Register for SAS25 and spend a weekend in the New Orleans French Quarter with the LGBTQ+ literary community!
Standard Registration admits you to all events at our 2025 Saints & Sinners LGBTQ+ Literary Festival, March 28 – 30. including:
- Welcome Party, SASFest Short Fiction Book Launch, & Closing Reception, which includes the launch of the Poetry Anthology, the Emerging Writer Award Winner, and induction of the newest SAS Hall of Fame class.
- Reading Series – readings of new work by a variety of writers, from debut authors to award-winning authors.
- Literary Panel Discussions – panel discussions led by writers, editors, publishers, and agents on a variety of topics important to the LGBTQ+ community.
- Writer’s Craft Sessions – workshops taught by successful authors, publishers, and other literary professionals.
- Pitch Sessions with publishers! Pre-registration is required. See FULL DETAILS HERE and book your spot!
Can't make it for the whole weekend? You can purchase a DAY PASS or choose Writer's Craft Sessions and evening events a la carte!
Our full color program books are online!
Click the cover image above to view and download our 2025 Program Book. Or you can view it as a Digital Flipbook (sound on for the full effect). Looking for the Tennessee Williams Festival Program? CLICK HERE.
Own a piece of artistic literary history!
Timothy Cummings' beautiful SASFest25 program cover design is up for auction as FOUR separate paintings of Queer Literary Icons:
- Dorothy Allison
- James Baldwin
- Tennessee Williams
- Audre Lorde
Thank you to Timothy for donating these works as a fundraiser for the Festival!
Each one is 12“ x 9“ acrylic on panel.
The Last Bohemia is BACK!
The Last Bohemia is a series of theatre, music, and social events embodying New Orleans culture, the spirit of Tennessee Williams, and the profound effect New Orleans had on the playwright, personally and professionally.
Along with non-traditional stage performances at the Twilight Room, this year we've included New Orleans music, culinary, and cocktail events with a Bohemian spirit.
A few are below, and be sure to check out THE LAST BOHEMIA page over at TWFest for the full schedule!
A DRAG BRUNCH NAMED DESIRE
STELLAAA! IT’S TIME FOR DRAG BRUNCH!
Step into the drama and decadence of the Tennessee Williams Festival Drag Brunch, where the mimosas are bottomless, the performances are electrifying, and the food is as rich as Blanche DuBois’ taste in men! Join New Orleans drag royalty, Debbie with a D, Kozmik, and Vantasia Divine, for a high-energy show paired with a three-course brunch inspired by Poppy Tooker’s Drag Brunch Cookbook.
Sunday, March 30, 11:30 AM - 2 PM at Dickie Brennan’s Tableau, 616 Saint Peter Street. Brunch & Show $120 inclusive of tax & gratuity. NOW TILL MIDNIGHT FRI 3/21, GET $20 OFF WITH THE CODE DRAG. TICKETS
THE LAST BOHEMIA SOIREE: TIM MURRAY IS WITCHES!
This year’s Soirée features a showtune-themed cocktail party with Kitten on the Keys setting the mood and Fauxnique calling the winds and directions. Then experience the hysterical and touching Tim Murray is Witches! direct from its sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and US tour.
Saturday, March 29, 7 - 9 PM at the Toulouse Theatre, 615 Toulouse Street. Preferred Seating $75, General Admission $45. TICKETS
PRESS INFO
Welcome, members of the press! We're excited to help you cover SASFest, and we will provide you with all the information you need to write a great story! SASFest includes writer's craft sessions, literary discussion panels, author readings, French Quarter walking tours, and special events to celebrate the LGBTQ+ literary community.
If you're looking for a story, you'll find one at SASFest! Email me at press@tennesseewilliams.net with any questions you may have.
Reine Dugas, Festival Publicist
2025 Saints & Sinners LGBTQ+ Festival Speakers
SAINTS & SINNERS SHORT FICTION CONTEST RE-OPENS MAY 1, 2025
Thanks to all who entered!
This contest would not be possible without a generous grant from The John Burton Harter Foundation.
Thanks to Greg Herren (pictured) who served as this year’s judge. More about Greg HERE.
2025 WINNER, RUNNERS-UP, and FINALISTS HERE.
See full details on contest guidelines, eligibility, and prizes HERE.
SAINTS & SINNERS POETRY CONTEST RE-OPENS MAY 1, 2025
Thanks to all who entered!
This contest would not be possible without a generous grant from The John Burton Harter Foundation.
Thanks to Nikki Ummel (pictured) who served as this year’s judge.
More about Nikki HERE.
2025 WINNER, RUNNERS-UP, AND FINALISTS HERE
See full details on contest guidelines, eligibility, and prizes HERE.
About the Festival—now in our 22nd year!
