The Asian American Lit Fest is upon us! Curated and produced by a collective of artists, librarians, educators, scholars, and publishers, this is the only festival of its kind. The AALF will convene writers and readers through immersive in-person and hybrid events–including interactive installations, readings, salons, and workshops.

For the first time in its history, the AALF will take place both across the country and globally, with an international presence in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Australia. Cities hosting events include Athens and Atlanta, GA; Champaign-Urbana, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Honolulu, HI; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; and Seattle, WA. To see the full list of AALF events check out the AALF website and keep up with the latest AALF news by following the AALF Collective Instagram.

Using outer space as a unifying visual metaphor for practicing solidarity across distance and time, the festival explores how the Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Asian diasporic literary communities can align themselves with their most marginalized members.

In the spirit of Cosmic Kinship, Kaya Press is so excited to bring AALF to this corner of the universe—and we’ve partnered with some stellar Los Angeles-based literary organizations and individual artists to make it happen. If you want to experience what Asian American literature looks like in Southern California, we have events such as Literaoke with Live Music at Tuesday Night Cafe or book launch at historic LA literary venue Beyond Baroque featuring Filipinix poets from Vancouver to Australia for Jason Magabo Perez’s I ask about what falls away. 

Kaya Press would like to thank the National Endowment for the Arts, the Los Angeles Department of Cultuaral Arts, The LA County Arts Commission, and most importantly, YOU, for supporting all we do!

Here are some events in Southern California: 

Tuesday, September 17th, 2024

Kaya Press & Tuesday Night Project present Literaoke at Tuesday Night Cafe

In partnership with Palms Up Academy & Sunday Jump featuring the TNC House Band led by Shin Kawasaki

Los Angeles, California | Hybrid, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM PT

120 Judge John Aiso St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Thursday, September 19th, 2024

Kaya Press & Beyond Baroque present I ask about what falls away: Los Angeles Launch

In collaboration with The Digital Sala & Sampaguita Press featuring Jason Magabo Perez, MT Vallarta, David Maduli, Angela Penaredondo & Maria Bolanos in-person; Hari Alluri, Rachelle Cruz & Joseph “Butch” Schwarzkopf virtually

Los Angeles, California | Hybrid & live-streamed, Beyond Baroque, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM PT

RSVP here!

681 N. Venice Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

Also, don’t miss this amazing virtual event on Monday Sept. 16th: First Pass — Editing From Beyond the Margins — A Conversation between Yuka Igarashi and Austin Nguyen.