Another great lineup of literary events in the region this week. Here’s a quick look at the book discussions, readings, open mics, and workshops coming up.
Thursday, November 9
1:30 PM – Howdunnits Mystery Writers Group @ Albany Public Library – Howe Branch
The Howdunnits provide a safe and welcoming venue to share your writing and to give and receive feedback from others.
4:00 PM – The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History: A Virtual Conversation with Ned Blackhawk
A conversation with award-winning scholar Dr. Ned Blackhawk (Yale University) discussing his recent book, The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History, moderated by Dr. Christian Ayne Crouch (Bard College).
5:00 PM – Writing to Thrive: A Creative Response to Trauma @ Waterford Public Library
Join writer and poet Rhonda Rosenheck for a writing workshop, Writing to Thrive: A Creative Response to Trauma at the Waterford Public Library. Sessions run from 5-6:30 pm and are the first three Thursdays of November: the 2nd, 9th and 16th.
6:00 PM – Poetic License – Albany Collage Night @ The Fish Market
UAG Member Rebecca Schoonmaker hosts an evening of collage art making. We will provide the materials – magazines, papers, glue, scissors, wine, n/a beverages, and snacks. While all materials are provided, you may also bring your own to use or share. All ages are welcome! A Suggested donation of $15/person or bring a friend for $10/each (no limit on friends!)
6:00 PM – The Marvel of the Ordinary: Crafting Extraordinary Stories from Everyday Life @ Siena College
A conversation with award-winning author Karin Lin-Greenberg, Siena College Associate Professor of English at Yates Gallery.
7:00 PM – Suzanne Rancourt, Anton Yakovlev—Greenkill Sessions @ Greenkill Gallery
Poets Suzanne Rancourt and Anton Yakovlev will be reading their work at Greenkill Gallery for the Calling All Poets Green Kill Sessions series.
7:00 PM – Word Thursdays Online Featuring Steve Friedman, Jeff Leen, and Chris Conway
Word Thursdays 31st Season sponsored by Bright Hill Press and Literary Center of the Catskills featuring Chris Conway, Jeff Leen, and Steve Friedman will broadcast live on Facebook and Zoom.
7:00 PM – Susanna Hoffs (of The Bangles): Author of This Bird Has Flown, in conversation with Joe Donahue @ University at Albany
The NYS Writers Institute presents Susanna Hoffs (of The Bangles), author of “This Bird Has Flown,” in conversation with WAMC’s Joe Donahue.
7:00 PM – Replaying the Tape: Poetry, Percussion, and Paleontology @ Adirondack Center for Writing
‘Replaying the Tape’ is an interdisciplinary collaboration between three women practitioners: New-York based composer Dr. Jane Boxall, paleontologist Dr. Frankie Dunn, and poet Penny Boxall.
Friday, November 10
9:00 AM – Early Literacy Storytime! @ Troy Public Library
Kids ages 0-5 are welcome to this early literacy story.
6:00 PM – Poetry Open Mic @ Pine Hollow Arboretum
Bring 3-5 poems for Circle of Poetry. Round-Robin format. Sign-up starts at 6:00 PM with reading beginning at 6:30 PM.
6:30 PM – Free Writing Workshop with Suzanne S. Rancourt @ Keeseville Free Library
All genres and skill levels are welcome to this FREE writing workshop with poet and writer Suzanne S. Rancourt at the Keeseville Free Library.
6:30 PM – Lauren Camp & Kasey Jueds @ The Poetry Barn
New Mexico Poet Laureate Lauren Camp is the author of seven poetry collections, most recently An Eye in Each Square (River River Books, 2023) and Worn Smooth Between Devourings (NYQ Books, 2023). Kasey Jueds is a poet living in the Catskill Mountains in New York. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in publications including American Poetry Review, Beloit Poetry Journal, Bennington Review, Cave Wall, Cincinnati Review, Colorado Review, Crazyhorse, Denver Quarterly, Narrative, Ninth Letter, Pleiades, Provincetown Arts, River Styx, Salamander, The Southampton Review, Tinderbox, and Waxwing. Keeper, her first book, won the Agnes Lynch Starrett Prize from the University of Pittsburgh Press, and was published by Pitt in fall, 2013. Her second book, The Thicket, was published by Pitt in November, 2021.
Saturday, November 11
11:00 AM – The Mythic “I”: A Poetry Workshop with Susan Comninos @ Troy Public Library
Join the Troy Public Library and local poet & author Susan Comninos for a poetry reading & writing class at the Main branch on Saturday, November 11.
11:00 AM – Joe DiBari signs and discusses, “Whispers of Eternity” @ Market Block Books
Step into the ethereal world of Maison Dundee, the oldest and most romantic of New Orleans’ hotels. Novelist Roger Priestly checks in to attend a book signing. He has not produced anything of substance for a while. The poolside courtyard draws him in, inviting his search for the artist’s muse. He finds much more as the boundary between the living and dead becomes blurred. Roger encounters ghosts that ignite an extraordinary flame. Together, with the specters, they weave hauntingly vivid stories that bridge the realm of fantasy and reality. Be prepared for an unparalleled journey to a place where inspiration dances on the delicate threads of the paranormal, and whispers of the departed fuel otherworldly transformation.
3:00 PM – Phil Bayly signs and discusses his newest novel, “Man Who Had 9 Lives” @ The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza
Phil Bayly is an American author. The Man Who Had 9 Lives, released in November of 2023, is his fifth novel in the Murder on Skis Mystery series and has been named a finalist for two American Fiction Awards. The story begins with an avalanche and tumbles toward murder and mystery at a Colorado Ski Resort.
