Ann Arbor native Zick recently received his MFA in poetry from Bowling Green State University and was one of the featured writers in HBO’s Brave New Voices documentary series. “He cultivated a style that was at once simple and unadorned in its language, but also layered and transcendental in meaning,” says his former writing teacher, Pioneer High English teacher Jeff Kass. The poetry of 2-time Pushcart Prize nominee Mermelstein is marked by a self-deprecating sense of humor that’s by turns intellectual and playful. His most recent book is The Continuing Adventures of Orthomax: Now with Bombastic Pentameter!
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 discuss how to use blogging, social media, and conferences to get established with editors, publishers, and readers. For all fiction & nonfiction writers grade 6-adult. Also, Kourvo & Neal host an open house for writers to connect with one another and/or work on their projects at 7 p.m. on May 21.
7-8:45 p.m., AADL Westgate. Free. 327-4200.
All invited to read and discuss their poetry or short stories. Bring about 6 copies of your work to share.
7-9 p.m., Crazy Wisdom, 114 S. Main. Free. 665-2757
Toastmasters is an international group devoted to helping each other grow in our abilities to give speeches. The Sweetwaters Toastmasters Club meets twice monthly. We are a fun and friendly group! Toastmasters also helps you develop leadership skills if you wish to do that. Come as many times as you want for free, and decide later if you want to join. In the meantime, come make new friends and have fun!
Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea on Washington Street, 123 West Washington Street. Free. 323-286-3999. https://www.facebook.com/groups/TMSweet/
Every Wed. Members read and discuss poems around themes TBA. Followed by collaborative writing games and exercises. Attendees invited to read their poems. Snacks & socializing.
8-10 p.m., Argus Farm Stop greenhouse, 325 W. Liberty. $5 suggested donation. onepausepoetry.org, 707-1284.
Planetary scientists Alan Stern and David Grinspoon discuss their new book about the 2015 New Horizons space probe to Pluto that Stern led. Publishers Weekly calls it “a future classic of popular science, full of twists and turns and unexpected heroes.” Signing.
7-8 p.m., AADL Downtown multipurpose rm. Free. 327-4200.
Jenny Milchman returns with a nail-biting thriller, Wicked River, on Thursday, May 10 at 7 PM.
Poet Valerie Wallace, communications director for the University of Chicago’s Virtue, Happiness, & the Meaning of Life project, reads from House of McQueen, her award-winning debut collection inspired by iconic fashion designer Alexander McQueen. “Wallace’s broadly imaginative use of language moves from airy and silken to richly textured, dense as damask,” says poet Vievee Francis. Signing. The program begins with an open mike for poets, who are welcome to read their own work or a favorite poem by another writer.
7 p.m., Bookbound, Courtyard Shops. Free. 369-4345.
Ann Arbor Storytellers Guild members host a storytelling program. Audience members are encouraged to bring a 5-minute story to tell.
7-9 p.m., Crazy Wisdom Tea Room, 114 S. Main. Free. 665-2757
Literati Bookstore is thrilled to bring John U. Bacon to the AADL to discuss a treasured collection of timeless pieces, The Best of Bacon: Select Cuts; perfect for fans of any Michigan sport.
This event is in partnership with the AADL. It includes a signing and books will be for sale.
“People who think they don’t like sports probably haven’t read John U. Bacon. That was me before I started talking with John on my show. He doesn’t write about statistics, wins, and losses. He writes about people digging down deep, challenging themselves to do better, try harder, encourage a teammate, weather a tough loss, get back up, do it again, and then—hopefully—celebrate a success. This collection will leave you looking at sports—and the people who play and coach them—with new eyes.”
—Cynthia Canty, host of “Stateside,” Michigan Radio
“John U. Bacon tells stories the same way a coach carries out a brilliant game plan. With passion and wisdom, hilarity and poignancy, he guides you to every corner of Michigan, a place where he has an unparalleled home court advantage. Whether he is writing about Bo Schembechler or Magic Johnson, Jim Abbott or Gordie Howe, his father or his son, frozen pond or broiling gym, a small-town high school hero or the forces of greed embezzling the essence of college football and basketball, Bacon examines our tumultuous love affair with sports in order to examine us. Open this collection at any juncture and find yourself transported to Bacon’s field of play.”
—Linda Robertson, award-winning sports columnist, Miami Herald
John U. Bacon is the author of ten books, most recently John Saunders’ Playing Hurt: My Journey from Despair to Hope (which Bacon coauthored) and The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy, and Extraordinary Heroism, which extend his streak to six consecutive national
best sellers. He teaches at at the University of Michigan.
