Levantine Cultural Center in association with The Writing Studio^TM offers ongoing classes in creative writing,

Levantine BookGroup Relaunches With The Lemon Tree, Snow, and We Look Like the Enemy

On the first Wednesday of each month, from 7:30-9:30 pm, starting on October 7th with The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan, the Levantine BookGroup resumes as the only progressive Middle East book group in Southern California.

With meetings free to the public at Levantine Cultural Center and discounted books available at the Levantine bookshop, the new Levantine BookGroup returns from its early roots as a staple of the center back in 2001, 2002, 2003. This book group offers the opportunity to discuss books written by authors of Middle Eastern origin or writing about Middle Eastern cultures and societies. Non-fiction and fiction will alternatively be selected to cover the rich literary production emanating from or about this region.

Levantine Cultural Center in association with The Writing Studio^TM offers ongoing classes in creative writing, autobiography, memoir and fiction, with Elana Golden.

Every Saturday except the 4th Saturday in the month

CLASS CAN BE JOINED AT ANY TIME, SIGN UP FOR A SET OF FOUR CLASSES.
2:15 - 5:15 PM

At Levantine Cultural Center, 5998 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035
$120 for four (4) consecutive classes paid in advance
Suitable for new and experienced writers - limited to 10 participants

In each class, participants write and read in the group in an atmosphere of respect and artistic passion. The skills of creative writing are taught and explored, as well as methods to put aside the critical mind and free the writer's personal voice.

Levantine Cultural Center in association with The Writing Studio^TM offers ongoing classes in creative writing, autobiography, memoir and fiction, with Elana Golden.

Every Saturday except the 4th Saturday in the month

Beginning Saturday, September 12th, 2009
2:15 - 5:15 PM

At Levantine Cultural Center, 5998 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035
$120 for four (4) consecutive classes paid in advance
Suitable for new and experienced writers - limited to 10 participants

In each class, participants write and read in the group in an atmosphere of respect and artistic passion. The skills of creative writing are taught and explored, as well as methods to put aside the critical mind and free the writer's personal voice.

An assignment exploring a topic such as childhood, immigration, relationships, sexuality, prejudice, war, addiction, financial crisis, grief and hope is presented in each class. World myths, and music, painting and literature of the great masters are used to inspire the work. The classes are cathartic, educational, transformational and fun.

by Sousan Hammad

The festival flierFor many Palestinians, the month of May is associated with the commemoration of the Nakba. But with the increasing popularity of the arts in Palestine, the second annual Palestine Festival of Literature (PalFest) harmoniously unfolded to the final days of spring, a time also for lavender and lilies.

Ahdaf Soueif, an Egyptian-born novelist, along with Brigid Keenan, a travel writer, and Victoria Brittain, a former editor of the Guardian, came up with the idea of having a world-class literature festival in Palestine. "Last year we brought a festival to Palestine, and Palestine taught us so much in return. Palestinian cities -- even under siege and a cruel military occupation -- manage to produce brilliant art and top class education. PalFest aims to contribute to that rich cultural life," Soueif said.

AriadneLevantine Cultural Center in association with The Writing Studio invites you to a series of four writing classes with Elana Golden entitled:

GREEK MYTH AS INSPIRATION FOR CREATIVE WRITING

Saturdays June 6, 13, 20 and July 11
1:30 to 4:30 PM

At Levantine Cultural Center
5998 W. Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035.

($120 for the series paid in advance. $40 for an individual class)

Suitable for both new and experienced writers. Limited to 10 participants.

The Myth of Theseus and Ariadne:
Theseus descends into a labyrinth to conquer the Minotaur, half man half bull.  Princess Ariadne holds a thread guiding him in his descent...

The Myth Of Persephone:
A maiden innocently walks in a field of flowers when the ground beneath her feet splits open and she's pulled into the underworld...

Elana GoldenLevantine Cultural Center in association with The Writing Studio invites you to a FREE writing workshop with Elana Golden entitled "From Trauma to New Beginnings."

When:
Saturday, May 16, 2009, 1 to 6 pm

Where:
Levantine Cultural Center
5998 W Pico Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90035

What:
This writing workshop is suitable for both new and experienced writers. It is limited to 10 participants.

In the safety of the writing group, we take one moment from our lives and enter it fully. We slow down and look at it through the lens of the writer, allowing the story to emerge from the silence within. We learn to follow rather than lead the story, and our writing is fresh, free, original, unexpected.

One Hundred One Levantine Delights

[Los Angeles, April 29, 2009] Since 2001, Levantine Cultural Center (LCC) has been the place in Los Angeles to find public programs on Israelis and Palestinians, Iraq, Iran and North Africa; it has been a rallying point for the Arab/Muslim world to see itself reflected accurately and for the most part, positively, through world-class literary, visual and performing arts programs. Using cultural diplomacy that emphasizes the importance of interfaith relationships, the center presents programs and education to a broad range of constituents in Southern California—to Americans of all cultural backgrounds.

Facilitated by Judith Palarz

"When she is five years old, Lili, the narrator of this epic and magical tale, watches her mother, Roxanna the Angel, throw herself off the balcony of their house on the Avenue of Faith. Roxanna has left no farewell, no explanation. Her family's subsequent search for her reveals no body, no sign of a fall, no trace of an escape. The only witness to Roxanna's disappearance, Lili will spend the next thirteen years looking for her mother, wondering if she is still alive, wondering why she left.

The Dark Side of Love: a new novelThey say that The Dark Side of Love has all the crucial elements that comprise a grand romantic tale: love, passion, betrayal, jealousy, murder, vengeance, pride, humor, hatred, and in this case, honor killings--but is this more Anna Karenina or Harlequin romance? Well, some say that forbidden love is the most romantic kind of love. In this story, forbidden love unfolds in 20th century Syria where, even today, multigenerational feuds between clans prevent society from progressing.