The English Literary Arts Festival at Grossmont College is a week-long celebration of creative writing, authors and our campus community. This event, in collaboration with the Creative Writing Program, aims to showcase the diversity of literary expression and foster a love for literature within our community.

In an email, Adam Deutsch said, “The festival benefits speakers who come by putting them in direct contact with the diverse audience of our students, faculty, and the entire community.”

The festival allows speakers to get in touch with a community that appreciates writing such as creative, poetry, novel, short fiction and drama writing.

This free event creates a dynamic space to showcase what writing is and how to get involved. The festival’s website says the Creative Writing Program “seeks to cultivate a diverse literary community and to celebrate and promote literature and its vital role in our culture.”

From April 30 to May 2, there will be speakers reciting poetry on diverse subjects, and talking about why literature matters.

Who will be there?

The festival is open to students, faculty and the public. On April 29, Poet Craig Santos Perez will be speaking at 2 p.m. at the PVAC (Performing and Visual Arts Center). Poet and Memoirist KB Brookins will be speaking April 30 at 12:30 p.m. at the PVAC; on the same day, New Student Voices will be at 7 p.m. in 26-220.

May 1 features Carolina Hotchandani, a poet and Goodrich Assistant Professor of English and American Literature and Culture, presenting at 2 p.m. in the PVAC. Later that evening, Novelist and Essayist Sara Marchant will share her insights at 6:30 p.m. in the same venue.

On the last day, May 2, the student panel hosted by Julie Cardenas and Alan Traylor “Why Literature Matters” will be at 12:30 p.m. in the Library Living Room (70-162).

Following each presentation, be sure to visit the campus library to explore the works of the featured authors and speakers digitally or through books on reserve. Some events will also offer book signings, providing an opportunity to connect with the authors and acquire their works firsthand.