SAS26 Event Schedule
SAINTS + SINNERS XXIII
Friday, March 2026
10 – 11:15 AM—SAS Writer’s Craft
CRAFTING BEAUTIFUL SENTENCES—DONNA MINKOWITZ
Fiction and memoir writing are just as dependent as poetry on beautiful and surprising arrangements of words. Yet prose writers often forget that the word, the sentence, and even the syllable are the basic units of their art. In this workshop, Donna Minkowitz, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of two memoirs and a novel, will show how prose writers can infuse their work with sound, rhythm, imagery, metaphor, and lyricism.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
10 – 11:15 AM—SAS Writer’s Craft
MAKING HISTORY INTO FICTION—THOMAS MALLON
It’s said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat its mistakes. Historical fiction is a key genre to understanding our past and ultimately shaping our futures. How does one make it credible and vivid? This session hopes to provide lively discussion about the techniques and pitfalls of setting fiction in past eras, the ethics of incorporating actual events and individuals into a story, and the ways in which historical fiction can inspire readers to reflect on their own present-day circumstances.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
10 AM – 12 PM—*pre-registration required
PITCH SESSIONS WITH BYWATER BOOKS & AMBLE PRESS
Publisher Salem West and two-time Lambda Literary Award-winning author Ann McMan will be meeting with writers at SAS2026. “We’re seeking bold, engaging LGBTQ+ fiction—romance, mystery, sci-fi/spec fiction, literary fiction, genre-crossing work, and character-driven tales that hit hard and leave their mark. Bring us something fresh, smart, and unforgettable—we’re listening.” To set up your appointment, please email info@bywaterbooks.com with “SAS Pitch” in the subject line. Include a short bio and 100-word synopsis.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal A
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM-SAS Writer’s Craft
GOTHIC LIT: ROMANTIC AND BLOODY—JEWELLE GOMEZ
Gothic literature has several key identifiable elements: an atmosphere of dread; fear of supernatural occurrences; the intrusion of the past on the present; terrifying events that often are emblematic of psychological or social conflicts; lost lovers; and anticipation of torture. Early stories featured bloody dismemberments (or the fear of them); think about Poe’s “The Pit and the Pendulum!” Also common were hauntings by ghostly dead lovers, mythical beasts, possession, and somnambulistic adventures. This workshop will focus on elements in our society today that nurture the terrors abound in Gothic stories. What would we write using either a contemporary or historic setting that would tell us a moody, claustrophobic story filled with shadows and anxiety? We’ll explore story ideas, each participant creating one or two-line descriptions. Then we’ll talk in the session about how specifically such a story would develop. The hope is to leave each participant with the bones (pun intended) on which to build a complete story.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM—SAS Writer’s Craft
WRITING IN A WORLD OF APPS, PODCASTS AND AI—ANDREW FAYE & TREBOR HEALEY
Technology offers new and different ways to approach writing across three axes: our generative process, the actual narratives of our stories, and the distribution of our final work. Perhaps you use novel writing apps or software to organize characters, plot, and structure; or you might go further and turn to generative AI (such as ChatGPT) to help you work out kinks in a story or provide feedback akin to that of a developmental editor. Tech offers an ever-evolving palette of options for setting (e.g., virtual spaces like “dating” apps), character (e.g., the jilted AI lover), plot and conflict (e.g. surveillance, a rogue AI therapist). In terms of getting our writing out there, we’ll look at ePublishing, blogging, Substack, and hosting or creating a podcast, which can elevate less-represented voices and even create exposure that leads to publication. We’ll look at how we can make use of and integrate these aspects of technology into our work, focusing primarily on the fun part: the story itself. We may want to write about how the “dating” apps have changed LGBTQ+ life, offering opportunities for story that didn’t exist before, normalizing the blind date and the element of surprise – tragic, comedic or even downright dangerous. App dialog itself can be a literary form – often poetic – and can even include photos! If we want to tell a story via podcast, what stories work best in this format? We’ll talk about all of this and do a writing exercise incorporating AI, podcasts and apps.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM—*pre-registration required
PITCH SESSION WITH MCFARLAND PUBLISHING
McFarland Publishing has partnered with Clayton Delery, the General Editor of a new nonfiction book series titled Queer Life In America. This series seeks to highlight the queer experience, with preference given to topics involving life outside of major east and west coast cities. Clayton will review pitches and proposals at SAS 2026 and forward promising ones to McFarland for recommended inclusion in the series. For more information on McFarland Publishing, visit mcfarlandbooks.com. Anyone wanting to schedule a pitch meeting with Clayton should email him at claytondelery@yahoo.com.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
12:15 – 2:15 PM—*pre-registration required
