SAS25 SCHEDULE
SAINTS + SINNERS XXII
Registration available here for full weekend, day passes, and party passes.
Friday, March 28
10—11:15 AM—SAS Writer’s Craft
BETWEEN MEMOIR AND FICTION—DONNA MINKOWITZ
Many writers have a hard time deciding whether memoir or fiction is the better vessel to carry their own deepest narratives. What if they didn’t have to choose? More and more, writers are finding a beautiful blend between memoir and fiction. These meaningful stories benefit from both the magical toolkit of fiction as well as the personal identification and intense emotion of memoir writing. In this workshop, we will discover the beauty that comes from fusing fiction and memoir writing. Donna Minkowitz is the author of the autofiction novel Donnaville, the magical realist memoir Growing Up Golem, and the Lammy-award-winning memoir Ferocious Romance.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B. Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25.
Friday, March 28
10—11:15 AM—SAS Writer’s Craft
FROM FLAT TO FULL: WRITING FULLY-FORMED ANTAGONISTS AND MINOR CHARACTERS—REINE DUGAS
Creating a protagonist who has a history, depth, and a vibe is easy—they’re the main character, after all! But all too often, our antagonists (or villains) are one-note and become caricatures. Minor characters can become cliché or flat if we ignore them. This workshop will give writers shortcuts on how to make their antagonists and minor characters as alive, diverse, and vibrant as their main characters, even if they often have less time on the page. Through a combination of prewriting and revision exercises, participants will learn techniques for character development that take their characters from flat to full.
Reine Dugas is an English professor at Southeastern Louisiana University. When not writing, she’s the assistant editor of Louisiana Literature and editor of the magazines, Louisiana Life and Acadiana Profile.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C. Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25.
Friday, March 28
10 AM—12 PM—*pre-registration required
PITCH SESSIONS WITH AMBLE PRESS
Amble Press’s former Managing Editor, Eric Peterson, will be meeting with authors at SAS2025. The press has been publishing for five years as an imprint of Bywater Books. Amble seeks to publish fiction and narrative nonfiction by queer writers, with a primary, though not exclusive, focus on writers of color who tell stories with contemporary resonance. Eric will forward pitches of high interest to Amble’s new Managing Editor, Orlando Ortega-Medina and Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Salem West. To set up an appointment with Amble Press, contact Eric Peterson at: eastendboy7@gmail.com and include PITCH in the subject line.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal A
Friday, March 28
11:30 AM—12:45 PM-SAS Writer’s Craft
WRITING QUEER POEMS: THE POWER OF “THINGNESS”—JOAN LARKIN
Two of our queer ancestors, Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson, didn’t agree on much, but both were firmly rooted in the conviction that poetry speaks to us through our bodies. An essential part of any poet’s work is to find the details that evoke an object, person, or place with exactness. In this workshop, we’ll look closely at some LGBTQ+ poems that enter into story and deep feeling through a particular object or group of objects, often with a dive into greater emotional intensity. We’ll explore this process at work with such poets as Judy Grahn, Eduardo Corral, Audre Lorde, Thom Gunn, and Joy Ladin. We’ll extend the notion of “thingness” to include memorable sensory images other than those that are simply visual. Participants will write something new in response to prompts sparked by the examples we’ve discussed. Whether you are new to poetry or widely published, this generative workshop will free and refresh your practice, igniting work in your own inimitable voice.
Joan Larkin’s sixth book of poems, Old Stranger, was published in August by Alice James Books. She received the Poetry Society of America’s Shelley Memorial Award.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B. Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25.
Friday, March 28
11:30 AM—12:45 PM—SAS Writer’s Craft
POINT OF VIEW—TREBOR HEALEY
How do you decide which point of view is the correct one to carry your story? Finding the right POV can take a story to a higher level when explored and rendered in the proper voice. In this session, we’ll ask: what are the benefits of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd POV, both limited and omniscient? How do they differ? Is the emotionality of 1st person more important than its unreliability? Is the omniscience of the 3rd person problematic for sketching out the interiority of characters and their conflicts? Each story has a different answer to these very pertinent questions, and it behooves a writer to reflect on them. We’ll do some exercises and likely have some breakthroughs by exploring our stories through different views.
