KAYA PRESS is proud to introduce the first ever SMOKIN’ HOT INDIE LIT LOUNGE at the 2012 LA Times Festival of Books (April 21-22, 2012)

We’re the red dot!

To celebrate Kaya Press’s move to USC, we would like to highlight independent literary publishing and culture in all its splendor and glory.Throughout the two days, visitors will be encouraged to MAKE (edit, collate, bind, and help design the covers for) their own anthology of writings published by independent presses.

The idea here is for folks to understand that BOOKS ARE MADE BY PEOPLE. People like themselves! In other words, to make visible and give to the effort behind those little printed bricks of paper that they will hopefully also be walking away with!Our idea: to turn the tables on tabling, and turn the booth into a lounge, an oasis of respite from the heat and the chaos of the day.

We envision a transformed space in the middle of the book festival that will feature experiments in publishing, readings, poetic epiphanies, and spontaneous displays of interactive genius. And most especially, the opportunity to hang out with authors, editors, publishers, and designers in a casual setting.

Schedule of Events:
Saturday April 21st
10:00AM-12:00PM: Dancing Girl Press with Rachelle Cruz
12:00PM-2:00PM: eohippus labs with Michelle Detorie
2:00PM-4:00PM: Les Figues Press with Allison Carter
4:00PM-6:00PM: Boxcar Poetry Review with Neil Aitken

Sunday April 22nd
10:00AM-11:45AM: siglio with Lisa Pearson
11:45AM-1:30PM: Tia Chucha Press with Melinda Palacio & Luviette Resto
1:30PM-2:30PM: Writ Large / Tongue & Groove with Chiwan Choi
2:30PM-3:15PM: Jaded Ibis / [out of nothing] with Janice Lee
3:15PM-5:00PM: The Asian American Literary Review with Gerald Maa / Faultline with Jonathan Keeperman

Participating presses:
Kaya Press, Dancing Girl Press, eohippus labs, Les Figues, Boxcar Poetry Review, siglio, Tia Chucha Press, Tongue and Groove, The Asian American Literary Review, Writ Large Press, Futurepoem, Sur+ Press, [out of nothing], Jaded Ibis, MAKESHIFT, Toad Press

Authors reading / creating activities:
Allison Carter of Les Figues, Michelle Detorie of eohippus labs, Luivette Resto of Tia Chucha Press, Melinda Palacio of Tia Chucha Press, Rachelle Cruz of Dancing Girl Press, Catherine Liu of Kaya Press, Chiwan Choi of Writ Large Press