Open mike storytelling competition sponsored by The Moth, the NYC-based nonprofit storytelling organization that also produces a weekly public radio show. Each night 10 storytellers are selected at random from among those who sign up to tell a 3-5 minute story on the monthly theme. The 3 judges are recruited from the audience. Monthly winners compete in a semiannual Grand Slam. Space limited, so it’s smart to arrive early.
7:30-9 p.m. (doors open and sign-up begins at 6:30 p.m.), Greyline (except as noted), 100 N. Ashley. $10. 764-5118.
Sweetwaters and Toastmaster community members are creating a new Toastmasters Club at Sweetwaters! We will have 1 or 2 prepared speeches, showcase some of our (kind, encouraging and gentle) evaluations of the speeches, and some opportunities for people to have impromptu speaking fun. There will also be a chance for Q & A during the meeting too.
Come a little early and pick-up a beverage or snack from the cafe and have fun making new friendships with encouraging and supportive people!
Sweetwaters Washington St., 123 W. Washington St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Free.joshs@sweetwaterscafe.com https://www.facebook.com/events/1053675414768433/
Barbara Cohn’s new book, The Detroit Public Library, is a photographic tour of the Detroit Public Library’s rich art and architectural history.
Started in 2003, the Kerrytown BookFest is an event celebrating those who create books and those who read them. The primary goal is to highlight the area’s rich heritage in the book and printing arts while showcasing local and regional individuals, businesses, and organizations. Since 2003 we have been growing, sharing, and discovering more and more about the rich book culture in our region.
The BookFest features authors, storytellers, publishers bookbinders, book artists, book illustrators, poets, letterpress printers, wood engravers, calligraphers, papermakers, librarians, teachers, publishers, new, used, and antiquarian booksellers and many others associated with books and their diverse forms, structure, and content.
More information at kerrytownbookfest.org
10:30 AM – Main Tent
Community Book Award Winner Presentation – James and Robin Agnew
11:00 AM – Main Tent – “Women in History” with Laurel Huber Davis, Theresa Kaminski, Greer Macallister and Pamela Toler with Barbara Mhangami-Ruwende as moderator
11:00 AM – Kerrytown Concert House –
“Terror in the City of Champions” with Tom Stanton moderated by D.E. Johnson
11:00 AM – Kerrytown Tent –
Mother Goose
11:45 AM – Kerrytown Tent – “Everyone Loves Dogs!” with Cartoonist Dave Coverly and Stacie Grissom and Morgane Chang from Bark Box and a FUNDRAISER for the Humane Society of Huron Valley Bountiful Bowls Program – Please bring dry dog or cat food or cat litter on the day of the event for donation to the program
12:15 PM – Main Tent – “Historical Suspense” with James R. Benn, Anna Lee Huber and Deanna Raybourn moderated by Nancy Herriman
12:15 PM – Kerrytown Concert House – “The Kelloggs: The Battling Brothers of Battle Creek” with Howard Markel
1:00 PM – Kerrytown Tent – “Fantasy and Adventure” with Middle Grade author Ted Sanders and moderated by Molly McCaffrey
1:30 PM – Main Tent –
“Literary Leanings” with Peter Ho Davies, Simon Van Booy moderated by Douglas Trevor
1:30 PM – Kerrytown Concert House –
“Civil Rights in 1960’s Detroit” with Stephen M. Ward and the story of James and Grace Lee Boggs
2:15 PM – Kerrytown Tent –
“YA Authors From Michigan!” with Erica Chapman, Kristin Bartley Lenz, Heather Meloche and Darcy Woods moderated by Patrick Flores-Scott
2:45 PM – Main Tent – “Short Stories from ‘Bob Seger’s House'” with Ellen Airgood, Loren D. Estelman, Gordon Henry and Michael Zadoorian moderated by M.L. Liebler
2:45 PM – Kerrytown Concert House – “A $500 Dollar House in Detroit” with Drew Philip and moderated by Desiree Cooper
3:30 PM – Kerrytown Tent –
“Page Turning Thrillers” with David Bell, Karen Dionne and Stephen Mack Jones moderated by Elizabeth Heiter
4:00 pm – Main Tent – “Poetic Musings” with Robert Fanning, Cindy Hunter Morgan, Keith Taylor and Z.G. Tomaszewski moderated by Zilka Joseph
4:00 pm – Kerrytown Concert House – “Washtenaw Literacy Volunteer Workshop” – Learn about becoming a volunteer for Washtenaw Literacy
On Sept. 11, local short story writer Alex Kourvo and young adult novelist Bethany Neal discuss how to set up a realistic writing schedule and maintain it in the face of writer’s block and other obstacles. 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 Sept. 25.
Local short story writer Alex Kourvo and young adult novelist Bethany Neal are joined by children’s nonfiction author Virginia Loh-Hagan, who has published children’s books on everything from extreme mountain biking to starting a dog-walking business. She shares insights into writing aimed at young writers. 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. 16.
AADL Westgate Branch West Side Room, Westgate shopping center, 2503 Jackson. Free. 327-8301.
Ann Arborite Paul Dimond discusses his experiences doing research for his historical novel set in Ann Arbor and northern Michigan in the 1st half of the 20th century. He is joined by his wife, Marty, who wrote the poems by the titular character that appear in the novel. Signing.
7-8:30 p.m., AADL multipurpose room (lower level), 343 S. Fifth Ave. Free. 327-4555.[
All invited to read and discuss their poetry or short stories. Bring about 6 copies of your work to share. Hosted by local poets and former college English teachers Joe Kelty and Ed Morin.
7-9 p.m., Crazy Wisdom, 114 S. Main. Free. 665-2757
Native Detroiter Jessica Care Moore discusses her visual art installation and collection of poems that honors the life of Sandra Bland, a black woman who was found hanged in a jail cell in Texas in 2015, 3 days after being arrested during a traffic stop.
5:10 p.m., Michigan Theater. Free. 668-8463.
Local poet and journalist Leslie McGraw reads new poems and selections from Emergencies of the Heart, her 2014 collection that draws on news articles, interviews, and personal journal entries relating to 9/11. McGraw has been the cohost and emcee of this poetry series for its 5-year run. 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, 1729 Plymouth, Courtyard Shops. Free. 369-4345