Your Week in Virtual Book Events, Jan. 11th to Jan. 17th

Northern Writers’ Awards Roadshow: Poetry
Monday, January 11th, 1:00pm EST
New Writing North, a writing development agency for North England authors, will host this virtual roadshow event featuring poets and their publishers. Poet Rommi Smith, poets and editors Jo Clement (Moveable Type) and JT Welsch (Flora & Fauna), and Hannah Bannister, Operations Manager of Peepal Tree Press, will speak. Free. Register here.

Happy Half Hour with Courtney Summers
Monday, January 11th, 4:00pm EST
Critically acclaimed author Courtney Summers (The Project) will discuss her newest young adult novel with the Macmillan Library Marketing team in this virtual half-hour chat. Free, via Crowdcast.

Grubbie Debuts: Julie Dalton with Hank Phillippi Ryan
Monday, January 11th, 7:00pm EST
GrubStreet Center for Creative Writing and Porter Square Books will host a launch for alum Julie Dalton’s debut novel, Waiting for the Night Song, featuring a conversation with GrubStreet instructor and bestselling author, Hank Phillippi Ryan (The First to Lie). Free, with registration.

Author Highlight – Micah the Poet
Monday, January 11th, 7:00pm EST
DC’s Play Play will host a happy hour book club featuring poet, DJ, and activist Micah the Poet. Micah will speak about his debut poetry collection, Things No One Else Wants to Say, and how it came to be. Free. Register here.

One Book, One Milton: An Evening with Samra Habib
Monday, January 11th, 7:00pm EST
Milton Public Library welcomes author Samra Habib to read and discuss her book, We Have Always Been Here, selected by Milton Public Library staff in Canada for the community wide program, One Book, One Milton. Habib will be joined in conversation with Michael Shapiro of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Via Crowdcast. Free.

Mahogany L. Browne and Well-Read Black Girl Present: The Friendship Summit
Tuesday, January 12th, 12:00pm EST
The first-ever virtual Friendship Summit, powered by Well-Read Black Girl and with books sold by Books are Magic, will feature live panels and a musical event to celebrate the publication of Chlorine Sky, Mahogany L. Brown’s debut YA novel in-verse. Signed copies of the book will accompany each virtual ticket. Participating authors include Rachel Cargle, Dhonielle Clayton (The Everlasting Rose), Glory Edim (Well-Read Black Girl), Nic Stone (Dear Martin), and Christine Platt (Ana & Andrew), with a musical performance from singer and poet Jamila Woods. Tickets will be on sale until 9 AM day-of and begin at $25.89 for US book shipping or $17.99 for Brooklyn-based book pickups. Register here.

Brookline Booksmith Picture Book Club: Jessica Love
Tuesday, January 12th, 4:00pm EST
Picture book author Jessica Love will read her newest all-ages book, Julián at the Wedding, followed by a kids’ book discussion with the book club moderator at Brookline Booksmith. Free, via Zoom.

P&P Live! Stephanie Schriock | Run To Win with Hillary Rodham Clinton
Tuesday, January 12th, 5:00pm EST
The president of EMILY’s List, Stephanie Schriock (Run To Win: Lessons in Leadership for Women Changing the World), will discuss her playbook for women changing the world in politics, business, or any arena, with former first lady, U.S. senator, and Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton (The Book of Gutsy Women). Tickets include a copy of Run To Win, which starts at $34.99 for U.S. shipping or $27.99 for store pickup at Politics and Prose in DC. Reserve a spot here.

Michelle Gallen: Big Girl, Small Town (A Book Stall Author Event)
Tuesday, January 12th, 6:30pm EST
Irish novelist Michelle Gallen joins fellow author Mesha Maren (Sugar Run) for a conversation about Michelle’s acclaimed debut, Big Girl, Small Town. Via Crowdcast, with registration. Free.

Emma Lord and Farrah Penn: You Have A Match
Tuesday, January 12th, 7:00pm EST
The Strand Book Store hosts a virtual launch of You Have a Match, the latest YA release by author Emma Lord. She will be joined in conversation by books editor at Buzzfeed and fellow YA author, Farrah Penn (Twelve Steps to Normal). General admission starts at $5, with other options that include a copy of the book. Via Crowdcast.

Angie Thomas and Nic Stone Discuss Concrete Rose at MahoganyBooks
Tuesday, January 12th, 7:00pm EST
New York Times bestselling authors and friends Angie Thomas and Nic Stone (Dear Martin) will join in conversation to celebrate the release of Angie’s highly anticipated book, Concrete Rose — prelude to The Hate U Give. Hosted by Black-owned bookstore, MahoganyBooks. Tickets are $24 to attend, via Crowdcast.

