Lit Boston: What's Happening in February?
In the February 2021 edition of "Best of Boston," we bring you our top Boston lit events this month, taking place virtually. See below for our list of local literary happenings.
Emily Rapp Black with Joanna Rakoff: Sanctuary
Monday, February 1st at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0–$36
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Emily Rapp Black discusses her memoir, a story of grief and resilience, with Joanna Rakoff and Brookline Booksmith. RSVP here.
Grubbie Debut: Nancy Johnson with Jean Kwok, The Kindest Lie
Monday, February 1st at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet and Porter Square Books
Join Porter Square Books and GrubStreet along with Grubbie Nancy Johnson for the launch of her debut novel, The Kindest Lie. Nancy will be joined in conversation by Jean Kwok (Searching for Sylvie Lee). This event is free and open to all to attend, and is hosted on Crowdcast. RSVP here.
Rajani LaRocca with Kate Messner: Red, White, and Whole
Tuesday, February 2nd at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Join Porter Square Books to welcome award-winning author Rajani LaRocca for a virtual talk about her new novel-in-verse, Red, White, and Whole. She will be joined in conversation by Kate Messner. This event is free and open to all, hosted on Crowdcast. RSVP here.
Katherine Seligman with Lisa Ko
Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0–$35.95
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Katherine Seligman discusses her new novel with Lisa Ko, in partnership with Bridge Over Troubled Waters. RSVP here.
Charles M. Blow with Bakari Sellers, The Devil You Know
Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $5–$26.99
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Porter Square Books is pleased to partner with HarperCollins to present a virtual talk with Charles Blow for the release of his new book, The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto. RSVP here.
Marlene Perez Launch, in Conversation with Caleb Roehrig
Thursday, February 4th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Join Belmont Books for the launch of Marlene Perez's The Afterlife of the Party, as she discusses it with author Caleb Roehrig. RSVP here.
David Duchovny with Robin Young
Thursday, February 4th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $20–$35
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Join Brookline Booksmith and the Wilbur Theatre for a virtual event celebrating the release of David Duchovny's fourth novel, Truly Like Lightning–an epic adventure that asks how we make sense of right and wrong in a world of extremes. David Duchovny will be joined in conversation by Robin Young to discuss this heartbreaking meditation on family, religion, sex, greed, human nature, and the vanishing environment of an ancient desert. RSVP here.
Courtney Summers with Tiffany D. Jackson, The Project
Thursday, February 4th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Porter Square Books is delighted to present a virtual talk with Courtney Summers for her new novel The Project, joined in conversation by Tiffany D. Jackson (Grown) and moderated by Rebecca Kim Wells. This event is free and open to all, and hosted on Crowdcast. RSVP here.
Virtual Chat with Dr. Bettye Kearse, author of The Other Madisons: The Lost History of a President’s Black Family
Thursday, February 4th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Women's National Book Association
Part personal quest, part testimony, part historical correction, Dr. Bettye Kearse’s book The Other Madisons is the saga of an extraordinary American family. Join the Women's National Book Association as we talk with her about her book, her writing and research process and more. RSVP here.
Writers Bloc Presents: Hilton Als and Jia Tolentino on Joan Didion
Thursday, February 4th at 8:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Livestream Event by Writers Bloc Presents
Writers Bloc presents Hilton Als and Jia Tolentino on Joan Didion's new essay collection, Let Me Tell You What I Mean. RSVP here.
Colleen Hoover with Brittainy Cherry: Layla
Friday, February 5th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $14.95–$23.95
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Join Colleen Hoover and Brittainy Cherry to celebrate the release of Colleen's newest novel, Layla. RSVP here.
Live from Paris! Bestselling Author Lindsey Tramuta
Friday, February 5th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $10
A Virtual Event by the French Cultural Center of Boston and Cambridge
Lovers of Paris: Join us for an evening with Lindsey Tramuta. Lindsey is a culture & travel journalist, a bestselling author, and podcaster. RSVP here.
Dayna Lorentz Launch, in conversation with Tui Sutherland
Monday, February 8th at 6:30PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Please join Belmont Books for this fun launch event where Dayna Lorentz will discuss her latest book, Of a Feather, with Tui Sutherland. RSVP here.
Louis Chude-Sokei with Tochi Onyebuchi
Monday, February 8th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0–$36
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Louis Chude-Sokei discusses his new memoir, Floating in a Most Peculiar Way, in conversation with Tochi Onyebuchi and Brookline Booksmith. RSVP here.
All of Me, Mini Redux! Writing about Our Intersectional Identities
Tuesday, February 9th at 12:00PM ET | Workshop Fee: $0
A Virtual Workshop by GrubStreet
In this condensed version of our popular six-week course, we’ll use identity wheels and short writing exercises to figure out what our social identities are, how they intersect, and how and why they guide what we want to say through our work. As part of GrubStreet's Write Down the Street community program, writers based near the Egleston or Mattapan Branches of the Boston Public Library can take this drop-in class. Register here.
GrubStreet’s Memoir Incubator Open House & Info Session
Tuesday, February 9th at 6:30PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet
Interested in taking your memoir to the next level? Join us for an informal Q&A session on our Memoir Incubator program. Instructor Alysia Abbott and alumni of the program will be there to answer any questions you have about the Memoir Incubator program. RSVP here.