Trebor Healey teaches creative writing for UCLA and has authored several award-winning novels, a recent novella and numerous short story collections.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C. Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25.
Friday, March 28
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM—*pre-registration required
PITCH SESSION WITH MCFARLAND PUBLISHING
McFarland Publishing has recently partnered with Clayton Delery, who will be General Editor of a new nonfiction book series titled LGBT+ In America. This series seeks to highlight the queer experience, with preference given to topics involving life outside of major east and west coast cities. Clayton will review pitches and proposals at SAS 2025 and forward promising ones to McFarland for recommended inclusion in the series. For more information on McFarland Publishing, visit mcfarlandbooks.com. Anyone wanting to schedule a pitch meeting with Clayton should email him at claytondelery@yahoo.com.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
Friday, March 28
12:15—2:15 PM—*pre-registration required
PITCH SESSIONS WITH RATTLING GOOD YARNS PRESS
Rattling Good Yarns Press managing publisher, Ian Henzel, will be meeting with authors at SAS2025. RGYP is looking for fiction, novels, story collections, and nonfiction, including but not limited to history and memoirs. No poetry or plays. They are most interested in unusual perspectives on topics of interest to the LGBTQ+ community. To schedule a pitch appointment, contact Ian Henzel at ian.henzel@rattlinggoodyarns.com. Pitches will be for possible 2026 publication. For more information about Rattling Good Yarns and online submission guidelines, visit: rattlinggoodyarns.com/submissions/
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal A
Friday, March 28
1—2:15 PM—SAS Writer’s Craft
AUTHENTIC REPRESENTATION OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN FICTION—KATE SEGRIFF
This interactive workshop will explore the complex portrayal of mental illness in fiction through group discussion and analysis of published works of fiction. Participants will examine excerpts from both historical and contemporary novels to analyze how mental health is depicted across genres and time periods. In this workshop, we will consider questions about the writer’s responsibility when representing mental illness and how such portrayals can shape societal perceptions. We will examine stereotypes, the fine line between humor and sensitivity, and how to create a complex character with a mental health diagnosis. Kate Segriff is an award-winning writer and filmmaker whose debut collection of short stories, Animals in Captivity, was published in 2024. She is a medical doctor who works in primary mental health care, palliative care, and urgent care.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B. Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25.
Friday, March 28
1—2:15 PM—SAS Writer’s Craft
THINKING CINEMATICALLY—ELISABETH NONAS
Screenwriters face the unique challenge of creating visual representations for abstract ideas and emotions. They must use minimal description and dialogue to make readers of their scripts see a movie as they read. Through exercises and examples, participants of this workshop will learn to think cinematically in a way that can serve as a valuable tool for writers of prose and poetry. Elisabeth Nonas is a novelist and screenwriter. She taught screenwriting and writing for emerging media at Ithaca College for twenty-five years. Her most recent novel, Grace Period, was published in 2024. She is currently working on a sequel.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C. Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25
Friday, March 28
2:30—3:45 PM—SAS Writer’s Craft
KISS YOUR DARLINGS: AN EDITOR ADVISES YOU TO ABANDON ALL ADVICE—TIMOTHY SCHAFFERT
Maybe you’ve followed the classic maxim and killed so many of your darlings, you can’t find a pulse in your latest draft. In this interactive session, bring your questions, your assumptions, your anxieties, and we’ll explore what happens when we shut out the exterior voices and listen for our own. But what voices, exactly, are acquiring editors listening for, and how should that influence our writing? We’ll discuss the editor’s role in publishing, past and present, art vs. commerce, and storytelling vs. style. Timothy Schaffert is Director of Creative Writing and founder/co-editor of Zero Street, the LGBTQ+ fiction series at the University of Nebraska Press. He is the Author of seven novels with the latest being the national bestseller The Titanic Survivors Book Club and The Perfume Thief, both from Doubleday/Penguin Random House.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B. Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25
