This local poet, organizer of the long-running Ann Arbor Poetry reading series, reads from …And Pharaoh Hardened His Heart: Poems for the Trump Years, his new chapbook of poems chronicling fascism, cruelty, gaslighting, narcissism, and the psychological endurance it takes to stay sane and compassionate in contemporary America. Signing.
7 p.m., Bookbound, 1729 Plymouth. Free. 369-4345
Literati is pleased to welcome sports reporter Tom VanHaaren who will be sharing his new book about the University of Michigan football program, The Road to Ann Arbor: Incredible Twists and Improbable Turns Along the Michigan Recruiting Trail.
About The Road to Ann Arbor:
Why did Desmond Howard spurn Nick Saban to play in Ann Arbor? How did Michigan really find All-American offensive lineman Reggie McKenzie? What did Bo Schembechler do that surprised Mark Messner and his family? And why was Tom Brady recruited so late in the process? The Road to Ann Arbor reveals how many Wolverines greats became just that. ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren takes fans back to the start and behind the scenes of the college recruiting process, showing that the path to The Big House is not always straight and narrow.
Tom VanHaaren is a college football and recruiting reporter for ESPN, which he joined in 2011.
Readings by 7 authors being published by this AADL imprint. Books include Tracy Gallup’s Paint the Night (picture book), Zac Gorman’s So Thirsty (all-ages comic), Linda Jeffries’ We Thought We Knew You (adult fiction), Brad and Kirstin Northrup’s Akeina the Crocodile (picture book), V.W. Shurtliff’s Setting the Record Straight (teen fantasy), and Tevah Platt, Willa Thiel, and Becky Grover’s Snail, I Love You (picture book).
1-3 p.m., AADL Downtown 1st fl. lobby. Free. 327-4200.
The Ann Arbor District Library and Literati Bookstore are proud to present author Mike Curato who be giving a special storytime reading of his new book Merry Christmas, Little Elliot.
About Merry Christmas, Little Elliot:
Best friends Little Elliot and Mouse are back for another adventure–and this time, they’re looking for Christmas spirit!
Little Elliot the elephant isn’t quite sure what Christmas spirit is, but he suspects he doesn’t have it. Not even a visit to Santa Claus can put Elliot in the right mood. But when chance blows a letter for Santa into Elliot and Mouse’s path, the two friends discover what Christmas is all about–and make a new friend, too. A heartfelt celebration of the season of giving! Perfect for sharing around the holidays.
Mike Curato is an illustrator who loves small treasures. He has illustrated many books for children and is the author and illustrator of Little Elliot, Big City; Little Elliot, Big Family; Little Elliot, Big Fun; and Little Elliot, Fall Friends. You can find him on any given day walking around the city, eating a cupcake (or thinking about it).
Reading by this local poet, a Neutral Zone advisor.
7 p.m. Espresso Royale, 324 S. State. $5 suggested donation. facebook.com/AnnArborPoetry.
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
Storytelling by Michigan veterans. Also, live entertainment by the Concordia University Choir & Band and others TBA.
7 p.m., Hill Auditorium. Free, but tickets required in advance at eventbrite.com (search for “Stories of Service”). (518) 481-0552.
Literati is thrilled to welcome Jospeh Fink to the lobby of the Ann Arbor District Library Downtown in support of his novel, Alice Isn’t Dead, a novel that expands the story told in the hit podcast of the same name. A signing will follow the event. A copy of Alice Isn’t Dead you wish to have signed is required to join the signing line. Literati will have copies of the book available to sale at the event, and copies will be available in the store starting when the book goes on sale on October 30th. You can also pre-order the book to pick-up at the store or the event at our website of by calling 734-585-5567. Additional event details TBA.
About the book: From the New York Times bestselling co-author of It Devours! and Welcome to Night Vale comes a fast-paced thriller about a truck driver searching across America for the wife she had long assumed to be dead.
“This is not a story. It’s a road trip.”
Keisha Taylor lived a quiet life with her wife, Alice, until the day that Alice disappeared. After months of searching, presuming she was dead, Keisha held a funeral, mourned, and gradually tried to get on with her life. But that was before Keisha started to see her wife, again and again, in the background of news reports from all over America. Alice isn’t dead, and she is showing up at every major tragedy and accident in the country.
Following a line of clues, Keisha takes a job with a trucking company, Bay and Creek Transportation, and begins searching for Alice. She eventually stumbles on an otherworldly conflict being waged in the quiet corners of our nation’s highway system–uncovering a conspiracy that goes way beyond one missing woman.
Why did Alice disappear? What does she have to do with this secret war between inhuman killers? Why did the chicken cross the road? These questions, and many more will be answered in Alice Isn’t Dead.
About the author: Joseph Fink created the Welcome to Night Vale and Alice Isn’t Dead podcasts. He lives with his wife in New York.
Nov. 6 & 20. Open mike storytelling competition sponsored by The Moth, the NYC-based nonprofit storytelling organization that also produces a weekly public radio show. Each month 10 storytellers are selected at random from among those who sign up to tell a 3-5 minute story on themes of “Distance” (Nov. 6) & “Fear” (Nov. 20). The 3-person judging teams are recruited from the audience. Monthly winners compete in a semiannual Grand Slam. Seating limited, so it’s smart to arrive early.
7:30-9 p.m. (doors open and sign-up begins at 6 p.m.), Greyline, 100 N. Ashley. General admission tickets $10 in advance only at themoth.org beginning a week before each event. 764-5118.
Washington, D.C.-based journalist Katherine Reynolds Lewis reads from her new book offering a theory of disciplining kids that involves building their skills to address the root causes of misbehavior.
7-8:30 p.m., AADL Downtown 1st fl. lobby. Free. 327-4200
