Your Week in Virtual Book Events, Oct. 12th to 18th
Books Beneath the Bridge: Greenlight Poetry Salon
Monday, October 12, 7pm EDT
For the eighth season of Books Beneath the Bridge, a literature series hosted by the Brooklyn Bridge Park, Greenlight Bookstore will be hosting a virtual edition of their quarterly Poetry Salon, hosted and curated by poet Angel Nafis (BlackGirl Mansion). Featured poets Khadijah Queen (Anodyne), Carlos Andrés Gómez (Fractures) and Elana Bell (Mother Country) are slated to read for this free event via Zoom.
Indigenous Poetics: Wisconsin Book Festival
Monday, October 12, 8pm EDT
To honor this year’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day, alumni, mentors, and the current director of the Institute of American Indian Arts MFA program will give a diverse poetry reading by Angela C. Trudell Vasquez (In Light, Always Light), Kimberly Blaeser (Copper Yearning), Joaquin Zihuantanejo (Arsonist), and Santee Frazier (Aurum, Volume 85: Poems), reading from their latest collections. Free. Register on Crowdcast.
We the Indigenous: An Indigenous Peoples’ Day Reading
Monday, October 12, 10pm EDT
Hugo House welcomes a night of powerful and interdisciplinary words and art from poet Laura Da’, author Sasha LaPointe (Red Paint), visual artist and drag performer Hailey Tayathy and poet and folk artist Arianne True, hosted by D.A. Novoti.
Foglifter Press: Eyeing the Margins
Monday, October 12, 10pm EDT
San Francisco’s Foglifter Press, an LGBTQ+ journal and press, will host a virtual reading co-presented by Dog Eared Castro for the 2020 Litquake Festival. The evening will consist of brief, rapid-fire readings from writers Ching-In Chen, Piper J. Daniels, Chekwube Danladi, Cyrée Jarelle Johnson, J.S. Kuiken, t. tran le, Wryly T. McCutchen, heidi andrea restrepo rhodes, Zak Salih, and Mimi Tempestt. Free, but donations suggested and welcome. There are limited spots available for registration via Zoom but the event will also be livecasted on FB Live.
Wisconsin Book Festival presents Emma Straub’s All Adults Here
Tuesday, October 13, 5pm EDT
Author Emma Straub will join in conversation with Judith Claire Mitchell (A Reunion of Ghosts) to discuss Straub’s newest novel, All Adults Here. Free, via Crowdcast for the Wisconsin Book Festival.
My Constellation of 8: Conversations with Brilliant Literary Minds featuring Carmen Maria Machado
Tuesday, October 13, 7:30pm EDT
American Short Fiction features award-winning author Carmen Maria Machado (In the Dream House: A Memoir) for the third installment of My Constellation of 8. Machado will discuss eight books and literary influences that helped her grow as a writer, thinker and human, alongside ASF’s Co-editor, Adeena Reitberger. The event will benefit Philadelphia’s Black-owned, experiential bookstore, Harriett’s Bookshop, designed to celebrate women authors, artists and activists. Free.Via Crowdcast.
jessica Care moore in conversation with Professor Lakesia Johnson
Tuesday, October 13, 8pm EDT
The Writers @ Grinnell program continues with a reading and discussion from internationally renowned poet, publisher, and performance artist, jessica Care moore (We Want Our Bodies Back) and Professor Lakesia D. Johnson (Iconic: Decoding Images of the Revolutionary Black Woman), Associate Professor of Gender, Women’s, & Sexuality Studies and English at Grinnell College. Free. Register on Zoom.
You, Me, and Everyone We’ve Boned
Tuesday, October 13, 8pm EDT
Litquake 2020 continues virtually with Litquake Out Loud, a new curatorial program highlighting BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers. This iteration will feature Queer writers and writers of color as they prepare a night of literary performances on whether sex and love can survive in the time of Corona. Hosted by writer/performer Baruch Porras-Hernandez, the reading will also feature writers Maurisa Thompson, Lauren Wheeler, Jayy Dodd, and Brandon Young. Free, with donations suggested. Spots are limited via Zoom and the event will also be livecasted on Facebook Live.
On Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning
Wednesday, October 14, 7pm EDT
The Woodberry Poetry Room at Harvard University presents a conversation between Maggie Nelson (The Argonauts) and Cathy Park Hong on her latest book, Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning, followed by an audience Q&A. This event is free and open to the public up to 500 attendees on Zoom. Register here.
