Four Books, One Night: A Reading & Celebration
Come celebrate Christopher Rose, Caitlin Dwyer, Lara Messersmith-Glavin, and Elissa Minor's new books at Up Up Books
Join us for a special night of readings and celebration! Christopher Rose, Caitlin Dwyer, Lara Messersmith-Glavin, and Elissa Minor will read from their newly released books, with poet Jessica E. Johnson moderating the evening.
Write for Life: Show Up for Your Writing, Every Day (Meeting One)
A 6-week gathering based on Julia Cameron's Artist's Way for writers, with daily practices, weekly exercises, and accountability.
Start your writing project. Create a practice that lasts.
Whether you're a beginner or experienced writer, Julia Cameron's Write for Life: Creative Tools for Every Writer will help you start, stay committed to, and show up for your writing project. It's her Artist's Way program, made for writers. During our six weeks, we'll provide structure and community to support you, with weekly check-ins, group discussions on what's coming up for us, and time to complete the writing exercises at the end of each chapter together as a group.
Details:
When: Sundays, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Dates: November 1 – December 6
Where: Up Up Books, 1452 NE 28th Ave., Portland, OR 97232
Duration: 1 hour per week for 6 weeks
Cost: $100 (includes a copy of Write for Life, a $20 value)
How the Gathering Works:
First Session: We'll start by walking through Cameron's core tools, and diving into chapter one together. No need to read ahead, but if you'd like a head start, pick up your book early and read the introduction.
Weekly Sessions: Every Sunday, we'll gather for one hour to review key takeaways from Write for Life, discuss insights and challenges, and complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Daily Practice: Throughout the week, you'll write Morning Pages, work on your project a little each day with a small quota you set yourself, take a daily walk, and go on a weekly Artist Date.
Midweek Check-ins: You'll get a couple of inspiring texts from me each week to keep your momentum going with your pages, your quota, and your Artist Dates.
Community Support: This gathering is about having a supportive community. You'll be part of a group of writers, all working on their own projects, with space to share what's coming up in their writing practice.
Note: November 29 falls on Thanksgiving weekend. If you're traveling, you can do that week's reading and exercises on your own and jump back in on December 6.
Brooke Willow - Book Release Party
Join us in celebration of Brooke Willow's debut book of photographs, HOLDING ON
HOLDING ON is the debut photography book by interdisciplinary artist Brooke Willow. It grew out of Brooke’s community photography project at the Portland Art Museum, where they photographed participants’ hands as they talked and shared stories. Brooke’s photographs explore how our hands carry experiences of care, memory, labor, grief, love, and connection.
So join us for a conversation with Brooke, followed by a Q&A, book signing, and celebratory refreshments on Sunday, November 1st.
Literary Show & Tell with Oregon Humanities and Constellation Reading Series
What’s the book that made you say books are for me?
On November 4, Oregon Humanities and Constellation Reading Series are teaming up to ask Portland writers this exact question.
Inspired by Oregon Humanities magazine’s Works Cited section—where authors unpack the foundational texts that shaped their lives—we’re gathering a stacked lineup of OH contributors and Constellation alums for a night of literary show-and-tell. Featuring flash readings from Lydia Kiesling, Eric Tran, Aleksandr Chernosov, Jae Nichelle, Christopher Rose, and Tim Lane—plus a lightning-round where you can step up to share the book that started your literary origin story.
Join us as part of the Portland Book Festival's Cover to Cover series and celebrate the reading life!
Corey S. Pressman - Book Release Party
Celebrate the release of Corey S. Pressman's debut poetry collection, A Thousand Flames published by Verdant Publishing
Join us as we celebrate A Thousand Flames, Corey S. Pressman’s debut poetry collection. His poems explore secular devotion, where a bird feeder can stand as the axis mundi and the bees have a god of their own. Across twelve sections, they travel from a Rockland County childhood to a hilltop in the fog, and as far back as the rooftops of Neolithic Çatalhöyük. Each poem asks you to slow down and stay a little longer than expected.
Corey S. Pressman is an artist, writer, and teacher living in the Pacific Northwest. His poems, essays, academic works, and stories have appeared in journals, magazines, and bound collections including Orion Magazine, Gastronomica, Santa Clara Review, Critical Public Health, and the Anthropology and Humanism journal. His visual art practice centers on abstract works made with natural powdered pigments, paper, and handmade wax medium. Pressman's teaching often explores the relationship between art, attention, imagination, and wellbeing. He is faculty at the University of Portland and has led creative workshops at the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology and Esalen Institute.
Verdant Publishing nurtures creative voices rooted in nature, ecology, and personal transformation. They support artists, writers, and interdisciplinary storytellers by publishing thoughtful, visually rich, and emotionally resonant works that reflect a deep connection to nature, curiosity, and community. They are committed to equitable partnerships, accessible publishing pathways.
Write for Life: Show Up for Your Writing, Every Day (Meeting Two)
A 6-week gathering based on Julia Cameron's Artist's Way for writers, with daily practices, weekly exercises, and accountability.
Start your writing project. Create a practice that lasts.
