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Literary Events Calendar
Editor: Cathy Allen

also see Ongoing Writing Classes and Groups

2008: May • June • July

May

5/10/2008 Virginia Romance Writers present “One Night Stanza: Waxing Poetic Workshop” with Phyllis Johnson. Free and open to published and unpublished writers. At Bon Air Library, 9103 Rattlesnake Rd, 320-2461. Note: the library opens at 10am, so don’t get there too early. For more information visit http://www.virginiaromancewriters.com/.

5/11/2008 2 – 4 PM: Shockoe Poets Open Mike Readings (2nd and 4th Sundays) at Shockoe Espresso & Roastery, 104 Shockoe Slip. Contact Shann Palmer for information (335-9403 or shannp@gmail.com).

5/12/2008 7 – 9 PM: The Richmond Playwright's Forum holds its monthly meeting at the Barksdale Theatre Willow Lawn conference room. Members will share works in progress and discuss the play writing process.  RPF is open to all interested persons, and welcomes your participation as voice actors or active listeners. For more information, you may contact Margie Langston at margie.langston@yahoo.com.

5/13/2008 12 – 1 PM: Barksdale’s Bifocals Theatre Project presents a stage reading of “Fifty Years Ago”. Free and open to the public. Limited free parking under the library. Copies of the book for sale at the Virginia Shop. At The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St, 692-3500, http://www.lva.lib.va.us/.

5/13/2008 6 – 8 PM: “Sound and Sense-Poets Teaching Poets”. Award winning author Deirdra McAfee moderates an evening of poetry readings by teachers and students. Co-sponsored by the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. Free and open to the public. Limited free parking under the library. At The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St, 692-3500, http://www.lva.lib.va.us/.

5/14/2008 5:30 – 7:30 PM: Writers Wednesday. Looking for fellow writers? JRW hosts a casual “meet and greet” every second Wednesday. At Richbrau Brewing Company’s Taphouse Grill, 1212 E Cary St. Parking after 4 pm is only $3 behind The Tobacco Company (enter the deck from 12th Street between Canal and Cary Streets).

5/17/2008 2 – 4 PM: Dan Walker discusses the origins of his book Huckleberry Finn in Love and War: The Lost Journals. At Book People, 536 Granite Ave, 288-4346.

5/17/2008 4 PM: Kristian Williams (Our Enemies in Blue) reads selected works. At Chop Suey Books, 1317 W. Cary, 497-4705.

5/18/2008 2 – 4 PM: Poetry reading with Jennifer Chang, Adam Chiles, Keith Montesano, and Morgan Lucas Schuldt. At Chop Suey Books, 1317 W. Cary, 497-4705.

5/18/2008 3 -5 PM: “Bend Your Ear”. Open mike poetry, every 3rd Sunday. At art6, 6 E. Broad Street, 343-1406, http://www.art6.org/.

5/19/2008 6:30 PM: Discovery Channel Reporter Jim Malusa signs his travelogue Into Thick Air: Biking to the Bellybutton of Six Continents. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 788-1594.

5/20/2008 12 PM: “Guide to the Personal Papers at the Library of Virginia”. Presented by senior finding aids archivist Trenton Hizer. Free and open to the public. Limited free parking under the library. At The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St, 692-3500, http://www.lva.lib.va.us/

5/20/2008 6:30 PM: David A. Price returns with his behind the scenes look at Pixar with his new book The Pixar Touch: The Making of a Company. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 788-1594.

5/21/2008 6:30 – 8:30 PM: Author & JRW Board member Emyl Jenkins discusses her new book Stealing with Style. Presented by The Richmond Chapter of the Virginia Writers Club. Free and open to the public. At Barnes and Noble, Short Pump, 11640 W. Broad St, 360-0103. For more details contact Susan Schwartz at 457-9058 or Ncc17lu@aol.com.

5/22/2008 12 PM: Robert K. Krick (Civil War Weather in Virginia) presents a talk on Lee and the Historians in the Age of the Anti-Hero. Part of the Banner Lecture Series. Admission $5 Adults/$4 Seniors/$3 Children & Students/Free to VHS members. Free parking available. At The Virginia Historical Society, 428 N. Boulevard, 358-4901, http://www.vahistorical.org/news/lectures.htm.

5/22/2008 12 PM: Author Joe Tennis discusses and signs Beach to Bluegrass: Places to Brake on Virginia’s Longest Road.Free and open to the public. Limited free parking under the library. Copies of the book for sale at the Virginia Shop. At The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St, 692-3500, http://www.lva.lib.va.us/.

5/22/2008 5 – 7 PM: Fritz Knapp discusses and signs The Book of Sports Virtues: Portraits from the Field of Play, illustrated by Tom Edwards. At Book People, 536 Granite Ave, 288-4346.

5/25/2008 2 – 4 PM: Shockoe Poets Open Mike Readings (2nd and 4th Sundays) at Shockoe Espresso & Roastery, 104 Shockoe Slip. Contact Shann Palmer for information (335-9403 or shannp@gmail.com).

