Saturday, March 31

LIT CRAWL – SATURDAY EDITION

DETAILS:
What: Weekend Lit Crawl
When: Friday, March 30 & Saturday, March 31
Where: Downtown Ojai
Fee: Most events are FREE admission to public

Ojai’s historic Arcade area will be jumping the last Friday and Saturday nights of the 8-day festival with lit-loving authors, performers, musicians, poets, artists … 

Pick up a WordFest program (at various locations around Ojai) and stroll downtown from restaurant to gallery, to pub, to shop and sample the literary delights. (The WordFest Program includes a map of downtown and whole section just on the LIT CRAWL.)

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HIGHLIGHTS:

+ Writing Workshops at Ojai Valley Woman’s Club | $39/class. For Tickets, click here. | 9:30 am-Noon Peter Bellwood – Workshop on “Passion” | 12:30pm-2:00pm Gay Hendricks – “My Four Secrets of Writing” | 2:00pm-3:300pm Ken Rotcop, “How To Write ‘How To’ Books” 

+ Special Screening: 22nd Anniversary of Edwards Scissorhands | 4:30  p.m. | Ojai Playhouse (movie theater), 145 East Ojai Ave. | $10 at the door | Introduction and post-film Q&A by its Screenwriter, Ojai resident Caroline Thompson who is one  of WordFest’s 2012 honored “Local Literary Legends.”

+ FESTIVAL  FINALE - Word Up! Celeb Spoken Word & Poetry Jam | 8 p.m. | spacemonkey in Ojai’s SoMo Arts District, 105 S. Montgomery | $15 General, $25 VIP + Greenroom Pass to Word Up! After Party | Shines the spotlight on original compositions by unique voices – celeb artists, master wordsmiths and emerging talent—those who have fire in their bones & sparks on their tongues. The hippest event during OWF’s 8-day run – and closing ceremonies of 2nd Annual Ojai WordFest!

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ALL EVENTS:

LIT CRAWL continues thru midnight Tonight. The historic downtown area of Ojai comes alive with vibrant performers and an eclectic mix of lit-luscious events.

Imprint From the Other Side ~ Art Show and Stories | 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Ojai Coffee Roasters, 333 E. Ojai Ave. | FREE | Stop by for fresh roasted coffee and read the backstories on Jood Lee’s show “Imprint from the Other Side“ – a collection of paintings of Ojai, the Sierra’s, and and other secret places.

Breakfast with Books: “Heroes & Goddesses” hosted by Rev. Marilyn Miler, author, Holidays & Heroes: Roots & Stories, | 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Ojai Café Emporium, 108 S. Montgomery St. | FREE | Discuss your inner hero and the transcendent power of Passover and Easter’s heroes & heroines as they relate to contemporary life. www.OracleofOjai.com.

Writing Workshop: “Passion: Adventures in the Screen Trade” with Peter Bellwood | 9 a.m. – Noon | Ojai Valley Woman’s Club, 441 East Ojai Ave. | $39 | For Tickets, click here. | Peter Bellwood will circle around the subject of screenwriting, and take his students along with him on an epic journey that gets to the question at the heart of the matter: What’s your passion and how do you get it on the page and on to the screen? (NOTE: Peter wrote the script for the film Highlander, A fantasy-thriller set in present-day Moscow where the respective forces that control daytime and nighttime do battle.)

Ojai Literary Scavenger Hunt | 9:30 a.m. – Sunset | Start at Bart’s Books of Ojai, 302 W. Matilija St. | FREE | Pick up your “must find” list and get to strollin’. Best not to have your nose in a book while you hunt! You’ll read Ojai like a story and find how richly literary we are! Drop off all entry forms back at Bart’s by 5 p.m. Saturday March 31 to be considered in the grand prize drawing.

Writers’ Pad – Read. Write. Doodle. Daydream. Whatever. Yeah, it’s that laid back and that sublime! | 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Bart’s Books of Ojai, 302 W. Matilija St. | FREE | Home to the largest independently owned and operated outdoor bookstore in the U.S.A filled with nearly one million books ranging from the .35 cent specials which line the outside walls (for sale on an honor system: take a book, leave some coins), to rare, out of print first editions, and art books valued in the thousands of dollars.

“The Short Story – Your Ticket to Publication” – a PIPW Workshop For Writers | 9 a.m. – Noon | World University, 107 N. Ventura St. | $49. For Tickets, click here. | The short story is the neglected choice for beginning and intermediate writers to pursue publication. Instructor: Editor and Author Shelly Lowenkopf. For more information, visit www.PacificInstituteforProfessionalWriting.com or email Kate@KateSexton.com.