Whether you're a beginner or experienced writer, Julia Cameron's Write for Life: Creative Tools for Every Writer will help you start, stay committed to, and show up for your writing project. It's her Artist's Way program, made for writers. During our six weeks, we'll provide structure and community to support you, with weekly check-ins, group discussions on what's coming up for us, and time to complete the writing exercises at the end of each chapter together as a group.
Details:
When: Sundays, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Dates: November 1 – December 6
Where: Up Up Books, 1452 NE 28th Ave., Portland, OR 97232
Duration: 1 hour per week for 6 weeks
Cost: $100 (includes a copy of Write for Life, a $20 value)
How the Gathering Works:
First Session: We'll start by walking through Cameron's core tools, and diving into chapter one together. No need to read ahead, but if you'd like a head start, pick up your book early and read the introduction.
Weekly Sessions: Every Sunday, we'll gather for one hour to review key takeaways from Write for Life, discuss insights and challenges, and complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Daily Practice: Throughout the week, you'll write Morning Pages, work on your project a little each day with a small quota you set yourself, take a daily walk, and go on a weekly Artist Date.
Midweek Check-ins: You'll get a couple of inspiring texts from me each week to keep your momentum going with your pages, your quota, and your Artist Dates.
Community Support: This gathering is about having a supportive community. You'll be part of a group of writers, all working on their own projects, with space to share what's coming up in their writing practice.
Note: November 29 falls on Thanksgiving weekend. If you're traveling, you can do that week's reading and exercises on your own and jump back in on December 6.
Karen Holmberg and Carolyn Supinka - Reading & Conversation
Poetry reading and conversation with Karen Holmberg and Carolyn Supinka
Join us for a reading and conversation with Karen Holmberg and Carolyn Supinka
Karen Holmberg won the 2025 Cider Press Review Editors’ with Reckless Shelter. Reckless Shelter was published iAugust, 2026. Holmberg’s two poetry volumes are The Perseids (winner of the Vassar Miller Prize/University of North Texas Press) and Axis Mundi (winner of the John Ciardi Prize/BkMk Press). In addition to poetry, she publishes lyric essays and art criticism, appearing in At Length, Tupelo Quarterly, and the Notting Hill Editions Prize anthology. Recent poems have appeared in Southern Poetry Review, and were featured in the spring issue of High Country News. Her first young adult novel, The Collagist, won the 2021 Acheven Prize and was published by Regal Press/Fitzroy Editions in the spring of 2024. She teaches British Literature, poetry writing, and letterpress printing at Oregon State University, where she is on the MFA in Creative Writing faculty.
Carolyn Supinka (she/her) is a visual artist and writer living in Portland, Oregon. She received her MFA from Oregon State University and BA from Carnegie Mellon University. Her poetry comics have appeared in Gigantic Sequins, Ecotone, HAD and Redivider. Her poetry has appeared in DIAGRAM, The Boiler, Sixth Finch, and Passages North. She creates zines with and is a co-editor of Conjunction Press.
Her first full-length book of poetry and poetry comics, Metamorphic Door, is out now from Buckman Publishing.
Write for Life: Show Up for Your Writing, Every Day (Meeting Three)
A 6-week gathering based on Julia Cameron's Artist's Way for writers, with daily practices, weekly exercises, and accountability.
Start your writing project. Create a practice that lasts.
Whether you're a beginner or experienced writer, Julia Cameron's Write for Life: Creative Tools for Every Writer will help you start, stay committed to, and show up for your writing project. It's her Artist's Way program, made for writers. During our six weeks, we'll provide structure and community to support you, with weekly check-ins, group discussions on what's coming up for us, and time to complete the writing exercises at the end of each chapter together as a group.
Details:
When: Sundays, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Dates: November 1 – December 6
Where: Up Up Books, 1452 NE 28th Ave., Portland, OR 97232
Duration: 1 hour per week for 6 weeks
Cost: $100 (includes a copy of Write for Life, a $20 value)
How the Gathering Works:
First Session: We'll start by walking through Cameron's core tools, and diving into chapter one together. No need to read ahead, but if you'd like a head start, pick up your book early and read the introduction.
Weekly Sessions: Every Sunday, we'll gather for one hour to review key takeaways from Write for Life, discuss insights and challenges, and complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Daily Practice: Throughout the week, you'll write Morning Pages, work on your project a little each day with a small quota you set yourself, take a daily walk, and go on a weekly Artist Date.
Midweek Check-ins: You'll get a couple of inspiring texts from me each week to keep your momentum going with your pages, your quota, and your Artist Dates.
Community Support: This gathering is about having a supportive community. You'll be part of a group of writers, all working on their own projects, with space to share what's coming up in their writing practice.
Note: November 29 falls on Thanksgiving weekend. If you're traveling, you can do that week's reading and exercises on your own and jump back in on December 6.
