Lit Boston: What's Happening in December?
In the December 2021 edition of "Best of Boston," we bring you our top Boston lit events this month, most taking place virtually. See below for our list of local literary happenings.
December Grubby Desk Lunch
Wednesday, December 1st at 12:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet
Looking for some virtual midweek writing community? Or do you have a little time during your lunch break for a chat and guided writing? Join our FREE Grubby Desk Lunch Series live via easy to use video conferencing. Join us on Wednesday, December 1st from 12:30pm-1:15pm. For 45 minutes, you’ll meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some cool writing exercises. Register here.
Live with Brookline Booksmith! Dick Lehr: White Hot Hate
Wednesday, December 1st at 6:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $37
An In-Person Event by Brookline Booksmith
Live and in person at Brookline Booksmith! Celebrate the release of White Hot Hate with author Dick Lehr. Register here.
Kate Baer, I Hope This Finds You Well
Wednesday, December 1st at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Porter Square Books is delighted to present an event with Kate Baer for her new collection, I Hope This Finds You Well. The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller What Kind of Woman returns with a collection of erasure poems created from notes she received from followers, supporters and detractors—an artform that reclaims the vitriol from online trolls and inspires readers to transform what is ugly or painful in their own lives into something beautiful. Register here.
VIRTUAL: Maddie Day in Conversation With Maria DiRico
Wednesday, December 1st at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Please join us and author Maddie Day, as she discusses the lastest book in her Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series, Murder at the Lobstah Shack with author Maria DiRico. Register here.
Virtual: Neal Stephenson, Termination Shock
Thursday, December 2nd at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Join Porter Square Books for a virtual event with Neal Stephenson for the release of Termination Shock -- called "the kind of climate-change fiction we all need" in a starred review from Kirkus! This event is free and open to all, hosted on Crowdcast. Register here.
VIRTUAL: Lily King in Conversation With Julia Glass
Thursday, December 2nd at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $27 - $32.39
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Come join award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Lily King, as she discusses her latest book, Five Tuesdays in Winter, with best-selling author Julia Glass! Register for this Zoom webinar on Eventbrite. A book purchase is required to attend this event. Register here.
James S.A. Corey with Chuck Wendig: Leviathan Falls
Thursday, December 2nd at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $30 - $40
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Author duo James S.A. Corey celebrates the release of Leviathan Falls, the FINAL book in The Expanse, the bestselling series that launched the hit TV show. They will be in conversation with Chuck Wendig! Tickets include a copy of Leviathan Falls and a signed bookplate. Register here.
VIRTUAL: Atlas of the Heart Book Launch
Thursday, December 2nd at 8:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $30 - $35.39
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Join #1 New York Times bestselling author Dr. Brené Brown for a special, one-night-only event to launch Atlas of the Heart! Belmont Books and Random House invite you to join us for this very special Zoom event. Brené will be in-conversation with Priya Parker. Please note that book purchase is required for admission. Register here.
Seaport Free Writes
Wednesday, December 3rd at 5:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
An In-Person Event by GrubStreet
Looking to add some creativity to your day? Want to meet other local writers and get started on some new writing? Join our Seaport Free Writes session on Friday, December 3rd, from 5:30-6:30pm. You’ll meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some fresh writing exercises. Best of all, you’ll leave with some new ideas to ponder for the rest of your day and beyond. Please note that you must register ahead of time and provide proof of vaccination to attend this session. Register here.
First Fridays Virtual Open Mic ft. Parker
Wednesday, December 3rd at 7:15 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by First Fridays Youth Open Mic
Zoom waiting room opens at 7:00pm ET, mic check begins at 7:15, and performances begin at 7:30! Bring your friends! Bring your art! You are welcome! $5-$10 suggested donation but no one is ever turned away. Register here.
Arrowsmith Press Fall Book Launch
Thursday, December 5th at 3:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Arrowsmith Press
Join Arrowsmith Press for an afternoon reading by Alexandra Marshall (The Silence of Your Name), Robin Davidson (Mrs. Schmetterling), and Martin Edmunds (Flame in a Stable). Hosted by Askold Melnyczuk. Register here.