Stephanie Graves in conversation with Alyssa Maxwell
Tuesday, February 9th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Please join Belmont Books as Stephanie Graves discusses her historical mystery, Olive Bright, Pigeoneer with author Alyssa Maxwell, author of A Sinister Service. RSVP here.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas presents Unfinished: A Memoir
Tuesday, February 9th at 8:00PM ET | Event Fee: $34
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store, Politics and Prose, and Books & Books welcome award-winning, internationally renowned actress and producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas for a discussion of her debut memoir, Unfinished. She will be joined in conversation by actress, writer, and creator Lilly Singh, host of NBC's late-night talk show, A Little Late with Lilly Singh. RSVP here.
GrubStreet’s FREE Brown Bag Lunch Writing Series
Wednesday, February 10th at 12:30PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet
Looking for some virtual midweek writing community? Or do you have a schedule that gives you free afternoons instead of evenings? Join GrubStreet on Wednesday, February 10th from 12:30pm-1:15pm. For 45 minutes, you’ll meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some cool writing exercises. RSVP here.
Serena Parekh in conversation with David Livingstone Smith
Wednesday, February 10th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Please join Belmont Books for a fascinating discussion between Serena Parekh and David Linvingstone Smith as they discuss Serena's book No Refuge: Ethics and the Global Refugee Crisis. RSVP here.
Susan Conley with Lily King, Landslide
Wednesday, February 10th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Join Porter Square Books for a virtual talk with Susan Conley for her highly anticipated new novel, Landslide, joined in conversation with Lily King (Writers & Lovers). This event is free and open to all, hosted on Crowdcast. RSVP here.
Maxim D. Shrayer and Tatiana Rebecca Shrayer
Thursday, February 11th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Please join Belmont Books to hear the daughter-and-father team of Tatiana Rebecca Shrayer and Maxim D. Shrayer as they read from and discuss their new books. RSVP here.
David Levithan, The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S.
Thursday, February 11th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Join Porter Square Books to celebrate the release of bestselling author David Levithan's newest novel for young readers, The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told to his brother). This event is free and open to all, hosted on Crowdcast. RSVP here.
Marcos Gonsalez with Jennifer Baker, Pedro's Theory
Friday, February 12th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Join Porter Square Books for a virtual talk with Marcos Gonsalez, author of the new memoir Pedro's Theory, joined in conversation by Jennifer Baker. This event is free and open to all, hosted on Crowdcast. RSVP here.
Cary Library: Galentine's Day with Alisha Rai, Meg Cabot, Jen DeLuca, and Sarvenaz Tash
Saturday, February 13th at 5:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Cary Memorial Library and Brookline Booksmith
Brookline Booksmith is proud to co-sponsor Cary Memorial Library's Galentine's Day event with romance authors Alisha Rai, Meg Cabot, Jen DeLuca and Sarvenaz Tash. RSVP here.
The Dynamics of Dialogue Returns
Saturday, February 20th at 12:00PM ET | Workshop Fee: $0
A Virtual Workshop by GrubStreet
In this remote class, we’ll revisit old and new concepts around crafting dialogue, from rooting dialogue in well-structured characters to applying poetic devices to the use of language and the varied types of conversations that can happen on the page. As part of GrubStreet's Write Down the Street community program, writers based near the Egleston or Mattapan Branches of the Boston Public Library can take this drop-in class. Register here.
Susan Conley in conversation with Maryanne O'Hara
Tuesday, February 23rd at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Please join Belmont Books as they welcome back Susan Conley and Maryanne O'Hara for another great conversation. This time, they will be discussing Susan's latest book, Landslide. RSVP here.
Emily St. John Mandel with Isaac Fitzgerald: The Glass Hotel
Tuesday, February 23rd at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $16.95–$25.95
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Brookline Booksmith celebrates the paperback release of The Glass Hotel with Emily St. John Mandel and Isaac Fitzgerald. RSVP here.
What Shape Is Your Home? The Hermit Crab Essay
Starting Wednesday, February 24th at 6:00PM ET | Workshop Fee: $0
A Virtual Workshop by GrubStreet
After all these months at home, let’s spend six-weeks squeezing ourselves–or, at least, our words–into new and unexpected places. Hermit crab essays adopt existing, often not traditionally literary forms, as containers for personal writing. As part of GrubStreet's Write Down the Street community program, writers based near the Egleston or Mattapan Branches of the Boston Public Library can take this multi-week class. Register here.
Nancy Johnson in conversation with Jenna Blum
Wednesday, February 24th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Please join Belmont Books for a great conversation as debut author Nancy Johnson discusses her novel The Kindest Lie with bestselling author Jenna Blum. RSVP here.
Patricia Lockwood with Jenny Offill: No One Is Talking About This
Wednesday, February 24th at 7:00PM ET | Event Fee: $0–$44
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Patricia Lockwood, author of Priestdaddy, discusses her debut novel with Jenny Offill and Brookline Booksmith. RSVP here.
GrubStreet’s FREE Happy Hour Writing Session
Friday, February 26th at 5:30PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by GrubStreet
Maximize that Friday feeling and kick off your writing weekend. Leave work behind on Friday, February 26th, from 5:30pm-6:30pm, grab a snack and/or your favorite after-work beverage, and log into GrubStreet Remote for some writing. RSVP here.
Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP): FREE Saturday Sessions for Teens
Saturday, February 27th from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Workshop Fee: $0
A Remote Workshop by GrubStreet
Learn the fundamentals of creating three-dimensional characters who eat, sleep, work, love, and err in Making People From Scratch: The Art of Characterization; release your inner writer and speaking, regardless of the limitations that you've built around your own voice in My Voice Deserves to Be Heard! Releasing Your Powerful Inner Writer; or brainstorm–and then refinine–your own unique interests and ideas, and on accessing the Narnia already in your imagination in Make Believe: Using Imaginary Creatures In Your Writing. Learn more and register here.
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