PLUS PLUS Bizarre Bazaar
“This year we’re excited to introduce a new part of the festival: the PLUS PLUS Bizarre Bazaar. Co-programmed by PAM CUT and long-time independent media exec Liz Mowe, the event features a tightly-curated group of artists, publishers, exhibitors, community organizations, indie distributors, and creative collectives to help bring the market to life. Visitors will be able to browse and buy artist editions, books, comics, zines, physical media, prints, apparel, games, and more while meeting artists, filmmakers, publishers, and organizations from across the independent creative community. The market will take place at the Portland Art Museum on Saturday, November 21, and will be free to attend.”
Making the Cut! - Collage Workshop
A collage workshop with Kevin Sampsell
Collage art has been enjoying a vibrant resurgence lately and one reason why is because it's accessible, fun, and expressive. It can also be groundbreaking and wild.
Portland author and artist Kevin Sampsell has been one of the leaders in bringing the joys or cutting, tearing, and gluing to the people. In this two-hour workshop, Kevin will share a myriad of styles, approaches, and ideas and help guide you in making your own collages.
Materials (paper, old magazines, glue, scissors, etc) provided, but feel free to bring your own.
Write for Life: Show Up for Your Writing, Every Day (Meeting Four)
A 6-week gathering based on Julia Cameron's Artist's Way for writers, with daily practices, weekly exercises, and accountability.
Start your writing project. Create a practice that lasts.
Whether you're a beginner or experienced writer, Julia Cameron's Write for Life: Creative Tools for Every Writer will help you start, stay committed to, and show up for your writing project. It's her Artist's Way program, made for writers. During our six weeks, we'll provide structure and community to support you, with weekly check-ins, group discussions on what's coming up for us, and time to complete the writing exercises at the end of each chapter together as a group.
Details:
When: Sundays, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Dates: November 1 – December 6
Where: Up Up Books, 1452 NE 28th Ave., Portland, OR 97232
Duration: 1 hour per week for 6 weeks
Cost: $100 (includes a copy of Write for Life, a $20 value)
How the Gathering Works:
First Session: We'll start by walking through Cameron's core tools, and diving into chapter one together. No need to read ahead, but if you'd like a head start, pick up your book early and read the introduction.
Weekly Sessions: Every Sunday, we'll gather for one hour to review key takeaways from Write for Life, discuss insights and challenges, and complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Daily Practice: Throughout the week, you'll write Morning Pages, work on your project a little each day with a small quota you set yourself, take a daily walk, and go on a weekly Artist Date.
Midweek Check-ins: You'll get a couple of inspiring texts from me each week to keep your momentum going with your pages, your quota, and your Artist Dates.
Community Support: This gathering is about having a supportive community. You'll be part of a group of writers, all working on their own projects, with space to share what's coming up in their writing practice.
Note: November 29 falls on Thanksgiving weekend. If you're traveling, you can do that week's reading and exercises on your own and jump back in on December 6.
Write for Life: Show Up for Your Writing, Every Day (Meeting Five)
A 6-week gathering based on Julia Cameron's Artist's Way for writers, with daily practices, weekly exercises, and accountability.
Start your writing project. Create a practice that lasts.
Whether you're a beginner or experienced writer, Julia Cameron's Write for Life: Creative Tools for Every Writer will help you start, stay committed to, and show up for your writing project. It's her Artist's Way program, made for writers. During our six weeks, we'll provide structure and community to support you, with weekly check-ins, group discussions on what's coming up for us, and time to complete the writing exercises at the end of each chapter together as a group.
Details:
When: Sundays, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Dates: November 1 – December 6
Where: Up Up Books, 1452 NE 28th Ave., Portland, OR 97232
Duration: 1 hour per week for 6 weeks
Cost: $100 (includes a copy of Write for Life, a $20 value)
How the Gathering Works:
First Session: We'll start by walking through Cameron's core tools, and diving into chapter one together. No need to read ahead, but if you'd like a head start, pick up your book early and read the introduction.
Weekly Sessions: Every Sunday, we'll gather for one hour to review key takeaways from Write for Life, discuss insights and challenges, and complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Daily Practice: Throughout the week, you'll write Morning Pages, work on your project a little each day with a small quota you set yourself, take a daily walk, and go on a weekly Artist Date.
Midweek Check-ins: You'll get a couple of inspiring texts from me each week to keep your momentum going with your pages, your quota, and your Artist Dates.
Community Support: This gathering is about having a supportive community. You'll be part of a group of writers, all working on their own projects, with space to share what's coming up in their writing practice.
Note: November 29 falls on Thanksgiving weekend. If you're traveling, you can do that week's reading and exercises on your own and jump back in on December 6.
Write for Life: Show Up for Your Writing, Every Day (Meeting Six)
A 6-week gathering based on Julia Cameron's Artist's Way for writers, with daily practices, weekly exercises, and accountability.
Start your writing project. Create a practice that lasts.
Whether you're a beginner or experienced writer, Julia Cameron's Write for Life: Creative Tools for Every Writer will help you start, stay committed to, and show up for your writing project. It's her Artist's Way program, made for writers. During our six weeks, we'll provide structure and community to support you, with weekly check-ins, group discussions on what's coming up for us, and time to complete the writing exercises at the end of each chapter together as a group.
