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 Dana Venerable, Christopher Shipman, Brooke Champagne, Daphne Maysonet, Skye Jackson, Laura Mattingly, Brock Guthrie, Caroline Hagood, Joani Reese, Jennifer Maritza McCauley, Kenning JP García, Christopher Louis Romaguera, Ronaldo V. Wilson, Jiwon Choi, and Vincent A. Cellucci! 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, Christopher Shipman, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Peyton Burgess, Skye Jackson, Gerry LaFemina, Jessie Askinazi, Rone Shavers, Kenning JP García, Isobel O'Hare, Gregg Wilhelm, Jiwon Choi, Chris Tonelli and Vincent A. Cellucci! 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!