5/28/2008 6:45 – 9 PM: The Virginia Screenwriters' Forum meets once a month (except July, August and December this year) at Art Works in downtown Richmond. VSF brings screenwriters together and offers support and constructive feedback to member's scripts in progress. Throughout the years, member scripts have been made into movies and a PBS documentary and have been optioned by major production companies. Aspiring screenwriters are welcome. To attend email vsf@comcast.net.

5/29/2008 12 PM: Alan Pell Crawford presents a talk on his new book Twilight at Monticello: The Final Years of Thomas Jefferson. Part of the Banner Lecture Series. Admission $5 Adults/$4 Seniors/$3 Children & Students/Free to VHS members. Free parking available. At The Virginia Historical Society, 428 N. Boulevard, 358-4901, http://www.vahistorical.org/news/lectures.htm.

5/29/2008 6:30 – 8:30 PM: This month’s Writing Show is “The Right Words in the Right Order: Why All Writers Need to Read Poetry”. Featuring David Wojahn, Ron Smith, Cheryl Pallant, Josh Poteat, and Liz Canfield. Hosted by JRW Board member Virginia Pye. Sponsored by James River Writers and the Richmond Times-Dispatch. At the Eureka Theater, Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W Broad St. $10 admission/$5 students includes refreshments. Register online at http://www.jamesriverwriters.com/jrw_programs/workshops/writing_show/index.htm. 

5/31 – 6/1 Fourth Annual “Life Through Literature” Festival, “Where Characters Come to Life”. Authors Pamela Kinney and more. In Poplar Lawn Park, 351 S. Sycamore St, Petersburg, 733-2400. Details to follow.

June

6/3/2008 12 PM: Charles F. Irons discusses and signs his latest book The Origins of Proslavery Christianity. Free and open to the public. Limited free parking under the library. Copies of the book for sale at the Virginia Shop. At The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St, 692-3500, http://www.lva.lib.va.us/.

6/3/2008 5:30 – 9:00 PM: Libby Brown, author of Making Waves, will be the keynote speaker at NAWBO Richmond's annual meeting. At The Jefferson Hotel, 101 W Franklin St, 424-8014, http://www.jeffersonhotel.com/. For registration details visit http://www.nawborichmond.org.

6/3/2008 6:30 PM: Author Jeff Shaara (Gods and Generals) makes a special appearance. Sponsored by Fountain Bookstore. At Sam Miller's Restaurant, 1210 East Cary St, 644-5465, http://www.sammillers.com/boat_room.shtml.

6/5/2008 6 PM: NY Times Magazine columnist Rob Walker signs Buying in: The Secret Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are. He will be signing stock and preordered books sometime on this day. Make your requests now! At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 788-1594.

6/6/2008 7 PM: The Friends of the Richmond Public Library present their Third Annual Poetry Slam. Hosted by SlamRichmond’s Tom Sanchez Prunier. Poets compete for prizes on a first come first serve basis. Free and open to the public. Family friendly content. At Richmond Public Library, Main Branch, Library Park, 101 E. Franklin St, 646-4514. For more information contact Tom Prunier at tom.prunier@gmail.com.

6/8/2008 1 PM: Poetry reading with Amy Tudor and John Pineda. At Chop Suey Books, 1317 W. Cary, 497-4705.

6/8/2008 2 – 4 PM: Shockoe Poets Open Mike Readings (2nd and 4th Sundays) at Shockoe Espresso & Roastery, 104 Shockoe Slip. Contact Shann Palmer for information (335-9403 or shannp@gmail.com).

6/9/2008 7 – 9 PM: The Richmond Playwright's Forum holds its monthly meeting at the Barksdale Theatre Willow Lawn conference room. Members will share works in progress and discuss the play writing process.  RPF is open to all interested persons, and welcomes your participation as voice actors or active listeners. For more information, you may contact Margie Langston at margie.langston@yahoo.com.

6/10/2008 6:30 PM: Award-winning author Carrie Brown (Confinement) makes an appearance. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 788-1594.

6/11/2008 5:30 – 7:30 PM: Writers Wednesday. Looking for fellow writers? JRW hosts a casual “meet and greet” every second Wednesday. At Richbrau Brewing Company’s Taphouse Grill, 1212 E Cary St. Parking after 4 pm is only $3 behind The Tobacco Company (enter the deck from 12th Street between Canal and Cary Streets).

6/12/2008 JRW holds their Annual Croquet Soiree. Details to follow.

6/12/2008 12 PM: Caroline E. Janney discusses and signs her book Burying the Dead but Not the Past. Free and open to the public. Limited free parking under the library. Copies of the book for sale at the Virginia Shop. At The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St, 692-3500, http://www.lva.lib.va.us/.

