2017 Season - Stories on Stage Sacramento
February 24, 2017
Steve Almond (“Donkey Greedy, Donkey Gets Punched”) with Debra Meltvedt (“It Was So Hot")
Blair Leatherwood reads "Donkey Greedy, Donkey Gets Punched" by Steve Almond VIDEO (pending)
Jessica Laskey reads "It Was So Hot" by Debra Meltvedt VIDEO (pending)
Blog post with author and performer bios
April 28, 2017
Deborah Willis (The Dark and Other Love Stories) with Robert Dorjath ("A Parable of Fausto Bruzzesi")
Lori Russo reads "The Ark" from The Dark and Other Love Stories by Deborah Willis VIDEO (pending)
Ethan Ireland reads "A Parable of Fausto Bruzzesi" by Robert Dorjath VIDEO (pending)
Ethan Ireland reads Robert Dorjath on Insight AUDIO (19 minutes)
Blog post with author and performer bios
June 30, 2017
Vanessa Hua (Deceit and Other Possibilities) and Josh Barkan (Mexico)
Hock G. Tjoa reads "The Older the Ginger" from Deceit and Other Possibilities VIDEO (pending)
Berman Obaldia reads "The Chef and El Chapo" from Mexico by Josh Barkan VIDEO (pending)
Vanessa Hua in conversation with Insight's Beth Ruyak AUDIO (15 minutes)
Blog post with author and performer bios
October 27, 2017
Josh Weil (The Age of Perpetual Light) with Peggi Wood ("A Viewing")
Blair Underwood reads "The Point of Roughness" from The Age of Perpetual Light by Josh Weil
Ethan Ireland reads "A Viewing" by Peggi Wood
Blog post with author and performer bios
Steve Almond (“Donkey Greedy, Donkey Gets Punched”) with Debra Meltvedt (“It Was So Hot")
Blair Leatherwood reads "Donkey Greedy, Donkey Gets Punched" by Steve Almond VIDEO (pending)
Jessica Laskey reads "It Was So Hot" by Debra Meltvedt VIDEO (pending)
Blog post with author and performer bios
April 28, 2017
Deborah Willis (The Dark and Other Love Stories) with Robert Dorjath ("A Parable of Fausto Bruzzesi")
Lori Russo reads "The Ark" from The Dark and Other Love Stories by Deborah Willis VIDEO (pending)
Ethan Ireland reads "A Parable of Fausto Bruzzesi" by Robert Dorjath VIDEO (pending)
Ethan Ireland reads Robert Dorjath on Insight AUDIO (19 minutes)
Blog post with author and performer bios
June 30, 2017
Vanessa Hua (Deceit and Other Possibilities) and Josh Barkan (Mexico)
Hock G. Tjoa reads "The Older the Ginger" from Deceit and Other Possibilities VIDEO (pending)
Berman Obaldia reads "The Chef and El Chapo" from Mexico by Josh Barkan VIDEO (pending)
Vanessa Hua in conversation with Insight's Beth Ruyak AUDIO (15 minutes)
Blog post with author and performer bios
October 27, 2017
Josh Weil (The Age of Perpetual Light) with Peggi Wood ("A Viewing")
Blair Underwood reads "The Point of Roughness" from The Age of Perpetual Light by Josh Weil
Ethan Ireland reads "A Viewing" by Peggi Wood
Blog post with author and performer bios
2016 Season - Stories on Stage Sacramento
Maceo Montoya (You Must Fight Them) with Anne Seitz da Vigo ("Jerusalem Stone")
Steve Buri reads "The Twins" from You Must Fight Them by Maceo Montoya VIDEO (36 minutes)
Gay Cooper reads "Jerusalem Stone" by Anne Seitz da Vigo VIDEO (35 minutes)
Author Maceo Montoya in conversation with Insight's Beth Ruyak AUDIO (10 Minutes)
Link to Facebook Post
Link to Facebook Post
February 26 – Anthony Marra, Laurie Doyle. Readers: Ethan Connor Ireland and Tara Henry. Stories: “The Grozny Tourist Bureau” from The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra, “Or Best Offer” by Laurie Doyle.
Tara Henry reads Or Best Offer by Laurie Ann Doyle
Ethan Ireland reads The Grozny Tourist Bureau by Anthony Marra
Link to blog post
Anthony Marra on Insight with Beth Ruyak
March 25 – Vendela Vida, excerpt from The Diver’s Clothes Lie Empty. Emerging writer: JL Cooper, short story “Path of the Ground Birds.”
