Your Week in Virtual Book Events, May 18 to 24
Virtual Author Series: Emma Straub and Judy Blume
Monday, May 18, 7pm EDT
Books & Books and the Miami Book Fair present Emma Straub and Judy Blume in celebration of Straub’s new novel All Adults Here. The authors and booksellers will discuss the delights and challenges of their craft, the state of indie bookselling during a pandemic, and how reading is essential now more than ever, via Crowdcast. Free.
Zen and the Art of Poetry by Women: Juliana Gray and Caroline Cabrera
Monday, May 18, 7-8pm EDT
The Betsy and FIU Miami Beach Urban Studios, in partnership with the poetry reading series and literary journal SWWIM (Supporting Women Writers in Miami), present Juliana Gray and Caroline Cabrera in a new online poetry salon featuring women and women-identifying poets. Via Zoom. Free.
Live Stream with Kristin Arnett—Mostly Dead Things
Monday, May 18, 5pm MDT
Kristin Arnett will read from and discuss her acclaimed debut novel Mostly Dead Things. Presented by Tattered Cover Bookstore on Instagram Live. Free.
Memoir Monday Series
Monday, May 18, 8pm EDT
Catch readings by Amy Long, Porochista Khakpour, Sejal Shah, and Alia Volz at this quarterly series showcasing first-person writing. On Zoom, with host Lilly Dancyger. Sign up for the newsletter to receive the event link. Free.
Rekindled: Emily Neuberger in Conversation with Garrard Conley
Tuesday, May 19, 4pm EDT
The author of A Tender Thing talks about her new book on Lit Hub’s Virtual Book channel, at LitHub.com.
ZYZZYVA & The Booksmith Present: Lockdown Lit @ Lunch with Clare Beams and Rachel Vorona Cote
Tuesday, May 19, 11am PST
Booksmith and The Bindery, in partnership with ZYZZYVA, host Clare Beams (The Illness Lesson) & Rachel Vorona Cote (Too Much) for the launch event of the new weekly salon Lockdown Lit @ Lunch. Lockdown Literature is a group of authors with books published during the coronavirus pandemic who have banded together to support one another. On Facebook Live. Free.
Tor After Dark Instagram Live Series with Jenn Lyons
Tuesday, May 19, 7pm EDT
Join the author of A Memory of Souls for a reading and live Q&A on the Tor Books Instagram. Free.
Writers CRIBS!: Lauren Francis-Sharma with Bernice McFadden
Tuesday, May 19, 7pm EDT
Lauren Francis-Sharma discusses her new novel Book of the Little Axe with Bernice McFadden. Presented by the Enoch Pratt Free Library and The Ivy Bookshop, via Crowdcast. Free.
Art in Uncertain Times: Andre Perry, Phil Kim, and Sadie Dupus
Tuesday, May 19, 7pm EDT
In a conversation presented by publisher Two Dollar Radio, Andre Perry, Phil Kim, and Sadie Dupus discuss how writers/musicians/artists/arts administrators might navigate a period that is marked by both economic uncertainty and perhaps a deeper community need for expression and connection, via Zoom. Free.
Transnational Literature Series: Fernanda Melchior in Conversation with Nina MacLaughlin About Hurricane Season
Tuesday, May 19, 7pm EDT
As a part of Brookline Booksmith’s ongoing series, and in partnership with Point Reyes Books and Lit Hub, the author of Hurricane Season (trans. Sophie Hughes) talks about her new novel. Sign up here.
Kate Zambreno Launches Drifts with Rachel Syme
Tuesday, May 19, 7:30pm EDT
Kate Zambreno celebrates the launch of her latest novel in conversation with Rachel Syme on Crowdcast, through the Center for Fiction. Free.
The Antibody: Laura van den Berg, Melissa Febos, and Tracy O’Neill
Tuesday, May 19, 8-9pm EDT
Laura van den Berg (I Hold A Wolf By The Ears), Melissa Febos (Abandon Me), and Tracy O’Neill (Quotients) join host Brian Gresko at this weekly reading series and Q&A. On Zoom. Free.
