Calendar

All invited to listen to guild members swap stories or bring their own to tell.
2-4 p.m., AADL Downtown 3rd-floor freespace rm., 343 S. Fifth Ave. Free. annarborstorytelling.org, 997-5388

Learn first-hand how Chicken Soup stories are curated for anthologies, and enjoy a reading from Michigan authors featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Yes! Featured authors will include Women Writers of Ann Arbor/Ypsi founder Kaye Curren, Nancy Beaufait, and Tammy Nicole Glover.

About the Book

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Yes! celebrates the empowerment we feel when we say “Yes!” to something that challenges us. Change your life for the better by doing the things that scare you. These 101 true, revealing stories will help you do just that.

In a world where “why” is too often asked and “no” is too often an answer, this book encourages us to ask “why not” and celebrates the tremendous power in saying “Yes!” The authors of these 101 stories explain how saying “Yes!” changed their lives for the better. Whether it’s something little, like trying a new food or something big, like jumping out an airplane, you’ll be ready to shake up your own life after you read about their experiences.

About the Authors

Nancy Beaufait resides in Madison Heights, with Tim, her dog Cash, and her cat, Simon.  Nancy has lived in Michigan all her life and loves her mitten state. She always loved writing and the old-fashioned art of writing a letter and slipping it into the mailbox is a favorite pastime of Nancy’s. Nancy will retire from nursing soon and have more time to write.

Kaye Curren lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Kaye writes essays and humor for various blogs and magazines and has recently been published in Laugh Out Loud: 40 Women Humorists Celebrate Then and Now…Before We Forget. She is the author of Memories A La Carte, Essays on a Life. Find her musings at https://www.writethatthang.com.

Tammy Nicole Glover is a freelance writer and inspirational blogger. She writes short stories and devotionals. She has written several pieces for Believers Bay online magazine and is a contributing writer for GACCS Teen Magazine. You can follow her on Facebook @ Balm4theSoul and Twitter @ T_Glov.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Yes! celebrates the empowerment we feel when we say “Yes!” to something that challenges us. Change your life for the better by doing the things that scare you. These 101 true, revealing stories will help you do just that.
In a world where “why” is too often asked and “no” is too often an answer, this book encourages us to ask “why not” and celebrates the tremendous power in saying “Yes!” The authors of these 101 stories explain how saying “Yes!” changed their lives for the better. Whether it’s something little, like trying a new food or something big, like jumping out an airplane, you’ll be ready to shake up your own life after you read about their experiences.

7 p.m., Nicola’s, Westgate shopping center. Free. 662-0600.

Local short story writer Alex Kourvo and young adult novelist Bethany Neal host an open house for writers to connect with one another and/or work on their projects at 7 p.m. on Sept. 24.
7-8:45 p.m., AADL Westgate. Free. 327-4200.

Readings by local writers. Books and authors include Meg Gowers’ Michigan Moon(picture book), Judy Patterson Wenzel’s Light from the Cage: 25 Years in a Prison Classroom (memoir), Lexi Mohney’s Carnal Knowledge: The Adoration of a Dangerous Woman and the Death of a Dream (erotica), and Lori Wojtowicz’s Crossing the Hall: Exposing an American Divide (memoir). Signings. Refreshments.

ToastMasters at SweetWaters is an opportunity to practice your personal and/or professional speaking as well as Leadership in a fun friendly atmosphere.
The club is open to everyone. Attendees have the opportunity to speak, give and receive feedback about speaking, presentations and current events.
We typically have 2-4 prepared speeches followed by (Kind and constructive evaluations) to provide feedback and growth. Attendees will have an opportunity for impromptu speaking as well.
Sweetwaters Cafe, 123 W Washington. Free. chrisjriley@hotmail.com 

All-star storytelling showdown featuring the last 10 winners of the Ann Arbor Storyslams, the monthly open mike storytelling competitions sponsored by The Moth, the NYC-based nonprofit storytelling organization that also produces a weekly public radio show.
8 p.m., The Ark, 316 S. Main. $25 in advance at themoth.org and at the door. 761-1451.

One MFA student of fiction and one of poetry, each introduced by a peer, will read their work. The Mark Webster Reading Series presents emerging writers in a warm and relaxed setting. We encourage you to bring your friends – a Webster reading makes for an enjoyable and enlightening Friday evening.

Readings by U-M creative writing grad students, including poetry by Gerardo Sámano and prose by Elinam Agbo. 
7 p.m., UMMA Auditorium, 525 S. State. Free. 764-6330.

Sept. 16 & 30. U-M Zell Fellow Rebecca Fortes leads a workshop to help participants in grades 6-12 hone their creative writing skills. Each session focuses on a different skill. Snacks provided.
12:30-2 p.m., AADL Westgate. Free. 327-4200.

Local short story writer Alex Kourvo and young adult novelist Bethany Neal are joined by a representative from Cherry Lake Press and San Diego-based children’s nonfiction writer Virginia Loh-Hagan to discuss how to plan, write, and publish a children’s book. From noon-2 p.m., Loh-Hagan discusses literacy strategies for struggling readers (preregistration required at registrations@aadl.org). For adult and teen (grade 6 & up) fiction and nonfiction writers. Also, Kourvo and Neal host an open house for writers to connect with one another and/or work on their projects at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15.
7-8:45 p.m., AADL Westgate. Free. 327-4200