Friday, April 8, 2016

Spotlight on Literary Events: April 2016



Saturday, April 9, 2016, 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
The Writer’s Center
4508 Walsh Street,
Bethesda, MD 20815

How to write a great mystery novel shouldn’t be the greatest mystery of all. Join this one-day workshop at The Writer’s Center to learn the fundamentals of writing mystery genre fiction and the pitfalls to avoid. The course will look at subgenres, story conventions, tropes, and clichés. $50 for non-members, $43 for members.

Monday, April 11, 2016. 7:00 p.m.
Politics and Prose
5015 Connecticut Ave NW,
Washington, D.C. 20008

The author of Eat the Document and Stone Arabia, Dana Spiotta presents her new novel Innocents and Others. Her new novel explores different views of sex, power, filmmaking, and morality by following the story of three women, two are close friends and the third seduces men over the phone simply by listening. The reading is free to the public.

Monday, April 11, 2016, 6:30 p.m.
Kramerbooks & Afterwards Cafe
1517 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington, D.C. 20036

In dialogue with Barbara Mujica, Domnica Radulescu presents her latest novel, Country of Red Azaleas, a tale of two women who have been inseparable since childhood until war between their countries forces them apart. Told in lush prose, the novel follows a journey of self-identity and meaning in the direst of circumstances. The event is free for the public.

Monday, April 11, 2016, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Busboys and Poets
2021 14th St. NW,
Washington, D.C. 20009

The National Fair Housing Alliance hosts the second installment of the RISE Slam poetry series. Twelve poets from across the country and D.C. area will perform original socially-minded poems for a cash prize total of $2,000. The top three performers from last year will also present their poems. General admission is $5.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016, 7:00 p.m.
Sixth & I
600 I Street NW,
Washington, D.C. 20001

Two young women met one day on campus and created an organization to speak out against sexual assaults on campus and aid victims of assault. Annie E. Clark and Andrea L. Pino discuss their efforts in their latest work, We Believe You, a collection of 30 survivors’ stories of campus assaults and the aftermath. Clark and Pino are accompanied by New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, author of Off the Sidelines. The event is free for the public, but attendees will have the opportunity to purchase the discussed books.


Thursday-Sunday, April 14-17, 2016
1301 Connecticut Ave NW Suite 600,

A D.C. staple since 2008, Split This Rock is an annual spoken poetry festival dedicated to speaking out against injustice and providing a diverse and safe space for poets from all walks of life. The four-day festival will feature panels, guest speakers, workshops, and more. Registration is available onsite at the Human Rights Campaign office. Registration for all days is $140, but single day tickets are available for $60 and $50 for students with student ID.


Sunday, April 17, 2016, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Upshur Bookstore
827 Upshur St NW,
Washington, D.C. 20011

Author Anthony Michael Morena will read from his new book The Voyager Record, soon to be published by Rose Metal Press later this year, along with local authors Shaun Gannon, Reb Livingston, and Rion Amilcar Scott. The Voyager Record alludes to the music and sound recorded on both Voyager spacecrafts that are meant to serve as humanity’s reminder across the universe. By merging language with science and the human desire to survive after death, Morena’s work is an evocative book of the kind published all too rarely. The event is free and open to the public.

Thursday, April 21st, 2016, 6:30 a.m.
Hillyer Art Space
9 Hillyer Court, NW,
Washington, D.C. 20008

Looking for new books? Don’t have someone to talk to about your favorite old books? Solve both problems by visiting the Fiction Book Swap. De-clutter and make new friends by bringing one your favorite books and swapping them with somebody else’s favorite. At the event, fill out a  recommendation as to why the book is your favorite, mingle with other book swap goers, and then take your new favorite book home at 8pm. There are guidelines for the type of books you can bring to the swap so look at the website before attending. The event is 21 and older.

