A step by step guide to the long journey from concept to outlining to production and distribution. Whether you want to publish your own stories or work within the industry, this course will help you understand how to plan out the finances and deadline flow of a book release. 

Charles J. Martin founded Literati Press Comics & Novels in 2010 to give a platform to progressive storytelling in Oklahoma. In 2016, he took over as the gallery manager for the Paseo Plunge, later building out the Literati Press Bookshop which started with two modest bookcases by the front door and has since sprawled deeper and deeper into the building with no end in sight.

This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the exploration of their poetic voice through a combination of brief exercises and discussions, participants will begin to tap into their creativity and express themselves through poetry.

Mary B. Gray is a poet grounded in the rich rhythms of Oklahoma, weaving compelling stories of identity, resilience, and connection. Her award-winning debut collection, Who Do You Think You Are?, honored with the 2023 Oklahoma Book Award in Poetry, blends heart and history to leave a lasting impression on readers. With an MFA in Creative Writing from Oklahoma City University, Mary has brought her craft to life through workshops and readings at events such as the OU Black Poetry Exhibition and the Society of Urban Poets. Driven by her belief in the transformative power of language and poetry, and the conviction that everyone holds poetry within, she cultivates spaces where voices are valued, words resonate, and verses vibrate.

Each First Friday of the month, the community is invited to stroll the historic Paseo Arts District. All galleries, boutiques and businesses will hold extended hours through 9pm! Come explore!

Have you ever felt like premade book journals don’t quite fit how you'd like to track your reading? I don't know about you, but I have a pile of half-filled-out book journals myself!

Join me for a fun, creative Book Journaling Workshop, where you'll create our very own tailor-made book journal that truly fits your reading life!

Tracking your reading in fun and unique ways can help you get to know yourself as a reader, and give you something to look back on at the end of the year and feel a sense of accomplishment for the time you took to reflect and interact with the books you read over the year.

In addition to a blank journal that you can customize to reflect your unique reading style, you'll also get:
• Inspiration for the many different layouts you can use to track your reads
• Help designing your own reading challenges and goals that sound fun to you!
• Access to decorating supplies so you can design each page exactly how you want—think markers, stencils, washi tape, and stickers!

Let's get together and have some creatively bookish fun!

Melissa Coast is a book concierge and book buyer at Literati Press Bookshop. Melissa pinged on the Literati Press radar with her fantastic Instagram account, @stickynote_bookrecs as well as her frequent trips to our shop. Initially roped into the crew to help with spare hours, we soon realized she was a voracious reader and loved talking, selling, and curating books. Her role expanded into lead book buyer in 2023. She's always ready to chat with anyone who loves books as much as she does, happy to share recommendations, or just gush about favorite reads.

This class will be taught by Greg Erway and is a two-day course on Tuesday, May 20 and Tuesday, May 27 from 6:00-9:00p at the Paseo Arts & Creativity Center at 3024 Paseo.

Registration fee: $65

About the Class:

This class will focus on the foundations of landscape painting. Overall subjects which will be covered are: SHAPES: you'll learn how to simplify a landscape, how to identify the important shapes, and a basic understanding of composition. VALUE: you'll learn how to consolidate the landscape into four values, how to identify the value of color, and the four planes of a landscape. COLOR OVERVIEW: you'll become familiar with the "split primary" palette, create a color wheel, and basic color mixing principles.  

 About the Instructor:

Greg and his wife Denice own and operate Wildfire Gallery in the Paseo Arts District. Greg enjoys teaching and employs his forty-plus years of being an artist in his teaching of acrylic painting, portrait drawing, etc. Greg has been teaching art for the last four years and is currently teaching at Edmond Fine Arts Institute and Healthy Living OKC. He is excited to offer this class at the Paseo Arts Association.

Learn to craft compelling monologues in this workshop for people of all experience levels. See how to develop authentic character voices, create tension within a single speech, and balance exposition with emotion. You'll gain skills in structuring your monologues for maximum impact, whether you're a playwright, screenwriter, or actor creating your own material. You'll also hear how to avoid common pitfalls such as overwriting, relying on clichés, and creating static speeches. Join us as we develop monologues that draw audiences in and reveal the depths of your characters.