Friday, March 28
2:30—3:45 PM—SAS Writer’s Craft
EROTICA LAID BARE: PUTTING PASSION ON THE PAGE—JERRY L. WHEELER
Do you stumble and fumble when writing sex scenes? You’re not alone, but your characters don’t have to remain eternally chaste. Join erotica writer and editor Jerry L. Wheeler in some guided writing, where you’ll create a perfect seven-line paragraph of erotica using your senses. You’ll learn his method to writing engaging seduction or you’ll receive prompts to get you in the mood…to write. Bring your boldest creative self and something to write with and get ready to lose your inhibitions on the page. Wheeler is the editor of seven anthologies of gay erotica for Bold Strokes Books, Wilde City Press, and other publishers. His own collection of short fiction and essays, Strawberries and Other Erotic Fruits was shortlisted for the Lambda Literary Award.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C. Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25
Friday, March 28
2:30—4:30 PM—*pre-registration required
PITCH SESSIONS WITH REBEL SATORI PRESS
Rebel Satori Press’s publisher, Sven Davisson, and Tom Cardamone, TLOHC imprint curator, will be meeting with authors at SAS2025. The press has been publishing for more than two decades and has more than 200 titles with many more in development. The editors are looking for book-length literary fiction, single-author collections of poetry, speculative fiction, or occult/spiritual nonfiction from talented LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC authors. Contact publisher, Sven Davisson at: svendavisson@rebelsatori.com to schedule your pitch! Pitches will be for possible 2026 or 2027 publication. For more information about Rebel Satori Press visit: https://www.rebelsatoripress.com
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal A
Friday, March 28
6:30—8:30 PM
GLITTER WITH THE LITERATI
Welcome Party
Come experience true Southern hospitality in the beautiful courtyard of the Historic BK House. Mingle with fellow writers and avid readers as you begin your evening in the French Quarter at this historical landmark. We’ll have hors d’oeuvres, spirits, and a specialty cocktail to get you started. Melodic stylings of Tsarina Hellfire and Stanley Roy will add to the ambience, plus Tarot for Tips with readings by Moonbear Aguilar & Jacob Budenz. Thank you to our venue sponsor, BK Historic House and Gardens!
Historic BK House & Gardens, 1113 Chartres Street. Included with Weekend Pass/Partner Party Pass or $25
Saturday, March 29
10—11:15 AM—Literary Discussion
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: HOW WRITERS NURTURE THEIR WRITING HABIT
How do writers get themselves to write? Our intrepid panelists will share their strategies for dealing with the art/craft/joy/ special hell that is getting their ideas onto the page. What secrets will they reveal about their process? What, if any, practices/rituals/ techniques might they have in common? How do they handle fear/ anxiety about writing? How do they prioritize time to write? What tools do they use to get out of ruts? Speaking of tools—computer or pen/ pencil and paper? Join us for the answers to these and other writerly questions in what promises to be a lively discussion.
Panelists: Jonathan Alexander, Michael Cunningham, Jewelle Gomez, Joan Larkin, and Donna Minkowitz
Moderator: Elisabeth Nonas
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
Saturday, March 29
10—11:15 AM—Literary Discussion
FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHT TO READ: PUBLISHING LGBTQ+ TITLES IN 2025
In this panel, an esteemed group of publishers will offer their insights on the challenges, goals, and objectives of queer-focused publishers and editors in an increasingly difficult political and commercial environment. In their efforts to represent an increasingly embattled demographic, how do queer publishers select titles and material that serve to educate, inform and support the wider LGBTQ+ community and its interests? When queer titles are suppressed, how do they navigate marketing and book launches? Do queer publishers face higher expectations and greater responsibility than other publishers? In addition, we’ll discuss how recent technological advances and changes might serve the LGBTQ+ publishing industry, whether via podcasts and virtual book tours or through making constructive and selective use of AI and the ever-expanding social media landscape.
