Spoken Interludes - DeLauné Michel

Long before literary events over dinner became commonplace, DeLauné Michel was pioneering the format. She created Spoken Interludes in 1996, when literary events were largely limited to poetry readings and bookstore signings, becoming the first to bring acclaimed authors into restaurants for evenings built around a shared meal. It would be another year before other series began holding storytelling events outside of traditional literary venues.

Spoken Interludes immediately grew into a critically acclaimed literary salon in New York and Los Angeles, where award-winning, bestselling, and debut writers read their work each month to sold-out crowds of more than 300 book lovers. The evenings began with dinner, followed by the readings and Q&A —an intimate, yet lively combination of good food, great literature, and sparkling conversation that was a much-needed alternative to traditional literary events.

During its 25 plus years, Spoken Interludes was covered extensively by publications including The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and GQ, and featured in its own show on NPR station, KCRW.

In 2000, Ms. Michel developed an outreach writing program for highly at-risk children in inner-city schools and juvenile institutions in LA and NY, reaching over 400 students a year. She also created a book drive for a pediatric clinic in Yonkers, NY that put free books into the hands of underprivileged children. Since its debut, Spoken Interludes provided a place where people came together, enjoyed great food, and heard stories like their own reflected in the voices of others.