PITCH SESSIONS WITH RATTLING GOOD YARNS PRESS
Rattling Good Yarns Press managing publisher, Ian Henzel, will be meeting with authors at SAS2026. RGYP is looking for fiction, novels, story collections, and nonfiction, including but not limited to history and memoirs. No poetry or plays. They are most interested in unusual perspectives on topics of interest to the LGBTQ+ community. To schedule a pitch appointment, contact Ian Henzel at ian.henzel@rattlinggoodyarns.com. Pitches will be for possible 2027 publication. For more information about Rattling Good Yarns and online submission guidelines, visit: rattlinggoodyarns.com/submissions/
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal A
1 – 2:15 PM—SAS Writer’s Craft
THE LAB: EXPERIMENTS IN QUEERING FORM, VOICE, AND GENRE—MATTHEW CLARK DAVISON
This session will invite queer writers of all levels to experiment with crossing genres—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid forms—as a way of opening new artistic possibilities and deepening voice. Here’s a passage from the book that captures the spirit of the session:
“We somehow have to balance three things when we write:
1. We should write about something we’re personally interested in, preferably even obsessed by.
2. We should write about something that may eventually matter to the world outside our own head (but we don’t worry about that when creating).
3. We should write about something that will surprise our readers by its beauty—and, in the best circumstances, move them through the power of its aesthetic force.”
With examples from Jeanette Winterson, Justin Torres, and others, we’ll look at how writers find something like beauty in its opposite. What’s beautiful and what’s ugly is completely up to you. In fact, if you see beauty where others don’t, or ugliness where others don’t, you may have an advantage. Through guided prompts and short bursts of writing, participants will explore how obsession, aesthetic force, and nonconforming oddities can help queer their work—creating art that is personally urgent, aesthetically bold, and resonant within and beyond LGBTQ+ communities.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25
1 – 2:15 PM—SAS Writer’s Craft
POETRY AS MEMOIR: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL POETRY WRITING WORKHOP—STEVEN REIGNS
This informative and generative writer’s craft session will discuss the process, pitfalls, and rewards of autobiographical poetry. Our queer lives are worthy of documenting and poetry’s condensed storytelling and language allows us to convey our emotional experiences with efficiency and force. For over 20 years, poet and activist Steven Reigns has taught poetry writing workshops around the country to queer youth, LGBTQ+ seniors, and people living with HIV.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25
2:30 – 3:45 PM—SAS Writer’s Craft
HOW TO PERFECT YOUR QUERY LETTER—AUDREY WILSON
Drawing on her 10+ years of writing and publishing experience, Audrey Wilson will cover everything writers need to know about crafting a successful query letter. From sourcing the best agents and publishers for your genre, to shaping your logline, writing a killer synopsis, and picking comp titles, attendees will walk away with the tools needed to successfully pitch and publish their manuscript.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25
2:30 – 3:45 PM—SAS Writer’s Craft
EROTICA LAID BARE: WRITING SEX THEY WON’T FORGET—JERRY L. WHEELER
Are your characters looking to get lucky, but you can’t get them to first base? Join award-winning erotica writer and editor Jerry L. Wheeler as he uses a series of guided writing prompts involving your senses guaranteed to put your creations in the mood for love. Bring your imaginations and something to write with, and you’ll craft a perfect five-line paragraph of erotic prose. Anything goes and usually does, but be sure to leave your inhibitions at the door. Wheeler is the editor of seven anthologies of gay erotica for Bold Strokes Books, Wilde City Press, and other publishers. His collection of short fiction and essays, Strawberries and Other Erotic Fruits was shortlisted for the Lambda Literary Award in 2012, and he is the author of the BookFest Spring 2025 first place award-winner for LGBTQ+ Literary Fiction, Mercedes General.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25
2:30 – 4:30 PM—*pre-registration is required
PITCH SESSIONS WITH REBEL SATORI PRESS
Rebel Satori Press’s publisher, Sven Davisson, and Tom Cardamone, LOHC imprint curator, will be meeting with authors at SAS2026. The press has been publishing for more than two decades and has more than 250 titles with many more in development. The editors are looking for book-length literary fiction, single-author collections of poetry, speculative fiction, or occult/ spiritual nonfiction from talented LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC authors. Contact publisher, Sven Davisson at: svendavisson@rebelsatori.com to schedule your pitch! Pitches will be for possible 2027 or 2028 publication. For more information about Rebel Satori Press visit: https://www.rebelsatoripress.com
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal A
Friday, March 27
6:30 – 8:30 PM—Welcome Party
GLITTER WITH THE LITERATI
Join us for a welcome reception and mingle with fellow writers and avid readers as you begin your literary weekend in the French Quarter. We’ll have hors d’oeuvres, spirits, and a specialty cocktail to get you started. Tarot readings, tattoos, live music, and more! And we’re at a new venue this year!