Saturday, April 23, 2016, 9:00 a.m.
George Mason University
3351 Fairfax Dr
Arlington, VA 22201


Presented by Barrelhouse, Conversations and Connections is a one day conference dedicated to setting up writers with editors. Unpublished writers will have the opportunity to have “speed dates” with editors where they can pitch their short stories, novels, and poetry to editors for ten minutes and receive feedback before moving on to their next “date.” Entrance to the conference will include a day of panels and workshops by established writers and editors, one book of your choice from the four featured writers, the chance to subscribe to one of many independent literary magazines, and the annual Boxwine Happy Hour will be provided at the end of the day. Registration is $70 for individuals, $65 for students, or $60 per person for groups of 10 members or more.

Sunday, April 24, 2016, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
201 East Capitol Street SE,
Washington, D.C. 20003

The Folger Library celebrates William Shakespeare’s birthday. The Folger offers a variety of festivities; performances by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, sword fighting demonstrations by the fight choreography of the Folger Theater, an appearance by Queen Elizabeth I, and more. It will also be the only day of the year when the Folger’s famous reading room will be open to the public. The event is free.

Monday, April 25, 6:30 p.m.
Kramerbooks & Afterwards Cafe
1517 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington, D.C. 20036

Pamela Haag’s latest book reveals the true origins of America’s gun culture, not in loose gun regulation, but at the dawn of gun manufacturing itself over 150-years ago. Beginning with the history of Oliver Winchester and his company, Haag reveals how guns transformed from a scarcity to a cultural monopoly driven by marketers and commercial desire. The event is free for the public.

Mon, April, 6:30 p.m.
Petworth Citizen
829 Upshur St NW
Washington, DC 20011

Join The Writer's Center at Petworth Citizen on Monday, April 25 for a night of literary trivia! Teams of one to four will have an opportunity to show off their book nerd status and win some awesome prizes with four rounds of literary themed questions. So round up your friends, grab a drink (bonus - Petworth Citizen has an all-night happy hour on Monday nights!), and head back to the Reading Room for a free night of trivia and fun. Free


Tuesday, April 26, 2016, 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Busboys and Poets
625 Monroe St. NE,
Washington, D.C. 20017

Want an opportunity to read your original poem out loud and compete against other poets? The Beltway Poetry Slam is your chance. An active slam poetry competition in the district revel in the talent of these local wordsmiths. Rules for participation are outlined on the Busboys and Poets listing. Performers must arrive on time or forfeit their chance to compete. There is a $5 cover charge.
 

Thursday, April 27, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
The Writer's Center
4508 Walsh Street
Bethesda, MD 20815

Poet Lore celebrates its 127th birthday with a reading by Bruce Weigl and M. Nzadi Keita. Weigl is the author of more than a dozen books of poetry, including The Abundance of Nothing, which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, The Unraveling Strangeness, Archeology of the Circle: New and Selected Poems, and Song of Napalm, which was also nominated for a Pulitzer. He has won numerous awards, including the Robert Creeley Award, the Lannan Literary Award for Poetry, the Paterson Poetry Prize, and two Pushcart Prizes. M. Nzadi Keita is the author of Birthmarks, and her work has appeared on public television, in MELUS, Poet Lore, nocturnes literary review, and Crab Orchard, among other journals. Free

Saturday, April 30, 2016, All day
Politics and Prose
5015 Connecticut Ave NW,
Washington, D.C. 20008

Support your local bookstore on Independent Bookstore Day. As a part of the annual event Politics and Prose offers one day exclusives such as a Neil Gaiman coloring book, giveaways, local author readings and more. Join the nationwide movement and support your local Independent bookstore. Free

Washington Writers Conference: Books Alive 2016
Friday, April 29-Saturday, April 30

Bethesda Marriott

5151 Pooks Hill Rd

Bethesda, MD 20815

Meet one-on-one with literary agents from New York, Los Angeles & D.C. & learn more about the publishing industry. Get a 10% Discount on registration with the code WRITERSCENTER

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