On Saturday, we greeted the month of November with a series of readings in Echo Park. The event was held on the back patio of Stories Books and Cafe and hosted by Kaya’s own Jean Ho. Members from Kaya Students for Independent Publishing opened the evening with a variety of readings. Anita Chen, Maggie Deagon, and Jack Foraker shared original works for the first time with the audience, and Jamaal Armstrong read an excerpt from WAYLAID by Ed Lin. They were followed by award-winning poet Brandon Som who not only read but also shared insights into his work process and inspiration.

Kaya’s editor Sunyoung Lee presented Amarnath Ravva, eloquently summarizing his experimental memoir AMERICAN CANYON before his reading. The event concluded with Ravva’s exploration of his authorial journey, providing intriguing details about the world surrounding his work.