When we first read “Cotton Candy,” we thought it was a story about a father sharing a nostalgic ritual of youth with his son. But there was something more, something in the child’s disdain for what he was told was a treat, but which actually was more of a bitter mess…

poolpartymag.com/cotton-candy/

Private property, accumulation, the death drive. Have you thought about them lately? You will want to read @adamdeutsch.com new poems over and over. Take a look at his poems then mark your calendar for Tues., Feb.10 for our next reading: Adam will be there!

poolpartymag.com/three-poems/

We're soooooo excited to announce that the first book we'll be publishing via our new Pool Party Books division is @mattknuts.bsky.social's extremely well-crafted story collection SO FAR BEHIND I THOUGHT I WAS FIRST, to be released WINTER of 26/27. We're thrilled!!! 🔥🔥🔥

Hey Portland!!! This is tonight!!! Pool Party EOY BASH. Cash bar! Flash open mic! Goofy raffle! Refugee gift drive!!! Hope to see you! 7pm @ Coffee Beer

4142 SE 42nd Ave. Portland, OR 97214

“After that, things escalated. We stole more. Little things at first, stupid things: a rubber bouncy ball, a packet of sugar from Denny’s, a chipped plastic ring from the church lost-and-found.”

Check out @sarpsozdinler.bsky.social's AMAZING new story "The Hideaway" 🔥 (link in comments)

We're thrilled to announce that @brianstephenellis.bsky.social has joined Pool Party as our poetry editor! We know Brian is going to bring their sharp eye & community spirit to Pool Party 🔥🔥🔥 Submit to them at [email protected] (after reading our subs page!)

📚📚 WHY POOL PARTY BOOKS??? 📚📚

• Ryan-Ashley’s 15 yrs as a creative director w/ publicity experience = thoughtful & marketable promo materials, a strong promo plan & gorgeous art
• Kevin’s experience as an author w/ 3 book pubs means you’re working w/ someone who understands the process soup-to-nuts

👀

HEY PORTLAND. If you've been thinkin... Pool Party's cool, but like, when are u going to host a reading at an actual swimming pool? Well... the answer is Sep 7 4pm! ⛱🏊‍♀️🥂 Secret location in the West Hills. $12 or $20 w hot dog & bev. Tix gonna go fast. (link in comments)

"We love without demand
and bitch with a tender eye
like the pull of Hockney’s pool paintings"

Check out @hubbsd.bsky.social's Hockney/pool themed poem THE BLUE TERRACE. We're all HUBBS all week. Come back tomorrow for more 🔥

poolpartymag.com/the-price-of...

📣 May 14 reading Announcement 📣
Theme: ‘Teenage Makeout Spots’
Feat. PDX writers Frayn Masters, Genevieve Hudson, Margaret Malone, & Seattle’s Lauren Lavin 🔥

First 15 ppl get a FREE mixtape (yes, an actual tape) of the authors reading various works!

FREE TIX! RSVP! bit.ly/poolpartymay2025

Amazing turnout for our first Pool Party reading on Tuesday!!! Thanks to all our incredible performers who brought the magic ✨ and Grand Gesture Books for being such an incredible host!!!

ANNOUNCEMENT: FuckMarryKill is now Pool Party 🌭✨

When we discovered that another writer has been using the name Fuck Marry Kill on Substack and is planning on launching a rad workshop by the same name, we were like, well, we definitely don’t want there to be confusion or to detract from anything…

We humbly and sleazily invite you to attend our series/mag launch Tues. 2.11, 6p, @ #grandgesturebooks w/ writers👇
Travis Abels, Edy Guy, Jules Ohman, & Kimberly King Parsons ➕PLUS a magical dating profile tuneup activity with Sarah Ruby after the readings! Can’t wait to see you!

#pdxwriters

Meet Travis Abels. And then actually meet him at our event on 2.11 at @grandgesturebooks. His storytelling is 🔥

He hosts The Tiniest Party - a monthly storytelling show (which we have attended with great joy several times), & is currently on tour w/ a OMS.

travisabels.com / IG: @travisjay 🩸

Submissions won't open until February, but visit our website and sign up for our newsletter to learn more.

fuckmarrykillmag.com

ANNOUNCING: 💋💍🔪FuckMarryKill, a reading series & literary journal w/ our first reading at Grand Gesture Books on Tues, Feb. 11, at 6pm! Follow our account to see how this all started, who’s reading at our launch (the lineup is💯), and for info about how to submit 🔮