Link to Libraries Presents: Creative Conversations
Tuesday, January 12th, 7:00pm EST
Link to Libraries presents this special evening with New York Times bestselling children’s book authors Grace Lin (A Big Mooncake for Little Star) and Shannon Hale (Kind of a Big Deal) for a virtual conversation about craft, storytelling, diversity and feminism in children’s books. Reserve a spot for $35 via Crowdcast.

Book Launch for The Brass Queen
Tuesday, January 12th, 7:00pm EST
The Westport Library celebrates the launch of author Elizabeth Chatswoth debut novel, The Brass Queen. She will be joined by fellow writer Gabi Coatsworth (Imagining Monsters) on this launch day. Free, via Crowdcast.

George Saunders presents A Swim in a Pond in the Rain
Tuesday, January 12th, 7:30pm EST
Murmrr Lit presents a livestreamed conversation between bestselling authors George Saunders and Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (Friday Black)  to celebrate the release of Saunders’s newest book, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: in Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life. General admission includes a copy of the book, $33 including shipping or $29 for in-store pickup from the Community Bookstore in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Reserve a spot here.

The Prophets — Robert Jones, Jr. in conversation with Brit Bennett
Tuesday, January 12th, 7:30pm EST
Robert Jones Jr. will be featured in this event celebrating his highly anticipated debut novel, The Prophets. He will be joined in conversation with bestselling author Brit Bennett (The Vanishing Half). Hosted by Charis Books and More. This event is free, though solidarity donations are welcome from those who are financially able to support the work of Charis Circle, a programming non-profit. After airing, the event will be archived with closed captioning for deaf and HOH attendees. Via Crowdcast.

Mark Polanzak: The OK End of Funny Town
Tuesday, January 12th, 7:30pm EST
Mark Polanzak will be in conversation with BOA Publisher and Executive Director Peter Conners about Polanzak’s recent release, The OK End of Funny Town, winner of the BOA Short Fiction Prize. Free, via Zoom.

Open Door Online: Chia-Lun Chang, E’mon Lauren, Nilah Foster, and Emily Brandt
Tuesday, January 12th, 8:00pm EST
Poetry Foundation’s Open Door series continues with a live virtual reading from new and emerging poets to highlight writing instruction and poetic partnerships. Chia-Lun Chang (One Day We Become Whites), E’mon Lauren (Commando), 2020 Youth Poet Laureate of Chicago Nilah Foster, and Emily Brandt (Falsehoood) will read. Free, with registration.

Hyphenated: An Asian American Book Club — Everything I Never Told You
Tuesday, January 12th, 8:00pm EST
Austin’s Asian American Resource Center will revisit Celeste Ng’s 2014 debut novel Everything I Never Told You, in this January open book club discussion hosted by Austin novelist Chaitali Sen (The Pathless Sky). Free. Register here. 

Gina Apostol
Tuesday, January 12th, 9:00pm EST
City Lights Booksellers & Publishers will host a launch party for the first-ever US publication of Gina Apostol’s Revolution According to Ramundo Mata, winner of the Philippine National Book Award. Free, with registration.

A Conversation with Artists Katie Chung and Unyimeabasi Udoh
Wednesday, January 13th, 6:30pm EST
Chicago Artist Coalition welcomes a digital artist talk from Katie Chung and Unyimeabasi Udo, artists on view at their current show “Excavating Memory.” Poet Richard “Dingo” Dingwall (A Window to Let the Light Out) will make a special appearance and read his work. Free. Register here.

Carol Hay and Mona Eltahawy: Think Like a Feminist
Wednesday, January 13th, 7:00pm EST
The Strand Book Store welcomes professor and author Carol Hay to launch and discuss her new book, Think Like a Feminist: The Philosophy Behind the Revolution. She will be joined in conversation by feminist author and commentator Mona Eltahawy (The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls). Free, via Crowdcast.

Torrey Peters: Detransition, Baby with Curtis Sittenfeld
Wednesday, January 13th, 7:00pm EST
Books Are Magic will host this virtual event to celebrate the launch of Detransition, Baby, the debut novel of author Torrey Peters. She will be joined in conversation with Curtis Sittenfeld (Rodham). Tickets are free, with the option to purchase a copy of Peters’ book. Register here.

B&N Virtually Presents: Angie Thomas Celebrates Concrete Rose
Wednesday, January 13th, 7:00pm EST
Barnes & Noble welcomes New York Times bestselling author, Angie Thomas, for a live virtual event to discuss Concrete Rose, the prelude to the bestselling book, The Hate U Give. She will be in conversation with special guest and fellow bestselling author Dhonielle Clayton (Tiny Pretty Things). Tickets start at $26.73 and include a copy of the book and other themed goodies. Via Zoom.