Mister Gregory’s Shrimp Boil Cabaret, 830 North Rampart Street.
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SAINTS + SINNERS XXIII
Saturday, March 28, 2026
10—11:15 AM—Literary Discussion
WRITERS AND PUBLISHERS: LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS
Have you ever noticed that some of your favorite queer writers have maintained a relationship with a particular publisher over the course of years? For example, Bloomsbury Publishing published 10 books by the late Edmund White between 2009 and 2025. Is there a secret or method to establishing and preserving that kind of mutually beneficial association? This panel of writers and publishers/editors, including Kim Roberts Meikle and Mark Mones (University of Virginia Press), Rick Karlin and Ian Henzel (Rattling Good Yarns Press), and Gregg Shapiro and Dan Vera (Souvenir Spoon Books), will discuss what it is that keeps their bond strong, and how others may learn from their experiences.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
10 – 11:15 AM—Literary Discussion
FINDING TODAY IN THE PAST: WRITING RELEVANT HISTORICAL FICTION
For LGBTQ writers and readers, stories set in the past are mirrors and maps for today. Join five authors of historical fiction who will discuss how they wrote about long-ago eras. They discuss how to create characters, how to conduct research, and how much creative license is allowed. How do we preserve our past when others are trying to rewrite and erase it, and what kind of cultural translation is necessary for contemporary audiences? By illuminating pain and trauma, persistence and joy, queer historical fiction points the way to a brighter and queerer future.
Panelists: Elizabeth Costello, Cheryl A. Head, Timothy Schaffert, and Christopher Tradowsky
Moderator: K.M. Soehnlein
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
10 – 11:15 AM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Christian Baines, Andy Barrow, Tom Cardamone, Ching-In Chen, Donna Minkowitz, Sean Patrick Mulroy, and Douglas Sadownick for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM—Literary Discussion
MASTERING THE SHORT STORY: SAYING A LOT WITH A LITTLE
Short story writing can be an essential way to build an author’s repertoire and establish oneself in the publishing sphere. But are there challenges and benefits to writing short fiction over a novel? How can an author best use the succinctness and/or conciseness of the short fiction form to develop character and conflict? Queer authors can use the short story form to write an essential or urgent message concerning characters who are often outsiders and facing obstacles or dilemmas that don’t exist in the heteronormative genre of short fiction. With some claiming that readers have shorter attention spans, short stories may open windows of opportunity to relay important themes and messages. In this panel, short fiction authors will discuss not only the craft of the short stories, but also how best to compile short stories into a collection for publication.
Panelists: Tom Cardamone, Jewelle Gomez, Vincent Traughber Meis, James Magruder, and Patrick Earl Ryan
Moderator: William Christy Smith
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM—Literary Discussion
EROS ON THE TONGUE: SEXUAL EXPRESSION THROUGH THE WRITTEN WORD
Writing about sex can be both exciting and challenging. In this panel, we’ll discuss how to make it more authentic, more sensory, more a part of the story. In other words, how do we integrate our erotic writing and ground it in characters, settings, and voices? And how can we make use of the erotic and make it a part of a story that advances a narrative, whether via plot, character, or conflict? How do we use humor, bad sex, or even problematic sex to create a fuller—and more erotic—interaction between two characters; how do we make it fit naturally in the flow of a good story? How do we define erotic writing vs. sex writing vs. porn? Do we need to? How do we avoid cliches and tired diction? And how do we grapple with not just creating scenes of joyful, connecting, hot or fun sex, but finding ways to approach and write about problematic, even traumatic or abusive sex? In this panel, we’ll look at erotic writing as both a genre and as an opportunity to seamlessly incorporate the sexual/sensual into other writing, such as fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction and memoir.