“Ten Most Common Mistakes First Novelists Make” – a PIPW Workshop For Writers | 9 a.m. – Noon | World University, 107 N. Ventura St. | $49. For Tickets, click here. | What they are and how to avoid making these mistakes. Instructor: Editor and Literary Agent Toni Lopopolo. For more information, visit www.PacificInstituteforProfessionalWriting.com or email Kate@KateSexton.com.

WordFest Mobile Bookstore | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Ojai Valley Woman’s Club, 441 East Ojai Ave. | Brown Bag Books brings their full service, mobile bookseller to Ojai’s WordFest – an amazing collection of handpicked titles in art, writing, fiction, history, children’s, vintage et al. A grand collection of books; a ‘book show’ for the people.

I Love Paris: Writers Salon & Art Show | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Ojai Valley Woman’s Club, 441 East Ojai Ave. | FREE | Varied art and interactive exhibits. Express YOUR love for Paris! Featuring a screening of “The Awakening” at 2:30 p.m. shot in California by a French film team with ties to Ojai, a Short Film Corner selection at the Cannes Film Festival 2011. A “Parisian Panel” of some of Ojai’s French artisans and business people will share memories of France, and about their art and crafts, noon – 12:30 – 1:30 p.m, hosted by Publisher Nancy Gross. Sponsored by Ojai businesses The Bubble and Paris Writers Retreat.

Animal Lovers’ Storytime at Bart’s Books benefiting SPARC (Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center) – Ventura County’s first NO-KILL Animal Shelter | 10:30 a.m. – Noon | Bart’s Books of Ojai, 302 W. Matilija St. | $5-10 suggested donation | “Walter the Farting Dog” is back! He’s making his 2nd appearance at WordFest, bringing along some of his other favorite pet “tails” and even a story about Alpacas. Animals lovers of all ages are invited to listen in to these fun, furry and feisty reads! The stories will have kids rolling on the floor with laughter. Adults are permitted to laugh too.

Ojai Songwriters Anonymous | 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Soul Centered, 311 North Montgomery St. | FREE | Come see the process unfold as a select group of local songwriters give you a rare peek into the creative and collaborative process that brings music into our world. This live workshop is hosted by Founder Smitty West. a songwriting support group for opening the channels of creativity through respectful and organized peer feedback.

Speaker’s Corner – Free Speech Platform | Noon to Sunset | Libbey Park, Downtown Ojai | FREE | Stand up and speak your mind in Ojai’s Libbey Park. There you’ll find a soapbox and sign designating a free speech platform like the famous public forum in London’s Hyde Park. Come with a speech or erupt with a rant – it’s your right!

Writing Workshop: “My Four Secrets of Writing” with Gay Hendricks | 12:30 – 2 p.m. | Ojai Valley Woman’s Club, 441 East Ojai Ave. | $39. For Tickets, click here. | “In writing 35 non-fiction books, four novels and several screenplays, I’ve developed a set of principles and tools I’ve found useful in all my writing. I call them “secrets,” because I had to get them to reveal themselves over time. The more I uncovered them, the more effective and fun my writing became. The first secret has to do with voice. I want to share with you a powerfully simple way of discovering the right voice for the work at hand. The second secret is one I originally learned from screenwriter Ron Bass, over a long dinner at the Ranch House. It involves a simple way to structure any work, whether it’s fiction or non. The third secret is all about the language you use, especially when and how to heighten the power of your language for the effect you want to create. The fourth secret comes via one of my mystery-writing heroes, Elmore Leonard. Early in my writing career I had the opportunity to meet and learn from Elmore. I got one huge takeaway from that experience that I use every time I sit down to write. I’ll share it with you and how to use it on your own projects. I also have one activity I do every day to stay on track as a writer, one requirement I hold myself to. I’ll share that one with you, too!” | Gay is one of the three recipients of the 2012 Ojai WordFest “Local Literary Legend” Award.

Illustrated Storytelling: Cartooning Workshop | 1 p.m. | Ojai Public Library, 111 E. Ojai Ave. | FREE | Tell visual stories by learning to draw faces and figures. Cartooning is hot in the literary landscape: illustrated memoirs, comic books and graphic novels are all the rave! Instructor Robert Gluckson shares how-to-draw tips from his book “Fast and Easy Cartooning for Fun.” All materials provided. (Copies are available for $10.)

PIPW Workshops For Writers: “Author Promote Thyself!” | 1 – 4 p.m. | World University, 107 N. Ventura St. | $49. For Tickets, click here. | A hands-on workshop covering Facebook, Twitter, websites, press releases and more with panel of experts lead by Ojai author and publicist Kate Sexton. For more information, visit www.PacificInstituteforProfessionalWriting.com or email Kate@KateSexton.com.

