Come with questions, a work in progress, or an empty notebook. All writers are welcome in this casual, supportive environment. Authors Bethany Neal and Alex Kourvo will be on hand to answer questions and give encouragement. This is an excellent opportunity to meet your fellow Ann Arbor writers as well as get feedback from published authors. This is a monthly meet-up that welcomes all writers to ask questions, connect with other writers, or simply have a dedicated time and place to work on their projects.
Do you have a completed manuscript? Bring your work to a Meet-Up to be in consideration for the library’s new imprint Fifth Avenue Press fifthavenue.press.
RC Creative Writing alumna Carrie Smith will read from Silent City, her new crime novel. Carrie won three Hopwood Awards (one in 1977 and two in 1979), and a fellowship at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. She has been a finalist in Nimrod Magazine’s Katherine Anne Porter prize for fiction, and is the author of a literary first novel, Forget Harry published by Simon & Schuster. Carrie moved to New York City in 1981. By day, she is Senior Vice President and Publisher of Benchmark Education Company. By night, she thinks about murder. She lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with her partner and sixteen year old twins.
One MFA student of fiction and one of poetry, each introduced by a peer, will read their work. Tonight: Francis Santana and Cab Tran.
Kristen Remenar is a children’s librarian, writer, teacher, and national speaker on literacy. She is married to author/illustrator Matt Faulkner. This is her first picture book
A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, Matt Faulkner has written and illustrated a number of children’s books. His work has won wide praise for its humor, exuberance and sensitivity. In addition, he is a contributing illustrator to such national periodicals as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. Matt is married to author and children’s librarian, Kristen Remenar. They live with their 3 kids and 3 cats on the lower right corner of the Michigan mitten. He teaches illustration at the Art Academy University in San Francisco.
All poets invited to compete in a poetry slam judged by a randomly chosen panel from the audience. The program begins with a poetry open mike and (occasionally) a short set by a featured poet.
8-11 p.m. (sign-up begins at 7:30 p.m.), $5 suggested donation. A2poetry.com.
U-M drama students in Kate Mendeloff’s play production seminar direct and perform renowned English playwright Caryl Churchill’s acclaimed 2012 play about relationships in the digital age presented as an evolving mosaic
The award-winning novel The Book Of Unknown Americans: A Novel by Cristina Henriquez is the book selected for Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads 2016. The community is invited to read and discuss this stunning novel of hopes and dreams, guilt and love—a book that offers a resonant new definition of what it means to be American.
The author, Cristina Henriquez, will make a special appearance at Washtenaw Community College on Tuesday, February 23 to discuss “The Book Of Unknown Americans.” Doors will open and 6 PM. The event includes a book signing and books will be for sale courtesy of Nicola’s Books.
Henríquez is also the author of the story collection Come Together, Fall Apart, which was a New York Times Editors’ Choice selection, and the novel The World in Half. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The American Scholar, Glimmer Train, Virginia Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, TriQuarterly, AGNI, and Oxford American, as well as in various anthologies.
The Book Of Unknown Americans centers on fifteen-year-old Maribel Rivera, who sustains a terrible injury. Her family leaves behind a comfortable life in Mexico and risks everything to come to the United States so that Maribel can have the care she needs. Once they arrive, it’s not long before Maribel attracts the attention of Mayor Toro, the son of one of their new neighbors, who sees a kindred spirit in this beautiful, damaged outsider. Their love story sets in motion events that will have profound repercussions for everyone involved.
Henríquez seamlessly interweaves the story of these star-crossed lovers, and of the Rivera and Toro families, with the testimonials of men and women who have come to the United States from all over Latin America.
Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads is coordinated by several area organizations, including the Ann Arbor District Library, the Ypsilanti District Library, Washtenaw Intermediate School District, Nicola’s Books, Barnes & Noble, Literati Bookstore, Eastern Michigan University, the University of Michigan, Washtenaw Community College, and many others.
For more information and resources related to Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads, please visit the program’s website at aareads.org
Readings by Joy Gaines-Friedler, a widely published Detroit-area poet who has published 2 collections, and Scott Beal, a local performance poet whose 2015 debut collection Wait ‘Til You Have Real Problems, deploys familiar characters from Rapunzel to Perseus and whimsically surreal tall tales to explore the varied and violent forces that shape human identities. Followed by a poetry and short fiction open mike.
This internationally recognized Malawian writer and social activist reads from his work. He won the 2013 Peer Gynt Literary Award for his sci-fi fantasy Azotus the Kingdom.Signing. Chikoti also does a Q&A at 2 p.m. today in the Hopwood Room (1176 Angell Hall).
The University of Michigan’s MiSciWriters, Rackham Graduate School and Literati Bookstore invite you to a unique opportunity to hear a panel of scientists discuss “Contributing to Science through Writing.” Panelists will include Nick Wigginton, Senior Editor at Science Magazine; Liz Wason, Science Writer for the College of Literature, Science and the Arts at U-Michigan; Theresa Cesena, Manager of Medical Writing at MMS Holdings Inc., and Larissa Sano, Science Writing Specialist at Sweetland Writing Center, U-Michigan.
Join us as our panelists explore and discuss how they apply their scientific training in a variety of writing professions. With fields ranging from medical writing to translating science to a lay audience in the media, our panelists will discuss the significance of written communication in the scientific community and beyond. They will also share some of the joys and challenges they face staying current and committed to the practice of science in these roles.