Panelists: Drew Banks, Laurinda D. Brown, Michael Lowenthal, C. Russell Price, and Douglas Sadownick
Moderator: Trebor Healey
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM—Literary Discussion
INSIDE THE WRITER’S STUDIO: AMPLIFYING YOUR PODCAST EXPERIENCE
Ever finish writing a book and think, “Okay… now what?” Podcasts are one of the most effective ways authors are reaching new readers right now. This panel dives into how to get booked on podcasts, share your work in a way that feels authentic, and turn an interview into meaningful traction through thoughtful social media follow-up and audience engagement.
Panelists: Reine Dugas, Rick Clifton, Ian Henzel, and Dan White
Moderator: Eric Andrews-Katz
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal Salon
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Ezra Adamo, Allison Blevins, Yoseli Castillo Fuertes, Reuben “Tihi” Hayslett, Denne Michele Norris, AJ Romriell, and Rodney Rhoda Taylor for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
1 – 2:15 PM—Writer’s Craft Session
THE EKPHRASTIC SELFIE: GENERATIVE WRITING FROM A PHOTOGRAH—MIAH JEFFRA
This session explores ekphrasis—the practice of writing in response to visual art—as a powerful way to jumpstart creative thinking and generate new work. By engaging with our own photos, participants will practice translating what they see into language. Rather than simply describing an image, ekphrasis invites writers to interpret, imagine, and expand beyond the frame, using visual stimuli to spark narrative, voice, and reflection. Through guided exercises and discussion, participants will experiment with techniques for moving from observation to invention, discovering how images can unlock memory, sharpen attention, and open unexpected pathways into writing. The workshop is suitable for writers of all genres who want new strategies for overcoming creative blocks and generating fresh material.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal A
Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25
1 – 2:15 PM—Literary Discussion
MAUREEN SEATON TRIBUTE
In August of 2023, the queer literary world lost one of its brightest stars with the passing of Lambda Literary Award-winning poet and memoirist Maureen Seaton. An educator who left an enduring mark on all her students, Seaton was also renowned for her collaborations with other poets, including longtime ally Denise Duhamel with whom she co-wrote three chapbooks and full-length books. In 2025, two new Maureen Seaton collaborations with queer poets were published: “Tilt” with Aaron Smith and “Portals” with Samuel Ace. Additionally, “When I Was Straight: A Tribute to Maureen,” edited by poet Dustin Brookshire, was published in 2024, and was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award in the LGBTQ+ Anthology category. This tribute to Seaton is a celebration of a brilliant, creative life that was well-lived and well-loved.
Panelists: Clayre Benzadón and Dustin Brookshire
Moderator: Gregg Shapiro
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
1 – 2:15 PM—Literary Discussion
PLAYING WITH FIRE: THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF THE MEMOIR
People love to read memoirs, but writing them involves challenges unique to the genre. Sometimes, if you’re too honest, you risk alienating friends and family. If you soft-pedal the conflicts in the interest of preserving relationships (and avoiding lawsuits), you also run the risk of losing dramatic tension. Then there are endless questions of selection and presentation that aren’t at issue when fiction writers invent their own world. How can a memoirist give shape to a life when life is often rambling and amorphous? What goes into making decisions about which events to include, and which to leave out? What are the best ways to handle explosive or difficult material? These are some of the issues this session will address.