The Saints and Sinners Literary Festival was founded in 2003 as a new initiative designed as an innovative way to reach the community with information about HIV/AIDS, particularly disseminating prevention messages via the writers, thinkers and spokes-people of the LGBTQ+ community. It was also formed to bring the LGBTQ+ literary community together to celebrate the literary arts.
A program of the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival, SASFest has grown into an internationally-recognized event that brings together a who’s who of LGBTQ+ publishers, writers and readers from throughout the United States and beyond. The Festival, held over 3 days each spring at the Hotel Monteleone in the New Orleans French Quarter, features panel discussions and master classes around literary topics that provide a forum for authors, editors and publishers to talk about their work for the benefit of emerging writers and the enjoyment of fans of LGBTQ+ literature.
Thoughts on the Festival
“Saints & Sinners is hands down one of the best places to go to revive a writer’s spirit. Imagine a gathering in which you can lean into conversations with some of the best writers and editors and publishers in the country, all of them speaking frankly and passionately about the books, stories and people they love and hate and want most to record in some indelible way. Imagine a community that tells you truthfully what is happening with writing and publishing in the world you most want to reach. Imagine the flirting, the arguing, the teasing and praising and exchanging of not just vital information, but the whole spirit of queer arts and creation. Then imagine it all taking place on the sultry streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter. That’s Saints & Sinners—the best wellspring of inspiration and enthusiasm you are going to find. Go there.”
—Dorothy Allison, National Book Award finalist for Bastard Out of Carolina, and author of the critically acclaimed novel Cavedweller
Become a Festival Member
Your SASFest membership helps to:
- Promote and support LGBTQ+ writers and other literary professionals
- Provide a platform for the LGBTQ+ literary community
- Connect readers and their favorite LGBTQ+ writers
- Nurture up-and-coming LGBTQ+ literary talent
- Support programming dedicated to educating and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community
Memberships start at just $25 with benefits including recognition, SAS tote bags, Fest registration, and other event passes. Join now to support the 22nd annual Saints & Sinners, coming March 28 - 30, 2025.
Many thanks to our 2024 SASFest members and donors:
Guardian Angel, $1,500 and above
Zalia Beville, Allways Lounge & Cabaret/ Twilight Room
Rob Byrnes
Louis Flint Ceci/Beautiful Dreamer Press
Timothy Cummings
Andrew Faye
Keith Fox and Tom Keyes
John Burton Harter Foundation/Premier Sponsor
Bruce J. Heim Foundation
The Helis Foundation
LGBTQ Fund, Greater New Orleans Foundation
New Orleans & Company
Sinner, $500
Jonathan Alexander
Marco Carocari
Sven Davisson/Rebel Satori Press
Julie R. Enszer/Sinister Wisdom
Susan Larson/Pinckley Prizes
Frank Perez
The Publishing Triangle
Saint, $300
Jameson Currier/Chelsea Station Editions
Ian Henzel/Rattling Good Yarns Press
Alexander Inglis/ReQueered Tales
Greg Herren
J.M. Redmann
Carol Rosenfeld
Devil, $75
Franklin Abbott
Roger Dean Bailey
Amanda Bales
Lewis DeSimone
T.J. Fury
Lawrence Henry Gobble
Michele Kaminski
Elisabeth Nonas
Jeffrey Round
Lauren Sauls
Penelope Starr
Cherub, $25
Tracy Cunningham
Gregory Gajus
Donna Minkowitz
Thank you to our Give Out Day donors, May 2024:
Eric Andrews-Katz
Rob Byrnes
John Copenhaver
Tracy Cunningham
Jameson Currier
Brenda Currin, in memory of Susan Rice
Clayton Delery
Lewis DeSimone
Alfred Doblin
Margot Douaihy
Reine Dugas
Lawrence Henry Gobble
Kathy J. Higgins
Michele Karlsberg
Judith Katz
Peggy Scott Laborde
James Pauley
David Pratt
Carol Rosenfeld
Gar Russell
Paul Willis
Sara Woodard
Thanks to our Sponsors
We appreciate the generosity of our sponsors who make it possible to host our writer's craft sessions, literary panel discussions, author readings, book launches, and awards ceremony. If you'd like to become a sponsor or purchase an ad in our program book, contact us at info@tennesseewilliams.net. You can also make a donation HERE.
BUY SAINTS & SINNERS SHORT FICTION & POETRY ANTHOLOGIES
Contact Us
Saints & Sinners Literary Festival
Paul J. Willis, Director
A Project of the Tennessee Williams/
New Orleans Literary Festival
938 Lafayette St., Suite 514
New Orleans, LA 70113
504.581.1144
Follow SASFest on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @sasfest
SASFest is a program of the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival.
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