Live with Brookline Booksmith! Jodi Picoult with Elin Hilderbrand
Tuesday, December 6th at 6:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $30 - $38
An In-Person Event with Brookline Booksmith
Live and in person with Brookline Booksmith, at Coolidge Corner Theatre: celebrate the release of Wish You Were Here with author Jodi Picoult in conversation with Elin Hilderbrand! This event is ticketed. Tickets include a general admission seat at the event AND a signed copy of Wish You Were Here. Register here.
2021-22 Creative Writing Minor Reading Series: Enzo Silon Surin & Cheryl Clark Vermeulen
Tuesday, December 6th at 6:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event with Massachusetts College of Art and Design
The final reading in the Creative Writing Minor Speaker Series. A reading & conversation about first books, literary friendships, and interdisciplinary arts. Register here.
VIRTUAL: Joseph Knox in conversation with Stuart Turton
Tuesday, December 7th at 6:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books and Sourcebooks Landmark
Stuart Turton introduces Joseph Knox and his #1 international bestselling novel True Crime Story in this special launch event in partnership with Sourcebooks Landmark! Signed bookplates from both authors are available with purchase. Register here.
VIRTUAL: Kimmery Martin Boston-area Launch, in Conversation With Suzanne Koven
Tuesday, December 7th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books and Sourcebooks Landmark
Please join emergency-medicine-physician-turned-novelist Kimmery Martin for her Boston-area launch of Doctors and Friends, a book about a pandemic that was written before COVID-19! Kimmery will be in-conversation with Dr. Suzanne Koven, author and Harvard Medical School faculty member. Register here.
SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND Book Launch
Tuesday, December 7th at 7:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by More Than Words Warehouse Bookstore
Celebrate the release of Spin Me Right Round (Bloomsbury) by David Valdes with a live reading from the book, in a special event hosted by Tonasia Jones and featuring music by Meagan Michelson & Helen Lewis, treats, a Q&A, and a sneak peek at the next book. Register here.
Novel Incubator Open House & Info Session
Wednesday, December 8th at 6:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
An In-Person Event by GrubStreet
Interested in taking your novel to the next level? Join us for an informal Q&A session on our Novel Incubator program. Instructor Michelle Hoover will answer any questions you have about the Novel Incubator program. We'll give you all the information you need to know about the application process, what the program entails, the schedule, the philosophy behind our approach, and anything else on your mind. Please note that the upcoming round of the Novel Incubator, which begins in May 2022, will take place in-person in Boston. You will need to register ahead of time and provide proof of vaccination to attend this session. Register here.
MIDWEEK: Elizabeth Sutterlin | Finding Poetic Spirit
Wednesday, December 8th at 7:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Beacon Hill Friends House
This Midweek session will introduce poetry as a method for expressing spirituality through reading selected pieces from poets whose faiths guided their work. Participants will have the opportunity to practice generating their own spiritual poetry. Register here.
Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP): Gender, I Don’t Even Know Her!
Thursday, December 9th at 4:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet
In their poem "Fairytales" Jasmin Roberts presents the story of binary gender as a fantasy. A story we have been told and often retell in our living. They ask what about those of us who don't quite fit the models of gender we've been expected to follow, the many of us who don't fit any specific gendered category? In this session, we will explore this question in writing. We will present and discuss excerpts from a variety of texts by trans and gender noncomforming writers and other writers who experience gender outside the binary. This class is free for ages 13-18. Register here.
WBUR CitySpace: Dorie Greenspan
Thursday, December 9th at 6:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $5 - $25
An In-Person Event by Brookline Booksmith and WBUR CitySpace
The popular CitySpace series "Curated Cuisine" invites renowned chefs, both local and national, to share their food philosophy, their career journeys, and what they learned during the pandemic. Join us for a conversation with Dorie Greenspan, James Beard-award winner, New York Times food columnist and author of the new cookbook, Baking with Dorie: Sweet, Salty and Spicy. Her book comes just in time when many of us are baking for family and friends as the holidays approach. On Point host Meghna Chakrabarti moderates. Register here.