Panelists: Gil Z. Hochberg, Steve Majors, Geoffrey Newman, and AJ Romriell
Moderator: Clayton Delery
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
1 – 2:15 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Ally Ang, St Sukie de la Croix, Samuel Ernest, Bradley Firchow, Liza Flum, Trebor Healey, and Ann McMan for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
2:30 – 3:45 PM—Literary Discussion
WRITING IN THIS MOMENT: CURRENT EVENTS, CAUTIONARY TALES & CATHARSIS
How do you sit down to write when politics and social events weigh heavily on your mind? Some writers choose to use their craft to address the issues at hand in our world. In this panel, we’ll consider how current events inform our fiction writing, and look at how the current state of the world affects our craft – in terms of character building, setting and conflict, as well as tone and mood. How can we tackle the horrors and injustices we are witnessing either directly or indirectly? Should we? While it can be cathartic and revolutionary, it can also lead to narrowing your audience and sensationalizing your material. How do we avoid the polemical? How might we inspire hope? Our panelists take on real world issues in their writing and have tips and tricks to creating fiery, powerful, and inspirational pieces. We’ll look at queer books that have done just that in past decades, and then we’ll finish with what will certainly be a dynamic Q&A with our audience.
Panelists: Gaar Adams, Willie Carver, Jr., Vinny Cusenza, Ann McMan, and Glen P. Vecchione
Moderator: Jerry L. Wheeler
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
2:30 – 3:45 PM—Literary Discussion
QUEER STORYTELLING ACROSS BORDERS: LATINX WRITERS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH
Queer resistance and joy is in Inglés y Español. Come join this exciting group of writers and artists as they share their bilingual prose and poetry and discuss the impact of their work on comunidad in today’s literary landscape.
Panelists: Yoseli Castillo Fuertes, Russ López, Justin Torres, Viento Izquierdo Ugaz, and Dan Vera
Moderator: Gerard Cabrera
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
2:30 – 3:45 PM—SAS Writer’s Craft
THE GRASS IS BLUE: A DOLLY PARTON POETRY WORKSHOP—DUSTIN BROOKSHIRE
What could the songs of legendary singer-songwriter Dolly Parton teach us about writing, craft, and perspectives in poetry? In this in-person workshop, poet and co-editor of Let Me Say This: A Dolly Parton Poetry Anthology, Dustin Brookshire guides participants through exploring the discography and cultural impact of Dolly Parton while using her songs as inspiration for writing new poems via thematic prompts.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal Salon
Included in SAS Weekend Registration or $25
2:30 – 3:45 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Gaar Adams, Elizabeth Costello, Matthew Clark Davison, Mickie Kennedy, Martin Padgett, Robert Raasch, and K.M. Soehnlein for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
4 – 5:15 PM—Conversation
CONVERSATION WITH THOMAS MALLON & MARTIN SHERMAN
LED BY MAUREEN CORRIGAN
When fact is stranger than fiction, how do you tell a story that’s compelling, empathetic, and true? Maureen Corrigan leads in a discussion of interweaving humanity and history. Thomas Mallon is the author of The Very Heart of It, a New Yorker Best Book of the Year that chronicles his journal entries around New York City in the 80s and 90s, a gay coming of age story that takes readers through the AIDs crisis and beyond. He is also the author of nonfiction works about diaries, plagiarism, and letters, as well as a substantial body of work in historical fiction, from the Reagan years to Hurricane Katrina. Martin Sherman is the author of On the Boardwalk, a memoir that takes the reader on a darkly humorous journey of the author’s life growing up in a Jewish immigrant family and ending with his success on Broadway as the writer of the play BENT. Sherman is also known for his stage adaptations of Tennessee Williams’s The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone and E.M. Forster’s A Passage to India.
Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom
4 – 5:15 PM—Poetry Reading and Discussion
THE HUMAN SIGNATURE: POETRY AS THE ANTIDOTE TO AUTOPILOT
As AI and algorithms attempt to mimic style and soul, queer poets are doubling down on the human signature—the specific, the weird, the unclassifiable, the mortal, the uncontainable, the multitudinous, the unreplicable. Our panel explores how we’re protecting creative autonomy via poetic praxes and tapping into lyric power to assert our presence in an increasingly scattered world. (A world that’s become a little too fond of delete keys.) Join us for a vital and dynamic conversation.
Panelists: Ally Ang, Allison Blevins, Ching-In Chen, and Liza Flum
Moderator: Margot Douaihy
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
4 – 5:15 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Eric Andrews-Katz, Alfred P. Doblin, Russ López, Kim Roberts Meikle, Genevieve Rheams, Vincent Traughber Meis, and Audrey Wilson for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
6:30 – 7:45 PM
SAS FICTION CONTEST READING
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Join us to celebrate the launch of our 2026 Fiction Anthology, including our SAS Fiction winner, runners-up, and finalists.
