Raspy, our mascot

RASP: Redmond Association of Spokenword

Celebrating literary arts and poetry in Redmond for more than 25 years

RASP was founded in 1997 to promote literary arts and activities in Redmond, Washington, and the surrounding area. We meet on the last Friday of each month at Centro Cultural Mexicano for a featured presentation and an open-mic reading, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Pacific time). RASP also holds a monthly writing critique group via Zoom on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 PM to 8:45 PM (Pacific time). All events are open to the public and usually free. Please join us!

Click to join* our mailing list and receive announcements about the Reading Series, Poetry & Prose Circle, and other RASP events.


Coming This Month
RASP's regular monthly events are free and do not require registration.

Friday, May 26, 2023—Suma Subramaniam (children's literature, poetry)
Reading/open mic starts at 7:00 PM (Pacific Time)

Suma Subramaniam's interests in writing for children are centered around STEM/STEAM-related topics as well as India and Indian heritage. When she's not recruiting by day or writing by night, she's volunteering for We Need Diverse Books and SCBWI or blogging about children's books. Suma is the author of Namaste Is a Greeting, She Sang For India, and other books for children and young adults. Her poems have been published in Poetry magazine. She lives in Seattle with her family and a dog who watches baking shows. Learn more at https://sumasubramaniam.com.

MC—Pamela Denchfield


We've moved to Centro Cultural Mexicano's Mi Casa gallery

Starting with the May 26 featured reading and open mic, RASP is moving to the Mi Casa gallery and meeting space, part of Centro Cultural Mexicano. The address is 7945 Gilman St. This is the same space we used to use, next to what was McDonald Books, now part of Mi Casa.

For more information about upcoming exhibits and Centro Cultural Mexicano, visit the gallery's website.



Upcoming Readings and Events

Friday, June 30, 2023—Eva Moon

Eva Moon is an author, humorist, songwriter, playwright, screenwriter, performer, and former Huffington Post blogger. Her plays and musicals have been staged across the US and UK, and her solo musical show, "The Mutant Diaries: Unzipping My Genes," is streaming on Amazon. Her screenplay, "House Odds," was a Page Awards finalist and was optioned. She has released five music CDs and her music has appeared in feature film soundtracks. Her first novel, Pinocchio's Guide to the End of the World, which follows the adventures of a grown-up, human Pinocchio in fascist Europe between the world wars, is set to release in March 2023. More at https://evamoon.net.

MC—Janka Hobbs


Friday, July 28, 2023—Mary Lou Sanelli (essayist, memoirist) Mary Lou Sanelli

Mary Lou Sanelli, author, speaker, and master dance teacher, has published five collections of poetry and four works of nonfiction. Her latest collection of essays, Every Little Thing, has been nominated for a Pacific Northwest Book Award, a Pushcart Prize, and a Washington State Book Award. Her first novel, The Star Struck Dance Studio of Yucca Springs, was released in 2020 and her first children's book, Bella Likes to Try, will be published in the spring of 2022. For more information about her and her work, visit www.marylousanelli.com.

MC—Michael Heavener


Friday, August 25, 2023—Amber Flame


Amber Flame is an artist and performer whose work has garnered artistic merit residencies with Hedgebrook, The Watering Hole, Wa Na Wari, Vermont Studio Center, and Yefe Nof. Flame served as the 2017–2019 poetry writer-in-residence at Hugo House in Seattle and is a queer Black dandy mama who falls hard for a jumpsuit and some fresh kicks. https://www.theamberflame.com/

MC—Catherine Broadwall


Friday, September 29, 2023—Ken Mochizuki (children's literature / graphic novels)

Ken Mochizuki, from Seattle, is the author of the picture books Baseball Saved Us, Heroes, and Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story. He is also the author of Be Water, My Friend: the Early Years of Bruce Lee, the graphic novel Those Who Helped Us, and the biography, Michi Challenges History, among other publications. Visit his website at http://kenmochizuki.com/.

MC—Michael Dylan Welch


Friday, October 27, 2023—Kendra Steel (poet)

MC—Darren Nordlie


Friday, November 17, 2023—Digipen Creative Writing Students
Moved ahead one week to avoid Thanksgiving holiday

MC—Catherine Broadwall


Friday, December 29, 2023—TBA

Poetry and Prose Circle

Read your poetry or prose and then we'll discuss your work and offer ideas for improvement. Take away a new perspective on your creative work.

Day: Second Tuesday of each month
Time: 6:30 to approximately 9:00 PM (Pacific Time).
FREE: RASP's regular monthly events are free and do not require registration.
Location: Zoom (see below).
Bring: Something written that you're willing to share and get feedback on. You will be able to share your screen so others can read your written words.

Join the monthly RASP Poetry and Prose Circle Zoom meeting beginning at 6:30 PM (Pacific Time)

You may download and import this iCalendar (.ics) file to your calendar system.

Tuesday, June 13, 2023
This will be a virtual gathering using ZOOM (see link and details above).

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Tuesday, December 12, 2023


Look for us on social media

Look for our frequent messages and writing prompts on Facebook. Follow us, share us, enjoy us. Tweet about us, too, and retweet our tweets.


Our Monthly Open Mic

RASP's Open Mic gives you the opportunity to share your work with a receptive audience.

Each month, we open up the microphone to everyone to share their poetry and prose with a receptive audience. You can also participate by relaxing and listening to the words of others.

If you have written something you would like to read, show up early and sign up for a time slot. Time slots are scheduled before and after the featured reader. Details and guidelines are at our Open Mic page.


Other places for poetry and art

VALA (Venue for Artists in the Local Area) https://www.valaeastside.org/

SoulFood Poetry Night https://sites.google.com/site/soulfoodpoetrynight

APex - Artists Personal exchange https://www.facebook.com/groups/357724264707997/

Duvall Poetry https://duvallpoetry.weebly.com/

Everett Poetry Nite https://duanekirbyjensen.wixsite.com/everett-poetry-night

Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/event/local-author-open-mic

WUUC Poetry Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/wuucpoetry

The Poetry Department (blog) https://thepoetrydepartment.wordpress.com/nw-lit-events/

Redmond Poet Laureate https://www.redmond.gov/185/Arts-Culture

Redmond Arts & Culture Commission https://www.redmond.gov/489/Redmond-Arts-Culture-Commission-RACC

RASP promotes written and spoken arts in Redmond and East King County through inclusive performance events and educational programming.
Click to join* our mailing list and receive announcements about the Reading Series
* RASP uses MailChimp and complies with their Acceptable Use Policy, including protection of your privacy.
Like us on Facebook  Follow us on LinkedIn  Follow us on Twitter
Copyright © 2008-. Redmond Association of Spokenword. All Rights Reserved