetic Midrash on the Torah, all reading poetry, essays, and short fiction.<\/p>\n

WEEK 4: OCT. 22-31<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reading: Undammed by Tara Lohan<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Roundabout Books
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23
Roundabout Books & Caf\u00e9
900 N.W. Mt. Washington Drive, Suite 110, Bend
$5 admission or book purchase<\/p>\n

Tara Lohan, environmental journalist and editor of two books about the global water crisis, will read from Undammed: Freeing Rivers and Bringing Communities to Life. In her book, Lohan describes the largest dam-removal and river-restoration project in the world \u2014 the removal of four dams on the Klamath River. She chronicles the impact of dam building, the difficulties of restoration, and argues that protecting rivers can benefit communities for generations to come.<\/p>\n

\"\"Dr. Rebecca N. Thompson will read from
\u201cHeld Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reading: Rebecca N. Thompson With Dafna S. Lohr<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Annie Bloom\u2019s Books
7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27
Annie Bloom\u2019s Books\u00a0
7834 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland
Free<\/p>\n

Sponsor<\/p>\n

\"Resonance<\/a><\/p>\n

Dr. Rebecca N. Thompson will read from her new book, Held Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love. She will be joined in conversation by Dr. Dafna S. Lohr, who was Thompson\u2019s physician during the difficult pregnancy described in the book. Thompson and Lohr will engage in a conversation about reproductive health care, particularly while pregnant and parenting, and consider what can be done to aid others facing similar challenges.<\/p>\n

Reading: Dede Montgomery and Maura Doherty<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Annie Bloom\u2019s Books
7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30
Annie Bloom\u2019s Books
7834 S.W. Capitol Hwy., Portland
Free<\/p>\n

Dede Montgomery will read from her new novel, A Map of Her Own. Set in Astoria, the story features Celia, a 37-year-old woman who must come to terms with unfamiliarity, change, and uncertainty through a series of strange events \u2014 eventually gaining the courage to redefine her life. Montgomery will be joined by Maura Doherty, Portland storyteller and author of the memoir She Blooms.<\/p>\n

A Larger Reality: Ursula K. Le Guin<\/strong><\/a>
Presented by Oregon Contemporary
Opens Friday, Oct. 31
Oregon Contemporary
8371 N. Interstate Ave., Portland
Free<\/p>\n

Oregon Contemporary presents an exhibition on Ursula K. Le Guin, celebrated Oregon author. Curated by her son, Theo Downes-Le Guin, the exhibit will contain texts, images, photographs, ephemera, video, and other media showcasing the works and talents of a regional treasure. A first Saturday opening reception will take place at 5 p.m. Nov. 1, and the PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater will showcase Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin with director Arwen Curry at 7 p.m. Nov. 2, as part of the programming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I saw thousands of pumpkins last nightcome floating in on the tide,bumping up against the rocks androlling up…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":86856,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[266],"tags":[57173,57174,57175,57176,57177,359,57178,57179,37364,57180,18,57181,117,57182,57183,57184,19,17,57185,57186,57187,57188,57189,57190,57191,34487,57192,57210,57193,57194,57195,57196,57197,57198,32931,57199,57200,57201,57202,57203,57204,57205,57206,57207,57208,57209],"class_list":{"0":"post-86855","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-books","8":"tag-adie-steckel","9":"tag-annie-blooms-books","10":"tag-author-appearances","11":"tag-author-events","12":"tag-becky-ellis","13":"tag-books","14":"tag-broadway-books","15":"tag-charlie-j-stephens","16":"tag-daniel-pollack-pelzner","17":"tag-dede-montgomery","18":"tag-eire","19":"tag-eliot-treichel","20":"tag-entertainment","21":"tag-first-matter-press","22":"tag-fishtrap","23":"tag-fishtrap-fireside","24":"tag-ie","25":"tag-ireland","26":"tag-james-r-gapinski","27":"tag-jeff-vandermeer","28":"tag-jessica-e-johnson","29":"tag-jewish-womens-storytelling-collective","30":"tag-justin-hocking","31":"tag-katherine-dunn","32":"tag-kathleen-flenniken","33":"tag-lin-manuel-miranda","34":"tag-literary-arts","35":"tag-litwatch","36":"tag-michael-keefe","37":"tag-omar-el-akkad","38":"tag-oregon-book-awards-author-tour","39":"tag-oregon-contemporary","40":"tag-pearlyn-tan","41":"tag-poetry-readings","42":"tag-powells-books","43":"tag-rebecca-n-thompson","44":"tag-roundabout-books","45":"tag-tara-lohan","46":"tag-timberline-review","47":"tag-tina-ontiveros","48":"tag-trilby-shirley","49":"tag-up-up-books","50":"tag-ursula-k-le-guin","51":"tag-victoria-redel","52":"tag-willamette-writers","53":"tag-zanni-schauffler"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86855"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86855\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86856"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}