Hotel Monteleone, Riverview Room, Rooftop
8 PM – 10 PM
ANNUAL QUEER AF READING
Come join us in the Riverview Room—Rooftop (R) of the Hotel Monteleone for our annual Queer AF reading! This special event pairs local and out-of-town writers from all writing stages and genres. This year, we are thrilled to announce that our featured readers are Rickey Laurentiis, Brad Richard, Chin-Sun Lee, Casey Dawson, Ben Fluet, Katie Gilmartin, Birch Wiley, Sean Patrick Mulroy, and Miah Jeffra. Open mic to follow, and sign ups will be first come, first served. There will be booze, there will be panache, there will be an afterparty!
Hosted by poet and LMNL Lit executive director, Nikki Ummel.
Hotel Monteleone, Riverview Room, Rooftop
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SAINTS + SINNERS XXIII
Sunday, March 29, 2026
10 – 11:15 AM—Literary Discussion
POETRY AND THE WORD: A DISCUSSION OF THE POETRY VOICE
In this panel, we’ll discuss the unique power of the poetic voice, and how poetry can express truths and beauties that prose often cannot. Panelists will discuss ideas such as: What draws us to expressing ourselves through poetry? Is it a different space than the idea of story, and/or how can they align? In other words, what is best expressed poetically, and what conversely through prose? Then again, if everything is a narrative of a kind, what story, in other words, is best told through poetry? Is it about the present, a moment and the now versus a linear or time-determined narrative, or can it be a little of both? As well, we’ll look at poetic forms like villanelles, sonnets, and pantoums, along with rhyme, meter, and poetic structure. We’ll also discuss poesy, or the idea of poetic prose, as many of us write both prose and poetry, but are drawn strongly toward the poetic and poetic forms, even in our prose. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a Q&A and invite audience members to participate.
Panelists: Ramón García, Michael Montlack, Jerome Ellison Murphy, Steven Reigns, and Brad Vogel
Moderator: Trebor Healey
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
10 – 11:15 AM—Literary Discussion
MAKE ‘EM LAUGH: RECLAIMING JOY WITH HUMOR WRITING
While “great writing” often conjures images of enduring and profound tragedy, gay actor Edmund Gwenn (Kris Kringle, Miracle on 34th Street) got it right when he said that dying is easy – comedy is hard. But good comedy can offer escape, comfort, and a sense of community in an isolated and tense world. So what makes something funny? Is it something that can be taught? How can humor help tell your story, make your characters richer, or engage your readers? Finally, is there such a thing as “gay” humor and is it possible to define? Let’s talk about all things funny with a group of funny writers who write funny books.
Panelists: St Sukie de la Croix, Ann McMan, Eric Peterson, and Genevieve Rheams
Moderator: Fay Jacobs
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
10 – 11:15 AM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Jonathan Alexander, Gerard Cabrera, Louis Flint Ceci, Daniel Meltz, Geoffrey Newman, Christopher Tradowsky, and Jerry L. Wheeler and for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
11:30 AM – 12:45 PM—Literary Discussion
TURNING THE SCREWS
One of the best experiences for a reader is to get so caught up in a novel that they have a physical reaction—dilated pupils, increased heart rate, and an inability to put the book down until the final page. Whether the dramatic tension comes from an internal, psychological source or from exterior forces, authors are masters at turning the screws and torturing their audience by creating unbearable suspense. Join us for a lively discussion on tricks of the trade and ways to keep people on tenterhooks until they can think of nothing else!
Panelists: Christopher Castellani, Greg Herren, J.M. Redmann, and Audrey Wilson
Moderator: Salem West
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
11:30 AM—12:45 PM—Literary Discussion
APPROACHING 50 YEARS OF AIDS LITERATURE collectively explores how creative writing, memoir and nonfiction has and continues to document and inform our communities’ definition of resistance and resilience. Featuring writers, activists, and publishers, the discussion highlights AIDS literature’s role in advocacy, memorialization, and community. Panelists will discuss their own efforts and experiences within the context of historical events—while addressing ongoing issues of cultural backlash and diminished political capital. Storytelling is an act of preservation and preparation for the queer community.
Panelists: Sven Davisson, Thomas Mallon, Steven Reigns, AJ Romriell, and Douglas Sadownick
Moderator: Tom Cardamone
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
Sponsored by the Bruce J. Heim Foundation.
