EMU women’s and gender studies professor Elizabeth Currans discusses her new book.
4:10 p.m., 2239 Lane, 204 S. State. Free. 764-9537.
Students, nominated by their instructors, have been invited to read their own poems and short stories to a peer audience. For many student writers, Café Shapiro is a first opportunity to read publicly from their creative work. For others, it provides a fresh audience, and the ability to experience the work of students they may not encounter in writing classes.
Students, nominated by their instructors, have been invited to read their own poems and short stories to a peer audience. For many student writers, Café Shapiro is a first opportunity to read publicly from their creative work. For others, it provides a fresh audience, and the ability to experience the work of students they may not encounter in writing classes.
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
Literati is proud to welcome author Jeff Kass who will be be reading and sharing with us his thrilling debut novel set in Ann Arbor, Takedown
About Takedown:
Ann Arbor: a small city with a big university A city of cute coffee shops, leftover hippies, hybrid cars, indie bookstores, and craft breweries. A city, above all, that values education. Or does it? Jim Harrow has been an Ann Arbor cop for fifteen years. He mostly handles things like stolen cars and fratboy fights, giving him time to coach high school wrestling and help raise his teenage daughters. But things take a deadly turn the night after the Michigan–Michigan State football game, when a house party ends in a fire. Its single victim is a graduate student with no job, no friends, and no research. What was Sanders Bolgim working on, and why would someone want to kill him for it? Nothing about the case makes sense, and as Jim traces the events leading to the fire, he uncovers a shady party company, dark money buying for-profit charter schools, and a string of murders stretching back years. In a town where money and education are always in each other’s pockets, someone is paying a killer to teach the ultimate lesson. Kass’ debut novel is an astute commentary on the darker side of education reform wrapped in a gripping adventure. Filled with authentic characters, a strong voice, and the perfect portrait of a Midwest college town, Takedown is as sharp and crisp as a football Saturday.
Jeff Kass is the author of the award-winning short story collection Knuckleheads and the poetry collection My Beautiful Hook-Nosed Beauty Queen Strutwave. His stories, poems, and essays have appeared in multiple literary journals. He founded the Literary Arts Program at The Neutral Zone, Ann Arbor’s Teen Center, and is currently an English teacher at Pioneer High School and the Assignment Editor at Current Magazine.
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 2 U-M creative writing grad students, including fiction writer Laura Preston and poet Lea Xue.
7 p.m., UMMA Auditorium, 525 S. State. Free. 764-0395.
. http://umma.umich.edu/events/4270/mark-webster-reading-series
Local short story writer Alex Kourvo and young adult novelist Bethany Neal host an open house for writers to connect with one another and/or work on their projects.
Jan 2 & 16. Monthly 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 the monthly theme. The 3 teams of 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 p.m.), Greyline, 100 N. Ashley. $8. 764-5118.
Reading by Marlin Jenkins, a Detroit poet (and U-M creative writing grad) whose poems often come off as fragments of a visionary spiritual autobiography. The program begins with open mike readings.
7-8:30 p.m., Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea, 123 W. Washington. Free. 994-6663
Readings by teen poets from Washtenaw County battling for a spot at the Ann Arbor Youth Poetry Slam finals on Apr. 12. Other semifinals are held at Community High School (Mar. 2, 7 p.m.), Huron High School (Mar. 8, 6 p.m.), Washtenaw International High School (Mar. 15, 6 p.m.), and Pioneer High School (Mar. 16, 6 p.m.).
6:30 p.m., Skyline High School, 2552 N. Maple. Free. 214-9995