Akua Lezli Hope: Them Gone
Wednesday, January 13th, 7:30pm EST
Award-winning poet Akua Lezli Hope will read from her 2018 poetry collection, Them Gone, in this event hosted by Writers & Books. Tickets are free. Via Zoom. 

Mateo Askaripour and Danielle Prescod for Black Buck
Wednesday, January 13th, 8:00pm EST
Presented by Loyalty Bookstores, Mateo Askaripour will discuss the release of his highly anticipated debut novel, Black Buck, in conversation with writer Danielle Prescod. They will be joined by special guest recording artist/producer Superfi¢ial. To register for the event, there is a required donation of at least $1, which will go toward Black Lives Matter DC. Via Crowdcast.

The Ties that Bind: Ann Patchett on Family, Fortune, and the Search for Self
Wednesday, January 13th, 9:00pm EST
Women Lit, of the Bay Area Book Festival, will host this live, virtual event featuring critically acclaimed author Ann Patchett in conversation on the origins and inspiration of her recent book, The Dutch House. Free for Women Lit Members. Tickets begin at $15 for general admission, and $30 with a signed paperback copy of the book. Register here.

Madeleine Watts – The Inland Sea
Wednesday, January 13th, 10:00pm EST
Writer Madeleine Watts will discuss her highly anticipated debut, The Inland Sea, with writer and teacher Jeannie Vanasco (Things We Didn’t Talk About When I Was a Girl) for Point Reyes Books. Free, via Crowdcast.

Incite: Queer Writers Read
Wednesday, January 13th, 10:00pm EST
Incite: Queer Writers Read is a curated, monthly reading series for queer writers, hosted by Literary Arts of Oregon. This month’s queer authors include Clair Rudy Foster (Shine of the Ever), Samson Syharath, Sarah A. Chavez (Hands That Break & Scar), and Wayne Gregory (The Tongues of Men and Angels) reading on the topic of relief. Free, with registration.

The American Library in Paris Book Award
Thursday, January 14th, 1:30pm EST
The winner of the 2020 American Library in Paris Book Award will be announced and will deliver a live talk on their winning book. The evening will also include a tribute to the six shortlisted books: James Gardner’s The Louvre: The Many Lives of the World’s Most Famous Museum; Caitlin Horrocks’s The Vexations: A Novel; Rachel Mesch’s Before Trans: Three Gender Stories from Nineteenth-Century France; Maggie Paxson’s The Plateau; Maurice Samuels’s The Betrayal of the Duchess: The Scandal That Unmade the Bourbon Monarchy and Made France Modern; and Bill Buford’s Dirt: Adventures in Lyon as a Chef in Training, Father, and Sleuth Looking for the Secret of French Cooking. Free, with registration. 

Writers Club NY Live Reading
Thursday, January 14th, 6:00pm EST
To celebrate their one year anniversary and support programming for Writers Club NY, a global community of writers and creatives, a live reading and open mic will occur via Zoom. Writers Rashaan Jiles, Nneka Jackson, Devonaire Ortiz, Kyle Carrero Lopex, Brie Wilde, and Xime Izquierdo Ugas will read. To support future digital programming, a donation of at least $20 is welcome, though no one is turned away due to lack of funds. Register here.

Women in Appalachia Panel: Presenting Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, Leah Hampton, and Karen Salyer McElmurray
Thursday, January 14th, 6:00pm EST
Flyleaf Books presents three Applalachian women writers for a conversation about identity, place, and their recent works. Authors Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle (Even As We Breathe), Leah Hampton (F*ckface), and Karen Salyer McElmurray (Wanting Radiance) will participate in the panel. Free, via Crowdcast.

Read My Palm
Thursday, January 14th, 6:00pm EST
Saint Flashlight, a creative team devoted to placing poetry in public spaces, presents Read My Palm — a night where commissioned poets give their predictions of 2021 and beyond through five-line poems inspired by the ancient art of palm reading. Writers Pamela Booker (Dust: murmurs and a play), Regie Cabico, Molly Gross, Marchus Amaker (The Birth of All Things), and others will read. Free, every Thursday evening at 6pm EST until February 11th. Via Instagram Live.

Story Stop: Philadelphia, Hosted by Kris Spisak
Thursday, January 14th, 6:30pm EST
As part of Kris Spisak’s virtual book tour for her book, The Family Story Workbook, A Novel Idea on Passyunk will host an evening of local storytellers as they share their family stories that has shaped them as well as memories from their own lives that have impacted their work. The guest authors joining Kris Spisak include poet Deborah Turner (Sweating It Out), crime novelist John Vercher (Three-Fifths), feminist fairy tale writer Christina Rosso (She Is A Beast), and author and literary agent Eric Smith (Don’t Read the Comments). The event is free, with a suggested $5 donation welcome. Via Zoom.