11:30 AM—12:45 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Ben Fluet, Sonny Artemis Gray, Bracken LeClair, James Magruder, C. Russell Price, Richard Compson Sater, and Glen P. Vecchione for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
1 – 2:15 PM—Literary Discussion
WRITING QUEER HISTORIES
Queer and trans folk have frequently been erased from “official” histories and, indeed, we are living at a moment in which multiple governmental offices in this country are ignoring or actively suppressing knowledge and information about LGBTQ people and communities. For instance, type in “gay,” “lesbian,” “bisexual,” “trans,” or “queer” into the US National Park Service website, and you will find absolutely no references to national historical monuments commemorating LGBTQ history; they have largely been removed. Within this context, writing focused on exploring, understanding, and disseminating information about queer and trans histories and events is crucial. This panel presents four contemporary writers who are helping us understand—and preserve—our histories.
Panelists: Daniel Brook, Robert W. Fieseler, Martin Padgett, and Frank Perez
Moderator: Jonathan Alexander
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
1 – 2:15 PM—Literary Discussion
NEW ORLEANS POETS PUT ON THAT SEASONING!
Featuring Brad Richard, Rickey Laurentiis, Polly Sawabini, and Les Patin, this line up of new(er) to more “seasoned” New Orleans poets in their literary and publishing journey will read some of their work and then share their experiences and reflections on what it has meant—in practice and “in business”—to reach audiences through readings, publishing, social media, etc. Conversation and audience Q&A moderated by Daniel W.K. Lee.
Panelists: Rickey Laurentiis, Les Patin, Brad Richard, and Polly Sawabini
Moderator: Daniel W.K. Lee
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
1 – 2:15 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Christopher Castellani, Zach Grear, Jewelle Gomez, Joby Mire, Patrick Earl Ryan, Gregg Shapiro, and Martin Sherman for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
2:30 – 3:45 PM—Literary Discussion
SPECULATIVE FICTION AND OUR TOMORROWS
“In order to make a new world we must first imagine a new world.”
How do we use our imaginations to create the future and how does it help us write creatively? Writers of speculative fiction will talk about how they enter the process, what are some of the challenges of imagining things that aren’t there and what are the rewards? Is the future always bleak? How much can we change our vision of the future?
Panelists: Christian Baines, Michael Cunningham, Reuben “Tihi” Hayslett, and K.M. Soehnlein
Moderator: Jewelle Gomez
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B
2:30 – 3:45 PM—Literary Discussion
BUILDING LITERARY COMMUNITY IN REPRESSIVE TIMES
Our country desperately needs true community right now—social spaces that are safe and welcoming to individuals and their creativity. How can LGBTQIA writers build literary communities that help us thrive, and in the process, create a bulwark against the anti-democratic forces that threaten us all? Donna Minkowitz, a longtime queer writer and activist and the founder of Lit Lit, a five-year-old open mic for writers in Beacon, New York will moderate this discussion.
Panelists: Betsy Carswell (Golden Crown Literary Society), Samuel Ernest (founding publisher of the new press Homodoxy), Katie Gilmartin (the Queer Ancestors Project), Carol Rosenfeld (Publishing Triangle), and Denne Michele Norris (Electric Literature)
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal C
2:30 – 3:45 PM—Reading Series
SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ
Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation
Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Rob Byrnes, Laurinda D. Brown, Drew Banks, Andrew Faye, Greg Herren, Thomas Mallon, Steve Majors, and J.M. Redmann for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D
4 – 6 PM—Special Event
CLOSING RECEPTION
Finish out the Festival by joining us as we honor outstanding members of our literary community. Wrap up the weekend with old and new friends, and pass one more good time at the Saints and Sinners LGBTQ+ Literary Festival. We’ll introduce the honorees of our 12th annual Saints and Sinners Dorothy Allison & Felice Picano Emerging Writer Award—sponsored by Rob Byrnes. This award acknowledges an exceptional debut work or an author establishing a body of work propelling them to the next stage of their literary career. We’ll also induct this year’s members into the Saints and Sinners Hall of Fame given to individuals who share their passion for our literary community through various avenues, including writing, performing, promotion, publishing, editing, teaching, bookselling, and volunteerism.
Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal Salon