AWP 2020: Giddy Up, San Antonio!
It’s that time of year again when we all start to prep and plan out the most important thing about AWP—our conference clothes! I’m kidding of course, but it’s no secret that the stakes can feel high about what to wear at the biggest literary conference of the year. Since AWP can feel like one giant imposter syndrome event, take a peek at Sonia Greenfield’s delightful Twitter account AWPFashionFeed. I promise this is a fun and kind-spirited account, and Sonia’s wit might help break down some of those writerly insecurities a lot of us share. But on to the real stuff!
At Water~Stone Review, we like to promote the tireless work of our many contributors and editors, so I’ve put together a mini list of events worth checking out!
Sheila O’Conner
Our own fiction editor Sheila O’Connor is going to be a busy woman at AWP (in addition to her already-busy life promoting her MBA-finalist book, Evidence of V: A Novel in Fragments, Facts, and Fictions). First, you can catch her reading at the South 85 Journal contributor reading on Thursday, March 5 at 5pm at the GrandHyatt. After that, Sheila, along with Hamline CWP faculty member
Angela Pelster-Wiebe
Angela Pelster, will be featured on the panel “The Past is Present: Writing the Legacy of Historical Justice”on Saturday, March 7 from 9-10:15am. Sheila will also be signing copies of her book at the Rose Metal Press (table #1855) on Saturday, March 7 from 10:30-11:15am.
Erica T. Wurth
On Wednesday, March 4 from 7-8:30 pm, you can check out Volume 22 contributor Erika T. Wurth at the ReTox Bar as part of a group of fifteen writers who will read rock-and-roll-inspired work for just two to three minutes each, the length of a song. Free to all, no cover, and you can stay for trivia and games and cheap drinks afterward!
Sun Yung Shin
Speaking of Volume 22 contributors, Purvi Shah and contributing poetry editor
Sun Yung Shin, along with Volume 21 contributor Su Hwang, are teaming up for the launch party and reading for The World I Leave You: Asian American Poets on Faith and Spirit. The Cherrity Bar features a delicious menu of dumplings and ramen, it’s a five-minute walk from the convention center, and all proceeds from the event will benefit local charities.
Su Hwang
In 2018, I attended Hamline’s Summer Writing Workshop and I witnessed the aura of Maggie Smith at a karaoke mic on a makeshift stage in a local bar. I can’t remember what
Maggie Smith, credit: Davon
songs she sang, but since she’s slated to sing and swap poems on Friday, March 6 with Jerry David DeCicca at The Lonesome Rose, you can bet she’ll be ready to bust out a little country western at the oldest honky tonk bar on the St. Mary’s strip. Country crooning starts right around 5pm, y’all.
Barrie Jean Borich
Our former creative nonfiction editor Barrie Jean Borich is getting real-ish with a group of writers for a night of readings with Speculative Nonfiction, Sweet: A Literary Confection, and Bellingham Review. Cap off your AWP off-site excursions with a trip to Doŕcol Distilling and Brewing Co., for this event on Saturday, March 7 at 6pm.
John Brandon
And last but not least, come visit us at the bookfair! We’ll be in booths #1157 and #1158, and we have a fun surprise to share! I can’t tell you what it is just yet, but I promise it will make your day! If you’re a fan of the Florida native John Brandon, you can catch him at our booth 1-3 Thursday and 3-5 on Friday. While he signs your copy of Arkansas, ask John if he knows who The Flaming Lips are.
Author:
ROBYN EARHART
ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR
Robyn Earhart is a third year MFA candidate in creative nonfiction. She is currently the assistant managing editor at WSR and an associate editor with Runestone Review, Hamline’s national online undergrad journal. Robyn enjoys learning through close study and observations of human behavior and elements in the natural world.