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, September 26
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.
4:30 PM – Conversation with novelist Adelle Waldman, author Help Wanted @ University at Albany
Adelle Waldman’s much-anticipated new novel, Help Wanted (2024), explores the lives and economic hardships of retail workers at a big box store in Upstate New York.
6:00 PM – SCPL Presents: Bunkong Tuon @ The Open Door Bookstore
Bunkong Tuon is a Cambodian American writer, Pushcart Prize-winning poet, and professor at Union College in Schenectady. His work has appeared in World Literature Today, Copper Nickel, New York Quarterly, Massachusetts Review, diode poetry, Verse Daily, among others. He is the author of several poetry collections. In 2024, he published WHAT IS LEFT, a Greatest Hits chapbook from Jacar Press, and KOAN KHMER, his debut novel from Northwestern UP/Curbstone Books. He is poetry editor of Cultural Daily.
6:30 PM – It’s Called Rhetoric @ Adirondack Center for Writing
To get our vote, today’s politicians give speeches almost every day. How can we judge the truth of what they say? The principles of rhetoric, the art of persuasion, give us the tools to analyze these speeches, to find the truth. This workshop is designed to make you a more critical listener and a more effective speaker. Open to all experience levels and teens (13+) are welcome alongside adults.
6:30 PM – Open Mic Poetry Night @ Inquiring Minds Bookstore
Inquiring Minds Bookstore and The Bluestone Poets, both of the Village of Saugerties, welcome poets and writers to their new Open Round Robin Reading at the bookstore, corner of Main and Parition Streets, every last Thursday of month.
7:00 PM – Word Thursdays featuring Regina Garcia and Malaika Albrecht
Bright Hill Press presents Word Thursdays Online featuring Regina Garcia & Malaika Albrecht will broadcast live on Thursday, September 26 at 7 PM EST.
Friday, September 27
6:00 PM – Melody Joy – Shaktified @ Northshire Manchester
Local Vermont author, transformational coach, and energetic midwife Melody Joy will join us to share her radical path to healing and transformation by activating the divine spiritual energy of Shakti that lies dormant in all beings.
7:00 PM – Lucid Voices Open Mic @ Electric City Barn
Lucid Voices Monthly Open Mic series. Monthly open mics hosted by Lucid Voices. All acts are welcome. A safe poetry space for expression and more.
Saturday, September 28
1:00 PM – Clumps & Snags Poetry Workshop @ Albany Public Library – Pine Hills Branch
A poetry workshop series, led by Samuel Maurice, intended to aid, guide, and foster one’s creative and poetic intuitions and potentials.
6:00 PM – You Me and Poetry @ North Eastern YWCA
Lucid Voices presents a show for the ages – a one-stop poetry shop showcasing great talent from the 518 and beyond.
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 readers are Saida Agostini Bostic and Mark Nowak as well as an artist talk by Kate Kosek!
Sunday, September 29
1:00 PM – Poets Creating Conversation: Between @ The Mount
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.
6:00 PM – IHOP Clifton Park – Write-In @ IHOP Clifton Park
We will do 20 minutes of writing and then 20 minutes of chatting. Continuing in a cycle throughout the three and a half hour event!
6:00 PM – Denny’s – Write-In @ Denny’s – East Greenbush
We will do 20 minutes of writing and then 20 minutes of chatting. Continuing in a cycle throughout the three and a half hour event!
Monday, September 30
6:00 PM – Kate Sweeney – This is Not a Dead Girl Story @ Northshire Manchester
Acclaimed young adult author Kate Sweeney will join us in our Saratoga store to discuss her newest novel, a dark and powerful mystery perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and true crime podcasts, in which a teen girl must do whatever it takes to find her missing cousin—who everyone else thinks is dead.
Tuesday, October 1
7:00 PM – Book Club Discussion with Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka @ The Bookstore Plus
On the first Tuesday of every month, we host a unique book club experience where readers have the opportunity to discuss the book club pick with the author! On Tuesday, October 2, 2024, at 7:00 pm we will talk with Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, via Zoom, to discuss “Walking With Gorillas: The Journey of an African Wildlife Vet”.
Wednesday, October 2
7:00 PM – Caffe Lena Poetry Featuring Jackie Craven @ Caffe Lena
On Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Caffè Lena will present a poetry reading by Jackie Craven. An open mic poetry reading will follow.
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.
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.