Rodney Brazil is a writer and theatre professional based in Oklahoma City. He has authored several plays, including Thank You, Places and All My Ex-Boyfriends are Gay. Brazil's written work has been published in the New Plains Review. Beyond theatre, he has extensive experience writing articles and educational resources for companies worldwide. Rodney is a member of the dramatists guild.

This class will be taught by Greg Erway and is a two-day course on Tuesday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 13 from 6:00-9:00p at the Paseo Arts & Creativity Center at 3024 Paseo.

Registration fee: $65

About the Class:

This class will focus on the foundations of landscape painting. Overall subjects which will be covered are: SHAPES: you'll learn how to simplify a landscape, how to identify the important shapes, and a basic understanding of composition. VALUE: you'll learn how to consolidate the landscape into four values, how to identify the value of color, and the four planes of a landscape. COLOR OVERVIEW: you'll become familiar with the "split primary" palette, create a color wheel, and basic color mixing principles.  

 About the Instructor:

Greg and his wife Denice own and operate Wildfire Gallery in the Paseo Arts District. Greg enjoys teaching and employs his forty-plus years of being an artist in his teaching of acrylic painting, portrait drawing, etc. Greg has been teaching art for the last four years and is currently teaching at Edmond Fine Arts Institute and Healthy Living OKC. He is excited to offer this class at the Paseo Arts Association.

An hour and a half fiction workshop that focuses on character-building through clothing with writing exercises.

Kira Hayen is an artist and writer enrolled in the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma and is of various indigenous and settler descent. Her work explores the political and personal intersections of her identity. Hayen received an MFA in Creative Writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts and currently resides in Oklahoma City.

Each First Friday of the month, the community is invited to stroll the historic Paseo Arts District. All galleries, boutiques and businesses will hold extended hours through 9pm! Come explore!

A shopping extravaganza! We will be open with extended hours on April 15 from 11am-6pm and will be offering mystery prizes, discounts, snacks and much more!

Join us at Art Soul Metaphysical as we celebrate a milestone: our 1-year anniversary! On April 11, we're expressing gratitude to our wonderful customers with an exclusive 11% discount on entire purchases. Plus, receive a special gift with your purchase as a token of our appreciation. As the day unfolds, we'll gather at 6pm for a transformative Kundalini Yoga and Cacao Ceremony, guiding you through a journey of breathwork, movement, and heart-opening connection. Mark your calendars for April 11 and get ready to immerse yourself in a day of love, light, and celebration!

College Unpacked: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Preparing For, and Excelling in College

College Made Clear for Students and Parents

Navigating the college journey can feel overwhelming—whether you're a high school student stepping into the unknown or a parent trying to offer the right guidance. College Unpacked is your go-to resource, answering the questions you didn’t even know to ask.

Written by a seasoned college dean and a dad who’s sent four kids to college, this book walks you through every stage of the process: choosing the right school, understanding admissions, preparing for dorm life, and thriving academically. With practical advice, real-world insights, and checklists you’ll actually use, this is your guide to making sense of the complex world of higher education.

Students will find strategies for success and confidence as they embark on this new adventure. Parents will discover clear, no-nonsense advice to support their student while letting them take the lead.

Packed with the wisdom of an educator and the heart of a parent, College Unpacked helps you navigate the challenges and celebrate the victories—one step at a time.

Author Bio:
J Hall is an educator, author, and podcaster from Oklahoma City where he lives with his wife, two dogs, and a rotating cast of adult children who stop in for meals and occasional dog-sitting. Most importantly, he is a grandpa, and he will certainly bore you to tears telling you how awesome his grandson is. After more than 15 years in professional ministry, J has worked in higher education since 2009, currently serving as Dean of Social Sciences at Oklahoma City Community College and teaching sociology. J hosts and produces the Okie Bookcast, a podcast dedicated to connecting curious readers with their next great read through interviewing authors and storytellers connected to Oklahoma. He also co-hosts a monthly book chat show through the Bookcast with his daughter, author and screenwriter Hannah Joy Herron. College Unpacked is J's second book, following 2023's God Help Me! I'm a Young Dad

An instruction guide of how to handle the inner struggle after a massacre between the human voice which calls for revenge and the safety of your children and the voice of reason which comes to remind you that all mothers want the same thing. The text investigates the idea of humanism seen in the light of the meaninglessness of war and from the mother’s perspective: Mothers on both sides of a conflict. Who do you turn to or listen to – or not at all! – to understand or put an end to the atrocities?

