NEOSTEIN: An (In-Person!) Evening with Isabel J. Kim

NEOSTEIN is an artists' salon for the Roarin' Twenty-Twenties. Based on the Parisian salons of Gertrude Stein and contemporaries, we are a discussion, work, and reading group.

Hosted by author Seven Rasmussen, each meeting begins with the discussion of a short story, then a quiet hour to focus on our individual works-in-progress, followed by a short sharing session. Socializing afterward is highly encouraged. Artists of all career stages are welcome.
This is an opportunity to generate work, meet other artists and writers, and engage in conversation about art and creativity. The featured short story this week is WHY DON'T WE JUST KILL THE KID IN THE OMELAS HOLE?, a winner of the BSFA, Nebula, and Locus awards for Best Short Story.

https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/kim_02_24/
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Isabel J. Kim is a speculative fiction author who lives near New York City in an apartment filled with books and swords. Her short fiction has won the Nebula, Locus, and Shirley Jackson Awards, is a finalist for the Hugo and Sturgeon Awards, and she has previously been a finalist for the Astounding Award. She has been published in Clarkesworld, Lightspeed, and Strange Horizons, among other venues, and has been reprinted in multiple best of the year anthologies, including Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy ‘23, ‘24, and ‘25, and her work has been translated into Chinese and Japanese. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and is delighted that she uses the creative writing degree more than the law degree. When she’s not writing, she’s either co-hosting her internet culture podcast, Wow if True, or contemplating returning to her biglaw career.

Attendance is free with the purchase of a drink from our host venue, TOLK.
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ABOUT THE HOST: Seven Rasmussen is a queer author and editor of literary speculative fiction. She lives in Brooklyn with her beloved cats and recently retired from a harrowing career as an academic. Seven is the co-editor of If There’s Anyone Left, an annual anthology of flash fiction from marginalized writers from around the globe. Her fiction has appeared in Clarkesworld, Diabolical Plots, neon hemlock, and more. Her debut non-fiction, Cloudy With a Chance of Starships, arrives August 2026 via Princeton U. Press. Seven can be found on various social media as @toomanyspectra.
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AGENDA:
7:00 - 7:30: meet and greet
7:30 - 8:00: chat with Isabel
8:00 - 8:50: freewrite/free-create
8:50 - 9:00: (optional) share your progress!
9:00 -- ??: socialize at local bar (TBD)
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TOLK: At our gallery-café, we bring together the love of exceptional coffee and local art. Our beans are carefully sourced from a trusted local roaster, Partners, ensuring every cup supports the community. We host exhibitions and creative events, making our space a vibrant hub for art lovers and coffee enthusiasts alike.
Subways:
(L) Dekalb
(M/L) Myrtle-Wyckoff
(M) Knickerbocker