Spoken Interludes is a critically acclaimed literary salon where award-winning, best-selling, and up-coming writers read their own work to sold-out, in-person audiences of 300 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 then, Spoken Interludes 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. In 2000, Spoken Interludes started outreach 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. Spoken Interludes also runs a book-drive, putting over 6,000 free books into the hands of underprivileged children.