2021 Event Guide & Information

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Friday evening, October 15, 2021, the JaxbyJax Literary Arts Festival kicks off with a first-of-its kind event:
a dramatic reading of Featured Playwright Tim Gilmore's "Repossessions: Mass Shooting in Baymeadows" in the Grand Foyer at the Jessie Ball DuPont Center, directed by Barbara Colaciello. The play will start promptly at 7 p.m. and run until 8 p.m., followed by Q&A with the author, director, and cast until 8:30.  REGISTER HERE for this FREE event. 

On Saturday morning, October 16, the day begins at 10 a.m. with three one-hour-long workshops from which to choose:

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Advocacy Writing with Yvette Angelique - "Writing for Civic Engagement and Social Justice"

Writing from Trauma with Michele Parker Randall - "Lead Me On: Extended Metaphor as Write-around Strategy"

Women Writing for a Change with Jennifer Wolfe - "Activism Through Self-Expression"

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At 11 a.m., enjoy readings from the first set of eight writers in the Auditorium or the Rooftop Garden.

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Auditorium: Valarie Esguerra, Michelle Parker Randall, Linda O'Connell, & Johnny Masiulewicz

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Rooftop Garden: Taryn "Love Reigns" Wharwood, Julie Delegal, Erica Susan Saffer, & Andres Rojas

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From 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., hear the work of outstanding student writers from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, FSCJ, UNF, and the Literacy Alliance of Northeast Florida at the Rooftop Garden and the Loading Dock.

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At 2 p.m., hear Bill Delaney read from his new book, Secret Jacksonville, on the Loading Dock.

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At 2:30 p.m., hear the work of the second set of eight writers in the Auditorium or the Rooftop Garden.

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Auditorium: Damon Thomas, Tayve Neese, Sohrab Homi Fracis, John Aloszka

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Rooftop Garden: Melissa Gopp Warner, Cheri "Junebug" Royal, Kayla Frances Murray, Princess Simpson Rashid

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At 4 p.m., enjoy readings from Featured Memoirist Tricia Booker, Featured Poet Yvette Angelique Hyater Adams, and Featured Playwright Tim Gilmore, followed by readings at 5 p.m. from Featured Authors Rodney Hurst and Dr. Rudy Jamison, co-authors of "Never Forget Who You Are."

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All the writers will be available to chat with fans and sell and sign books at three separate half-hour sessions:

from noon -12:30, from 3:30 - 4 p.m., and from 5:30 to 6 p.m. in the Grand Foyer.

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Then enjoy finger-foods, a cash bar, and live music while you meet and mingle with authors, students, and fans at the after-party in the Grand Foyer starting at 6 p.m.

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List of Events by Venue/Room:

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Writing Workshops – Second Floor – 10:00

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Room #202 - Advocacy Writing with Yvette Angelique Hyater-Adams - "Writing for Civic Engagement and Social Justice" 

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Room #201 - Writing from Trauma with Michele Parker Randall - "Lead Me On: Extended Metaphor as Write-around Strategy"

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Room #219 - Women Writing for a Change with Jennifer Wolfe - "Activism Through Self-Expression"

Auditorium

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11:00 - Valarie Esguerra

11:15 - Michelle Parker Randall

11:30 - Linda O'Connell

11:45 - Johnny Masiulewicz

2:30 - Damon Thomas

2:45 - Tayve Neese

3:00 - Sohrab Homi Fracis

3:15 - John Aloszka

4:00 – Tricia Booker

4:15 – Yvette Angelique Hyater-Adams

4:30 – Tim Gilmore

4:45 – Q&A

5:00 – Rodney Hurst

5:15 – Rudy F. Jamison, Jr.

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Rooftop Garden

11:00 - Taryn "Love Reigns" Wharwood

11:15 - Julie Delegal

11:30 - Erica Susan Saffer

11:45 - Andres Rojas

12:30 – Abigail Gower – DA

12:45 – Autumn Hill – DA

1:00 – Nayra McMahan – DA

1:15 – Kathryn Moore – DA

1:30 – Sage Whitecotton – DA

1:45 – Shaun McCurdy – FSCJ

2:00 – Evette Davis - FSCJ

2:15 – Move to Loading Dock for Dr. James Robert Cobb Student Writer Awards

2:30 - Melissa Gopp-Warner

2:45 - Cheri "Junebug" Royal

3:00 - Kayla Frances Murray

3:15 - Princess Simpson Rashid

Loading Dock

12:30 – Catherine Barken - UNF

12:45 – Rico Bolano - UNF

1:00 – Sarah Dumitrasco - UNF

1:15 – Hadley Hendrix - UNF

1:30 – Natasha Kane - UNF

1:45 – Marvin Williams - LA

2:00 – Bill Delaney – UNF Professor

2:15 – Dr. James Robert Cobb Student Writer Awards presented by Andres Rojas

Grand Foyer

12:00 - 12:30 - Book Sales & Signings

3:30 - 4:00 - Book Sales & Signings

5:30 - 5:45 - Book Sales & Signings

6:00 – 7:30 – Authors/Fans Meet & Mingle

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The Jessie Ball DuPont Center is located at 40 East Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

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Click here for a map and directions.  Click here for parking information.

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Photo by Robin Clark​

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