April 29 – Kim Stanley Robinson, excerpt from Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson. Emerging writer: Andy Stewart, short story “Typhoid Jack”
May 27 – Lori Ostlund and Anne Raeff. Stories: excerpt from After the Parade by Lori Ostlund and a story from Anne Raeff’s collection The Jungle Around Us, winner of this year’s Flannery O’Connor award.
June 24 – Mary Volmer, no emerging writer selected. Stories: an excerpt from Mary’s new novel Reliance, Illinois
July 29 –Maureen O’Leary, The Ghost Daughter (pub July 2016)
August 26 – Jodi Angel and students. Coordinated by Ruth Blank
September 30 – The Los Rios Writers – the best short fiction from the four community college literary magazines. Four writers will be featured. Laurie Rivkin Heller coordinating.
October 28 – Bonnie Jo Campbell and Kristin Fitzpatrick, former “emerging writer” Stories: a selection from her debut short story collection My Pulse is an Earthquake, published by West Virginia University Press. Working on getting Bonnie Jo Campbell here also, in which case Kristin would not be the headliner, but I don’t think she’d mind!
2016 Stories on Stage Sacramento, Season 7
January 29, Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento
Writer, painter, and UC Davis professor Maceo Montoya with a reading from his new collection You Must Fight Them.
February 26, Verge Center for the Arts, 625 S Street, Sacramento
Anthony Marra with a reading from his much-praised new short story collection The Tsar of Love and Techno. With Laurie Doyle
March 25, Sacramento Poetry Center
Bay area author Vendela Vida with a reading from her much-praised novel The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty. With Sacramento author JL Cooper. Readings by Lori Russo and Matt Rives
April 29, Verge Center for the Arts
Stories on Stage Sacramento's first science fiction event, with one of the nation's most acclaimed writers in that genre, Kim Stanley Robinson. With up-and-coming science fiction writer and Davis resident Andy Stewart.
May 27, Sacramento Poetry Center
An amazing double bill of Lori Ostlund (After the Parade) and Anne Raeff (winner of the 2015 Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction).
June 24, Sacramento Poetry Center
Mary Volmer with a reading from her new novel Reliance, Illinois, with Jordan Fisher-Smith and a reading from his new book, Engineering Eden.
July 29, 2016, Sacramento Poetry Center
Maureen O'Leary with a reading from her new novel Ghost Daughter
Krista Minard with a reading of her short story "Resurgence"
August 26, at the Auditorium at CLARA, the E. Clare Raley Center for the Performing Arts,
Jodi Angel and students. New work from one of Sacramento's premier writers, plus work from her many talented students. Student work by: Juliette Kelley, Diane Kallas, Sue Staats
September 30, Verge Center for the Arts
The Los Rios Writers: Four of the best stories from the literary journals from the four Los Rios Community College campuses. Bojana Anglin,
October 28, Sacramento Poetry Center
Bonnie Jo Campbell with a reading from her acclaimed short story collection Mothers, Tell Your Daughters
Former emerging writer Kristin Fitzpatrick with a reading from her debut short story collection My Pulse Is An Earthquake.
Kelley Ogden
Tara Henry
Steve Buri reads "The Twins" from You Must Fight Them by Maceo Montoya VIDEO (36 minutes)
Gay Cooper reads "Jerusalem Stone" by Anne Seitz da Vigo VIDEO (35 minutes)
Author Maceo Montoya in conversation with Insight's Beth Ruyak AUDIO (10 Minutes)
Link to Facebook Post
Link to Facebook Post
February 26 – Anthony Marra, Laurie Doyle. Readers: Ethan Connor Ireland and Tara Henry. Stories: “The Grozny Tourist Bureau” from The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra, “Or Best Offer” by Laurie Doyle.
Tara Henry reads Or Best Offer by Laurie Ann Doyle
Ethan Ireland reads The Grozny Tourist Bureau by Anthony Marra
Link to blog post
Anthony Marra on Insight with Beth Ruyak
March 25 – Vendela Vida, excerpt from The Diver’s Clothes Lie Empty. Emerging writer: JL Cooper, short story “Path of the Ground Birds.”
April 29 – Kim Stanley Robinson, excerpt from Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson. Emerging writer: Andy Stewart, short story “Typhoid Jack”
May 27 – Lori Ostlund and Anne Raeff. Stories: excerpt from After the Parade by Lori Ostlund and a story from Anne Raeff’s collection The Jungle Around Us, winner of this year’s Flannery O’Connor award.