Panelists: Louis Flint Ceci, Sven Davisson, Ian Henzel, Miah Jeffra, and Timothy Schaffert
Moderator: Clayton Delery
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
Saturday, March 29
11:30 AM—12:45 PM—Literary Discussion
MAKE ‘EM LAUGH
The old cliché holds that laughter is the best medicine—and sometimes, all you CAN do is laugh. But how does one incorporate humor into their work, especially when the work is meant to be taken seriously? But when times are hard, the ability to find joy becomes even more crucial. What is more joyous than laughter? Join us for a lively discussion on the importance of humor, and how to incorporate it seamlessly into your work.
Panelists: Dale Corvino, St Sukie de la Croix, Eric Peterson, and Genevieve Rheams
Moderator: William Christy Smith
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
Saturday, March 29
11:30 AM—12:45 PM—Literary Discussion
LIGHTING THE CANDLES ONE BY ONE—QUEER WITCHCRAFT
Witchcraft has a varied and rich history, with a multiplicity of traditions, many of which are boldly queer. From seminal works by Arthur Evans and Starhawk to contemporary treatments of the subject by the authors on this panel, there is a well-established and growing canon of queer letters dealing with witchcraft, sorcery, mysticism and the occult. In this panel, we will explore witchcraft’s unique approach to spirituality, feminism, queerness, gender, political activism, community and ultimately the larger human experience. We will delve into chaos magic, our common and varied pagan roots, and all aspects and practices of this empowering earth-centered approach to spirituality and human community. Finally, we’ll encourage discussion around questions such as: What are the challenges for writers in this genre, or for those producing work from this more radical perspective on queer life, experience and meaning? And where might such writers find publishers and opportunities to share their work?
Panelists: Jacob Budenz, Sven Davisson, Jason Ezell, and Jewelle Gomez
Moderator: Trebor Healey
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
Saturday, March 29
11:30 AM—12:45 PM—SAS Writer’s Craft
COLLAGE YOURSELF INTO A STORY—PENELOPE STARR
A lot of writers have difficulty finding their next story. Maybe you have an idea but not the characters, or conversely, the characters are haunting you, but you don’t know what to do with them. Participants in this workshop will find inspiration, tap into their intuition, and exercise their imaginations using simple SoulCollage® techniques combined with writing exercises. Absolutely no art experience is necessary, and all supplies will be provided. Please bring something to write with, your willingness to learn new techniques, and your enthusiasm to explore a new approach to an old problem. Penelope Starr is the author of the novel Desert Haven and The Radical Act of Community Storytelling: Empowering Voices in Uncensored Events. She is a certified SoulCollage® facilitator. Penelope often combines aspects of SoulCollage® techniques in her innovative writing and storytelling workshops.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal A. Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25.
Saturday, March 29
11:30 AM—12:45 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Eric Andrews-Katz, Doc McLemore, Daniel Meltz, Sean Patrick Mulroy, Ruben Quesada, Kirsten Reneau, and Kara Zajac for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
Saturday, March 29
1—2:15 PM—Literary Discussion
FICTION VS. NONFICTION: JUST THE FACTS
This panel—composed of authors who write both fiction and nonfiction—looks at the differences, similarities and complex relationship between these two types of storytelling. What are the tools and requirements of each genre? Why choose one over the other? In an age when the border between truth and falsehood has been profoundly blurred, does the distinction between fiction and nonfiction even matter anymore? Or does it matter more than ever?