Details:
When: Sundays, 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Dates: November 1 – December 6
Where: Up Up Books, 1452 NE 28th Ave., Portland, OR 97232
Duration: 1 hour per week for 6 weeks
Cost: $100 (includes a copy of Write for Life, a $20 value)
How the Gathering Works:
First Session: We'll start by walking through Cameron's core tools, and diving into chapter one together. No need to read ahead, but if you'd like a head start, pick up your book early and read the introduction.
Weekly Sessions: Every Sunday, we'll gather for one hour to review key takeaways from Write for Life, discuss insights and challenges, and complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Daily Practice: Throughout the week, you'll write Morning Pages, work on your project a little each day with a small quota you set yourself, take a daily walk, and go on a weekly Artist Date.
Midweek Check-ins: You'll get a couple of inspiring texts from me each week to keep your momentum going with your pages, your quota, and your Artist Dates.
Community Support: This gathering is about having a supportive community. You'll be part of a group of writers, all working on their own projects, with space to share what's coming up in their writing practice.
Note: November 29 falls on Thanksgiving weekend. If you're traveling, you can do that week's reading and exercises on your own and jump back in on December 6.
Shed Group Show - Closing Reception/Reading
The current exhibition in Yikes! Gallery closes at the end of October. Join us to celebrate the inaugural art show featuring artists from Buckman Journal: Shed and experience the journal coming to life with authors reading their pieces alongside the art.
Come by to listen, pick up a copy of the journal, shop Up Up Books selection, and behold the paintings, photographs, ceramics, and more from local artists. The readings will run approximately 4pm-5pm. The lineup includes:
Jamie Cattanach
Frankie Engdall
Kit MacAllister
Jaye Nasir
Rich Perin
Mary Rechner
Graft Union Chimera 2 - Zine Launch Party
>>> ONE YEAR LATER…
The BEAST has grown another head.
One year ago, Graft Union released the first issue of CHIMERA, our anthology contributor zine built by our community--the artists who have participated in past GURS-ES--the lifeblood. And now… she returns.
CHIMERA II will be RELEASED into the world on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15TH, and we simply need you there to help us celebrate its arrival!!
< < CHIMERA II LAUNCH PARTY
> > THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15
< < UP UP BOOKS 1452 NE 28 AVE
> > 7–9 PM
Come hear readings from the new issue and join us for a lowkey listening party to the 2-DISC LIVE ALBUM tucked inside the zine (!!), featuring FEMME CELL and AS ABOVE recorded at Reed Chapel. The CDs also contain four poetry audio tracks from past GURS <3!
The whole thing was risograph printed at Secret Room and assembled with an unreasonable amount of love, attention, and other mysterious forces. There is much more we could tell you, but we would rather put the zine in your hands. It belongs there! (in your hands!)
COME CELEBRATE WITH US!! Come hear the work, hear the music, see the creature, and GET YOUR COPY OF CHIMERA II!!
<<< One zine. Two discs. Many heads.
SEE YOU THERE 🐍
xoxo,
GRAFT UNION
poster by @cozycupofchamomile and @julia.soft.animal
Portland Poetry Confluence - Day Three
“Twelve local reading series and small-press publishers have contributed programming to the second annual Portland Poetry Confluence, which will cover the gamut of contemporary approaches to writing, reading, and distributing poetry.”
SCHEDULE:
10:00 am – 1:30 pm
Book Fair
Lobby
10:30 am – 11:45 am
Old Pal
Laboring to Write
South Studio
10:30 am – 11:45 am
Incite
Incite: Queer Poets Read
North Studio
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
Street Roots
Poems First! Notes from a Workshop for Portland’s Street Poets
South Studio
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
Wave
Wave Books in Portland
North Studio
Portland Poetry Confluence - Day Two
“Twelve local reading series and small-press publishers have contributed programming to the second annual Portland Poetry Confluence, which will cover the gamut of contemporary approaches to writing, reading, and distributing poetry.”
SCHEDULE:
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Book Fair
Lobby
10:00 am – 11:15 am
Spare Room
A Reading of Muriel Rukeyser’s The Book of the Dead, and the latest issue of Noise Coffee No Poetry
South Studio
10:00 am – 11:15 am
Literary Portland for Palestine
Writing in the Hour of Genocide: A conversation between Lena Khalaf Tuffaha and Omar El Akkad
North Studio
11:30 am – 12:45 pm
Fonograf Editions
Beyond Print: Hybrid small press publishing
South Studio
As the relevance of physical books as artifact, object, and source of edification and entertainment shifts in contemporary culture, non-traditional avenues of publishing have blossomed. Publishing houses big and small now put out “books” exclusively online, or in non-traditional formats, from vinyl records to one-of-a-kind zines. This panel will feature three notable small press publishers discussing the nature of releasing non-traditional literary artifacts, talking through how and where their current publishing practices stay faithful to and/or diverge from traditional publishing. Featuring folks from Antiquated Future, Buckman, and Fonograf Editions. («Catch us on this panel and tabling in the book fair!)
