The 2025 Saints and Sinners Literary Festival has come and gone, leaving behind a vibrant trail of inspiration, connection, and community. Held in the heart of New Orleans, the beloved LGBTQ literary event once again gathered writers, readers, and thinkers from across the country to celebrate storytelling in all its powerful, provocative, and poetic forms. With a full weekend of panels, readings, workshops, and social events, SASFest offered space not only for craft and conversation but for true creative nourishment.
First-time attendee Kara Zajac stepped into this world of literary kinship with curiosity, and walked away transformed. In her reflection on the festival experience, she captures the joy of finding one’s people, the motivation sparked by craft sessions, and the deep emotional resonance of hearing diverse voices speak their truths. Her account reminds us that SASFest is more than just a festival. It’s a homecoming for those who believe in the power of words to build bridges, heal wounds, and ignite change.
Here is Zajac’s report:
There’s no need to anticipate the first-timer’s blues. Saints and Sinners Literary Festival is an all-inclusive experience for everyone, be it your initial debut or annual expedition. Held at the luscious and lavish Hotel Monteleone in the heart of the French Quarter, this historic icon built in the 1800s was a favorite of Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway, and Truman Capote.
The glitter and gleam don’t end with a cocktail at its famous Carousel Bar. The entire festival is warm and welcoming whether you enjoy literary culture, are just getting started on your author’s journey, or are celebrating the 20th anniversary of your bestseller. The best part is it coincides with the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival and an all-inclusive pass will give you access to the best of both festivals. Executive Director Paul Willis along with Tracy Cunningham made transitioning between the two festivals’ onsite and offsite events easy and effortless.
Friday night kicked off the welcome party, appropriately named Glitter with the Literati, at the Beauregard-Keyes House and Gardens, a National Historic Landmark where they filmed scenes from the film “Interview with the Vampire.” It was originally the home of historical influencers such as General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, and eventually became the cherished writing studio of Frances Parkinson Keyes, who refurbished the home and turned it into a museum after her death in 1970. There were shelves filled with her works that I found utterly fascinating.
I met new friend writer Glen Peters standing in front of the fountain in the majestic BK House courtyard. He was attending Saints and Sinners to promote his debut novel, “Where the Nights Smell Like Bread.” Glen and I chatted about our literary similarities, eating hors d’oeuvres and sipping on bubbly while waiting in line to get our tarot cards read.
On Saturday, I had the pleasure of hearing him read the first chapter of his novel during a Writer’s Read session sponsored by the John Burton Hart Foundation.
At the Writers Read events throughout the conference, the rooms buzzed with energy as writers from a wide range of genres took the stage. Audiences were captivated; laughing, nodding, and cheering each storyteller on in a powerful celebration of creativity and community.
Lit, fit and writ
I enjoyed being on thought-generating panels like “Fiction vs. Nonfiction: Just the Facts,” with writers Brian Alessandro, Robert W. Fieseler, Dale Corvino and Doc McLemore, who all write fiction and nonfiction, looking at the similarities and differences of the relationships between these two types of storytelling, as well as delving into the new category of autofiction.
Literary discussions like “Dangerous Liaisons: Writing About Sex, Love, and Its Forbidden History” with R.J. Lee, Jeffrey Round, Richard Compson Sator and Julia Watts, writers of LGBTQ+ romance/historical fiction, discussed the complexities of queer love stories amid tumultuous historical times and how writing these stories helped themselves heal.
Screenwriter and novelist Elisabeth Nonas, author of “Grace Period,” led a writer’s craft session on “Thinking Cinematically,” highlighting the challenges of creating visual portrayals of abstract ideas and emotions.
Literary agent Kathryn Fausett explained the current publishing market and what today’s literary agents are looking for. Interesting topics like generational change in gay culture and literature, creating community around books, and how to collage yourself into a story were offered as classes to all among others as well.
Honors and tributes
Sunday’s events also offered a tribute reading from “Two or Three Things I Know For Sure,” by Dorothy Allison, the “Bastard Out of Carolina” author, activist, and longtime Saints and Sinners supporter, as well as member of the first Hall of Fame Class.
A memorial was also held for Felice Picano, writer, publisher, and critic, who helped usher gay voices into modern literature. Writers and readers both paid tribute with words and wits.
Everyone was thankful to independent bookstore owner Candace Huber of Tubby and Coos Traveling Bookshop who took care of book sales for the weekend.
The closing reception honored outstanding members of the literary community, introducing two honorees for the 2025 Saints and Sinners Emerging Writers Award. Both K.B Brookins and Emma Copley Eisenberg were awarded the honor that acknowledges an exceptional debut.
Daniel WK Lee, Jendi Reiter, and Victoria Sosa read from their winning entries from the 2025 Saints and Sinners Poetry Contest. Larry Bagneris, Sven Davisson, and Donna Minkowitz were the three new members inducted into the Saints and Sinners Hall of Fame. They were acknowledged for showing passion and dedication to LGBTQ+ literature, ensuring that the written words from our community will still have future presence.
Saints and Sinners has something for everybody, even if you are not yet published. Mix and mingle with today’s queer literati, have a spritzer, and rub elbows with your next editor or publicist. Saints and Sinners also provides the best of the best of what the Big Easy has to offer, from platters of charbroiled oysters to nightly horse-drawn carriage rides, unearthing the darker, haunted history of New Orleans.
Listen to your favorite authors read, learn the ropes of the publishing business, pitch your story to a publisher, and experience the insider’s opinions on topics like collaging yourself into a story, generational change in gay culture and literature, and fight for our right to read: publishing LGBTQ+ titles in 2025.
If you are looking to dip your toe into the literary scene or are a seasoned veteran of this hidden gem, Saints and Sinners will not disappoint.
https://www.sasfest.org/
Kara Zajac is a freelance writer, chiropractor, mother of a daughter, wife, entrepreneur, musician, and diehard romantic. www.karazajac.com
Michele Karlsberg Marketing and Management specializes in publicity and marketing for the LGBTQ+ community. This year, Karlsberg celebrates 36 years of successful campaigns. www.michelekarlsberg.com
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