Panelists: Brian Alessandro, Robert W. Fieseler, Dale Corvino, and Kara Zajac
Moderator: Doc McLemore
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
Saturday, March 29
1—2:15 PM—Literary Discussion
CELEBRATING RFD’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY
RFD, the oldest reader-written quarterly for gay people in the US that focuses on country living and encourages alternative lifestyles, began publication in 1974. Long associated with the Radical Faerie Movement, the journal has made important contributions towards liberating the consciousness of our communities and forging connections for those living in rural isolation. Two former poetry editors of the journal (Franklin Abbott and Steven Riel) and a librarian (Jason Ezell) who researches the regional gay liberationist movement that gave birth to RFD will discuss the history and aims of the journal and share some of the best poetry published in its pages.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
Saturday, March 29
1—2:15 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Jonathan Alexander, Tom Cardamone, John Copenhaver, Anne Laughlin, R.J. Lee, Elisabeth Nonas, and Gary Zebrun for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
Saturday, March 29
2:30—3:45 PM—Literary Discussion
INSIDE THE WRITER’S STUDIO: THE ART OF THE INTERVIEW & HOW TO PRESERVE OUR HISTORY
If, as writers, activists, and advocates, we stand on the shoulders of all those who came before us, it is our first responsibility to know who they were in their own words and the words of those who knew them up close. Eric Andrews-Katz will facilitate this session of the Writer’s Studio talking with two extraordinary interviewers about their craft. From 2021-2024, Brian Alessandro conducted 65 one-hour live-streamed interviews with actors, writers, filmmakers, journalists, dancers, and designers for Queens Public Library’s Culture Connection series. Such guests included Joyce Carol Oates, Ira Sachs, Linus Roache, AM Homes, Andre Aciman, Hua Hsu, and Hernan Diaz, among many others. For Fever Spores: The Queer Reclamation of William S. Burroughs, Brian interviewed Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, Samuel R Delany, David Cronenberg, Fran Lebowitz, Tony Kushner, and Legs McNeil. Frank Pizzoli was named a Living Legend as part of Pennsylvania’s capital city Harrisburg’s sesquicentennial celebrations. His collection, Passionate Outlier: Gay Writers and Allies on Their Work, contains interviews with the surviving members of the Violet Quill: Edmund White, Andrew Holleran and Felice Picano, as well as conversations with John Rechy, Christopher Bram, Martin Duberman, and other voices from the annals of queer history and literature. Pizzoli currently writes for The Village Voice and Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal Salon
Saturday, March 29
2:30—3:45 PM—Literary Discussion
CREATING COMMUNITY AROUND BOOKS
Books have the power to inspire empathy and connection. In a world where people can feel disconnected and isolated, books can offer a reader comfort, strength, and affirmation. Our participants will discuss programs designed to use the written word to bring people together. They’ll talk about book banning and actionable ways to fight censorship and foster community, especially in queer spaces. They’ll go into the challenges of bringing queer literature to rural and remote spaces, and how it’s more important than ever to share LGBTQ+ stories and voices. As the director and founder, Becka Robbins will discuss the work of her organization Books Not Bans, and Rattling Good Yarns publisher Ian Henzel will present information about the Independent Book Publishers Association regarding the work with LGBTQ+ authors and presses. Nikki Ummel will talk about the community created by LMNL, an arts organization focused on readings, workshops, and residencies. There will be time for Q&A with our presenters and an opportunity for you to briefly share your efforts in building a literary community. Moderated by library professional William Christy Smith.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
Saturday, March 29
2:30—3:45 PM—Literary Discussion
LGBTQ IN APPALACHIA
Southern Appalachia is a region fraught with stereotypes, but it is also home to many thriving LGBTQ writers. On this panel, Cynthia Burack, co-editor of SUNY Press’s Queer Politics and Cultures series, will discuss Allison E. Carey’s Doubly Erased, the first scholarly examination of LGBTQ literature in Appalachia; Savannah Sipple will read from WWJD and Other Poems; Julia Watts will read from her most recent novel, Lovesick Blossoms; Jeff Mann will read from the second edition of his memoir, Loving Mountains, Loving Men; and Mann and Watts will discuss their first-of-its-kind anthology, LGBT Fiction and Poetry from Appalachia.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
Saturday, March 29
2:30—3:45 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Ben Fluet, Vinny Cuzenza, Natalie Rose Gove, Glen Peters, Robert Raasch, Steven Riel, and Jerry L. Wheeler for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
Saturday, March 29
4—5:15 PM—Literary Discussion
GENERATIONAL CHANGE IN GAY CULTURE AND LITERATURE
In the 50+ years since Stonewall, the queer community has produced an enduring body of literature. From coming out to AIDS and marriage, the gay novel has reflected changes in the culture, as each generation confronts new challenges and charts its own path. But what of the elders, the ones who are still around but no longer on the cutting edge of societal evolution? This panel will explore aging in the gay community, as reflected in our literature. As we age, we must deal not only with the loss of our own touchstones, but the creation of new ones by a younger generation we may not fully understand. How does that dynamic affect generational connection, and how does it work in our stories? In a broader sense, how have our older generations navigated the path from the power of youth to the invisibility of middle age, and finally the wisdom of elders?