11:30 am – 12:45 pm
Graft Union
Graft Union presents: Echidna 3
North Studio
LUNCH BREAK
2:15 pm – 3:30 pm
Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC)
Foldable Forms
South Studio
2:15 pm – 3:30 pm
De-Canon
Field of Animacies
North Studio
3:45 pm – 5:00 pm
Corporeal Writing
Generative Writing Workshop w/ the Corporeal Writing Oracles Deck
South Studio
3:45 pm – 5:00 pm
Outer Voice
Works from Outer Voice
North Studio
DINNER BREAK
7:30 pm
Confluence Featured Reading
North Studio
Charles Valle, Charity E. Yoro, Cedar Sigo
Portland Poetry Confluence - Day One
“Twelve local reading series and small-press publishers have contributed programming to the second annual Portland Poetry Confluence, which will cover the gamut of contemporary approaches to writing, reading, and distributing poetry.”
SCHEDULE:
7:30PM
Confluence Featured Reading
North Studio
Emily Kendal Frey, Jennifer (JP) Perrine, Joan Naviyuk Kane
Grand Opening Party!
Join us at the PALS (Portland Arts & Literary Society) building to celebrate the opening of our multi-use space and the launch of the current issue, Buckman Journal: Shed. We will have snacks, drinks, cake, and crafts to share. Visual art from the contributors of Buckman Journal: Shed will be on view in Yikes! Gallery and Up Up Books will be open for shopping. This open-house style event is free and open to all, come help us ring in this new chapter! Note: while the building entrance does have two steps, we will have a portable ramp set up for ADA access.
From 4pm-6pm we will be hosting Meg Hayertz offering free Literary Tarot Readings. Expect a gentle conversation with the cards to nourish your writer self, invite possibility, and gain clarity about story and/or craft within a new or in-progress writing project. 15 minutes each, first come, first served. Sit down with her and the cards, and you’ll feel at ease in your practice. Together, you'll melt a creative block, deepen a character, or fill a plot hole. Insightful and uplifting, Meg's readings center your wisdom and life experiences. You'll leave feeling more connected with yourself and excited to write!
CreativeMomentum.art
IG @ creative_momentum
Meg Hayertz (she/they) is the author of Tarot for Beginners (Althea Press) and the founder of Creative Momentum, where she helps writers free their voice, nourish their practice, and finish their project. She holds an MFA from California Institute of Integral Studies and her fiction has appeared in The Louisville Review, CALYX, Press Pause, and elsewhere.
*POSTPONED* Buckman Journal: Shed - Book Launch Party
Update: due to unfortunate circumstances outside our control, we have decided to postpone the Shed launch party. It will now be combined with our Grand Opening party on Saturday, September 12th.
Join us at the launch party for the sixteenth issue of Buckman Journal, themed Shed. Gather at our new space, the PALS (Portland Arts & Literary Society) building, which will house the Buckman offices upstairs and Up Up Books and Yikes! art gallery downstairs. Get a sneak peak at our in-progress space, meet the Buckman crew, the journal contributors, and get your copy at a special discounted rate. We’ll celebrate with light snacks, effervescent beverages, and cake. Open house style, drop by or stay the whole time.
Free and open to all! Unfortunately our building is not yet ADA accessible and is a few steps up from street level.
Portland Arts Week - Reading
Join us to hear an hour of short readings from Portland’s literary talent as part of the inaugural Portland Arts Week. Authors will share prose and poetry featured in the latest issue of our anthology publication, Buckman Journal, as well as their own unique takes on arts and sports. Discover new voices and celebrate Portland's creative community in an intimate outdoor setting. Free and open to all!
Readers: Kai Broach writes fiction, poetry, and criticism. His work has appeared in Bright Wall/Dark Room and X-R-A-Y Lit. He reads for Bicoastal Review and co-facilitates the decentralized writing collective A Writer’s Room.
cutto.substack.comDan DeWeese (he/him) is the author of the novels Gielgud and You Don't Love This Man, and the story collection Disorder.
dandeweese.net, propellerbooks.comA physical media enthusiast, Ryan Mills (he/him) is a poet, a Letter Carrier for United States Postal Service, and Union Steward for the National Association of Letter Carriers.
oldpalmag.comMary Rechner’s (she/her) Marrying Friends was selected as the Best Short Story Collection of 2023 by Willamette Week. She is at work on a comic novel, tentatively entitled NovelBaby.
maryrechner.com, IG: @merechnerJulia Wohlstetter is a poet and educator whose work has appeared in Brazenhead Review, Metatron-Omega, Bodega Magazine, and Reality Beach. She received an MFA from The Iowa Writers’ Workshop where she was awarded a Truman Capote Fellowship, a MacIntyre Fellowship, and a Stanley Fellowship for International Research.
IG: @unrulia
Portland Indie Book & Art Fair: Year Three!
Join us back at Honey Latte Cafe for the third year of Portland Indie Book & Art Fair! List of vendors is forthcoming but is sure to be another great year of local publishers, zinesters, and artists selling their books and goods directly to you, the reading and art-appreciating public! As always, the fair has no entry fee and is open to all. Mark your calendars and keep an ear out for more details in the near future!
