HVWG’s Upcoming Literary Events: October 12-19, 2023

Another great lineup of literary events in the region as the temperature and the leaves begin to fall. Here’s a quick look at the book discussions, readings, open mics, and workshops coming up.

Thursday, October 12

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. 

2:00 PM – Books Club @ Schenectady Public Library – Quaker Street Branch

Join the Quaker Street book club for a discussion of The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan. New book club members are always welcome. Request a copy of the books online or at any SCPL location.

6:00 PM – Sam Rebelein in conversation with John Langan @ Catskill Moonshine Distillery

Please join The Inquiring Mind Bookstore and Shout Out Saugerties to celebrate the release of local author Sam Rebelein’s Edenville, an unsettling, immersive, and wildly entertaining debut novel from an exciting new voice in horror for fans of Paul Tremblay and Stephen Graham Jones. 

6:00 PM – Poetry Café: The Poems of José Olivarez @ Saratoga Springs Public Library

For this meeting, we’ll read and discuss the poems of Mexican-American poet José Olivarez, whose funny and gritty work interrogates the notion of The American Dream.

7:30 PM – Novelist Jonathan Lethem in Conversation @ University at Albany

Jonathan Lethem is the bestselling author of twelve novels, including The Arrest, The Feral Detective, The Fortress of Solitude, and Motherless Brooklyn, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award. 

Friday, October 13

9:00 AM – Early Literacy Storytime! @ Troy Public Library

Kids ages 0-5 are welcome to this early literacy story.

5:00 PM – Doug Lyons – “Fly Fishing Guide to the Battenkill” @ Northshire Manchester

Fishing expert Doug Lyons will do a fly tying demonstration, and sign copies of his book, which covers the fishing access, hatches, patterns, and strategies for the Battenkill and its tributaries. Please note that this will be a demonstration and signing only, there will be no formal seated author presentation.

Saturday, October 14

10:00 AM – Saratoga Springs Literary Marketplace @ Saratoga Springs City Center

As part of the 3rd annual Saratoga Book Festival, the Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library present a Literary Marketplace featuring more than 90 local authors, publishers, artisans, and more.

10:30 AM – Let’s Make a Scene @ Lilly Library

Scenes are the building blocks of screenplays. Like Legos, each one is strong and intact on its own — but its purpose is to be part of a larger structure. This is a seminar for anyone interested in the many ways screenwriting differs from prose. 

12:00 PM – Andrew Eliopulos signs and discusses, “Will on the Inside” @ The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza

After dedicated soccer player Will is sidelined from the season—and his friend group—due to complications from his newly diagnosed Crohn’s disease, he finds himself figuring out who he really is on the inside in this heartfelt and thoughtful middle grade novel that’s perfect for readers who love books by Maulik Pancholy and Christine Day. 

1:00 PM – Judy Hoff Signing “How Much Are These Free Books?” @ The Open Door Bookstore

Judy Hoff will be signing How Much Are These Free Books? True Tales from the Book Nook. How Much Are These Free Books? follows the nineteen years of the Book Nook from its inception in 1983 on Upper Union Street through its evolution to a full-service new bookstore quadrupling its original size, to it final day in 2002.

6:00 PM – Deep Into The Darkness Peering: A Dark Reading of the Poems of Edgar Allan Poe @ Armory Studios

An evening of scary tales and poems of Edgar Allan Poe at Armory Studios in Albany read by poet and author R.M. Engelhardt.

6:00 PM – Ellen Hume – “Lost and Found: Coming of Age in the Washington Press Corps” @ Northshire Manchester

Author Ellen Hume will discuss her fascinating memoir, which details her career and work to break the gender barrier in national journalism. Hume covered some of the most tumultuous and colorful stories of her time, including the kidnapping of newspaper heiress Patty Hearst, terrorist Sara Jane Moore’s attempt to kill President Ford, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson’s historic presidential campaign, and the Reagan White House.

Sunday, October 15

11:00 AM – Steve Sheinkin Signing “Impossible Escape” @ The Open Door Bookstore

Steve Sheinkin gives us a true story of two Jewish teenagers racing against time during the holocaust—one in hiding in Hungary and the other in Auschwitz, plotting escape.

5:00 PM – Poets Creating Conversation 2.0: Work @ The Mount

Not for the faint of heart, Poets Creating Conversation 2.0 throws out a single word and asks poets to respond. Rules? There are some. Poets are asked to keep their poems to 3 minutes or less.

Monday, October 16

12:00 PM – Make it Mondays @ The Poetry Barn

Each Monday, drop in with your journal, tablet, laptop, or whatnot and make it happen! Whether you’re researching, drafting, revising, or submitting, the writing life is a lot less lonely in community. 

1:30 PM – Howe Monday Memoir Writing Group @ Albany Public Library – Howe Branch

Participate in a group of memoir writers and get feedback.

2:00 PM – With Pen in Hand @ Albany Public Library 

Learn how to express yourself clearly and imaginatively, share your work, and respond to the stories of others. Attend any or all sessions. Facilitated by Misty Yarnall. This event is virtual and held through Zoom. Please register with your email address to recieve the Zoom invite.

5:00 PM – Cut-Up Poetry Workshop @ Strand Center for the Arts

Join Visiting Writer Erin Dorney from the Adirondack Center for Writing to learn more about ACW’s Poetry Machine—the kind you might spend two quarters to get a bouncy ball, sticky hand, or small plastic alien from in the vestibule of a convenience store. With ACW’s repurposed machine, you can get your very own poem for free—no quarters necessary.

Tuesday, October 17

12:00 PM – Friend Book Talk @ Albany Public Library – Washington Ave. Branch

Dan Wilcox, noted poet & peace activist presents Sustaining Air:  The Life of Larry Eigner by Jennifer Bartlett with contributions by George Hart.

3:30 PM – Book Club @ Schenectady Public Library – Niskayuna Branch

Join the Niskayuna book club for a discussion of How Much Are The Free Books by Judy Hoff. New book club members are always welcome. Request a copy of the books online or at any SCPL location.

6:00 PM – Mojgan Ghazirad – The House on Sun Street – with Amy Irvine

Join Northshire Bookstore for a virtual evening as author Mojgan Ghazirad celebrates her debut novel in English.

6:30 PM – Author Talk and Book Signing with Alex Gino @ Morton Library

Middle-grade superstar author Alex Gino returns to the world they began with Melissa and Rick with Green, the story of a non-binary middle-schooler named Green who comes into their own in no small part by fighting for gender-free casting in their school’s production of The Wizard of Oz. 

Wednesday, October 18

2:00 PM – Virtual Author Talk with Ruth Ware, author of “Zero Days”

You’re invited to tune in as we chat with New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in Cabin 10 and The It Girl as she talks about her newest book, Zero Days. 

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. No registration required.  Ages 18+

6:00 PM – Mandy McHugh – “It Takes Monsters” @ Northshire Saratoga

Author Mandy McHugh will join us to discuss her new thriller, It Takes Monsters – listed by She Reads on their “Most Anticipated” list.

7:30 PM – Red Dragon Reading Series Presents Raul Palma @ SUNY Oneonta

A reading by author and educator Raul Palma as part of SUNY Oneonta’s Red Dragon Reading Series.

7:30 PM – Tenth Anniversary Season of New Year’s Words @ Elting Memorial Library

Celebrate the opening of the tenth anniversary season of Next Year’s Words, A New Paltz Readers Forum, with Kim Ellis, Kate Hymes, and Sarah Wyman.

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.