It’s time to get out of the house and check out some of the great things that are happening in our regional literary community. Here’s a look at some of the events, book discussions, readings, open mics, and workshops coming up this week.
Thursday, June 15
10:30 AM – Storytime Learn & Play @ Troy Public Library
Join us at the Main Library for your child’s enrichment
2:00 PM – An American in Provence: Author Talk with Award-Winning Photographer Jamie Beck @ Bethlehem Public Library
An American in Provence is a beautiful collection of exquisite portrait, scenic, and still-life photography from New York Times bestselling author and award-winning photographer Jamie Beck. Looking to slow down from her fast-paced life in New York City, Beck embarked on a one-year getaway to Provence. One year, turning into five, Beck moved to the French countryside, documenting her life as “An American in Provence.”
6:00 PM – Virginia Sole-Smith – Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture – with Kate Manne @ Northshire Saratoga
The author & journalist will return to Northshire to discuss her stirring, deeply researched, and groundbreaking book that will help parents learn to reckon with their own body biases, identify diet culture, and empower their kids to navigate a challenging landscape.
6:45 PM – A Writer’s Night @ The Longmeadow Adult Center
Straw Dog Writers’ Guild and The Longmeadow Adult Center are pleased to present Gary Metras, Easthampton’s first Poet Laureate and author of twenty-one collections of poetry. Gary’s latest book, Vanishing Points, was selected as a Must Read 2022 Poetry by the Massachusetts Center for the Book.
7:00 PM – Read with Pride: Special Event @ Saratoga Springs Public Library
Join librarian, Kate Federiconi for a discussion of Happy Endings with the author, Minita Sanghvi. Read with Pride is an ongoing reading group that meets the first Thursday of each month and reads fiction and nonfiction from the LGBTQ+ community. Copies of each month’s book selection may be obtained in the Reading Group Choices collection or by placing holds from the online public catalog.
7:00 PM – CAPS Be the Feature Open Mic
CAPS Be the Feature Open Mic is always a fluid evening. Maybe participants read 6 poems. Maybe 5. Maybe 3. Maybe 2.
7:00 PM – A Poetry Reading by Roberta Gould @ Elting Memorial Library
Robert Gould is the author of thirteen collections of poetry including Day True, Woven Lightening, To The Dogs, In Houses with Ladders, Three Windows, Only Rock and Other Poems, Dream Yourself Flying, Writing Air, Written Water, Not By Blood Alone, Esta Naranja, Louder Than Seeds, What History Trammels, and Pacing the Wind.
7:30 PM – Third Thursday Poetry Night featuring Darcy Smith @ The Social Justice Center
Writer Darcy Smith will read from her work at the Social Justice Center on Thursday, June 15, 2023, with an open mic for community poets.
Friday, June 16
9:00 AM – Early Literacy Storytime! @ Troy Public Library
Kids ages 0-5 are welcome to this early literacy story
10:30 AM – Storytime @ Waterford Public Library
Open to kids of all ages, but geared towards 2-5 year old’s. No registration required. Storytime consists of 2-3 stories and a related craft.
6:00 PM – Alex Mikulich – Unlearning White Supremacy: A Spirituality for Racial Liberation @ Northshire Manchester
The author, a theologian and social-ethicist, will discuss his book, which weaves together historical and sociological analysis to understand the origins and evolution of anti-Black white supremacy and to suggest ways in which white Christians in particular can work to overcome it in themselves and in their institutions.
6:30 PM – Poetry Open Mic @ Pine Hollow Arboretum
New poems by local poets Philip Good and Alan Casline with an open mic to follow.
7:30 PM – Hudson Valley Writers’ Center Open Mic
Featured Poets + open mike for poets, fiction writers, essayists with rotating hosts at the Hudson Valley Writers’ Center.
Saturday, June 17
11:15 AM – Tips for Writers from The Poison Lady @ Bethlehem Public Libary
The Poison Lady will offer tips on how to successfully poison someone—in fiction, of course—at the next meeting of the Upper Hudson Sisters in Crime chapter. Luci Zahray, aka, the Poison Lady, has two great passions in life: poisons and mysteries, though she’s never poisoned anyone or tried to write a mystery.
6:00 PM – Roland Merullo – Dessert with Buddha @ Norrthshire Manchester
The author of the all-time Northshire bestseller Dinner with Buddha will join us to discuss his new novel, which takes the eccentric, sort-of-Buddhist monk, Volya Rinpoche, and his skeptical, middle-of-the-road brother-in-law, Otto Ringling, on another enlightening road trip filled with meals, humor, social commentary, and good times.
Sunday, June 18
12:30 PM – Hybrid Poetry as Witness and Reclamation Workshop with Shira Dentz
Do the limits of one’s world equal the limits of one’s language (as philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein claimed)? What motivates a writer to push genre boundaries and cross-pollinate poetry with other genres and/or media?
2:00 PM – Poetry at the Friary @ St. Lawrence Friary
An open mic for poetry and spoken word in Beacon hosted by Fr. Bob Phelps.
2:00 PM – Jonathan and Thomas West – A Kids Book About Gay Parents @ Northshire Manchester
Local authors and part of the Northshire family Jonathan and Thomas West will present their new book which shares their story as gay dads who adopted 4 kiddos showing the world that ALL kinds of families are beautiful and possible.
Monday, June 19
1:30 PM – Monday Memoir Writing Group (In Person) @ Albany Public Library – Howe Branch
Participate in a group of memoir writers and get feedback
2:00 PM – With Pen in Hand @ Albany Public Library – Howe Branch
Paul Lamar, College of St Rose professor (retired) and South End writer, leads this popular series of writing workshops. Learn how to express yourself clearly and imaginatively, share your work, and respond to the stories of others. Attend any or all sessions.
7:00 PM – Poetic Vibe @ The Fish Market
Poet, artist, and performer D. Colin hosts the weekly Poetic Vibe series, a dynamic night of poetry and spoken word.
Tuesday, June 20
10:30 AM – Story Time at North Albany @ Albany Public Library
Please join us in the Large Meeting Room for stories, fingerplays, songs and rhymes for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, and their caregivers.
3:30 PM – Book Club @ Schenectady County Public Library – Niskayuna Branch
Join the Niskayuna book club for a discussion of The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley. New book club members are always welcome. Request a copy of the books online or at any SCPL location.
6:00 PM – Clémence Michallon – The Quiet Tenant @ Oblong Books
Author Clemence Michallon is in conversation with Julia Dahl in Rhinebeck.
Wednesday, June 21
11:00 AM – Fiction Book Discussion @ Vooheesville Public Library
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead is driven by an ingeniously intricate plot that plays out in a beautifully recreated Harlem of the early 1960s. It’s a family saga masquerading as a crime novel, a hilarious morality play, a social novel about race and power, and ultimately a love letter to Harlem.
5:45 PM – Writers Group @ Schenectady County Public Library – Central Library Branch
Whether you’ve been doing it forever or just starting out, bring your written words to this volunteer run community group and receive feedback from fellow wordsmiths as time permits.
7:00 PM – Dark Corners Book Group: ‘The Broken Girls’ @ Bethlehem Public Library
BPL’s book discussion group dedicated to literary thrillers, mysteries, suspense, horror, and maybe even some true crime. We meet every second month on Wednesday evenings at 7pm, and new members are always welcome! Registration is appreciated but not required. This month’s book is “The Broken Girls” by Simone St. James.
Did we miss anything? Let us know at info@hvwg.org, and be sure to check out https://hvwg.org to find out more about our vibrant literary and arts community.
