Spotlight on Literary Events: June 2016

Daniel Torday for The Last Flight of Poxl West and Paul Goldberg for The Yid
 Wednesday, June 1^st, 6:30 p.m.
Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café
1517 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington, D.C. 20036

Daniel Torday’s The Last Flight of Poxl West tells of a young man’s admiration for his Uncle Poxl, a Jewish former RAF pilot who writes a memoir about his experiences in World War II. In The Yid, Paul Goldberg addresses Stalinist Russia, Shakespeare, and Yiddish in a way that will change your perspective on history.  Join Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café for the celebration of these two debut novels. This event is free to the public.

Query Letters: They’re Not So Scary 
Friday, June 3^rd, 7:30 – 9 p.m.
Leesburg Town Hall
25 West Market Street
Leesburg, VA 

Laurie Miller, author of young adult fiction, gives advice on writing query letters. Miller previously worked in marketing for an independent documentary company. This event is $6 for the public.

Walking Tour as Personal Essay

Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.
Andrew Jackson Statue
Lafayette Square, 16^th and H Streets NW,
Washington, D.C. 20009

Rocco Zappone, writer and D.C. native, leads a walking tour through the city while sharing memories and insights he has learned from a lifetime in Washington. The fee is $25, cash only.

Open Door Reading: Herb Guggenheim, W. Luther Jett,& Richard Seldin  
Sunday, June 5^th, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
The Writer's Center
4508 Walsh Street
Bethesda, MD 20815

Listen to the readings of poets Herb Guggenheim and W. Luther Jett and novelist Richard Seldin. Guggenheim is the author of Sunset at the Hotel Mira Mar: New and Selected Poems, and his works have been featured in various magazines and anthologies. Jett has been published in many literary journals and has won various honors, such as the first place prize in the Jean Stainback Schmidt Poetry Contest for his poem “The Chalk House.” Seldin is the author of both short stories and poems written in English and Chinese, as well as English translations of Chinese works. After the readings, there will be a reception and signing with all three writers. This event is free.

*SPARKLE*Queer Open Mic 
Sunday June 5^th, 8:00–10:00 p.m.
Busboys and Poets
2021 14^th Street NW,
Washington, D.C. 20009

*SPARKLE* Queer Open Mic is a reading series focused on the works of LGBT poets, hosted by Regie Cabico and Danielle Evennou. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online or at the door.

GeraldineBrooks

Monday, June 6th, 7 p.m.

Phillips Hall

Chevy Chase United Methodist Church

7001 Connecticut Avenue, NW,

Washington, D.C. 20015

Geraldine Brooks will discuss her latest book, The Secret Chord, in a conversation with Guy Raz. Registration Required: $10 CC@ H Members & $15 General Public

Alice McDermott  
Monday June 6^th, 7:30–9:00 p.m.
The Writer's Center
4508 Walsh Street
Bethesda, MD 20815

Alice McDermott is the author of seven books, winner of the National Book Award, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Her most recent work, Someone, has received five awards from sources including The New York Times and Publisher’s Weekly. McDermott also serves on the Honorary Board of the Writer’s Center. This event is $15 for nonmembers and $10 for members.

Reading & Signing With Rebecca Schiff for The Bed Moved 
Thursday June 9^th, 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Upshur Street Books
837 Upshur Street NW,
Washington, D.C. 20011

Join Upshur Street Books in welcoming Rebecca Schiff, author of the debut collection The Bed Moved. This collection features short stories that blur the line between author and protagonist and contain themes of strong feminism. The reading will be followed by a signing and a Q&A session. The event is free of charge.

Open Door Reading: Dana Cann and Max Greenfield
  Sunday, June 12^th, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
The Writer's Center
4508 Walsh Street
Bethesda, MD 20815

Dana Cann, a fiction workshop instructor at the Writer’s Center and a short story author, will read from Ghosts of Bergen County. His works have been featured in journals such as The Gettysburg Review, The Sun, and The Massachusetts Review. He is joined by Jay Greenfield, author of Max’s Diamonds. The readings will be followed by a reception and book signing. Admission is free. 

Melissa Deckman for Tea Party Women 
Wednesday June 15^th, 6:30 p.m.
Kramerbooks and Afterwords Café
1517 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington, D.C. 20036

Melissa Deckman’s Tea Party Women takes a look into the role of women in the Tea Party movement and shares insight on women’s current and future leadership in politics. This event is free to the public. 

Youth Open Mic Presented by Busboys and PoetsSaturday, June 18^th, 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Busboys and Poets
2021 14^th Street NW,
Washington, D.C. 20009

Youth Open Mic is an opportunity for middle school and high school students to come share their work in an open, supportive environment. The cost of admission is $5.

Open Door Reading: Potomac Review Reading 
Sunday, June 19^th, 2:00–4:00 p.m.
The Writer's Center
4508 Walsh Street
Bethesda, MD 20815

This reading will feature authors published in the Potomac Review’s latest issue. The readers will include Stephanie Allen, author of A Place between Stations: Stories, Julia Campbell Johnson, author of The Tea of the Unforeseen Berry, and Katrina Norfleet, author of nonfiction work that has been published in anthologies such as Wisdom Has a Voice: Every Daughter’s Memory of Mother. The reading and reception are free to the public.

Open Door Reading: Elizabeth Poliner and Paula Whyman
Sunday, June 26^th, 2:00 p.m.

The Writer's Center
4508 Walsh Street
Bethesda, MD 20815

Elizabeth Poliner will do a reading from her new novel, As Close to Us as Breathing, which has been named the Amazon Best Book for March 2016. Poliner is joined by Paula Whyman, author of You May See a Stranger. The readings will be followed by a reception and book signings. Admission is free.

Dan Cluchey for The Life of the World to Come 
Tuesday, June 28^th, 6:30 p.m.
Kramerbooks and Afterwords Café
1517 Connecticut Avenue NW,
Washington, D.C. 20036

Dan Cluchey’s The Life of the World to Come is about a man, Leo Brice, who goes on to be a death row advocate after the love of his life moves on to pursue her dreams. Come to Kramerbooks and Afterwords for a reading from Cluchey’s deeply philosophical novel. Admission is free.

40^th Anniversary Event: Chris MatthewsThursday, June 30^th, 7:30–10:00 p.m.
The Writer's Center
4508 Walsh Street
Bethesda, MD 20815

Come celebrate The Writer’s Center’s 40^th anniversary with Chris Matthews, host of the nightly talk show “Hardball with Chris Matthews” and author of six best-selling books. Matthews will discuss his writing and journalistic career at this event and reception. The fee for nonmembers is $25, the fee for members is $20, and VIP access is $100.