Panelists: Cynthia Burack, Tom Cardamone, Lewis DeSimone, Miah Jeffra, and Gary Zebrun.
Moderator: David Pratt
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
Saturday, March 29
4—5:15 PM—Poetry Readings and Discussion
TO BE YOUNG, GIFTED, QUEER, AND BLACK
Inspired by Donny Hathaway’s song “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black,” this panel explores the work of four young, gifted, queer, and Black poets who are working towards their first collection. We’ll hear some of their poems, and poet Karisma Price will facilitate a discussion about their personal inspirations, influences, and challenges. Plus, they’ll discuss how they situate themselves within Black queer poetics and what is at stake in contemporary poetry and society at large.
Panelists: Christian Lee, Penda Smith, Malik Thompson, and Ashley Young.
Moderator: Karisma Price
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
Saturday, March 29
4—5:15 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Brian Alessandro, Robert W. Fieseler, Trebor Healey, Jeffrey Round, Kate Segriff, and Ery Shin for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
Saturday, March 29
6:30—7:45 PM
SAS FICTION CONTEST READING
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
See page 16 for more details
Join this year’s contest runner-up David Pratt “Our Finest Gifts,” along with finalists John Copenhaver, Lewis DeSimone, Alfred P. Doblin, Miah Jeffra, and Tom Semmes for an evening of cocktails and readings from the Saints and Sinners 2025: New Fiction from the Festival hosted by Co-editor Morgan Hufstader with comments from our finalist judge Greg Herren. Audience members receive a copy of the new anthology created from our 2025 Short Fiction Contest.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal Salon. Included with Weekend Pass/Partner Party Pass or $25
Sunday, March 30
10—11:15 AM—Literary Discussion
POETS RESPOND DURING TROUBLED TIMES
Come listen to four gifted and award-winning poets discuss how the current political climate deeply affects their work. Weaving in examples from their recent publications, they’ll describe how they marshal the power of poetry to address anti-LGBTQIA+ oppression. Panelists will also draw our attention to poems, including those by queer writers, that they turn to for inspiration and grounding in troubled times.
Panelists: KB Brookins, Margot Douaihy, Sean Patrick Mulroy, and Ruben Quesada
Moderator: Steven Riel
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
Sunday, March 30
10—11:15 AM—Literary Discussion
THE DEBONAIRE DEBUT
There is nothing more exciting and challenging than publishing a first novel. For some authors, their first novel is the culmination of many years’ hard work. For others, it can be sudden. Regardless, the experience can also be fraught and complicated. In this panel, our featured debut novelists will discuss how they got to this magical moment, and what they felt was essential in the process. Panelists will discuss how they acquired an agent and offer their advice on how to decide between a small press, big press, or self-publish. Questions we’ll explore will include: When does a writer know when a novel is truly ready for publication? What are the various strategies writers pursue to reach publication? What marketing strategies should an author be savvy to? And finally, how much support can one expect from one’s publisher? We’ll have a rigorous Q&A so that writers working on their first novels can benefit from a forum of folks with relevant and insightful commentary on the process.
Panelists: Robert Bruegmann, Daniel Meltz, Glen Peters, Robert Raasch, and Ery Shin
Moderator: Trebor Healey.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
Sunday, March 30
10—11:15 AM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Kate Castle, Dale Corvino, Lewis DeSimone, Jeff Mann, Richard Compson Sater, and Penelope Starr for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
Sunday, March 30
11:30 AM—12:45 PM—Literary Discussion
THE PLEASURES AND IMPORTANCE OF QUEER GENRE FICTION DURING A TIME OF ASCENDANT FACISM
Queer and trans stories have always been important to our communities. They provide evidence to each other, and the world, that we are not alone, and that our lives and loves are as complex, rewarding, challenging, and fulfilling as any other. Even more, from romances to speculative narratives, from mysteries to even horror, queer genre fiction not only provides evidence of our ongoing presence in the world, but also delights, entertains, and comforts at times of stress, anxiety, and concern. Especially at a time of re-emerging fascism, such stories are poised to assume even more importance in our communities. This panel celebrates the work of writers across multiple sub-genres of queer story.