June 24 – Mary Volmer, no emerging writer selected. Stories: an excerpt from Mary’s new novel Reliance, Illinois
July 29 –Maureen O’Leary, The Ghost Daughter (pub July 2016)
August 26 – Jodi Angel and students. Coordinated by Ruth Blank
September 30 – The Los Rios Writers – the best short fiction from the four community college literary magazines. Four writers will be featured. Laurie Rivkin Heller coordinating.
October 28 – Bonnie Jo Campbell and Kristin Fitzpatrick, former “emerging writer” Stories: a selection from her debut short story collection My Pulse is an Earthquake, published by West Virginia University Press. Working on getting Bonnie Jo Campbell here also, in which case Kristin would not be the headliner, but I don’t think she’d mind!
2016 Stories on Stage Sacramento, Season 7
January 29, Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento
Writer, painter, and UC Davis professor Maceo Montoya with a reading from his new collection You Must Fight Them.
February 26, Verge Center for the Arts, 625 S Street, Sacramento
Anthony Marra with a reading from his much-praised new short story collection The Tsar of Love and Techno. With Laurie Doyle
March 25, Sacramento Poetry Center
Bay area author Vendela Vida with a reading from her much-praised novel The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty. With Sacramento author JL Cooper. Readings by Lori Russo and Matt Rives
April 29, Verge Center for the Arts
Stories on Stage Sacramento's first science fiction event, with one of the nation's most acclaimed writers in that genre, Kim Stanley Robinson. With up-and-coming science fiction writer and Davis resident Andy Stewart.
May 27, Sacramento Poetry Center
An amazing double bill of Lori Ostlund (After the Parade) and Anne Raeff (winner of the 2015 Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction).
June 24, Sacramento Poetry Center
Mary Volmer with a reading from her new novel Reliance, Illinois, with Jordan Fisher-Smith and a reading from his new book, Engineering Eden.
July 29, 2016, Sacramento Poetry Center
Maureen O'Leary with a reading from her new novel Ghost Daughter
Krista Minard with a reading of her short story "Resurgence"
August 26, at the Auditorium at CLARA, the E. Clare Raley Center for the Performing Arts,
Jodi Angel and students. New work from one of Sacramento's premier writers, plus work from her many talented students. Student work by: Juliette Kelley, Diane Kallas, Sue Staats
September 30, Verge Center for the Arts
The Los Rios Writers: Four of the best stories from the literary journals from the four Los Rios Community College campuses. Bojana Anglin,
October 28, Sacramento Poetry Center
Bonnie Jo Campbell with a reading from her acclaimed short story collection Mothers, Tell Your Daughters
Former emerging writer Kristin Fitzpatrick with a reading from her debut short story collection My Pulse Is An Earthquake.
Kelley Ogden
Tara Henry
2015 Season - Stories on Stage Sacramento
January 2015 - Tobias Wolff!
James Wheatley reading Bullet in the Brain by Tobias Wolff
Tobias Wolff in conversation with Insight's Beth Ruyak, January 30, 2015
January 24, 2015, Presenting Janis Stevens and James Wheatley, readers for our season opener with Tobias Wolff - link to blog post
link to blog post
April 13 2015 - Ann Packer
Link to blog post
Featured writers for Stories on Stage 2015
Name
Invitation status
Story title
Date
Tobias Wolff
yes
In the Garden of the North American Martyrs and Bullet in the Brain
January 30
Elena Mauli Shapiro
yes
Vanity from Issue Six of Farallon Review
February 27
Sharma Shields
yes
Tbd from The Sasquach Hunter’s Almanac
March 27
Ann Packer
yes
Tbd from current novel
April 24
Karen Bender
yes
The Third Child from new collection
May 29
Kathryn Ma
yes
From “The Year She Left Us”
June 26
Bonnie ZoBell
yes
Selection from “What Happened Here”
August 28
Geronimo Johnson
yes
From “Welcome to Braggsville”
July 26
Adam Johnson
yes
From new short story collection “Fortune Smiles”
September 25
Naomi Williams
yes
From “Landfalls”
October 30
2012 - 2015 - have hard drive with videos on it!
