Spoken Interludes is a critically acclaimed literary salon where award-winning, best-selling, and up-coming writers read their own work to audiences of 200 people and more. DeLauné Michel created Spoken Interludes in 1996, when the choices for literary events were limited to poetry readings or signings in bookstores. Since that time, this literary institution in New York and Los Angeles has been covered extensively by publications ranging from The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, GQ Magazine and has been heard on National Public Radio.
The salon begins with the audience arriving from 6:00 to 7:30 for an exquisite buffet dinner. The readings follow from 7:30 until 8:30, and feature writers such as: Andrew Solomon, Karen Russell, Wally Lamb, Francine Prose, Frank Bruni, Meg Wolitzer, Adam Gopnik, Jay McInerney, Jennifer Egan, AJ Jacobs, Ann Beattie, Blake Bailey, U.S. Senator Gary Hart, Gabrielle Hamilton, and Gary Shteyngart. The evening winds down with book signing and chatting with the authors.
The Los Angeles Times“It’s like a bedtime story for the soul.”
The Journal News“With her Southern hospitality, DeLauné Michel has recast the literary salon.”
Los Angeles Magazine
Since its debut, Spoken Interludes has provided a place where people come together, enjoy great food, and hear stories like their own reflected in the voices of others. See a list of upcoming events.
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Watch a short video about our writing program.
André Dubus III with cousin DeLauné Michel
DeLauné Michel has spent the last two decades in the literary world – producing an acclaimed reading series, empowering marginalized voices, and writing fiction and nonfiction. Her career telling stories began with her work as an actor in theatre, television, and feature films. In 1996, Ms. Michel created Spoken Interludes where award-winning, bestselling, and debut writers read their work to audiences of 200. Ms. Michel then developed, taught in, and continues to run writing programs for at-risk youth in inner-city schools, juvenile institutions, and prison reaching over 450 children a year in New York and Los Angeles since 2000. Through Spoken Interludes, she also runs a book-drive, putting over 6,000 free books into the hands of underprivileged children. The first two short stories Ms. Michel wrote won recognition in the Thomas Wolf Short Fiction Competition. Her novels, Aftermath of Dreaming and The Safety of Secrets, were published by HarperCollins. After completing a third novel, she is currently working on a new book. She lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband and two sons. Visit www.delaunemichel.com