B&N Virtually Presents: George Saunders 
Thursday, January 14th, 7:00pm EST
Barnes & Noble welcomes bestselling, award-winning author George Saunders to discuss his new book, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain. He will be in discussion with Cheryl Strayed, bestselling author of Wild. Tickets are $34.83 to attend the event and includes one signed copy of the book for domestic attendees. Register here.

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby with Min Jin Lee and Jennifer Buehler
Thursday, January 14th, 7:30pm EST
Hosted by Greenlight Bookstores to celebrate the new Deluxe Trade Paperback Edition of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, with Min Jin Lee (Pachinko), who contributed a new introduction to this special edition, and Jennifer Buehler (Teaching Reading with YA Literature), who contributed “Suggestions for Further Explorations” to the Penguin Books Premium Mass Market edition of the book. Lee and Buehler will discuss how gender, race, class, and sexuality complicate the pursuit of the American Dream in one of the great American novels. Free, with registration.

The Healer’s Burden Book Launch Celebration
Thursday, January 14th, 8:00pm EST
Prairie Lights Bookstore will celebrate the launch of The Healers Burden: Stories and Poems of Professional Grief. Contributors, consisting of frontline healthcare workers, will read their work. Register via Zoom.

Angie Thomas | Concrete Rose
Thursday, January 14th, 8:00pm EST
Hosted by Blue Willow Bookshop, Angie Thomas will join in conversation with Justin A. Reynolds (Opposite of Always) to discuss her new book Concrete Rose. Each ticket comes with a signed copy of the book while supplies last, beginning at $22 for local Houston residents and $32 for other domestic shipping. Register here.

Our Words, Ourselves: Maria Hinojosa, Koa Beck, Deborah Douglas, Alicia Elliott, and Michele Weldon
Thursday, January 14th, 8:00pm EST
Women & Children First will host a virtual conversation featuring writers Maria Hinojosa, Alicia Elliott (A Mind Spread Out On The Ground), Deborah D. Douglas (U.S. Civil Rights Trail), and Koa Beck (White Feminism), in a conversation moderated by Michele Weldon (Act Like You’re Having a Good Time: Essays). Free, via Crowdcast.

Anna North: Outlawed with R.O. Kwon
Friday, January 15th, 7:00pm EST
Novelist Anna North joins Books Are Magic to discuss her latest book, Outlawed, in conversation with The Incendiaries author R.O. Kwons in this virtual event. Tickets are free, with the option to purchase a book for shipping or store pickup. Register here.

PSU Alumni Showcase: C. R. Grimmer, Genevieve Hudson, and Suman Mallick
Friday, January 15th, 7:00pm EST
Portland State University will host an alumni reading from three past authors who completed the MFA program. Poet and scholar C.R. Grimmer (The Lyme Letters), author Genevieve Hudson (Boys of Alabama), and novelist Suman Mallick (The Black-Marketer’s Daughter) will read. An ASL interpreter will be present at this event. Free, with registration.

Aftermath Reading #1: Nabila Lovelace, Nathan Osorio, Natalie Shapero
Friday, January 15th, 7:00pm EST
Aftermath, an artist collective committed to hosting quarterly virtual readings and workshops in the time of COVID-19, will host their inaugural reading. Poets Nabila Lovelace (Sons of Achilles), Nathan Xavier Osorio (The Last Town Before the Mojave), and Natalie Shapero (Popular Longing) will read. Free, with registration.

LIPSERVICE: An Evening of Poetry and Prowess
Friday, January 15th, 8:00pm EST
The Estuary Collective, a group of Black, femme writers, will host their first poetry reading virtually. Poets Joy Priest (Horsepower), Brittany Rogers, Destiny O. Birdsong (Negotiations), Taylor Byas (Bloodwarm), Jason B. Crawford (Summertime Fine), Jasminne Mendez (Night-Blooming Jasm(m)ine), Gris Muñoz ( Coatlicue Girl), Lýsz Flo (Soliloquy of an Ice Queen), Zora Satchell, and Ashley Elizabeth (you were supposed to be a friend) will read. Free. Register here.

Author! Author! Literary Series: Tayari Jones in conversation with Elizabeth Gilbert
Friday, January 15th, 9:00pm EST
New York Times bestselling writer Tayari Jones (An American Marriage) will join in conversation with journalist and author Elizabeth Gilbert (City of Girls) for the kick off of Deschutes Public Library Foundation’s Author! Author! series. Individual tickets are $25 per event, while series tickets are $60 and allows access to all three online events. Reserve a seat here. 

