There’s a story in the San Francisco Examiner about our new book, “City of Stairways: A Poet’s Field Guide to San Francisco.” We’re looking forward to our launch reading tonight at Get Lost Books. We’ll also be giving away limited edition postcards (with the purchase of a book) and bookmarks (free to everyone!)

A lot has happened in the month since we’ve posted an update on “City of Stairways: A Poet’s Field Guide to San Francisco.” First, you should know that THE BOOKS HAVE ARRIVED! They are here! They are here!

Thank you so much to everyone who made this book a reality. The feeling you get from opening up a box and seeing your published book is priceless — it is a one-of-a-kind moment we will cherish forever.

We are preparing packages with the books to mail out to those of you who gave at the $25 or more level. The WritersCorps Apprentices got together this past Friday to write thank you postcards to you. (See below.)

Also, we are planning many readings and events for the book in venues around San Francisco. The first one is this Thursday, at Get Lost Books in San Francisco.

Here are the dates we have planned:

July 15: Get Lost Books, San Francisco, 7 pm,
August 5: The Green Arcade, San Francisco, 7 pm
August 26: Book Passage, San Francisco, 6 pm
September 23: Red Poppy Art House, San Francisco, 7 pm
October 9: LitQuake, Venue TBD

If you are in the area, we hope you can stop by one of these events. Thank you so much for your support!

WritersCorps Apprentices with guest readers from Instant City at The Green Arcade reading, August 5

Join the young authors of “City of Stairways: A Poet’s Field Guide to San Francisco” as they read from this new book about San Francisco. “City of Stairways” was written by students in WritersCorps. Part travel guide and part literary anthology, this 7×7 inch book is packed with original poetry, photography, artwork, maps, and tips on the places to see and be seen in San Francisco. “City of Stairways” offers an intimate look at some of the most memorable sites and neighborhoods in San Francisco, and gives residents and visitors alike a unique, vibrant perspective on being a youth in an urban environment.

Aside from the authors of the book, tonight’s event includes guest writers Amanda Davidson and Kevin Thomson from local literary journal Instant City. Instant City publishes fiction, non-fiction, and art generating an ongoing psychogeographic exploration of San Francisco.

About the guest writers:

Amanda Davidson is a San Francisco-based writer and multimedia artist. In 2009 she spent time as a writer-in-residence at the MacDowell Colony as well as the Art Farm Nebraska. She is currently working on her first novel. Visit her online.

Kevin Thomson is author of the book “Hot Rod Kings,” wrote the text for the book “Speedseekers,” and has contributed to numerous books and magazines. He tours and records with his bands Enablers, and BunBunBun.  Kevin enjoys breaking skin on vintage cars and acquiring bruises in empty swimming pools.

WHAT: “City of Stairways” Reading

WHEN & WHERE: August 5, 7-8 pm
The Green Arcade, 1680 Market Street

COST: Free

We’re finally getting around to posting photos from our write/walk event that took place in May. write/walk was a public literary arts project in collaboration with Mission District businesses and organizations. Businesses displayed posters featuring writing by WritersCorps students at Mission High School. Accompanying guidebooks were filled with student writing and shows the locations of the posters. Store patrons were encouraged to pick up a guidebook and go on a walk of the posters.

The inaugural walk took place on May 12. Below, WritersCorps teaching artist Carrie Leilam Love leads the tour as it starts:

A participant in the walk checks out the poster in the storefront of Borderlands Books.

The walk ended with a reading at Modern Times Bookstore.

To see more photos from write/walk, see the posters here, and see photos from the first walk here on Flickr.

We are so grateful to all the people who supported our latest book project. Super duper thanks to the following donors on Kickstarter who made “City of Stairways: A Poet’s Field Guide to San Francisco” possible. Thank you for making the dreams of our young writers come true!

Abir Majumdar * Aimee Le Duc * Alison Seevak * Amita Swadhin * Andrea Helmbolt * Anna * Anna M. Lincoln * Anne W. Smith * Aracely González

Beth Summers * Betsy * Calvin and Shane * Carol Marie Daniels * Carrie Leilam Love * Carrie Starner Keenan * Chrissy Anderson-Zavala * Cindy Je * Craig Snyder * Crystal

Debbie * Diana A * Donald E.W. Quist * Elissa Perry * Eric Damon Walters * Franklin Lee * Han Wang * Harold * Holly Figueroa O’Reilly * Iris Law

Janette C Brandolino * Javier * JD Beltran * Jen Gussman * Jessica Watson * Jessica Yazbek * Joanne Vidinsky * Jose Gonzalez * Judith Tannenbaum

Kaiser Hwang * Kristin Nienhuis * Lisa Murphy Lamb * Lois Levine * Lynne Elizabeth * Maeby Naught * Marisa Elana James * Marline Smallwood * Marta Ortiz * My Nguyen

Neelanjana Banerjee * Nicole Wolf Gilbert * Noah Nelson * Paige * Ponyo * Rachelle Axel * Robyn Carter * Robynn Takayama

Sam Chennault * Stacy Carlson * Stuart Bousel * Suki * Susan Black * Tom Petersen

Valerie Bush * Vicky Knoop * Vilma Ortiz * Vincent Pan * William Hill