WORD

The Weekly WORD

• On Tuesday, April 9th, at 7 p.m., Gabe Stuart, an independent publishing consultant, will be hosting a DIY-publishing workshop on how to make the book you’ve always wanted to write a reality. Also joining us will be special guest and book enthusiast Sean Concannon. Bring questions, concerns, and friends!
• Thursday, April 11th, at 7 p.m., we’ll celebrate the release of Lawless, the debut novel from local author and self-described ruffian Jeffrey Salane. Lawless, the first book in an exciting middle-grade trilogy, follows a home-schooled girl as she enters the mysteriously titled Lawless School. Twists, turns, reversals, and reveals abound!   
• On Saturday, April 13th, we’ll host monthly meetings for our Classics and Music Writing Book Groups. Classics will meet at 12 p.m. to discuss Stefan Zweig’s Chess Story. Then, at 3 p.m., the Music Writing Group will talk Let Me Clear My Throat by Elena Passarello.
• Sunday, April 14th, at 2 p.m., join Shelly Oria of the Gotham Writers Workshop for a fiction class on generating ideas and storytelling techniques. Oria has published fiction for McSweeney’s, the Indiana Review, Quarterly West, and has served as senior editor at Storyscape. You’ll leave this workshop with new pages in your hands!

Next week? Two literary Joshs (Henkin and Rolnick) share the stage and  read and discuss their latest fiction, the literary journal Nomadic Sojourns presents a night of socially-conscious literature and music, and…we host the inaugural meetings of two brand-new WORD book groups: YA Not? and English Fiction! Also, more of this sunshine! We hope.

The Weekly WORD

• Tuesday, April 2nd, 7 p.m., marks the Brooklyn launch of Jennifer Close’s latest novel, The Smart One. Join the author to celebrate with a reading, book signing, conversation, and (of course) lots of fun. Refreshments will be provided.
• On Wednesday, April 3rd, at 6:30 p.m., The Story Pirates, a youth arts/education organization devoted helping children write their very own stories, need you to share some story love. Come on out and indulge in some new stories while lending some encouragement  to all of these aspiring authors! A donation of five dollars is suggested. Refreshments will be provided.
• Calling all teachers and librarians! On Thursday, April 4th, at 7:00 p.m., we’ll be holding a WORD Educator Night. Get a sneak peek at some great forthcoming children’s titles, meet special guests Nancy Carpenter and Jeff Salane, and enjoy wine, snacks, giveaways, and prizes!
• On Saturday, April 6th, cruise on over a dose of (semi-)organized book-related conversation! The WORD Book Group meets at noon to talk Truman Capote’s classic In Cold Blood and, more imortantly, to (finally) put to rest the ultimate question: Should we shelve it in fiction or non-fiction? Later, at 2:45 p.m. join the Romance Book Group for a discussion of My One and Only by Kristin Higgins.
• On Sunday, April 7th, at 5 p.m., Kevin Smokler, author of Practical Classics: 50 Reasons to Reread 50 Books You Haven’t Touched Since High School, challenges us all to a round of Classics Jeopardy. Revisit the highlights of English classes passed (or failed) and learn (or re-learn) why the classics are worth much more than a grade on a report card!

April is off to a good start and,fear not, the festivities continue! Next week, we’ve got a DIY Self-Publishing Workshop, the Brooklyn launch of Jeff Salane’s Lawless, a Gotham Writers Workshop,and meetings from both Classics Book Group and the Music Writing Book Group. See you around the neighborhood.

The Weekly WORD

• On Wednesday, March 6th, at 7 p.m., join WORD at Housing Works for a look into the past, present, and future of science-fiction and fantasy writing. Guests include writers Myke Cole (Fortress Frontier), Peter Brett (The Daylight War), and Ellen Kushner (The Privilege of the Sword), as well as Singularity & Co’s Cici James. We have some very important things to cover! Magic in the military, for example. Not to mention inner and outer demons, time travel. swash-buckling, and, as is natural, dragons in space.
• Thursday, March 7th, at 6 p.m., Will Schwalbe will be in conversation with Emily Gould (And the Heart Says Whatever) regarding his moving new memoir, The End of Your Life Book Club for BookTalk Nation. Note: This is a VIRTUAL EVENT. Head to the BookTalk Nation website for all the details!
• Also on Thursday, March 7th, at 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), WORD heads to Public Assembly for an evening in celebration of the contemporary American circus, as well as The Ordinary Acrobat by Duncan Wall. Tickets are $10, and is good towards $10 off a copy of Duncan’s book during the event. Please note: This event is 21+!
• On Saturday, March 9th, both our Classics Book Group (12 p.m.) and our Music Writing Book Group (3 p.m.) will be meeting, chatting, laughing, and likely snacking. This month, Classics will discuss The Walk by Robert Walser, and Music Writing will talk Red Rock by Jonathan Campbell. There’s still time to join! Get your copies in store today for 10% off!