Sex, Art and Power: Writer to Writer with Garth Greenwell and Lidia Yuknavitch
Tuesday, May 19, 7pm PST
Writers Garth Greenwell and Lidia Yuknavitch join moderator Keiko Lane for a conversation about the relationships between queer bodies and sex, language and literary citizenship, and the moral and artistic complexities of desire and power, and more. The event is part of the Bay Area Book Festival’s #UNBOUND Virtual Series, via YouTube Premiere. Free.
Sheltering: Maggie Doherty in Conversation with Maris Kreizman
Wednesday, May 20, 3pm EDT
The author of The Equivalents talks to Maris about her new history of the Cambridge, Massachusetts arts scene of the early 60s. At LitHub.com.
Grey Horse Fireside Chat: Amy Meyerson, Kerry Kletter, and Kelly Rimmer
Wednesday, May 20, 7pm EDT
Amy Meyerson (The Imperfects), Kerry Kletter (East Coast Girls), and Kelly Rimmer (Truths I Never Told You) chat with Sabrina McMillin about their latest novels and what it’s like to release a book in Spring 2020, via Zoom. Free.
Nerd Jeopardy with Tracy O’Neill and Matt Gallagher
Wednesday, May 20, 8-9pm EDT
Host Ryan Chapman welcomes guest authors Tracy O’Neill (Quotients) and Matt Gallagher (Empire City) to his weekly literary trivia game show. Sign up for the newsletter to receive the Zoom event password. Free.
Door to Door with Laura Zigman and Juliet Grames
Thursday, May 21, 2-3pm EDT
Library Love Fest presents Laura Zigman (Separation Anxiety) and Juliet Grames (The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna) in conversation, via Facebook Live. Free.
Sheltering: Lydia Millet in Conversation with Maris Kreizman
Thursday, May 21, 3pm EDT
The author of A Children’s Bible talks to Maris about her harrowing new novel of apocalypse. At LitHub.com.
LIVE from NYPL: Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra with Tim Gunn
Thursday, May 21, 8-9pm EDT
Live from NYPL presents biographer Stacy Schiff in conversation with fashion mentor and history buff Tim Gunn. Schiff and Gunn will discuss the vitality of history in our present-obsessed moment and the complicated and humane craft of writing the perfect biography. Via YouTube, register here. Free.
The Week in Books LIVE
Friday, May 22, 10am EDT
Starring Book Marks‘ editors Dan Sheehan and Katie Yee, bringing you all the news, reviews, and bookish weirdness of THESE TIMES. At LitHub.com.
Trust Exercise: Susan Choi in Conversation with Michael Cunningham
Friday, May 22, 7-8pm EDT
Susan Choi will discuss her National Book Award winning novel Trust Exercise with Michael Cunningham. Presented by McNally Jackson, via Zoom. Free.
Stephanie Danler: Stray, with Dani Shapiro
Friday, May 22, 7-8pm EDT
Stephanie Danler discusses her new memoir Stray with Dani Shapiro. Presented by Books Are Magic, via Zoom. Free.
The Virtual Noir for Indie Bookstoires
Friday, May 22, 8pm EDT
In this installment of D.C. Noir at the Bar’s new weekly series, E.A. Aymar hosts authors Bill Beverly, Carrie Callaghan, Christopher Chambers, Meredith Cole, Brianna Labuskes, Ellen Clair Lamb, Josh Pachter, Laura Ellen Scott, and Debra Lattanzi Shutika, in support of local indie Loyalty Bookstore. The night includes music from Sara Jones and a custom cocktail crafted by Chantal Tseng. Via Crowdcast. Free.
Funny Sexy Sad Worldwide: A Benefit Reading for the Bail Project
Saturday, May 23, 9:30-10:30pm EDT
Readers Rax King, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, and Tom Batten share stories that are hilarious, miserable, sexy, or a combination of those things. To receive the Zoom link, donate any amount to the Bail Project and send the receipt to funnyexysad@gmail.com. Free.
Genevieve Hudson with Cyrus Dunham
Sunday, May 24, 2pm PST
Skylight Books presents Genevieve Hudson, reading from their new novel Boys of Alabama in conversation with Cyrus Dunham, via Zoom. Register here to receive the event link. Donation suggested.