6/12/2008 12 PM: Keith Gibson presents a talk on his latest book Moses Ezekiel: Civil War Soldier, Renowned Sculptor. Part of the Banner Lecture Series. Admission $5 Adults/$4 Seniors/$3 Children & Students/Free to VHS members. Free parking available. At The Virginia Historical Society, 428 N. Boulevard, 358-4901, http://www.vahistorical.org/news/lectures.htm.

6/12/2008 5:30 PM: Comedian Robert Schimmel discusses and signs Cancer on $5 a Day (Chemo Not Included): How Humor Got Me Through the Toughest Journey of My Life. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 788-1594.

6/13/2008 12:30 PM: John and Emily Salmon sign Historic Photos of Richmond. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 788-1594.

6/15/2008 3 -5 PM: “Bend Your Ear”. Open mike poetry, every 3rd Sunday. At art6, 6 E. Broad Street, 343-1406, http://www.art6.org/.

6/16/2008 6:30 PM: “Dracula vs. Frankenstein”. Authors Paul Bibeau and Susan Tyler Hitchcock debate the relative merits of each monster. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 788-1594.

6/18/2008 6:30 PM: Best-selling author Patti Callahan Henry signs The Art of Keeping Secrets. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 788-1594.

6/19/2008 6:30 PM: Award-winning journalist Chris Jones discusses Out of Orbit: The Incredible True Story of Three Astronauts…  At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 788-1594.

6/22/2008 2 – 4 PM: Shockoe Poets Open Mike Readings (2nd and 4th Sundays) at Shockoe Espresso & Roastery, 104 Shockoe Slip. Contact Shann Palmer for information (335-9403 or shannp@gmail.com).

6/24/2008 6:30 PM: Gigi Amateau reads and signs her new middle grade novel Chancey of the Maury River. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 788-1594.

6/25/2008 12 PM: Author Michael Trotti discusses and signs The Body in the Reservoir. Free and open to the public. Limited free parking under the library. Copies of the book for sale at the Virginia Shop. At The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St, 692-3500, http://www.lva.lib.va.us/.

6/25/2008 6:45 – 9 PM: The Virginia Screenwriters' Forum meets once a month (except July, August and December this year) at Art Works in downtown Richmond. VSF brings screenwriters together and offers support and constructive feedback to member's scripts in progress. Throughout the years, member scripts have been made into movies and a PBS documentary and have been optioned by major production companies. Aspiring screenwriters are welcome. To attend email vsf@comcast.net.

6/26/2008 6:30 – 8:30 PM: The Writing Show. At the Eureka Theater on the third floor of the Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 West Broad Street.  Sponsored by James River Writers and the Richmond Times-Dispatch.  Details coming soon.

July

7/9/2008 5:30 – 7:30 PM: Writers Wednesday. Looking for fellow writers? JRW hosts a casual “meet and greet” every second Wednesday. At Richbrau Brewing Company’s Taphouse Grill, 1212 E Cary St. Parking after 4 pm is only $3 behind The Tobacco Company (enter the deck from 12th Street between Canal and Cary Streets).

7/10/2008 12 PM: Dr. Laura Croghan Kamoie presents a talk on her book Irons in the Fire: The Business History of the Tayloe Family and Virginia's Gentry. Part of the Banner Lecture Series. Admission $5 Adults/$4 Seniors/$3 Children & Students/Free to VHS members. Free parking available. At The Virginia Historical Society, 428 N. Boulevard, 358-4901, http://www.vahistorical.org/news/lectures.htm.

7/10/2008 6 PM: Virginia author Martin Clark signs his novel The Legal Limit. Sponsored by Fountain Bookstore. At TapHouse Grill (next to Richbrau), 1214 E. Cary St, 644-3018, http://www.richbrau.com/.

7/13/2008 2 – 4 PM: Shockoe Poets Open Mike Readings (2nd and 4th Sundays) at Shockoe Espresso & Roastery, 104 Shockoe Slip. Contact Shann Palmer for information (335-9403 or shannp@gmail.com).

7/13/2008 4 PM: Author Elli Morris reads and signs her latest book Cooling The South. At Chop Suey Books, 1317 W. Cary, 497-4705.

7/14/2008 7 – 9 PM: The Richmond Playwright's Forum holds its monthly meeting at the Barksdale Theatre Willow Lawn conference room. Members will share works in progress and discuss the play writing process.  RPF is open to all interested persons, and welcomes your participation as voice actors or active listeners. For more information, you may contact Margie Langston at margie.langston@yahoo.com.

7/20/2008 3 -5 PM: “Bend Your Ear”. Open mike poetry, every 3rd Sunday. At art6, 6 E. Broad Street, 343-1406, http://www.art6.org/.

7/27/2008 2 – 4 PM: Shockoe Poets Open Mike Readings (2nd and 4th Sundays) at Shockoe Espresso & Roastery, 104 Shockoe Slip. Contact Shann Palmer for information (335-9403 or shannp@gmail.com).

Email calendar@jamesriverwriters.com with literary calendar listings. Please submit at least two weeks in advance.