Bi-Monthly By Ryan #2

Dear Friends,

Thank you for reading my first newsletter. I especially appreciate your cheers and responses. So much has happened in the two weeks and two days since I first emailed you! 

• On Friday, May 3, I attended the opening event of Love Letters to Baltimore + the DMV, an exhibition I co-curated with Nerissa Paglinauan for the Asia North 2024 Festival. I initially pitched my idea as a letter writing workshop, which the organizers loved so much they decided to use as the theme for this year's festival. The exhibition is on display until June 1, and I'm facilitating an artist talk on May 14 and a generative letter writing workshop and open mic on May 29 in Baltimore, as a part of the festival. 

• The very next day, I attended the Washington (DC) Writers Conference, where I pitched my work to literary agents for the very first time. I pitched to 7 agents total, 2 of whom are interested in seeing more of my manuscript! Along with four others, I received a scholarship to attend the conference, where we were recognized in this article and at lunch with an ovation.

• The following Tuesday, I hosted the last gathering of the season of The Adoptee Open Mic, my virtual event for Black and Brown adoptees only. I am on hiatus until (at least) September, while I prioritize myself. I will be hosting an in-person session of The Adoptee Open Mic at the inaugural BIPOC Adoptees Conference in Portland, OR in July, for which registration is currently open, please sign up if you are eligible and able to join!

In so many ways, I feel like I am living the writerly life of my dreams! I am constantly and fully immersed in my own creative process, as well as an expansive community of fellow activists and artists. Thank you for your attention; I sincerely appreciate your time, space, and energy.

Love, Ryan <3

linktr.ee/ryanartes