Panelists: Laurinda D. Brown, Kate Castle, John Copenhaver, Greg Herren, and Jerry L. Wheeler
Moderator: Johnathan Alexander
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
Sunday, March 30
11:30 AM—12:45 PM—Literary Discussion
FINDING YOUR MUSE IN LGBTQ HISTORY AND CULTURE
Just as writers have created a vast body of work in the history and culture of the LGBTQ community, other writers have been transforming that work into memorable, moving fiction. Emma Copley Eisenberg draws on the life of American photographer Berenice Abbott in her thought-provoking debut novel, Housemates. Jeff Mann has returned time and again to his native Appalachian culture to create a considerable body of work in both fiction and nonfiction. Rob Osler sets his debut novel, The Case of the Missing Maid, in 19th century Chicago. And Timothy Schaffert has written about Paris in its heyday in The Perfume Thief, and the glamorous era of the Titanic, in The Titanic Survivors Bookclub. Finally, J.M. Redmann‘s Micky Knight novels are a long-running chronicle of the lesbian community in New Orleans. These writers discuss their creative choices in making an era come alive and impart its lessons to the reader.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
Sunday, March 30
11:30 AM—12:45 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Peter Covino, Rob Byrnes, Alfred P. Doblin, Jan Edwards Hemming, Donna Minkowitz, Kay Murphy, and Carol Rosenfeld for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
Sunday, March 30
11:30 AM – 2 PM—Culinary
THE LAST BOHEMIA PRESENTS:
A DRAG BRUNCH NAMED DESIRE
STELLAAA! IT’S TIME FOR DRAG BRUNCH!
Step into the drama and decadence of the Tennessee Williams Festival Drag Brunch, where the mimosas are bottomless, the performances are electrifying, and the food is as rich as Blanche DuBois’ taste in men! Join New Orleans drag royalty, Debbie with a D, Kozmik, and Vantasia Divine, for a high-energy show paired with a three-course brunch inspired by Poppy Tooker’s Drag Brunch Cookbook.
FIRST COURSE – Crabmeat Cheesecake: pecan crust, mushroom sauté, Creole Meunière sauce, Gulf crab claws
SECOND COURSE – choice of Grits & Grillades: slow simmered pork cutlets, Creole tomato gravy, creamy stone ground grits OR Pain Perdu: Creole style French toast, fresh berries, Louisiana cane syrup drizzle
THIRD COURSE – Tarte à la Bouillie: rustic Cajun sweet dough, vanilla custard, Old New Orleans rum caramel sauce
Plus, Bottomless Mimosas!
Dickie Brennan’s Tableau, 616 Saint Peter Street, Brunch & Show $120 inclusive of tax & gratuity. Not included in Weekend registration. Tickets available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-drag-brunch-named-desire-tickets-1252283195749.
Sunday, March 30
1—2:15 PM—Literary Discussion
DANGEROUS LIAISONS: WRITING ABOUT SEX, LOVE, AND ITS FORBIDDEN HISTORY
Everyone loves a good love story: the meet-cute, the tortured longing, and the hard-won love and acceptance. In this panel, four authors explore the complexities of queer love stories when loving another often means loving one’s self, too. They’ll delve into how to create romances with historical, cultural, and social context in mind. Plus, they’ll discuss how writing and reading real, complicated, and fearless LGBTQ+ love stories can be a healing and revolutionary act in itself.