6:00 PM – Freya Marske with Rachel Person – “A Power Unbound” @ Northshire Saratoga
Marske will discuss her award-winning queer historical fantasy series The Last Binding with Northshire event director Rachel Person.
6:00 PM – Peter Meerwarth, “Chicken Coop Pinky Swear” @ Battenkill Books
Chicken Coop Pinky Swear is the heartwarming story based on the 1921-1925 diaries belonging to Samuel Telford, a tall, dark, and handsome farmer from White Creek, NY, and Nora Andrew, a high school senior that grew up on the neighboring farm.
Sunday, November 12
2:00 PM – 2nd Sunday @ 2 – Poetry + Prose @ Collar City Mushrooms
The 2nd Sunday @ 2 open mic for poetry and prose, hosted by Dan Wilcox and Nancy Klepsch, is in its 11th year, supporting emerging, published and writers in-between.
Monday, November 13
1:30 PM – Howe Monday Memoir Writing Group (In Person) @ Albany Public Library – Howe Branch
Participate in a group of memoir writers and get feedback.
6:30 PM – Poetry Circle Open Mic @ Moon and River Cafe
Poetry Circle is an intimate, interactive poetry and spoken-word open mic evening in which participants are invited to reflect on readings.
6:30 PM – Poetic License – Albany Poetry Reading & Open Mic @ The Fish Market
Poets whose work was chosen by an artist in the PL-A show will share the poem that inspired the artwork and 2 other pieces. Open Mic Sign-ups begin at 6PM!
Tuesday, November 14
6:00 PM – Lee McIntyre – “On Disinformation”
Author and scholar Lee McIntyre will join us on zoom to discuss his powerful, pocket-sized citizen’s guide on how to fight back against the disinformation campaigns that are imperiling American democracy.
6:00 PM – Amy Godine, “The Black Woods: Pursuing Racial Justice on the Adirondack Frontier” @ Battenkill Books
The Black Woods chronicles the history of Black pioneers in New York’s northern wilderness. From the late 1840s into the 1860s, they migrated to the Adirondacks to build farms and to vote. On their new-worked land, they could meet the $250 property requirement New York’s constitution imposed on Black voters in 1821, and claim the rights of citizenship.
7:00 PM – 2nd Tuesday Open Mic
All-genre open mic out of Bennington hosted by Charlie Rossiter. One poem, song, or page of prose, and then, if we like, we do it again in a 2nd round.
7:00 PM – Ken Babbs, CRONIES: Adventures with Ken Kesey, Neal Cassady, The Merry Pranksters and The Grateful Dead
Irreverent, unencumbered by social norms, literary and poetic, Ken Babbs’ Cronies is a poignant view of the Sixties and beyond from someone who was there, and remembers it well. Kind of… Come along for the ride as Babbs talks with David Stanford and shares tales of the Merry Pranksters, from the famous bus trip to Manhattan, to joining the Hells Angels at their partying best, dropping in for the early Acid Tests, experiencing the Berkeley Vietnam anti-war rally, and the Further tours with the Grateful Dead.
Wednesday, November 15
6:00 PM – Amy Godine – “The Black Woods: Pursuing Racial Justice on the Adirondack Frontier” @ Northshire Saratoga
From Saratoga Springs, New York, independent scholar Amy Godine has been writing and speaking about ethnic, migratory, and Black Adirondack history for more than three decades. Exhibits she has curated include Dreaming of Timbuctoo at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in North Elba, New York.
6:00 PM – Marty Baron, Conversation + Signing @ Merritt Bookstore
Please join Merritt Bookstore for a book signing and a conversation with Martin Baron about his new book Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and The Washington Post, a riveting inside account of a momentous time for journalism and democracy.
6:30 PM – Empowered by Poetry @ Hart Cluett Museum
Empowered by Poetry is a new open mic for poetry and spoken word in Troy sponsored by The Arts Center of the Capital Region.
7:00 PM – Barkreaders: Richard Levine @ Adirondack Center for Writing
Poet Richard Levine (Seward, NY) will read from his newest collection of poems, Now in Contest (Fernwood Press, 2023), and then we’ll host an open mic where anyone can share up to 5 minutes of writing at the mic. There will be a book sale and signing following the reading.
7:00 PM – Ian Smith & Rob Stein @ The Poetry Barn
Scottish-born Donegal musician Ian Smith performs Wednesday, November 15th at 7pm. Ian’s music has received three Album of the Year nominations from “Irish Music Magazine”. Clannad’s Moya Brennan says Ian “really brings out the Donegal influence in his writing and performance. He embraces the nature of the place with passion.” Ian will be joined by his friend and musical collaborator Rob Stein, guitarist extraordinaire.
7:00 PM – Straw Dog Writes Online Weekly Meetup
Each Wednesday at 7pm, whenever there is not another scheduled Straw Dog event, any Straw Dog Writers Guild members who would like to spend some time writing together can join a Zoom session. We will spend 15 minutes on introductions, a 45 minute writing session, have a 15 minute discussion, then write for a second 45 minute period of time. Afterwards, the Zoom room will remain open for a half hour for discussion and chat.
7:30 PM – Next Year’s Words: A New Paltz Readers Forum @ Elting Memorial Library
The next session of Next Year’s Words, A New Paltz Readers Forum, will be held on November 15 featuring Stephanie JT Russell, Judith Kerman, and Jennifer Franklin.
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.
