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This monthly salon, hosted by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, features authors, literary agents, and others involved in the field of writing. Set in the atmospheric Scape Gallery in Corona del Mar, the salon is a mecca for literary devotees who listen to readings, take part in discussions, and attend book signings.

Mar 6 7pm

An Evening with Dennis Palumbo

in conversation with Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

 
 

Join us on Tuesday, March 6, when author and psychotherapist Dennis Palumbo will be our featured literary guest. We will celebrate the publication of Dennis' new novel, Fever Dream, and we will also hold a writing clinic. In his therapy practice, Dennis specializes in working with writers and other creative types, so the evening will serve as a sort of writing clinic, as well. Bring your writing woes, including questions about process and blocks, and Dennis will bring the answers.

T. Jefferson Parker

Dennis Palumbo

Dennis Palumbo is a writer and licensed psychotherapist in private practice, specializing in creative issues. His novel Mirror Image (Poisoned Pen Press) is the first in a new series of crime thrillers. The sequel, Fever Dream, has just been released. He’s also the author of Writing From the Inside Out (John Wiley), as well as a collection of mystery short stories, From Crime to Crime (Tallfellow Press).

Formerly a Hollywood screenwriter, his credits include the feature film My Favorite Year, for which he was nominated for a WGA Award for Best Screenplay. He was also a staff writer for the ABC-TV series Welcome Back, Kotter, and has written numerous series episodes and pilots.

His first novel, City Wars (Bantam Books) is currently in development as a feature film, and his short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, The Strand, Written By and elsewhere. He provides articles and reviews for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Lancet, and many others. His column, “The Writer’s Life,” appeared monthly for six years in Written By, the magazine of the Writers Guild of America. He’s also done commentary for NPR’s “All Things Considered,” and blogs regularly for The Huffington Post.

Dennis conducts workshops throughout the country. Recent appearances include the Family Therapy Network Annual Symposium, Cal State Northridge, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, PEN West, the Writers Guild Foundation, the Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Screenwriting Expo, USC, the Romance Writers of America, the Nieman Foundation, the Directors Guild, Bouchercon, “Men of Mystery” Annual Conference and UCLA.

His work helping writers has been profiled in The New York Times, Premiere Magazine, Fade In, Angeleno, GQ, The Los Angeles Times and other publications, as well as on PBS, NPR and CNN.

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Pepperdine University, he serves on the faculty of UCLA Extension, where he was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year.

Buy tickets for the March 6 Event

Please note: We begin at 7pm sharp.
Latecomers risk losing their seats and may enjoy standing-room only.

 

Author T. Jefferson Parker, two-time guest of the
Pen on Fire Writers Salon:

T. Jefferson Parker T. Jefferson Parker's new novel, The Jaguar "What a terrific evening with you at the gallery. You've got some really fine readers/writers/fans. It was an enjoyable night for me. I felt much appreciated and not a little spoiled!"

- T. Jefferson Parker
featured author at the Pen on Fire Writers Salon
January 18, 2011

Read the Los Angeles Times' review of his previous novel, The Border Lords »

Comments from Pen On Fire Writers Salon Attendees

"Thanks for Tuesday evening with Heidi Durrow and Danzy Senna. I hesitated when I paid my $20, as I was not sure this was the program for me. When I arrived to realize I was the only man, I was convinced of it. The only thing I remembered was that by far the majority of writers and readers are women. But I was committed, and sitting by the wall; leaving wasn't an option. But then the authors started talking and reading. Wow! It was then that I knew why I came. I listened to every word. And each word was valuable.

Thanks again.

—Frederick R. Andresen
www.fandresen.com

Past guests include T. Jefferson Parker, Merrill Markoe, Karen Karbo, Heidi Durrow, Danzy Senna, Taylor Martindale, Sally van Haitsma, Elise Capron, Katie Arnoldi, Marisa Matarrazo, Tatjana Soli, Lisa Fugard, Andrew Winer, Dennis Palumbo, Daniel Pyne, Aimee Bender, Michael Jaime-Becerra, Jill Marr, Stacy Chilton Weiss, Gary Phillips, Mary Castillo, Martin J. Smith, Patricia McFall, Ron Carlson, Tod Goldberg, Victoria Patterson, Dani Shapiro, Lisa See, Carolyn See, Norman Ollestad, Susan Straight, Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum, Merrill Markoe, Marty Smith, Kelly Sonnack, Debra Ollivier.