Thanks to everyone who joined us to celebrate the book’s release! What an amazing night to honor pollinators and art. Thank you for turning out in numbers on the night before Halloween. We shared wine, food, books, and lively conversation about bees.

Best of all, we were treated to a wonderfully varied lineup of readings from Winged. For us editors, it was especially moving to hear these writers’ words come to life, after a year spent editing and organizing the contents from afar. We didn’t think it was possible to love the book and the writers more– and yet, we do!

Congratulations to everyone who has made this book possible. We share our joy and our gratitude with you. Here’s a selection of images from the evening, courtesy of Literary Arts.

A big thank you again to our sponsors: the Regional Arts & Culture Council, Literary Arts, Whole Foods Pearl District, and Sokol Blosser Winery. And be sure to join us with at 7:30 p.m. this Friday, November 14th, for a reading at the Corvallis Library in Corvallis, Oregon. Hosted by the Spring Creek Project at Oregon State University.

Perusing the book table before the reading

 A warm and attentive crowd

Jill and Melissa welcoming the audience

Paulann Petersen kicks off the reading with “Wax” and “A Sacrament”

George Venn reading “Down the Colfax Grade”

Lois Leveen with an excerpt from her novel Juliet’s Nurse

John Beer with “Beekeeper”

Kate Gray gave a beautiful reading of “When the Dead Visit Dreams”

Leni Zumas reads “Mellis Dentem”

Annette Fisch joined us all the way from New York to read from her novel-in-progress, “Uncontrollable”

Portland writer and performer Adrienne Flagg closed the night with “Free Bees”