Poets & Writers Theater

“I had to confront the page, and at times it felt like I was staring directly at the heart and face of the Korean DMZ.” In this Powell’s Books virtual event, Joseph Han reads from his debut novel, Nuclear Family (Counterpoint, 2022), and speaks with author Gene Kwak about the process of writing a magical realist story and the ways in which every Korean American story is a ghost story. Han’s novel is featured in Page One in the July/August issue of Poets & Writers Magazine.

“I felt like someone was talking to me and I had to write it down.” Natashia Deón talks about vivid dreams and how events from her life inspired the opening lines of her debut novel, Grace (Counterpoint, 2016), in episode 1 of Are You There, Ghost? It’s Me, Chiwan with host Chiwan Choi. Deón’s second novel, The Perishing (Counterpoint, 2021), is featured in Page One in the November/December issue of Poets & Writers Magazine.

“It has taken me almost ten years to get to this point of publishing this book.” In this Politics and Prose Bookstore video, Nawaaz Ahmed talks about what led him to write his debut novel, Radiant Fugitives (Counterpoint, 2021), which is featured in Page One in the September/October issue of Poets & Writers Magazine.

In this virtual reading hosted by Magers & Quinn Booksellers, authors Lilly Dancyger, Gina Frangello, and Jeannine Ouellette read from their memoirs and discuss the similarities between their writing processes. Dancyger’s Negative Space (Santa Fe Writers Project, 2021) and Frangello’s Blow Your House Down: A Story of Family, Feminism, and Treason (Counterpoint Press, 2021) are featured in Page One in the May/June issue of Poets & Writers Magazine.

Kevin Larimer, editor in chief of Poets & Writers Magazine, moderates as editors Jordan Bass of McSweeney's Publishing and Ethan Nosowsky of Graywolf Press join literary agent Danielle Svetcov and publicist Megan Fishmann of Counterpoint Press for a conversation about how authors can make a good impression—in cover letters, book proposals, and even at social gatherings.

"The relationship between reader and writer is about trying to connect through honesty." Karen Bender speaks about expressing and processing complex emotions through her writing. Bender's debut short story collection, Refund (Counterpoint Press, 2015), is a finalist for the 2015 National Book Award.