WORD FEST OC Schedule

BLENDING WORLDS, CROSSING BORDERS

10-10:45 a.m.  

Marytza K. Rubio's Mystical Tales

Magical incantations and mythical creatures emerge from the Santa Ana-based writer's collection, Maria, Maria & Other Stories.

Moderator: Gina Shaffer

Introductions: Susana Castellanos

Location: HS 145

10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Music Mix with DJ/Emcee Byron Gonzalez

The host of Bilingual Sounds on 88.5 FM (The SoCal Sound) presents an eclectic multicultural mix of tunes. 

11-11:45 a.m.

Armchair Adventures: Roxanne Varzi's Multimodal Anthropology

Versed in a myriad of fields, the writer, artist, filmmaker, and UCI professor of anthropology creates experiential ventures through graphic novels, plays, films, scholarly research, and multimedia projects.

Moderator: Erica Vogel

Location: HS 145

Testimonios of the Latinx Community 

A Panel Discussion about the Latinx Voices Student Journal

Student staffers discuss their participation in producing a campus publication that captures the Latinx experience.

Moderator: Jose Lumbreras

Location: College Center 212

WORD CRAFT: Reflections on Writing & Publishing

Authors Lisa Alvarez & Suki Fisher share insights on the craft of writing and their perspectives on publishing.

Location: Gateway 365

11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. 

LUNCH (A variety of sandwiches and wraps with  veggie options)

Location: Courtyard in front of HS 145

12:30-1:15 p.m.

Magical Mystery Tour: Stories by James Blaylock

A pioneer of the Steampunk movement in science fiction, Blaylock traverses ghostly worlds in selections from his mystery novels, some of which feature locales in Orange County.

Moderator: Erika Zemanek

Location: HS 145

Writing Contest Awards Ceremony

Winners of the WordFest OC Writing Contest read their stories and poems.

Host: Shellie Ochi

Location: College Center 212

Poetry Writing Workshop

Catherine Hayter explores the pleasures of playing with words and images. 

Location: Gateway 365

1:30-2:15 p.m.

Wang Ping's Lyrical Crossings

Author of more than a dozen books of poetry, prose, and translation, including the poetry collection My Name Is Immigrant, Ping explores issues of identity, culture, gender, and language in work that is grounded in her Chinese ancestry.

Moderator: Sheiba Kian Kaufman

Introductions: Angela Yang

Location: HS 145

Nonfiction Writing Workshop

Inspired by her own recent work on a collection of stories, Jennifer Hedgecock offers guidance on unraveling true-to-life narratives. 

Location: Gateway 365

2:30-3:15 p.m.

Aimee Bender's Fantastic Fiction

Known for the mind-bending plotlines and unconventional characters in her novels and short stories, Bender embraces tender absurdities and magical calamities in selections from her work.

Moderator: Gina Shaffer

Location: HS 145

3:30-4:15 p.m.

Apocalypse Now: Reflections on Reality & Dystopian Fiction

Ryan Hoskins, Bret Kaufman, and Spencer Robins present a panel discussion about the interplay between contemporary environmental and sociopolitical upheavals and dystopian works of literature and film. 

Moderator: Brett Myhren

Location: HS 145

4:30-6 p.m.

Public Reading for WALL Literary Journal

Writers read their poems and stories while artists discuss their creative process in a 25th anniversary celebration of the award-winning Saddleback College student publication. 

Location: HS 145

6-7 p.m.

Evening Refreshments

Hors d'oeuvres and dessert

Courtyard in front of HS 145