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, February 8
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 – Author Talk: Kim Van Alkemade, Counting Lost Stars” @ Battenkill Books
Please join us for an author talk with Kim Van Alkemade about her novel, “Counting Lost Stars.” New York Times bestselling author of Orphan #8, Kim van Alkemade returns with a gripping and poignant historical saga in which an unmarried college student who’s given up her baby for adoption helps a Dutch Holocaust survivor search for his lost mother.
7:30 PM – Aaliyah Bilal, author of the debut story collection “Temple Folk” @ University at Albany
Aaliyah Bilal’s debut story collection, Temple Folk (2023), is a groundbreaking portrait of the lived experiences of Black Muslims—a community rarely featured in U.S. literature—as they grapple with the challenges of faith, family, and freedom in America.
Friday, February 9
1:00 PM –Poetry/Storytelling Open Mic @ Saratoga Senior Center
The Saratoga Senior Center presents a poetry and storytelling open mic featuring poet Jay Rogoff.
6:00 PM – Mercedes de Guardiola and Amy Godine – “Vermont for the Vermonters and The Black Woods” @ Northshire Manchester
The two authors will visit our Manchester store to discuss their latest works of social history. Vermont for the Vermonters examines how the state’s eugenics movement led to state-sanctioned programs of institutionalization, sterilization, and family separation aimed at the most vulnerable Vermonters. The Black Woods chronicles the history of Black pioneers in New York’s northern wilderness.
Saturday, February 10
4:00 PM – St. Rocco’s Readings for the Dispossessed with Royer + Tetreault + Voet @ College of Saint Rose
An afternoon of readings to welcome Ric Royer and his “Niagara Falls, NY” book tour to Albany, with Elliot Teteault and Sof Voet.
Sunday, February 11
2:00 PM – 2nd Sunday @ 2 – Poetry + Prose @ Collar City Mushrooms
The 2nd Sunday @ 2 open mic for poetry and prose, hosted by Nancy Klepsch and Dan Wilcox, supports emerging, published and writers in-between.
3:00 PM – Chapbooks: Crafting a Collection
Join Straw Dog Writers Guild with presenter Adrie Rose on Sunday, February 11 via zoom from 3-5pm for this craft workshop. We will come together to work on pulling together poems into a chapbook collection. We’ll talk about what chapbooks are (and are not) and some strategies for arranging the poems in them. Participants are encouraged to bring 8-12 pages of poems. We’ll work in small groups to look at the poems participants brought and create a draft arrangement, then discuss how to send chapbook manuscripts out into the world.
Monday, February 12
6:30 PM – Poetry Circle Open Mic @ Moon & River Cafe
Poetry Circle is an intimate, interactive poetry and spoken-word open mic evening in which participants are invited to reflect on readings.
Tuesday, February 13
2:00 PM – FFAPL Book Talk @ Albany Public Library – Washington Ave. Branch
Thomas J. O’Grady, PhD, MPH, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, U at Albany, SUNY presents Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America by Beth Macy.
6:30 PM – White Hart Speaker Series: Roxana Robinson, “Leaving: A Novel,” in Conversation with Dani Shapiro @ The White Hart Inn
Presented by Oblong Books in partnership with The White Hart Inn & Scoville Memorial Library. “Leaving” charts a passage through loyalty and desire as it builds to a shattering conclusion, in Roxana Robinson’s boldest and most powerful work to date.
7:00 PM – 2nd Tuesday Open Mic
All-genre open mic out of Bennington hosted by Charlie Rossiter.
Wednesday, February 14
12:30 PM – Midday Write Ins @ Mochalisa’s Caffe
Midday Write Ins are a free, shared space to write.
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.
7:30 PM – Writers Mic
Writers near and far are welcome to join host Jackie Craven for a lively monthly open mic.
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.