VIRTUAL: Holiday Help for Kids' Books with Josh Funk & Rajani LaRocca
Thursday, December 9th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books and Sourcebooks Landmark
Join children's book authors Josh Funk and Rajani LaRocca as they share their holiday gift book recommendations! Register here.
Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP): Adapting Stories to Film
Saturday, December 11th at 12:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet
This short workshop is a fun exploration into adapting stories to a film script. We will be discussing different examples of adaptations from media like news articles, novels, short stories and even texts and tweets. This class is free for ages 13-18. Register here.
Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP): Form, Reform, Transform: Playing with Formal Poetry
Saturday, December 11th at 12:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet
In this class, we’ll look at poetic forms not as sets of rules or standards meant to constrict your imagination, but as opportunities to play with language, open up new possibilities in your poetry, and create resonance between form and content. This class is free for ages 13-18. Register here.
Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP): An Afternoon of Mystery!
Saturday, December 11th at 12:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet
This class will explore how elements of mystery can be used in shorter works, whether short fiction, poetry—or even nonfiction and memoir! This class is free for ages 13-18. Register here.
TRUTHTELLER'S BOOK SIGNING
Saturday, December 11th at 1:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
An In-Person Event by Frugal Bookstore Inc.
One of your favorite neighborhood poets, Tanya Smoak, will be personalizing your book with a signature of appreciation, of course, for buying her newly released book "TRUTH~N~POETRY"! And for supporting her through this journey! Register here.
Boston ABG December Meeting
Sunday, December 12th at 6:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
An In-Person Event by Boston ABG: Asian Book Group
Our December read is Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. This event is open to all but our intention and priority is to be a safe space for AAPI identifying people. Please bring a snack to share. Register here.
VIRTUAL: Susan Cohen in Conversation With Elena Noureddine
Tuesday, December 14th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books and Sourcebooks Landmark
Please join local author and immigration lawyer Susan Cohen, as she discusses her new book, Journeys From There to Here: Stories of Immigrant Trials, Triumphs and Contributions with Legal Director of PAIR (Political Asylum/Immigration Representation), Elena Noureddine. One of the immigrants featured in the book, Rosemary Nsubuga, will participate in the discussion as well. All proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to PAIR. Register here.
An Evening with Author Jenna Blum
Wednesday, December 15th at 6:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $35
An In-Person Event by by The Lenox Hotel & Reading with Robin
The Lenox and Reading with Robin present an evening with author Jenna Blum, in conversation with Stephen Kiernan to discuss her newest novel, "Woodrow On The Bench" - a beautiful tribute to her beloved black lab Woodrow, from the New York Times bestselling author of "Those Who Save Us". Moderated by Robin Kall, founder of Reading with Robin. Register here.
Spring 2022 Virtual Open House & Info Session - Remote!
Thursday, December 16th at 5:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet
GrubStreet will be hosting a Virtual Open House to talk about upcoming Spring 2022 classes, GrubStreet's membership program, the 2022 Muse and the Marketplace Conference, GrubStreet's Boston Writers of Color Group, and more! In this webinar-style session, a panel of our staff members will give you an overview of GrubStreet and who we are, and we'll dive into everything coming up at GrubStreet next term. At the end, there will be some time set aside for a Q+A of follow-up questions. Register here.
December Friday Night Writes
Friday, December 17th at 5:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet
What's more satisfying than leaving work behind on a Friday evening? Rounding out the week with a free virtual writing session, of course! Maximize that Friday night feeling and kick off your writing weekend with us online! Join us for a Friday Night Writes Session on Friday, December 17th, from 5:30pm-6:30pm and log into GrubStreet Remote for some writing! In 60 jam-packed minutes, you’ll meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some great writing exercises. Register here.
WDTS: The Story’s Sledgehammer
Saturday, December 18th at 12:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet
The metaphorical sledgehammer is the analytical landscape of our modern storytelling world. In this workshop we’ll enjoy a quick story on YouTube to use as a control and put our stories through a series of questions to see how they do or do not hold up, exploring what is needed to keep a story intact. Register here.
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