Tears Are Everywhere - Live Performance & Book Launch Event
Join us at Mother Foucault’s bookshop to celebrate the launch of Tears Are Everywhere, an art book for all ages by Portland artist and musician Kira Lynn Cain! Cain will read from the book and perform a short musical set of original songs, followed by an interactive workshop of tear-centric short-form prompts, and a listening of Tears Are Everywhere the record, an instrumental 7inch EP written and recorded by Cain to accompany the book. Hope to see you there!
The programming will run 4:30-5:30PM with time for mingling and book signing before and after.
The event is free and open to all. Mother Foucault’s is ADA Accessible.
Buckman Poetry Lab: Volume 1.0
Join us at the new Buckman Building to celebrate poetry month! A suite of local poets we’ve published in previous books and journals will be reading in an informal, in-the-round style where the division between poet and listener dissolves. We’ll have snacks and drinks and readings from Andrew Doll, Edy Guy, Erinn Kathryn, Hazelle Lerum, Will A.C. Mulligan, Jaye Nasir, Rich Perin, and Carolyn Supinka. The reading portion will start around 7:30 with time to mingle before and after.
Unfortunately, our building is not yet ADA accessible and the party will be located up a full flight of stairs. E-mail emmi@buckmanpublishing.com for any other accessibility questions.
Annihilation for Beginners - Reading, Conversation, & Book Launch Event
The debut story collection from Oregon Book Award finalist Charlie J. Stephens generously explicates Jean-Paul Sartre’s missive that “life begins on the other side of despair.” In 28 short stories, including a supernatural small-town mystery, a multigenerational family drama, and a maternal love story, the book considers what secular hope in the Anthropocene might look like. These stories are full of families trying to be families, and people in all phases of life reckoning with their reasons for living. With scenery and interiority that echo each other, and characters that read Camus, Fanon, and de Beauvoir, Annihilation for Beginners is slyly philosophical and darkly funny at every turn.
Charlie will be joined in conversation by Buck alum and local literary star Emme Lund, author of The Boy with a Bird in His Chest. We’ll start with a short reading from the book followed by the conversation, then time for audience Q&A and a book-signing. Come out to support Oregon writers and help us celebrate the release of Annihilation for Beginners. Hope to see you there!
Why Print? An Indie Publishing Panel
For the past several years, there’s been talk of a “print revival”—but did print ever really go away? Join local independent and nonprofit Portland publishers for a conversation about the role of print in a digital-first world. A group of editors and designers from local publications will discuss print’s unique ability to build community, elevate stories overlooked by platform and algorithm-driven media, and support a wide array of voices. The event will also consider challenges and potential solutions for keeping print publishing viable for local creators today. We'll come away with a deeper sense of why print persists not only as nostalgia, but as a still-revolutionary technology for imaginative and deeply human storytelling.
This conversation will feature Darsey Landoe,art director of Oregon Humanities; Kyle Yoshioka, editorial director at Provecho; Katrina Clasen, creative director at Kitchen Table; and Rich Perin, publisher of Buckman Journal. It will be moderated by Oregon Humanities managing editor, Karina Briski.
The first half of this event will be dedicated to discussion and Q&A, and the other half will be for socializing and community building. Come out for a good discussion, bring questions, and learn about independent publishing. Hope to see y’all there!
Bookshop is ADA accessible. Event is free, open to all, no RSVP required.
Buckman Journal: Cluster - Book Launch Event
The 15th installment of Buckman Journal comes out January 20th (pre-orders available now!)
Please join us to celebrate the release with an afternoon reception on Sunday, January 25th from 3:00pm-6:00pm at our new Mothership location! Located on NE 28th St. (just off Broadway near the giant Fred Meyer). Unfortunately, the upstairs of our new location is not ADA accessible and located up a full flight of stairs. Enter through the black door with a porthole.
This is an unstructured open-house style event, so feel free to stop by, roll through, or hang out the whole time. It’s an opportunity to meet and mingle with the journal contributors and the Buckman crew, peruse our other books, and meet other literary and artistic folk. All are welcome so please bring your people along. We'll celebrate with drinks, snacks, and a special discounted price on all issues of Buckman Journal: Cluster purchased during the event. See you there!
Buckman Journal: Shed Artwork Submissions Close
Consider "shed" as both verb and noun. Give us imagery in and around the backyard structure, and work that deals all sorts of sloughing off. Shed as setting, as itchy renewal, as planetary spilling. We want the pouring forth, the molt, the relinquishing that made all the difference. Tears, of course, blood, watersheds. As always, we appreciate a capacious interpretation of the theme. (Though this one certainly calls for some literal too).We are seeking visual art for our sixteenth installment, Buckman Journal : Shed. 2D and 3D works in any medium (so long as it's documented suitably for print) is welcome. Artists can submit up to four images. Work can be new or pre-existing, or a combo. Please keep your cover letter brief—just let us know where you live and include a short artist's bio or statement about your work.
The submission window for artwork will be open January 8th-18th, 2026. There is no entry fee.