“The Language of Life: Nonviolent Communication” with Ojai author Rick Goodfriend | 1 – 2:00 p.m. | Soul Centered, 311 North Montgomery Street. | FREE | Nonviolent communication is the language of life, a way to use effective and practical spirituality by connecting and building trust with yourself and others. Learn several ways that you can bring peace to your world with ease and grace, sometimes instantly. Book signing of Goodfriend’s “I Hear You, But” to follow.

Writing Workshop: “How to Write ‘How To’ Books” with Ken Rotcop, writing teacher and former Hollywood studio executive | 2 – 3:30 p.m. | Ojai Valley Woman’s Club, 441 East Ojai Ave. | $39. For Tickets, click here. | purchase tickets online or at door | The biggest book sellers, second only to the bible, are not romances or biographies or historical novels. They are “How To” books. How to find the inner you, or how to lose 20 pounds in three days, or how to make a relationship work, or even, how to build your own house. The “How To” market is wide open. There are hundreds of subjects still to be written about for audiences into the thousands (niches) or millions (mass market.) Ken will share his secrets on (here are those two words again!) “How To” write a successful “How To” book for people who HATE “How To” books! | For more information, visit www.pitchmart.com

Tell Them Our Story: An afternoon of African American stories, tales and folklore. | 2 – 3:30 p.m. | Ojai Public Library, 111 E. Ojai Ave. | FREE | Featuring: Jeff Kustal, Writer/Author, “A Glimpse of a Man Called Jim Golden”; Telloria Roseman, Educator/Author, “Mama Blue Jay”; Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, Master Storyteller/Play write, “Ayo Means Joy” and others. This is a multigenerational story time for all.

“Meeting of the Mindless” Staged Reading and Musical Performance with Robert Shelor & Mark Solomon | 2 – 3 p.m. | Soul Centered, 311 North Montgomery St. | FREE | Enjoy the music of Ojai’s foremost singer/songwriters. Shelor’s songs will touch your heart. Solomon’s will touch other body parts. Deep Bob and Shallow Mark will present a staged reading of their best seller “Meeting of the Mindless” – a wry, clever and sometimes idiotic look at life, love, work and a bunch of other junk. The men believe in free speech and hope the reading will not cause a riot. Please leave your pepper spray at home!

Spontaneous Street Haikus | 2 – 5 p.m. | Arcade Plaza, Downtown Ojai | FREE | Comedienne Rasika Mathur (MTV’s “Wild N Out”, Adult Swim’s “Children’s Hospital”) performs Spontaneous Street Haikus as Playful Characters, King Kavarius, Nilam Auntie and more! You stroll by and provide a suggestion and they’ll provide the banter– in 17 syllables!

Soaring Thunder – Will Your Heart Dance? | 2 & 2:30 p.m. | Libbey Park Fountain, Downtown Ojai | FREE | A moving poem to a beloved stirs movement in the body. A reading of Liz Galvan’s poem, “Dancing Hearts” accompanied by dance and music that may beckon you to move too.

Running Naked into the Golden Years! | 3 – 4 p.m. | Libbey Park Bandstand, Downtown Ojai | FREE | In her solo performance, Vonder Gray tells it like it is with words and paint …and mostly it’s not pretty!

Speed-Ku | 3 – 5 p.m. | Ojai Coffee Roasters, 333 E. Ojai Ave. | FREE | A sure way to shake up the writer’s block blues, Speed Haiku (and Senryu) is a fast-paced, topic-driven antidote for waning creativity. Your host will provide a topic, and you will, in 30 seconds, dole out as many poems as your brain will allow. Working in teams with friends, or complete strangers, will most assuredly up your hilarity ante. You owe yourself a little Speed-Ku, don’t you?

“Soulful Singers” featuring Local Songwriters & Artists | 3:30 – 5 p.m. | Soul Centered, 311 North Montgomery St. | FREE | Come enjoy performances by a variety of local musicians including Deina Bleu, Richard Kaller, John Aaron, Jodi Brandt and others.

Our Changing Nature ~ Site-Specific Readings | 4 – 6 p.m. | Arcade Plaza, Downtown Ojai | FREE | Nationally-known poets, Andrew Allcourt, Tiffany Higgins, Christina Hutchins, Sarah Maclay, and Holaday Mason will inhabit and animate the nooks and crannies of Ojai’s downtown Arcade Plaza to present site-specific readings from new and old works that reflect on nature and our changing relationship with it.

Gospel Choir Sing-Along | 4 – 4:30 p.m. | Libbey Park, Downtown Ojai | FREE | The Ojai Community Gospel Choir fills the afternoon with the soaring songs of gospel. Join them in song to celebrate one of America’s most beloved lyrical forms.

