Upcoming Literary Events: January 25-31, 2024

This week, we have another great lineup of literary events in the region. Here’s a quick look at the upcoming book discussions, readings, open mics, and workshops.

Thursday, January 25

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. 

6:00 PM – Bonnie Jo Campbell – “The Waters: A Novel” – in conversation with Bill Clegg @ Oblong Books – Rhinebeck
Bestselling author and National Book Award finalist Bonnie Jo Campbell returns with a fierce, mesmerizing novel about exceptional women and the soul of a small town.

6:30 PM – Monthly Poetry Night @ Battenkill Books
Join us for an evening of Poetry. Bring several poems to read, either your own or someone else’s. Open to the public, all are welcome. 

7:30 PM – Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Paul Harding @ University at Albany – Recital Hall
Join the NYS Writers Institute on Thursday, January 25, for a pair of conversations with Paul Harding, the first events of our 41st season.

Friday, January 26

6:00 PM – Scott Chaskey – “Soil and Spirit” @ Northshire Manchester
Farmer, activist, poet, and author Scott Chaskey will return to our Manchester store to discuss his latest collection of essays, which explore his longstanding commitment to food sovereignty and organic farming and his belief that humble attention to microbial life and diversity of species provides invaluable lessons for building healthy human communities. 

7:00 PM – News Beginning – Stories @ Dottie’s, Pittsfield
WXW Stories is a spirited sharing of true, first person stories told, not read, circling loosely around a theme. January’s theme is NEW BEGINNING. You’ll have to be there to know where the stories take us. Similar to a story slam in spirit – minus the score keeping bit – WXW Stories is a spirited sharing of true, first person stories told, not read, circling loosely around a theme. January’s theme is New Beginning. You’ll have to be there to know where the stories take us.

Saturday, January 27

7:00 PM – Salon Salvage @ Weathered Wood
Monthly poetry and art series featuring local, regional, and national poets and performers curated by Hajar Hussaini, Matthew Klane, and Amie Zimmerman. This month’s featured writers are Katie Fowley, Shaw Patton, and Jay Rogoff.

Tuesday, January 30

2:00 PM – FFAPL Book Talk @ Albany Public Library – Washington Ave. Branch
Dan Wilcox, Literary Legend; Joe Krausman, poet; Gene Damm, former journalist; & Jonathan Skinner, amateur classicist & retired statistician present “Best Remembered Poems” by Martin Gardner.

4:00 PM – Book Signing: Karina Yan Glaser, Bestselling Author of The Vanderbeekers & A Duet for Home @ Oblong Books – Rhinebeck
Calling all Vanderbeekers fans! Don’t miss the opportunity to meet author Karina Yan Glaser and get your books signed at Oblong.

6:00 PM – Jacqueline Boulden – “Family Ties Family Lies” @ Northshire Saratoga
Award-winning mystery author Jacqueline Boulden returns to Northshire to celebrate the release of her new novel, Family Ties Family Lies, in which a photojournalist’s startling discovery in the attic of her childhood home sends shockwaves through her family.

6:00 PM – Claudia Coenen – “Seasons of Grief: Creative Interventions to Support Bereaved People” @ Oblong Books – Rhinebeck
Personal experience is woven together with expert knowledge in this compassionate, heart-centered guide to practicing creative grief therapy edited by Claudia Coenen. Easy-to-use exercise guides work alongside poetic reflections on the nature of bereavement to create an accessible resource for practitioners to support their clients’ journey through grief.

7:00 PM – Poets Creating Conversation – Fragment @ Unitarian Universalist Church, Pittsfield
Equal parts art and community, WordXWord is where words go to be heard. Poets Creating Conversation is an ongoing series of events that challenges poets (and soon-to-be-poets!) to circle loosely around a theme or issue in the current social discourse to create a broad, multi-dimensional “conversation” between poems, poets, and audience.

Wednesday, January 31

5:45 PM – Writers Group @ Schenectady Public Library – Central 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 – 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.