Hafez Day, Jim & Jihmye, Feria del libro, Local Author Exhibit, Writer’s Symposium by the Sea

Saturday, October 10, 6pm: Hafez Day Poetry Performance in Persian and English with live Persian music at the Iranian American Center (IAC). Details HERE.

Sunday, October 11, 2:30-4:30pm: 2nd Sunday Jim & Jihmye Poetry Open Mic, hosted by Steve Kowit Poetry Prize finalist and SDPA contributor Jennifer Karp, and featuring Allison Bell Miller at @Spacebar.

November 1, 3:00pm: SDPA Bilingual Edition, Papalotl, at the FERIA DEL LIBRO TIJUANA (FLT), hosted by Mónica Morales Rocha and featuriing the 2025-26 Papalotl poets and translators, and editors Olga García and Michael Klam.

November 25 (deadline) and January 2027 (opening event): Local Author Exhibit Submission Period (Friday, September 11 through Wednesday, November 25); and Opening of the Exhibit & Celebration of Local Authors in January 2027. This year’s keynote speaker is SDPA’s Michael Klam. Register your book HERE and stay tuned for more details.

The Local Author Program highlights the intellectual and creative accomplishments of writers in the San Diego region. It is presented to interest readers and to highlight the diverse and abundant talent we have locally. The centerpiece of the Local Author Program is the Local Author Exhibit. The Exhibit includes print books and ebooks written by adults, teens and children. In its 61^st year, the Exhibit aims to bring exposure to local talent and nurture the pursuit of the writing arts in San Diego.

February 24-26, 2027: 32nd Annual Writer’s Symposium by the Sea. Come by the SDPA table to get your copy of the annual if you haven’t already. You can chat with the editors about everything from submissions to the Steve Kowit Poetry Prize. Honored to be part of the symposium with our dear partner PLNU and professors Katie Manning and Margarita Pintado. Storytelling matters!

*Hafez image credit: De Agostini/Getty Images