Research Guides: Writer-in-Residence at Pasadena City College: Lynell George (2024)

About Lynell George

LYNELL GEORGE an L.A.-based journalist and essayist. Her work explores urban histories, sense of place, visual art, music and literature.

A former staff writer for both the Los Angeles Times and LA Weekly, her profiles, features and essays have appeared in The New York Times, Sierra, Alta Journal, Oxford American, Preservation, Vibe, and Essence among other publications. She has taught journalism at Loyola Marymount University (2009-2011) and was also a USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Fellow and received The Huntington Library’s Alan Jutzi Fellowship for her studies of California writer Octavia E. Butler. Her liner notes for Otis Redding Live at The Whisky a Go Go: The Complete Recordings won a GRAMMY in 2016.

George is the author of No Crystal Stair: African Americans in the City of Angels, After/Image: Los Angeles Outside the Frame, and A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia E. Butler, which was a 2021 Hugo Award Finalist.

Essays and Articles by Lynell George

Links with a PCC icon require a current PCC login for access from off-campus.

Patience, Practice, Perseverance: How Octavia E. Butler became a writer.
George, Lynell. The American Scholar, 2023-09, Vol.92 (4), p.108.
What It Is. (And What It Was.)
George, Lynell. Los Angeles Times, Octoer 8 2006.
An autobiographical essay in which Lynell George reflects on the changing perceptions, labels, and lives of Los Angeles neighborhoods.
Articles by Lynell George in BOOM California
BOOM California is a journal published by the University of California Press which is "dedicated to inspiring lively and significant conversations about the vital social and cultural issues of our time in California and the world beyond."
The articles are open access: click the "Read Article" link under each one to open without needing a PCC login.

Lynell George: PCC Writer-in-Residence 2024

Join us on the PCC Campus for the following live events:

Writing Workshop, November 12th, 12:00-1:00pm, Circadian Room (campus map) (directions and parking)
Public Reading & Book Signing, November 14th, 1:00-3:00pm, Creveling Lounge (campus map) (directions and parking)

Videos with Lynell George

In "A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia E. Butler," journalist and essayist Lynell George offers a blueprint for a creative life from the perspective of award-winning science-fiction writer and “MacArthur Genius” Octavia E. Butler. On March 4, 2021 George discussed the book, her years of research, and the great resurgence of interest in Butler with writer, doula, and pleasure activist adrienne maree brown, co-editor of "Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements."

L.A. Times Book Club explores the many worlds of Octavia E. Butler
Journalist Lynell George, author of “A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky,” joined Times reporter Julia Wick in November 2020 for a book club discussion about the legacy and prolific writing of science fiction legend Octavia E. Butler.
President's Series: A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: Lynell George in Conversation
Writer Lynell George discusses her forthcoming book, A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia E. Butler, and her experience in The Huntington archives, in conversation with William Deverell, director of the Huntington-USC Institute for California and the West and professor of history at USC, and Karla Nielsen, curator of literary collections at The Huntington.
Alta Asks Live: Lynell George
Lybell George sits down with Alta books editor David L. Ulin to explore the work, legacy, and world of Octavia E. Butler in this free digital discussion.
A Conversation: Author Lynell George & City Librarian John F. Szabo
A conversation between Lynell George, author of A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia E. Butler, and City Librarian John F. Szabo about her new book and the award-winning science fiction writer Octavia E. Butler.

Books by Lynell George

A Handful of Earth, a Handful of Sky by Lynell George
Call Number: PS3552.U827 Z52 2020

Publication Date: 2020

Author Lynell George not only engages the world that shaped Octavia E. Butler, she also explores the very specific processes through which Butler shaped herself--her unique process of self-making. It's about creating a life with what little you have--hand-me-down books, repurposed diaries, journals, stealing time to write in the middle of the night, making a small check stretch--bit by bit by bit. Highly visual and packed with photographs of Butler's ephemera, A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky draws the reader into Butler's world, creating a sense of unmatched intimacy with the deeply private writer.
No Crystal Stair: African-Americans in the City of Angels by Lynell George
Call Number: 979.494 G 3

Publication Date: 1994

When Los Angeles burned for three days in spring 1992 in the wake of the Rodney King verdict, the sparks ignited more than buildings and cars. Combat-style reporting gave way to national debate as officials deplored 'senseless violence' and pundits saw the unravelling of civilization or deplored the shame of the cities. But why was the crisis of South Central Los Angeles visible only when backlit by flames? Amid all the sensationalized accounts of fragmented, chaotic communities, efforts of valor are seldom reported. Neither helpless nor without hope, black Angelenos go about their lives, bolstering their communities from within. Far from giving up or giving in, they persist, using anger, faith and the cold logic of experience to deal with drugs, gangs and unemployment; build churches, schools and community centers; weave together new music, films, stories.

About the Writer-in-Residence Program

PCC’s Writer-in-Residence Program aims to enrich the cultural environment of the College and the larger community by bringing to campus for a period of three days a distinguished local writer to interact with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Writer-in-Residence events include classroom visits, writing workshops, a faculty luncheon, and a public reading. Writers-in-Residence are interviewed by editors of PCC’s literary magazine Inscape, the interview to be published in the magazine. The residency also offers our visiting writer a wonderful opportunity to promote a recent publication.

The Writer-in-Residence Program is funded by the Pasadena Festival of Women Authors and by PCC's English and Language Studies Division.