This week, we have another great lineup of literary events in the region to keep you warm and cozy as the winter weather bears down on the Northeast. Here’s a quick look at the upcoming book discussions, readings, open mics, and workshops.
Thursday, January 18
2:00 PM – Novels After Noon Book Group @ Albany Public Library – Bach Branch
Cozy up with a cup of tea while you discuss notable literary titles in the Bach branch of the Albany Public Library’s newest book club, “Novels After Noon.”
4:00 PM – Third Draft Thursday
Join The Poetry Barn on Zoom each third Thursday of the month from January-October (4-6 PM) for a peer-critique workshop.
6:45 PM – A Writer’s Night in January @ The Longmeadow Adult Center
Join Longmeadow Adult Center and Straw Dog Writers Guild on Thursday, January 18,for A Writer’s Night with featured reader Celia Jeffries.
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… This month’s featured poet is Perry Nicholas.
7:30 PM – Third Thursday Poetry Night Featuring Avery Stempel @ Social Justice Center
Poet Avery Stempel will read from his work at the Social Justice Center with an open mic for community poets.
Friday, January 19
6:00 PM – Sheila Liming – “Hanging Out” @ Northshire Manchester
Sheila Liming will share her powerful manifesto on the importance of personal connection. Loneliness is an epidemic; it feels harder than ever to connect with others meaningfully. Liming’s work shows how simple acts of casual connection are the glue that binds us together, and how community is the antidote to the disconnection and isolation that dominates contemporary life.
7:30 PM – Open Mic @ Hudson Valley Writers’ Center
Featured Poets + open mike for poets, fiction writers, essayists with rotating hosts at the Hudson Valley Writers’ Center.
7:30 PM – Open Mic & Slam @ Cafe Euphoria
A laid-back open mic and fun slam at a cafe founded and run by trans and gender non-conforming folks.
Saturday, January 20
11:15 AM – Long Story Short Workshop @ Bethlehem Public Library
A workshop on how writers shift their efforts toward character, plot, setting, motif, and more to accomplish a lot in small spaces.
1:30 PM – Comfort Food Poetry Share @ Belding Memorial Library
Grab your comfy blanket and join writer and poet Arianna Alexsandra Collins of Offerings for Community Building for a “Comfort Food” Poetry Share on Saturday, January 20th from 1:30-3pm. January’s Poetry Share challenge is to find and read your poems that are carbohydrate rich, warming, uplifting, full of compassion and understanding, and/or consoling.
4:00 PM – Author Showcase
Join Straw Dog Writers Guild for our annual Author Showcase on January 20th, 4-5:30 on Zoom. Our readers with new books in 2023 will be Adrie Rose, Anne Pinkerton, Cherryl Jensen, Deb Gorlin, Dina Friedman, Howie Faerstein, Joan Livingston, John Sheirer, Jordan Hall, Lindsay Rockwell, Suzanne Rancourt, and Tzivia Gover.
7:00 PM – The HOWL Grand Slam @ St. Lawrence University
Join the Adirondack Center for Writing for the Howl Grand Slam at St. Lawrence University on Sat, Jan 20 at 7 PM. Winning storytellers from this year’s slams will compete head-to-head, telling stories in line with this year’s theme, Achilles Heel.
Tuesday, January 23
6:00 PM – Jon Clinch – “The General and Julia” @ Northshire Saratoga
Acclaimed author Jon Clinch will join us in our Saratoga store to celebrate the release of his newest novel, in which Ulysses S. Grant reflects on the crucial moments of his life as a husband, a father, a general, and a president while writing his memoirs and reckoning with his complicated legacy. This event is co-presented with The Friends of the Ulysses S. Grant Cottage.
Wednesday, January 24
12:30 PM – Midday Write Ins @ Mochalisa’s Caffe
Midday Write Ins are a free, shared space to write. No fee, no minimum, no programming. Just a free space to write alongside other writers.
6:00 PM – Elizabeth & Ethan Finkelstein – “Cheap Old Houses” – with Joe Donahue @ Northshire Saratoga
The founders of the HGTV show and Instagram account Cheap Old Houses will visit our Saratoga store to discuss their book with Joe Donahue of WAMC / Northeast Public Radio. Cheap Old Houses is a stunning collection of beautiful, affordable homes and inspiration for buying and restoring an historic house.
7:00 PM – Straw Dog Writes Weekly Writers Meet Up
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.
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.
