Unlikely Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Penton (that’s me) will not be at the 2026 Conference of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs in Baltimore, not exactly, because he’s got a newborn in the family. But Unlikely Books will be there, and both Jonathan Penton and Unlikely Spouse Rosalyn Spencer will be zooming in to present panels!
The Unlikely Action begins on Thursday, March 5, at 10:35am-11:50am. Check out the AWP panel, “More than Memory: The Art of Jewish Storytelling in Creative Nonfiction.” We’ll hear from Jessie Askinazi, Michael Ian Black, Hannah Cohen, Kenning JP García, and Jonathan Penton as they explore just a tip of this complex and ancient art. It’ll be in Room 314, Level 300, at the Baltimore Convention Center. Jessie, Michael, Hannah, and Kenning will be on hand, and Jonathan will be zooming in to give his talk!
Then, on Thursday, March 5, 5:30-8:30pm, Unlikely Books will join forces with Rigorous to present an AWP offsite event filled with poetry and great literature! Readers include Vincent A. Cellucci, Brooke Champagne, Jiwon Choi, Kenning JP García, Brock Guthrie, Caroline Hagood, Skye Jackson, Laura Mattingly, Daphne Maysonet, Christopher Louis Romaguera, Christopher Shipman, Dana Venerable, and Ronaldo V. Wilson! The show will be at a great book and music store by the name of Vinyl and Pages at 301 Light Street in Baltimore Harbor Place, and it’ll be free and open to the public.
On Saturday, March 7, 10:35am-11:50am, check out the AWP panel “In Their Own Voice: The Student-Centered K-12 Creative Writing Classroom,” with Annell Lopez, Brad Richard, Christopher Shipman, Rosalyn Spencer, and Andrea Young! It, too, will be in Room 314, Level 300, at the Baltimore Convention Center. Annell, Brad, Christopher, and Andrea will be there, and our Rosalyn will zoom in!
And on Saturday, March 7, 1pm-3pm, Unlikely Books will join with Rigorous and Dream Pop Press to present “Believable Fictions: A Poetry & Prose Reading Afternoon” at the American Visionary Art Museum! Readers include Clarinda Harriss, Gerry LaFemina, and Gregg Wilhelm, Jessie Azkinazi, Jiwon Choi, Peyton Burgess, Vincent Cellucci, Kenning JP García, Skye Jackson, Isobel O’Hare, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Rone Shavers, and Christopher Shipman! Note that while the event itself is free, admission to the museum is $20, but I hear the whole museum is well worth the ticket price!
So if you’re in Baltimore for the Conference, come by and have an Unlikely Time! There’s lots of Unlikely Stuff to do, and remember: we’re having more fun, and want to include you!