NYALitFest – Last One To Die Book Launch
Saturday, January 16th, 1:00pm EST
England’s Northern YA Literary Festival will host a virtual launch party for Cynthia Murphy’s debut YA horror-thriller book, Last One To Die. Murphy will be in conversation with author Amy McCaw (Mina). Register via Crowdcast and get entered into a raffle to win exclusive swag. Free.

Celebrating Brian Pinkney’s Time for Kenny 
Saturday, January 16th, 3:30pm EST
Charis Books and More welcomes two-time Caldecott Honor artist and Coretta Scott King Medalist Brian Pinkney for a celebration of his newest book, Time for Kenny, in this all-ages virtual event. Co-hosted by the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History. Following the live event, the footage will be archived with closed captioning for accessibility. Free. Via Crowdcast.

Black in the Middle Virtual Book Conversation Series, Pt. 2: “Past”
Saturday, January 16th, 7:00pm EST
Contributors to the new essay collection, Black in the Middle: An Anthology of the Black Midwest, will respond to questions about neglected histories in this three-part panel series. This event will feature contributors Leslie Barlow, Joe Boyle, Beverly Cottman, Brian G. Gilmore (come see about me, marvin), Michelle S. Johnson, Phyllis M. May-Machunda, David Weathersby, and Yvonne (Iwilla/Rise). Register here. Free, via Zoom.

chogwa issue 6 Reading Party: make a wish
Saturday, January 16th, 9:00pm EST
chogwa, a quarterly e-zine featuring one Korean poem and multiple English translations, will host their first online event to celebrate the release of their recent issue with a reading and panel discussion by editor and translator Soje (Unexpected Vanilla by Lee Hyemi). Free, via Zoom.

Caste: A Conversation
Sunday, January 17th, 1:00pm EST
Rev. Jacqui Lewis, Ph.D. and Anu Gupta will discuss Isabel Wilkerson’s award-winning book, Caste: The Origins of our Discontents, and the racist hierarchy undergirding American society. General admission is $20 and can be reserved here. Via Zoom.

We The Interwoven: Immigration Stories from the American Heartland
Sunday, January 17th, 3:00pm EST
Prairie Lights Books celebrates the release of the anthology We The Interwoven: An Anthology of Bicultural Iowa with a panel discussion moderated by the series editors, Andrea Wilson and Alisha Jeddeloh, and featuring contributors of the book. Featured writers include Eyad Said, Dhuha Tawil, Shalini Jasti, Vanessa “Cueponi Cihautl” Espinoza, George Khal, Hibbah Jarmakani, and Salma Salama. Free, with registration. 

Mother Country: Poetry Reading and Discussion
Sunday, January 17th, 4:00pm EST
Poet and artist Elana Bell will read from and discuss her new book of poetry, Mother Country, part of the American Poets Continuum Series. This event is donation-based and the discussion will be open to the audience, via Zoom.

Constellations*: A Revival
Sunday, January 17th, 6:00pm EST
Teaching artist and poet, Black, the Creator, will host a live virtual reading and performance to celebrate the 5th anniversary of their debut poetry collection, Constellations* and their artistic journey since then. Free, streamed on Instagram Live and Zoom, with an exclusive talkback session for those who register. All RSVPs with donations will receive a free digital copy of the poetry collection. Register here.

The Way Forward – A Reading by The First Person Plural Reading Series
Sunday, January 17th, 6:00pm EST
The First Person Plural Reading Series in Harlem, NYC will host special virtual reading in honor of the late Anthony Veasna So (Afterparties). Writers Ibrahim Abdul-Matin (Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Parties), Desiree C. Bailey (What Noise Against the Cane), Roberto Carlos Garcia ([Elegies]), Max S. Gordon, Sara Lippmann (JERKS), Gloria Nixon-John, Ph.D. (Breathe me a Sky), will read. Anthony Veasna So will be honored by his sister and partner, Samantha So Lamb and Alex Torres, respectively. Curator Stacy Parker Le Melle (Government Girl: Young and Female in the White House) will host the evening. Free, with registration.

New Book News: Ann Keniston, Larry Smith, and Diane Wald
Sunday, January 17th, 7:00pm EST
Lit Youngstown will celebrate three writers and the publications of their new books with an evening reading and conversation on Youtube. Authors Ann Keniston (Somatic), Larry Smith (Mingo Town & Memories), and Diane Wald (The Warhol Pillows) will read. Free.

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