Panelists: R.J. Lee, Jeffrey Round, Richard Compson Sator, and Julia Watts
Moderator: Kara Zajac
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
Sunday, March 30
1—2:15 PM—Literary Discussion
PRESERVATION IS RESISTANCE: RECOVERING AIDS TEXTS, MEMOIR, POETRY, AND THE ART OF THE INTERVIEW—ACTS OF REMEMBERANCE AND DEFIANCE
Writers and editors gather to discuss the necessity of preserving, translating, and promoting works by authors who recorded their experience during the onset of the AIDS holocaust. The significance of memoir, poetry, and interviewing creatives and activists will be discussed, all to highlight the importance of keeping our history in print, front and center, to ensure that the reading public can know our stories and that younger generations can access roadmaps to community-building, art-making and, most-importantly, resilience in the face of renewed adversity.
Panelists: Peter Covino, Jewelle Gomez, James Nolan, and Frank Pizzoli
Moderator: Tom Cardamone
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
Sponsored by the Bruce J. Heim Foundation.
Sunday, March 30
1—2:15 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Ezra Adamo, KB Brookins, Emma Copley Eisenberg, Joan Larkin, Rob Osler, and J.M. Redmann, and Savannah Sipple for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
Sunday, March 30
2:30—3:45 PM—Literary Discussion
SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF CHARACTER
Sam Spade. Lew Archer. Kinsey Millhone. Henry Rios. Micky Knight. Crime fiction has always been strongly character-driven; everyone remembers the name of the great characters created by crime writers. Join us as our glittering panel of critically acclaimed and award winning crime writers talk about the creation of character, its importance to setting and story, and connecting with the reader. Even if you’re not a crime writer, come join these masters of character and pick up some tips on how to make yours memorable, engaging, and relatable.
Panelists: John Copenhaver, Anne Laughlin, Rob Osler, Jeffrey Round, and Gary Zebrun.
Moderator: Dan White
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
Sunday, March 30
2:30—3:45 PM—Special Event
“TWO OR THREE THINGS I KNOW FOR SURE”—A TRIBUTE READING FOR DOROTHY ALLISON
“The horror of class stratification, racism, and prejudice is that some people begin to believe that the security of their families and communities depends on the oppression of others, that for some to have good lives there must be others whose lives are truncated and brutal.”—Dorothy Allison, Skin, Firebrand Books, 1994.
Dorothy Allison was a queer icon for decades and also one of our community’s brightest lights and strongest voices. Dorothy stood as a beacon of hope and wisdom, which she shared with the world in her writing. Raised as a bastard out of Carolina, Dorothy fiercely fought against stigma and shame, and fought for the underprivileged. Her work brilliantly explored the connections and intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality. She was also a longtime supporter and friend of Saints & Sinners, was in our first Hall of Fame class of Literary Saints, and participated whenever she was able. It’s almost impossible to imagine Saints and Sinners without Dorothy. She was also a favorite TWFest speaker, loved for her honesty, quick humor, and solid advice for aspiring writers. We hope you will join us for this tribute reading for a lesbian literary legend. Hosted by Jewelle Gomez, with additional readings by Patricia Brady, Greg Herren, Thomas Keith, Susan Larson, and Elisabeth Nonas.
Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom
Sunday, March 30
2:30—3:45 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Laurinda D. Brown, Robert Bruegmann, Louis Flint Ceci, Sven Davisson, St Sukie de la Croix, T.J. Fury and James Nolan and for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
Sunday, March 30
4—6 PM—Special Event
CLOSING RECEPTION
Finish out the Festival by joining us as we honor outstanding members of our literary community. Wrap up the weekend with old and new friends, and pass one more good time at the Saints and Sinners LGBTQ+ Literary Festival. We’ll introduce the honorees of our 11th annual Saints and Sinners Emerging Writer Award generously sponsored by Rob Byrnes.This award acknowledges an exceptional debut work or an author establishing a body of work propelling them to the next stage of their literary career. We’ll also induct this year’s members into the Saints and Sinners Hall of Fame given to individuals who share their passion for our literary community through various avenues, including writing, performing, promotion, publishing, editing, teaching, bookselling, and volunteerism. And we’ll hear from some of our 2025 Poetry Contest finalists read from their winning entries and have copies of our 2025 Saints and Sinners Poetry Contest Anthology available as a gift to everyone at the closing reception.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal Salon. Included with Weekend Pass/Partner Party Pass or $25