2011
January 2011
"Lifetime Happiness Potential" by Valerie Fioravanti from Garbage Night at The Opera (published in Garbage Night at the Opera as "Make Your Wedding Perfect" Read by Victoria Goldblatt
February 2011
"The Redfish" by Skip Horack read by Rich Cook
"The Slingback" by Gina Mulligan, read by Cynthia Mitchell Speakman
March 2011
"The Acupuncturist's Wife" by Sue Staats read by Ashley Lucas
"Take Six" by Naomi Benaron from Love Letters from a Fat Man read by Pam Metzger
April 2011
"Commuting" by Elena Mauli Shapiro read by Bonnie Antonini
June 2011
"A Mouse Amongst Men" by Ivor Hartmann (Zimbabwe) read by Rick Cook
"The Queen of Tobacco" by Beatrice Lamwaka (Uganda) read by Katye Ridgeway
"Singing in the Rain" by Gothataone Moeng (Botswana) read by Traci Scott
July 2011
"Murder in Atlantic City" by Nick Rotondo performed by Eric Baldwin
August 2011
"The People Who Own Pianos" by even McIlvoy from The Complete
History of New Mexico read by Tim Kahl (August or September?)
"Elevation" by Adam Russ, performed by Eric Baldwin
September 2011
"The Lake" by Justin Torres from We the Animals read by Jeff Webster
"We Wanted More" by Justin Torres from We the Animals read by Jeff Webster
"Heritage" by Justin Torres from We the Animals performed by Jeff Webster
October 2011
"Desert Rats" by Leah Griesmann read by Victoria Goldblatt
"What You Can Endure" by Melinda Moustakis from Bear Down, Bear North read by Gay Cooper
James Wheatley reading Bullet in the Brain by Tobias Wolff
Tobias Wolff in conversation with Insight's Beth Ruyak, January 30, 2015
January 24, 2015, Presenting Janis Stevens and James Wheatley, readers for our season opener with Tobias Wolff - link to blog post
link to blog post
April 13 2015 - Ann Packer
Link to blog post
Featured writers for Stories on Stage 2015
Name
Invitation status
Story title
Date
Tobias Wolff
yes
In the Garden of the North American Martyrs and Bullet in the Brain
January 30
Elena Mauli Shapiro
yes
Vanity from Issue Six of Farallon Review
February 27
Sharma Shields
yes
Tbd from The Sasquach Hunter’s Almanac
March 27
Ann Packer
yes
Tbd from current novel
April 24
Karen Bender
yes
The Third Child from new collection
May 29
Kathryn Ma
yes
From “The Year She Left Us”
June 26
Bonnie ZoBell
yes
Selection from “What Happened Here”
August 28
Geronimo Johnson
yes
From “Welcome to Braggsville”
July 26
Adam Johnson
yes
From new short story collection “Fortune Smiles”
September 25
Naomi Williams
yes
From “Landfalls”
October 30
2012 - 2015 - have hard drive with videos on it!
2011
January 2011
"Lifetime Happiness Potential" by Valerie Fioravanti from Garbage Night at The Opera (published in Garbage Night at the Opera as "Make Your Wedding Perfect" Read by Victoria Goldblatt
February 2011
"The Redfish" by Skip Horack read by Rich Cook
"The Slingback" by Gina Mulligan, read by Cynthia Mitchell Speakman
March 2011
"The Acupuncturist's Wife" by Sue Staats read by Ashley Lucas
"Take Six" by Naomi Benaron from Love Letters from a Fat Man read by Pam Metzger
April 2011
"Commuting" by Elena Mauli Shapiro read by Bonnie Antonini
June 2011
"A Mouse Amongst Men" by Ivor Hartmann (Zimbabwe) read by Rick Cook
"The Queen of Tobacco" by Beatrice Lamwaka (Uganda) read by Katye Ridgeway
"Singing in the Rain" by Gothataone Moeng (Botswana) read by Traci Scott
July 2011
"Murder in Atlantic City" by Nick Rotondo performed by Eric Baldwin
August 2011
"The People Who Own Pianos" by even McIlvoy from The Complete
History of New Mexico read by Tim Kahl (August or September?)
"Elevation" by Adam Russ, performed by Eric Baldwin
September 2011
"The Lake" by Justin Torres from We the Animals read by Jeff Webster
"We Wanted More" by Justin Torres from We the Animals read by Jeff Webster
"Heritage" by Justin Torres from We the Animals performed by Jeff Webster
October 2011
"Desert Rats" by Leah Griesmann read by Victoria Goldblatt
"What You Can Endure" by Melinda Moustakis from Bear Down, Bear North read by Gay Cooper
