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 prose by Samantha Bares and poetry by Daniel Neff.
7 p.m., UMMA Auditorium, 525 S. State. Free. 764-6330
Readings by 13 of the group’s most popular poets, including Marlin Jenkins, John Buckley, Cozine Welch, Chavonna Bigham, Ashwini Bhasi, Alex Kime, Dan Bigham, and others TBA.
7 p.m. Espresso Royale, 324 S. State. $5 suggested donation. facebook.com/AnnArborPoetry.
Reading by this Ann Arbor-based poet from Kerala (India), who writes poems about the connection between trauma and chronic pain and about her experiences as a genomic data analyst and poet. Her poem about the 2016 presidential election was nominated for a Pushcart prize. Preceded by an open mike.
7-8:30 p.m. Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea, 123 W. Washington. Free. 994-6663.
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 adults and teens in grade 6 & up invited to learn about this nonprofit (also known as NaNoWriMo) encouraging teens and adults to write a 50,000-word novel by the end of November. Refreshments.
4-5 p.m., AADL Westgate. Free. 327-4200.
Halloween-themed storytelling program by Ann Arbor Storytellers Guild members.
6-8 p.m., Serendipity Books, 113 Middle, Chelsea. Free. 475-7148.
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
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.
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
