Writers mouth off

Baton Rouge may not be seen as a literary destination yet, but the Delta Mouth Literary Festival has helped slowly change that perception in its five years. A project of LSU’s New Delta Review, the free three-day festival is organized mostly by MFA students.

One of the chief organizers, Min Kang, had volunteered the year before, and was impressed with the diversity of performers and events, many held at Baton Rouge Gallery and LSU’s Hopkins Black Box Theatre.?

The roster this year includes British poet Keston Sutherland, San Francisco-based writer Monica Mody and several Louisianans, such as Kim Vodicka and Ben Kopel. Kang says the events are more animated than typical author readings—with participants specializing in text-based artistry and performance.?

“I don’t see it as this literary, hoity-toity event,” Kang says. “It’s really entertaining.”?

The festival runs March 14-16. Find out more at facebook.com/deltamouthfest.?