Buckman Journal: Shed Artwork Submissions Open
Consider "shed" as both verb and noun. Give us imagery in and around the backyard structure, and work that deals all sorts of sloughing off. Shed as setting, as itchy renewal, as planetary spilling. We want the pouring forth, the molt, the relinquishing that made all the difference. Tears, of course, blood, watersheds. As always, we appreciate a capacious interpretation of the theme. (Though this one certainly calls for some literal too).We are seeking visual art for our sixteenth installment, Buckman Journal : Shed. 2D and 3D works in any medium (so long as it's documented suitably for print) is welcome. Artists can submit up to four images. Work can be new or pre-existing, or a combo. Please keep your cover letter brief—just let us know where you live and include a short artist's bio or statement about your work.
The submission window for artwork will be open January 8th-18th, 2026. There is no entry fee.
Art Book Fair - Day Two
Join us and many of our local creative compatriots for the 4th Annual Portland Art Book Fair presented by Landdd. A multi-venue affair, vendors will be spread out between Landdd, Chess Club, and Stelo Arts.
Vendors include: Monograph Bookwerks, Hi Books, Passages Bookshop, Volumes Design Library, The Idea of the Book, Container Corps, Kamp ABC, Gnomic Book, Secret Room, Nonsense Bookshop, Impeller Press, Future Tense, Fonograf Editions, Perfect Day Publishing, Two Plum Press, nůn studios, Jodie Cavalier, Whatnow Press, Pile Press, The Conversation Pit, Lurch Zine, Graft Union, Berm Mag, Dump Mag, Provecho Mag, and of course we’ll be there slinging Buckman goods.
Buckman Journal : Shed Writing Submissions Close
Consider "shed" as both verb and noun. Give us stories in and around the backyard structure, and all sorts of sloughing off. Shed as setting, as itchy renewal, as planetary spilling. We want the pouring forth, the molt, the relinquishing that made all the difference. Tears, of course, blood, watersheds. As always, we appreciate a capacious interpretation of the theme. (Though this one certainly calls for some literal too).We are seeking previously unpublished writing for sixteenth installment, Buckman Journal : Shed. Prose of all genres, styles, and lengths (up to 5,000 words) is welcome. Please adhere to the word limit. We are not accepting poetry at this time. Send .docx or .pdf files only, use a readable font, and keep your cover letter brief--just let us know who you are and where you live.
The submission window for writing will be open December 4th-14th, 2025. There is no entry fee.
Art Book Fair - Day One
Join us and many of our local creative compatriots for the 4th Annual Portland Art Book Fair presented by Landdd. A multi-venue affair, vendors will be spread out between Landdd, Chess Club, and Stelo Arts.
Vendors include: Monograph Bookwerks, Hi Books, Passages Bookshop, Volumes Design Library, The Idea of the Book, Container Corps, Kamp ABC, Gnomic Book, Secret Room, Nonsense Bookshop, Impeller Press, Future Tense, Fonograf Editions, Perfect Day Publishing, Two Plum Press, nůn studios, Jodie Cavalier, Whatnow Press, Pile Press, The Conversation Pit, Lurch Zine, Graft Union, Berm Mag, Dump Mag, Provecho Mag, and of course we’ll be there slinging Buckman goods.
Buckman Journal: Shed Writing Submissions Open
Consider "shed" as both verb and noun. Give us stories in and around the backyard structure, and all sorts of sloughing off. Shed as setting, as itchy renewal, as planetary spilling. We want the pouring forth, the molt, the relinquishing that made all the difference. Tears, of course, blood, watersheds. As always, we appreciate a capacious interpretation of the theme. (Though this one certainly calls for some literal too).We are seeking previously unpublished writing for sixteenth installment, Buckman Journal : Shed. Prose of all genres, styles, and lengths (up to 5,000 words) is welcome. Please adhere to the word limit. We are not accepting poetry at this time. Send .docx or .pdf files only, use a readable font, and keep your cover letter brief--just let us know who you are and where you live.
The submission window for writing will be open December 4th-14th, 2025. There is no entry fee.
Portland Zine Symposium - Day Two
The Portland Zine Symposium (PZS) is an organization that hosts, among other events, a yearly free conference and zine social exploring facets of independent publishing and DIY culture. This event has been held in Portland, Oregon every summer since 2001 and hosts over 150 zinesters from around the world each year, as well as many free workshops, panels, and discussions. Please wear a mask! This event is free and all ages!
November 8th–9th 11:00AM - 5:00PMat PSU’s Smith Memorial Student Union BallroomBuckman will be tabling on Sunday November 9thPortland Zine Symposium - Day One
The Portland Zine Symposium (PZS) is an organization that hosts, among other events, a yearly free conference and zine social exploring facets of independent publishing and DIY culture. This event has been held in Portland, Oregon every summer since 2001 and hosts over 150 zinesters from around the world each year, as well as many free workshops, panels, and discussions. Please wear a mask! This event is free and all ages!
