BOLD is thrilled to host an author reading with Steve Arndt and the Spanbauerians!
Author and instructor Tom Spanbauer had a profound effect on many writers in the Portland area and beyond. Indeed, there are generations of Spanbauer writers who have gone on to publish, lead other writing groups, teach, and most importantly, continue the legacy of community and craft. Spanbauerian Steve Arndt leads the charge for this reading series, curating a selection of Spanbauer authors to read each quarter at BOLD Coffee & Books.
The second iteration of this series brings us readings from Jan Baross, Doug Chase, Brian Stephen Ellis, and Dian Greenwood.
Jan Baross is an award-winning novelist, poet, filmmaker, screenwriter, playwright, librettist, and taught filmmaking at OSU. Jose Builds a Woman, her debut novel, received first place for Kay Snow Awards. Ursula Le Guin called it “a wild ride through the extravagantly carnal Mexico of the imagination.” Her second novel was a political satire, Sylvia, the 100-year-old Assassin. Her current novel, Bye-Bye Bakersfield, won First Place in the International San Miguel Writers Competition, 2023.
Doug Chase revived his writing jones in 2012 when he joined Tom Spanbauer’s weekly workshop. He has one unpublished book, one unfinished book going through major reconstruction, and half of a draft of an evil robot story. His current work in progress is called “What’s a Nice Jewish Boy Like Me Doing in a Church Like This?” Doug has stories in the classic Portland anthology City of Weird, the remarkable book of Stephen O’Donnell’s paintings The Untold Gaze, and a horror-themed volume of Deep Overstock. Doug lives in Portland with his remarkable spouse Tracey and their two utterly ridiculous kittens, Abner and Daisy.
Brian Stephen Ellis is the author of five collections of poetry and one collection of short fiction. His most recent collection of poems, Against Common Sense, was a finalist for the 2025 Oregon Book Award. He lives in Portland.
Dian Greenwood studied writing (emphasis on poetry) at San Francisco State University. She later studied novel writing with Janet Fitch (White Oleander) and Tom Spanbauer (In the City of Shy Hunters). Dian published About the Carleton Sisters (2023, She Writes Press) and, a year later, Forever Blackbirds (2024). The Blackbird sequel, Blackbird Whistling is due in September 2025, both books from Traveler’s Moon Press. Dian previously published essays in the online magazine, The Big Smoke, America. Her Substack essays can be found at It’s Never Too Late. Dian lives in Portland, Oregon, where she writes and works as a family therapist. She can be reached at
Z3JlZW53b29kZGlhbiB8IGdtYWlsICEgY29t or 503-791-6106.
Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to grab a snack or drink. The event will start at 7:00 p.m.
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Event cohosted by BOLD Coffee & Books and Indigo: Editing, Design, and More.
You may also like the following events from BOLD Coffee & Books:
- This Friday, 11th July, 12:00 pm, Rose City Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Weekly Write-In in Portland
- This Friday, 11th July, 07:00 pm, Author Reading: Rebecca N. Thompson, MD, Held Together, in Conversation with Kelly Burke in Portland
- This Saturday, 12th July, 11:00 am, Henna Party with Cathy Camper, Arab Arab All Year Long! in Portland
Also check out other
Arts events in Portland,
Literary Art events in Portland,
Contests in Portland.
