Jax by Jax, Jacksonville’s most recent literary festival, has an unlikely beginning with Tim Gilmore, a prolific local writer, professor, and self-professed introvert.
With festivals Jax by Jax, and publications like Bridge Eight and Perversion, our literary scene here in Jacksonville is growing every year. With Tim behind it, Jacksonville is winding up for the 2nd annual Jax by Jax, on Saturday, November 14th. This year it’s going to be bigger and better than last year, and rightly so. From 3:00 to 9:30, the literary community invites you to sample more than 20 different writers hosted by 12 small businesses on Park and King Street.
We’ve come to know that there is usually a reason behind the madness when someone takes on the responsibility of planning an event, and Tim is no different. For Tim, Jax by Jax really started years ago with his own work, and the books he’s published about characters like Eartha White, Virginia King, Ottis Toole, and more. The stories he chooses to delve into are always about a Jacksonville character, and Tim does plenty of research, both primary and secondary, to get the complete picture of the character in question. He’s had amazing success when it comes to the launches of these books, and has been fortunate in how well the books have been received by the community. Now, Jax by Jax is his way of trying to give back. His goal? “Make something that would do for others what others had done for him.” By giving other writers the chance to experience the feeling of a community launch, he hopes Jax by Jax will not only encourage other writers to share their work, but that it will encourage our community to tap into those writers and support them.
Tim views our city as a character and a “stage,” so what better way to set the stage than to “use small independent businesses as venues?” With the venues spread out along King and Park Street, Jax by Jax is designed for folks to be able to sample a writer’s work by hearing them perform excerpts or short works. Essentially, you aren’t committing yourself to a long reading or performance, but to manageable, social bites — giving you the chance to move on if the reader isn’t quite your style. Tim gave us a tip that if you really stay on task, you can hear as many as 8 writers, but that’s up to you.
In addition to giving a stage to Jacksonville writers, Tim really wants to use Jax by Jax as a way to say to the city, “Hey, look at what you’re doing.” Tim goes even further, saying t hat “anyone who cares about Jacksonville should attend [Jax by Jax], whether you love the city, or think it needs work.” If you’re looking to meet fellow passionate Jacksonville-ites, this event is right up your alley. While this event may sound like it’s only for the literary inclined, I’d ask you to give it chance. With so many great bars and restaurants on the tour, and with so many fabulous folks walking around, you’ll be hard pressed to have a bad time.
Jax by Jax is the sort of event that keeps on giving, even after it’s over. You won’t want to miss out on the Jax by Jax after party at Evervess Art Studios across from CoRK on King Street. While the festival throughout the day is free, make sure you get your $10 ticket for the after party. It gives you access to all the writers from the day with book signings, music, food, and drinks (for as long as it lasts).
With a variety of writers present at the event, you can be sure there’ll be something you’ll enjoy. Everything from poetry, short stories, and graphic novels will be read throughout the day, and yes, let me repeat: they are all local writers! That means that every word you hear throughout the day was written right here in Jax by a Jax writer. Talk about really diving into the heart of the city!
Check out the writers and the kinds of stories you’ll find on the 14th by visiting the Jax by Jax website where you can find a printable event guide for the day. We’ll see you there!
Somewhere in the City 