By Arielle Avila
Join in on the literary fun this week in Austin! There are numerous parties, book releases, and special readings going on throughout the city that are calling your name. It’s the best way to surround yourself with a community just as passionate as you are towards books. We hope to see you at some of the great events going on Oct. 8 – 14.
Lit City
What’s Happening in the Austin Book World Oct. 8 – 14
Thursday, October 8 at 7PM @ BookPeople, Chelsea Clinton will be signing her new book It’s Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going. The book tackles the biggest challenges facing us today and gives readers a deep understanding of the world around them—and how anyone can make a difference. Tickets are required to join the signing line and only available with the purchase of a copy of It’s Your World from BookPeople, which can be purchased on their website. Stop by for an inspirational event!
On Friday, October 9 at 7PM @ BookPeople, debut novelist Susan Strecker will be speaking and signing Night Blindness. It’s thriller about the choices we make, the sanctity of friendship, and the power of love through the life of Jensen Reilly, a woman who has buried her past in the secret of the night and is having to return to it.
Saturday, October 10 at 11AM @ The George Washington Carver Museum, join the Freedom Tour with authors Chris Barton and author-illustrator Don Tate to celebrate the launch of The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch and Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton. Author Kelly Starling Lyons, visiting from Raleigh North Carolina, will also appear with her and Don’s book, Hope’s Gift. The tour will have readings, panel discussions, original poetry from members of the Typewriter Rodeo, Buffalo Soldier re-enactors, freedom themed crafts, face painting, and more!
Also on Saturday, come enjoy Malvern Book’s 2nd Anniversary Celebration! They will be celebrating in fine style, with music, readings, and cake throughout the day starting at 2PM. There will be a communal reading with Kenneth Koch as well as live music by American roots duo Mark Viator and Susan Maxey at 6PM. Poetry karaoke is right after, so make sure to stick around! And make sure to enjoy the 25% off discount as well!
Monday October 12 at 7PM @ BookPeople, bestselling author Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz will be speaking about and signing her new book Dr. Mutter’s Marvels: A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine.
Wednesday October 14 at 7PM @ BookPeople, bestselling cartoonist Gavin Aung Than will be speaking & signing Zen Pencils Volume 2: Dream the Impossible Dream. This is Than’s second volume in his blockbuster series – it’s sure to be a treat!
Upcoming Events and Classes at The Writing Barn
Are you thinking about submitting to the 24th annual Austin Chronicle Short Story contest? What would happen if there was a class where you could work on your existing short story or compose something new, get feedback on your piece, fine tune your craft, experience community – all with the goal of working toward publication. Like a gymnast’s routine, crafting a short story requires a great opening, vivid details, escalating tension, a perfectly choreographed climax, and nailing the ending. In this six-week class, Lindsey Lane and Shelli Cornelison will help writers craft and polish a 2500-word piece ready to submit to the Austin Chronicle. The first class is on October 27, 2015 so sign up now to get those stories ready for Fall.
Meditation and writing are two practices that compliment each other beautifully. Meditation is an act of deep listening, and writing is taking notes on what you hear. But what if all you hear is senseless chatter, nagging doubts, and critical voices? Keep listening! There’s a quiet beyond the noise. It’s in this quiet that stories are born. It’s the source of our innate wisdom and creativity. The Writing Barn is offering a Meditation for Writers: A Four Week Class with Paige Britt that will focus on learning how to “write from the quiet.” This class is offered starting November 1, 2015 and runs for four sessions.