Reader’s Theatre style performance at Oklahoma Shakespeare.

Showings are at 1pm and 4pm

Shakespeare Sonnet Slam - Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, Friday, April 4. Starting at 6:00 p.m. with typewriter poets in the Mermaid Tavern, the slam kicks off at 7:30 p.m. in the indoor theater with a mini lecture about Shakespeare's sonnets, followed by local poets performing 14 of Shakespeare's sonnets. Competitors will be given a list of sonnets in advance and will perform in bouts during the slam.

Each First Friday of the month, the community is invited to stroll the historic Paseo Arts District. All galleries, boutiques and businesses will hold extended hours through 9pm! Come explore!

Dramatic writing is only half on the page, so why not hear what we already see? In this workshop, each writer will bring a 10-minute selection of their dramatic writing (for the stage or screen!) to be read aloud by a team of 4-5 actors. After hearing the work, there will be a brief feedback session with the writers, actors, and facilitator in attendance. Writers are encouraged to bring 1-2 questions that they want the workshop to consider.

Zachary Scalzo (he/they) is a queer writer, translator, and theatremaker. They are currently Artist in Residence in the English Department at the University of Central Oklahoma and can be found at azachofalltrades.com or on Instagram at @zjscalzo.

Each First Friday of the month, the community is invited to stroll the historic Paseo Arts District. All galleries, boutiques and businesses will hold extended hours through 9pm! Come explore!

Featuring live music by Chase Kerby, who will be performing by the Flamenco Statue!

In this 3-hour acrylic still life painting class, beginners will learn foundational techniques for capturing realistic objects using acrylic paints. The class will cover basic color mixing, brushwork, and composition while guiding students through the process of painting a simple still life. By the end of the session, students will have a completed painting and a greater understanding of working with acrylic paints effectively.

No prior painting experience is required!

Supplies:

The instructor will provide the necessities: paint, brushes, palettes, pencils and canvases. If attendees wish they can bring their own of the following items:          

Acrylic Paints: red, yellow, blue, black, white, raw umber
Brushes: A selection of flat and round brushes (small, medium, large)
Canvas or Acrylic Paper: 16x20 inches recommended
Palette: For mixing paint (disposable or reusable)
Apron or Old Clothes: Acrylics can stain 

Registration Fee: $60

About the Instructor, Mackenzie Brim:

A lifelong artist and seasoned instructor with a passion for fostering creativity, brings over five years of teaching experience to her diverse array of students. From elementary-aged pupils to spirited individuals in their 90s, her teaching portfolio spans a variety of mediums, including watercolor, drawing, and acrylic. Mackenzie is known for her commitment to providing clear and concise instruction, ensuring that her students not only grasp artistic techniques but also find joy and fulfillment in the learning process.​ Beyond the classroom, Mackenzie is an oil painter, recognized on an international scale. Her captivating works have been showcased in exhibitions in Dallas, Houston, New York City, and Los Angeles. As a professional artist, Mackenzie's pieces have found homes in private collections around the world.

In this workshop, participants will consider the necessity of environments for crafting compelling villains. Think of the apartment in Rosemary’s Baby, the restaurants and corporate offices in American Psycho, and Annie Wilkes’s house in Misery. Participants will engage in the workshop process and learn ways to create villains that grab an audience’s attention and move beyond cliché characters.

Blake Edward Hamilton earned his MFA in Creative Writing from The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University. His work has appeared in World Literature Today Magazine: Windmill, NPR, Bombay Gin Literary Journal, The Guerrilla Lit Mag., and South Broadway Press, among others. His first full-length collection of poetry, All Through Your Multiple Selves (Spartan / Luchador Press) was released in 2020. His second collection of poetry, Move In Silence (Spartan / Luchador Press), was released in the Spring of 2021. His novel, HIRAETH (Spuyten Duyvil Press), was published in November 2021, and his collection of short fiction, Consummation (Spuyten Duyvil Press), was published in Spring 2023.