Contemporary Poetry of South Korea:
Kim Ki-taek and Yi Won
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Twin Cities-based literary organization Rain Taxi began its 2022 event series by hosting a virtual event with poets Kim Ki-taek and Yi Won from South Korea, along with the translators of their new books, their first collections published in the U.S.: Ed Bok Lee, E. J. Koh, and Marci Calabretta Cancio-Bello. Poet Lee Herrick moderated the conversation and interpreting for our Korean guests was Bomi Yoon. The event, which celebrated the books Smiling in an Old Photograph by Kim Ki-taek (OHM Editions) and The World’s Lightest Motorcycle by Yi Won (Zephyr Press) can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel. You can purchase Smiling in an Old Photograph by Kim Ki-taek from Rain Taxi here.
This event was co-sponsored by the Global Poetry initiative at Metro State University: now in its thirteenth year, Global Poetry is an annual celebration that features acclaimed voices from our constantly changing world.
Ben Okri
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Rain Taxi continued its 2022 event series by hosting a virtual event with Booker Prize winning author Ben Okri to celebrate his two titles freshly out from Other Press, Every Leaf a Hallelujah and Astonishing the Gods, with a conversation with Rain Taxi Director Eric Lorberer. Book sales were provided by Magers & Quinn Booksellers in Minneapolis. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel with optional closed captions.
Judth Margolis and C.S. Giscombe
Thursday, February 24, 2022
Rain Taxi continued its 2022 event series by hosting a virtual event with California-based poet C. S. Giscombe and Israel-based visual artist Judith Margolis to celebrate their collaboration Train Music: Writing/Pictures (Omnidawn) with a conversation with Rain Taxi Director Eric Lorberer. Book sales were provided by Magers & Quinn Booksellers in Minneapolis. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel with optional closed captions.
Samuel R. Delany
with Lavelle Porter
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Twin Cities-based literary organization Rain Taxi live-streamed a conversation from the Philadelphia home of living legend Samuel R. Delany , who discussed his Occasional Views (Wesleyan University Press) with historian and writer Lavelle Porter. This event also celebrated Delany’s 80th birthday next week with cake; pictured are Stephanie Elliot Prieto, Rain Taxi editor Eric Lorberer, Samuel R. Delany, and Lavelle Porter. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel with optional closed captions.
Gregory Maguire & David Litchfield
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
Rain Taxi hosted a virtual book launch featuring Boston-area author Gregory Maguire and British illustrator David Litchfield discussing their new book Cress Watercress (Candlewick) with renowned author Ann Patchett. The event, which included origin stories from Maguire and art presentations from Litchfield, can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel with optional closed captions.
Jonathan Galassi
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Rain Taxi hosted acclaimed poet, translator, and publisher Jonathan Galassi who discussed his new novel School Days (Other Press) with Rain Taxi editor Eric Lorberer. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel with optional closed captions.
Harmony Holiday
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Rain Taxi hosted acclaimed poet and dancer Harmony Holiday in conversation with Minnesota poet Chaun Webster, discussing her new book Maafa (Fence Books). Book sales were provided by Magers & Quinn Booksellers in Minneapolis.The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel here; a replay with optional closed captions will be available starting tomorrow at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel here.
Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Check out the participating bookstores, sponsors, and winners for 2022 HERE.
Jeffrey Yang & Anni Liu
Monday, May 16, 2022
Rain Taxi hosted an in-person event with poet, translator, and editor Jeffrey Yang presenting his latest poetry collection Line and Light (Graywolf Press), joined by Minneapolis poet Anni Liu, who celebrated her debut book Border Vista (Persea Books). The event took place at The Hook & Ladder Theater in Minneapolis. Book sales were provided by Magers & Quinn Booksellers.
Gabrielle Civil
With special guests Douglas Kearney, Miré Regulus, and Sayge Carroll
Wednesday, June 7, 2022
Rain Taxi hosted an in-person event celebrating the release of the deja vu: black dreams and black time (Coffee House Press) by California based writer Gabrielle Civil; she was joined by Minnesota Book Award-winning poet Douglas Kearney, playwright Miré Regulus, and photographer Sayge Carroll for a multimedia performance. The event took place at the Open Book center in Minneapolis, with book sales provided by Magers & Quinn Booksellers; pictured here from left to right are Carroll, Civil, Coffee House publisher Anitra Budd, Rain Taxi director Eric Lorberer, Kearney, and Regulus.
Steve Sem-Sandberg & Saskia Vogel
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
In the kick-off to the 2022 Twin Cities Book Festival, Rain Taxi presented a fascinating conversation between author and translator! Swedish author Steve Sem-Sandberg and translator Saskia Vogel discussed the inspiration, process, challenges, and joys of working on the novel W., based on the play Woyzeck. The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel here; a replay with optional closed captions will be available starting tomorrow at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel here.
Jeffrey Archer
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
As part of the 2022 Twin Cities Book Festival, Rain Taxi Review of Books presented British bestselling author Jeffrey Archer in conversation with Minnesota author Carl Brookins on the publication day of Archer’s newest novel, Next In Line (HarperCollins). The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel here; a replay with optional closed captions will be available starting tomorrow at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel here.
Twin Cities Book Festival
Saturday, October 15, 2022
Our in-person Twin Cities Book Festival returned with an all-day book fair and fun author events for all ages. See the recap here.
Paul Chan
Wednesday, November 9, 2022
The Hook & Ladder Theater
Rain Taxi hosted renowned artist and Badlands Unlimited publisher Paul Chan for a conversation on art and publishing, discussing his new book Above All Waves and more. Chan is in Minneapolis preparing for the opening of his exhibition Breathers at the Walker Art Center. The event was co-presented by Rain Taxi and the Walker, and took place at The Hook & Ladder Theater in Minneapolis.
Will Alexander
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
On November 16, 2022, the Twin Cities-based literary organization Rain Taxi hosted acclaimed poet Will Alexander in conversation with British poet-scholar D. S. Marriott in celebration of Alexander’s new collection Divine Blue Light (for John Coltrane), just published in the famed City Lights Pocket Poets Series. With Alexander beaming in from Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s storied office in City Lights Bookstore, the poets delved deeply into the bodily and cosmic inspiration of art. The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel here: https://www.crowdcast.io/raintaxireview; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/raintaxiinc.
Judith Thurman
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
On December 7, 2022, the Twin Cities-based literary organization Rain Taxi celebrated the launch of The Left-Handed Woman (FSG) by acclaimed author Judith Thurman, a prolific staff writer at The New Yorker and a winner of the National Book Award in Biography, with a virtual event featuring Thurman in conversation with two other stellar, award-winning authors, Kate DiCamillo and Louise Erdrich. The trio's fascinating conversation ran the gamut from purgatory to unconsciousness, dazzling over 400 people who attended!
The event can be viewed free of charge on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel here: https://www.crowdcast.io/raintaxireview; a replay (with optional closed captions) will also be available shortly at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/raintaxiinc.