Next we’ll bring you a launch party for Alaya Dawn Johnson and her YA novel The Summer Prince, Brooklyn Arts Press Night, and a Bookshop Workshops presentation of Eudaeomonia, a play by Jerry Lieblich. Okay, read on, friends! Stay warm! And we’ll see you in the neighborhood!

The Weekly WORD

• Wednesday, February 27th, at 7 p.m., celebrate the release of Start Here, Book Riot’s crowd-funded guide to 25 great authors. Festivities include trivia, stories from the contributors, a raffle, and much more!
• On Thursday, February 28th, at 7 p.m., Largehearted Lit triples up with a launch party for Glow, the debut novel from Jessica Maria Tuccelli; a performance by singer/bassist Rachel Loshak; and a celebration of Hilary Jordan’s latest, When She Wakes. Curated by blogger David Gutowski, Largehearted Lit is a series that emphasizes music, literature, and the places they meet.
• On Saturday, March 1st, two of our books clubs will be meeting: WORD Book Club will meet at 12 p.m. in order to discuss the National Book Award Winner Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward, and at 3 p.m. the Romance Book Club will discuss Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole.
• On Monday, March 3rd, 7 p.m., Pearls Before Swine author and cartoonist Stephan Pastis will present his first children’s book,Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made. Following a presentation, the author will sign copies of Timmy.

The following week at WORD, we team up with Housing Works for a discussion of Dragons in Space (at Housing Works), we travel to Public Assembly for Circus Now, a tribute to the American circus, Will Schwalbe (The End of Your Life Book Club) will be on Book Talk Nation, and our Music Writing Book Club and our Classic Book Club will meet for their monthly chats.

The Weekly WORD

• Today, February 18th, at 7 p.m., award-winning editor Ellen Datlow (After, The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror), young adult author Marissa Meyer (Scarlet, Cinder), and author Genevieve Valentine (Mechanique) will be discussing fairytales, the perils and joys of rewriting them, and much more. So bring the imaginations! Oh, and questions, too!
• On Wednesday, February 20th, at 7 p.m., local authors Nathaniel Kressen (Concrete Fever) and M. Craig (The Narrows) will stop by for a very special event: Authors as Auteurs. As experienced and innovative self-publishers, our guests will be here to share their expertise and their their enthusiasm for all things independent publishing.
• Thursday, February 21st, marks the release of Sarah MacLean’s latest, One Good Earl Deserves a Lover. In order to celebrate, Sarah is throwing a celebration at 7 p.m.! Join us for a discussion with RT Book Review’s Morgan Doremus, a signing, games, prizes, refreshments, and (of course) tons of fun!
• On Sunday, February 24th, at 3 p.m., the Wodehouse Book Group will be discussing Enter Jeeves: 15 Early Stories. Pick up your copy in the store today to receive 10% off.

Next week, we’ll close out February (No!) with great events for both Book Riot and Largehearted Lit (Yes!). Then we kick off March (Woo!) with a discussion of Salvage the Bones for Book Group. Okay, see you soon!  

The Weekly WORD

• Join us Tuesday, February 12th, at 7 p.m., for the Brooklyn launch of Ron Currie Jr.’s genre-defying new novel, Flimsy Little Plastic Miracles. Following an introduction from Jami Attenberg (The Middlesteins), Ron will offer a reading and discussion of the blurry line between truth and fiction.
• On Wednesday, February 13th, at 7 p.m., we’re delighted to welcome the Kindred Reading Series and host a reading from sci-fi/fantasy authors N.K. Jemisin (The Shadowed Sun, The Killing Moon) and Daniel Jose Older (Salsa Nocturna).
• Sunday, the 17th, 1:30 p.m., Little Golden Books author Dennis Shealy (Batman!, The Mighty Avengers, I’m a Monster Truck, and I’m a T. Rex!) will tell some stories, explain how a comic book is made, and help you to create your own super-story! Recommended for kids aged 3 and up. Superhero attire is encouraged!
• On Monday, February 18th, 7 p.m., award-winning editor Ellen Datlow (After, The Years Best Fantasy and Horror) and young adult author Marissa Meyer (Scarlet, Cinder) will talk fairytales, the joys (and perils!) of rewriting them, and more. There will also be a fairytale trivia…with prizes!

And the following week? We’ve got Nathaniel Kressen and M. Craig on self-publishing, a game night with Sarah MacLean, and a Wodehouse book group meeting. Hope to see you in the store soon!