The BreakBeat Poets Live! Chapter 5
Wednesday, October 14, 7pm EDT
The BreakBeat Poets Live! is a virtual, multi-generational showcase of writers and performers who are part of the Haymarket Books family. Chapter 5 will celebrate the release of Chicago Youth Poet Laureate Penelope Alegria’s chapbook, Milagro, in the BreakBeat Poets series. Featuring readings and performances from writers Nila Foster, E’Mon Lauren, José Olivarez, and Jamila Woods, hosted by poet Kevin Coval. Free, with donations suggested. RSVP here.
When the Light of the World Was Subdued: The Legacy of Native American Poetry
Wednesday, October 14, 8pm EDT
Celebrate the launch of the first historically comprehensive Native poetry anthology, When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through, at the 2020 Litquake Festival. Co-editor and current U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo will read from and discuss the anthology with contributing editor and poet, Jennifer Foerster. Free, with suggested donation. Register on Zoom or catch the event on Facebook Live.
Eddie R. Cole: The Campus Color Line
Wednesday, October 14, 9pm EDT
Hosted by Bookshop Santa Cruz, author Eddie R. Cole will discuss his new book, The Campus Color Line: College Presidents and the Struggle for Black Freedom, highlighting the legacy of academic leaders’ actions in the ongoing fight for Black freedom and racial equity in education and beyond. Free, with a contribution suggested. Via Crowdcast.
Asian American Literature Today: Monique Truong and Rick Barot
Thursday, October 15, 6pm EDT
Novelist Monique Truong (The Sweetest Fruits) and poet Rick Barot (The Galleons) will read from their latest books and discuss their writing with moderator and historian Jason Oliver Change, followed by an audience Q&A. Co-sponsored by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, the Association for Asian American Studies, and Kundiman. Free via Facebook. Live captioning provided.
Fall 2020 Broadside Reading Series: S*an D. Henry-Smith and Jimena Lucero
Thursday, October 15, 6:30pm EDT
Six writers in collaboration with the Artists-in-Residence at the Center for Book Arts will convene for a series of online readings to feature the relationship of text, image, and design with a collection of limited edition letterpress-printed broadsides. Thursday’s readers will feature writers S*an D. Henry-Smith and Jimena Lucero, with broadsides designed and printed by Myong Jina and Lizania Cruz. Curated by Joey De Jesus. Free. Register for a spot here.
Carter Sickels and Megan Kruse: The Prettiest Star
Thursday, October 15, 7pm EDT
Carter Sickels will discuss his recently published novel, The Prettiest Star, with writer Megan Kruse (Call Me Home) for Literary Arts. Register in advance here. Free.
A Virtual Conversation about Resilience: Maggie Smith and Saeed Jones
Thursday, October 15, 7pm EDT
Maggie Smith launches Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change, and discusses how to face life’s challenges with creativity, courage, and resilience with author Saeed Jones (How We Fight for Our Lives). Hosted by Gramercy Books, with community partners Kenyon Review and Ohio State University’s Creative Writing Program. General admission to the event is $5. Purchase a copy of Keep Moving or How We Fight for Our Lives below to waive an additional admission fee. Get tickets here.
Affrilachian Poets makalani bandele and Joy Priest
Thursday, October 15, 7:30pm EDT
Writers & Books will host a poetry reading and talk from makalani bandele (under the aegis of a winged mind) and Joy Priest, who recently published her debut collection Horsepower. Register here. Free, via Zoom.
Make Me Rain: Nikki Giovanni with Kiese Laymon
Thursday, October 15, 8pm EDT
Renown poet Nikki Giovanni will chat with Kiese Laymon (Heavy) for the Wisconsin Book Festival in celebration of her newest work, Make Me Rain: poems & prose. Free, via Crowdcast.
C Pam Zhang in conversation with CBC Host John Freeman
Thursday, October 15, 8pm EDT
Alta’s California Book Club kicks off with an hour-long reading and conversation between C Pam Zhang, author of How Much of These Hills is Gold, and John Freeman. To register, sign up for the California Book Club for free. Via Zoom.