22nd Anniversary Screening of Edwards Scissorhands | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Ojai Playhouse (movie theater), 145 East Ojai Ave. | $10 at the door | Introduction and post-film Q&A by its Screenwriter, Ojai resident Caroline Thompson who is one of WordFest’s 2012 honored “Local Literary Legends.”

Word Soup! – Flavorful Writings Stewed Together | 4 – 5:30 p.m. | Bart’s Books of Ojai, 302 W. Matilija St. | FREE | A melting pot of readings and performances by poets, novelists, songwriters, spoken word artists, playwrights et al. | Performances every 15-30 minutes. Sign up at Bart’s Books for a time slot. | Bart’s Books is the largest outdoor bookstore in the U.S.A. filled with nearly one million books ranging from the .35 cent specials which line the outside walls (for sale on an honor system: take a book, leave some coins), to rare, out of print first editions, and art books valued in the thousands of dollars.

“To Leonard, With Love” CD Release Party with Smitty West and Julija Zonic | 5 – 6 p.m. | Soul Centered, 311 North Montgomery St. | FREE | While giving the speech at Leonard Cohen’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Lou Reed described Cohen as belonging to the “highest and most influential echelon of songwriters.” Ojai’s favorite singing and piano duo have just released a Leonard Cohen tribute album. Come hear a sample of their wonderful interpretation of Cohen’s timeless poetry and song. CDs available for $10.

“I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream, For Oliver!” | 6 – 6:30 p.m. | Ojai Ice Cream, 210 E. Ojai Ave. | FREE Ice Cream & Entertainment | Come enjoy a taste of Ojai Art Center’s latest play, Oliver! – the Broadway musical ripped from the pages of Dickens’ Oliver Twist. Cast members will treat you to song and story while you enjoy a free ice cream cone, courtesy of Ojai Ice Cream.

Blue Skies, Red Grass: Riding the WAV | 6:30 & 7:30 p.m. | Human Arts Gallery, 246 E. Ojai Ave | FREE | A journey through the minds of artists/writers from Working Artists Ventura (WAV). David Oliver, Britten Barry and Vonder Gray bring quirky, edgy and LOL funny poetry and prose to life at Human Arts.

Un-Happy Hour for Frustrated Writers | 7 p.m. | Venue TBA | No need to drown in your own despair, do it with a fellow writer! This is a snarly toast to the darker side of writing: rants, rage, self loathing – any of those ring a bell? Venture out of your writing cave to commiserate with other brave souls who have given their ink, sweat and tears to this craft. Share a drink or two, or more after Happy Hour is over.

“Pink Moment Sunset” Cocktails – A Toast to Ojai WordFest | 7 p.m. | No-host | Osteria Monte Grappa (outdoor patio), 205 N. Signal Street | After eight days of being drunk on words and intoxicated by stories, join us for one last cocktail toast to WordFest at that magical moment when the sun sets and the mountains turn hues of pink.

Saturday Night Special | 7 – 9 p.m. | KAVA Gifts, 238 E. Ojai Ave | FREE | They’re Hot, They’re Loud, and They’re Cheap—and on a good night…they kill. The Ojai Novel Writers’ Group will read their “racier, edgier” pieces. Emceed by John Hannah, author, journalist and a former associate bureau chief at People Magazine and Sharon Hall, Managing Editor of the Whole Person Calendar. Refreshments will be provided.

Fresh Roasted Concerts presents David Wilcox, Performing Songwriter | 7:30 p.m. | Matilija Auditorium, 703 El Paseo Rd. | $28. For Tickets, click here. | David Wilcox has been touching the hearts of American audiences for more than 20 years with his wise and healing song writing, skillful guitar playing, and inspired improvisational performance style. His music bravely navigates a path through the emotional static of modern life towards the deep, mystical terrain of the heart. He writes songs that are wake up calls to the heart and a balm for the soul. For more information, visit: davidwilcox.com

Word Up! Celeb Spoken Word & Poetry Jam Festival Finale – benefitting Ojai WordFest | 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Open Mic; Showcase 8:30 p.m. | spacemonkey in Ojai’s SoMo Arts District, 105 S. Montgomery | $20 General; $30 VIP+ Catered Word Up! After Party | Fresh. Relevant. Necessary. Irreverent. Transparent. OWF’s Spoken Word & Poetry Jam shines the spotlight on original compositions by unique voices – celeb artists, master wordsmiths and emerging talent—those who have fire in their bones & sparks on their tongues. These lit-loving, tongue-tying, undeny-ing lovers of words want you to listen up. Word! Live Music & D.J. Mis.Chief. The hippest event during OWF’s 8-day run – and closing ceremonies of 2nd Annual Ojai WordFest