Tulsa LitFest is back with more local creative energy than ever

Published: Thursday, March 23, 2023

The LitFest 2023 leadership team (from left to right) includes Tulsa Artist Fellow Quraysh Ali Lansana, Whitty Books owner Victoria Moore, Fulton Street Books owner Onikah Asamoa-Caesar and Center for Poets and Writers at OSU-Tulsa director Lindsey Smith.

Tulsa LitFest 2023 is set to bring creatives together at venues across Tulsa April 20-23. The free festival includes events ranging from open mic nights and live readings to a small press book fair and a jazz show, presented in a variety of bookstores, taprooms and museums near downtown.

“This year’s LitFest is for creatives, writers, and bookworms of all flavors,” said Lindsey Smith, director of the Center for Poets and Writers at OSU-Tulsa. “If you want to pitch your screenplay, discover new graphic novels or just support local talent in fresh new ways, LitFest is for you.”

Highlights include readings from Pulitzer Prize finalist Adrian Matejka and National Book Award finalist Layli Long Soldier, a poetry magazine pitch clinic at Fulton Street Books and the chance for attendees to pitch their screenplays to film industry professionals at OSU-Tulsa.

Matejka is a poet and author of works such as The Devil’s Garden and Mixology. His Third collection, The Big Smoke, was a finalist for Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, the National Book Award, and the Pulitzer Prize in poetry. Soldier is a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation, the author of the chapbook Chromosomory and the full-length collection Whereas, which was a finalist for a National Book Award. Brodie is a television and film producer known for his work on Minari, Reservation Dogs and The Mule.

Smith, Whitty Books owner Victoria Moore, Tulsa Artist Fellow Quraysh Ali Lansana and Fulton Street Books owner Onikah Asamoa-Caesar serve as the leadership team, working together to provide eclectic and original opportunities for local creators, as well as a platform for indie authors and artists.

“I’m thrilled to be on a team with local leaders who share such a passion for storytelling and creativity,” Smith said. “We’re looking forward being in community with fellow Tulsans as we gather with some of the most talented and inspiring writers and indie publishers of today.”

For a full schedule of events and workshop pre-registration, visit tulsalitfest.org.