Miracle Creek & Such a Fun Age
Thursday, October 15, 9:30pm EDT
Authors Angie Kim (Miracle Creek) and Kiley Reid (Such a Fun Age) will discuss their debut novels live on Crowdcast for the Wisconsin Book Festival with UW-Madison Fiction MFA, Dantiel Moniz (Milk Blood Heat).
19th Annual Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Legacy Award Ceremony
Friday, October 16, 6:30pm EDT
The Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards goes virtual to honor the best in Black literature in the U.S. and globally. This years’ nominees include Alison C. Rollins (Library of Small Catastrophes), Eve L. Ewing (1919), Saidiya Hartman (Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments), Albert Woodfox (Solitary), Helen Oyeyemi (Gingerbread), and Jeffrey Colvin (Africaville) among others. Tickets start at $50 and can be purchased here.
Iowa City Book Festival: Hope Edelman
Friday, October 16, 8pm EDT
Author Hope Edelman will discuss her new book, The Aftergrief: Finding Your Way Along the Long Arc of Loss, in an interview with Kelly Carlin. Presented in partnership with Prairie Lights Books. Free, via Crowdcast.
Hurricane Season: Fernanda Melchor with Yuri Herrera
Friday, October 16, 8pm EDT
To celebrate the release of her debut novel, Hurricane Season, Mexican writer Fernanda Melchor reads from and discusses her work with novelist and professor Yuri Herrera (A Silent Fury: The El Bordo Mine Fire). Free, with suggested donation. Register via Zoom or watch the livecast on Litquake’s Facebook.
Writing Into a Crisis: A Virtual Reading and Conversation with John Freeman and Khaled Mattawa
Friday, October 16, 8pm EDT
NYU’s Creative Writing Program presents a virtual reading, conversation, and Q&A from writer and editor John Freeman (Tales of Two Planets: Stories of Climate Change and Inequality in a Divided World) and Libyan poet Khaled Mattawa (Fugitive Atlas). Free. Register via Zoom.
Innisfree & collective.aporia present: 7 for $7 at 7
Friday, October 16, 9pm EDT
7 poets convene for a reading benefiting Colorado’s Innisfree Poetry Bookstore, one of the only poetry-exclusive spaces in North America. Poets Angel Dominguez, Brian Kim Stefans, CAConrad, Gabriel Ojeda-Sagué, Nikki Wallschlaeger, Prageeta Sharma, and Subhaga Crystal Bacon will read. Tickets are $7, to be purchased here.
Sissy: Jacob Tobia
Friday, October 16, 9:30pm EDT
Writer, producer, and performer Jacob Tobia discusses their debut memoir Sissy with local bookseller and Trans writer, Misian Taylor, for the Wisconsin Book Festival. Via Crowdcast. Free.
Conditional Citizens: Laila Lalami
Saturday, October 17, 2:00pm EDT
Award-winning novelist and author, Laila Lalami, will discuss what it means to be American in her memoir, Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America, with Kate Archer Kent of Wisconsin Public Radio. Register through Crowdcast.Free.
Find Me: André Aciman with Brandon Taylor
Saturday, October 17, 5:00pm EDT
André Aciman will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss his newest novel, Find Me, a sequel to the bestselling book and Academy Award-winning film, Call Me By Your Name. He will be joined in conversation by writer and editor, Brandon Taylor (Real Life). Free.
FREEMAN’S: Best New Writings on Love
Saturday, October 17, 8:00pm EDT
Co-presented by City Lights Booksellers & Publishers, Litquake hosts the launch of the newest edition of FREEMAN’S, with editor John Freeman and writers Robin Coste Lewis, Tommy Orange, and Matt Summell. Free, via Zoom and Facebook Live.
Susan Aizenberg in conversation with Denise Brady and Guy Duncan
Sunday, October 18, 5:00pm EDT
Poet Susan Aizenberg will read her poetry and give a book talk in celebration of her newly published letterpress poetry book, First Light. She will be in conversation with Gibraltar Editions’ publishers Guy Duncan and Denise Brady. Free, via Zoom.
Super 8: An Illustrated History
Sunday, October 18, 10pm EDT
San Francisco author Danny Plotnick will discuss his debut coffee-table art book, Super 8: An Illustrated History, with art-film legend Beth B and music video director Dave Markey. The book explores the history of the format from suburban families to the art world to the punk rock and pop culture scene. Moderated by Jesse Hawthorne Ficks for the 2020 Litquake Festival. Free, via Zoom and Facebook Live.
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