November 8th–9th 11:00AM - 5:00PMat PSU’s Smith Memorial Student Union BallroomBuckman will be tabling on Sunday November 9th
Literary Trivia
Portland Book Festival Cover to Cover: Literary Trivia with Oregon Humanities and Buckman PublishingOregon Humanities and Buckman are pairing up for a night of literary-themed games at Dear Sandy! Come celebrate the deep literary history of our city, win prizes, and learn a bit of new trivia to take home. We’re highlighting the ways that Portland’s unique culture, geography, and history have shaped some great writing. This is an event for all book lovers, not just those who are deep into the lore of the region.
Event is free and open to the public!
Portland Poetry Confluence - Day Two
Save the date! The inaugural Portland Poetry Confluence is happening this fall. In collaboration with other rad poetic comrades from around town, the two-day festival will feature readings, performances, panels, and more. Buckman will be leading a water-inspired workshop on Saturday, October 4th from 11:30am - 12:45pm.
Portland Poetry Confluence - Day One
Save the date! The inaugural Portland Poetry Confluence is happening this fall. In collaboration with other rad poetic comrades from around town, the two-day festival will feature readings, performances, panels, and more. Buckman will be leading a water-inspired workshop on Saturday, October 4th from 11:30am - 12:45pm.
Choice Cuts Book Launch: An Evening Celebrating Portland DIY
“Come celebrate the official book launch of Choice Cuts: Disposable Camera Archives by Corbin C, a book published by Portland’s own Buckman Journal. It chronicles the photography of Portland-based photographer and filmmaker Corbin C, who will be presenting his photos and HI8 music videos, dishing anecdotes and behind the scene tales. HE WAS THERE. Leading the way is MC/Host with the most, Karma Rivera, who rose through the DIY ranks and now resonates as one of Portland’s leading musical talents. Live music provided by the quirky and entertaining Dim Wit. Special appearances by wrestlers from the NW Wrestling Alliance, the CornCon instigators, and more! See the people snapped in the photos live, retelling their stories of Portland DIY, and how you can join the scene that may be happening in your neighbor’s backyard, and maybe someday yours! It’s pure Portland!”
Doors 6:30 pm, Show 7:00 pmRuntime: 160 minTickets: $25 - Purchase here
Buckman Journal: Trance - Book Launch Party
The 14th installment of Buckman Journal comes out July 8th (pre-orders available now!) with a launch party the following weekend. This issue abounds with local creativity, featuring the work of over 25 PNW artists and writers workin in many mediums. Please join us to celebrate for an afternoon reception on Sunday, July 13th from 3:00pm-6:00pm in the outdoor area of Honey Latte Cafe, located at 1033 SE Main St. (97214) in the Buckman neighborhood (on the Salmon St./parking lot side of the building.)
This is an unstructured open-house style event, so feel free to stop by, roll through, or hang out the whole time. It’s an opportunity to meet and mingle with the journal contributors and the Buckman crew, peruse our other books, and meet other literary and artistic folk. All are welcome so please bring your people along. We'll celebrate with drinks, snacks, cake, and a special discounted price on all issues of Buckman Journal: Trance purchased during the event. See you there!
Note: Buckman is currently mid-move, split between two spaces--hence the summer events at two different locations. We’ll keep you posted when we’re fully settled in at our new home base.
Odd Garden Party
Do you stop to smell the roses? Smell them until you sneeze? Do you wait for the forsythia? Have a favorite shade of rhododendron? Well, we’ve got the goods for Portlanders and all those who hold a poetic love for plants with The Odd Guide to the Flowers of Portland.
Join us to celebrate the launch of this surrealists’s pocket guide to flowers and get a sneak peek at the new Buckman building at our first book party in the new space! We’ll have snax, plenty of bevs, writing prompts in response to selected blooms, readings from the book, and an interactive group art-making project that uses plants to make a DIY organic sculpture together.
Come check out new space, honor our floral companions, pick up your copy of Odd Guide, and herald the onset of summer with us -bring your crew and some greenery with you! Free and open to all. Our new space is much bigger so the more the merrier!
Note: we are currently still moving between the old Buckman Mothership and our new one. This is a just-moved-in empty apartment style party with a full-on grand opening of the space pending later this year.
Public Nature
“Public Nature is a nomadic multi-disciplinary performance series curated by Danielle Ross. May 23 at PWNW. 4pm doors / 7:30 show. Featuring Emmi Greer (text), Helen Spencer-Wallace (sound) and Hannah Krafcik + Emily Jones (movement).”
Friday May 23, doors 7:00 pm, show 7:30 pmdonations accepted at door / $5-15 recommended (all the money goes to the artists!)
Conceptualizing Mothers in Art & Writing
This panel discussion brings together Portland authors Frances Badalamenti, Chelsea Bieker, and visual artists Anya Roberts-Toney and Franny Capone to share how they conceive of mothering in their work through both written and visual means. This generative conversation will explore what makes a mother in these artists’ works and address engendered modes of representation, social obligations, and mothers as both a concept and an archetype. There will be light snacks, tea, and time for a Q&A.
Saturday May 10th 4:00-6:00pmTickets $8 - Purchase hereUnfortunately, the building for Deep Waters is not ADA accessible. Entrance is on Knott Street, the space is shoes off please! Seating will be provided. Masking at the event is optional.