GrubWrites

Lit Boston: What's Happening in February?

In the February 2022 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.

Laura Sebastian with Dana Schwartz: Castles in Their Bones

Tuesday, February 1st at 6:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $45

A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith

Celebrate the release of Castles in Their Bones with author Laura Sebastian, in conversation with Dana Schwartz, author of Anatomy: A Love Story. The first twelve attendees to purchase a book with their ticket will be invited to an exclusive Zoom meet and greet! Learn more.

Amanda Foody with Lauren Magaziner, The Weeping Tide

Tuesday, February 1st at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books

Join us virtually for the launch of The Weeping Tide (Wilderlore #2), the "charming and earnest" sequel to Amanda Foody's The Accidental Apprentice! We're delighted to host her for a reading of the new book and a conversation with Lauren Magaziner. Learn more.

Rupert Russell presenting Price Wars: How the Commodities Markets Made Our Chaotic World

Wednesday, February 2nd at 12:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store

Harvard Book Store's virtual event series welcomes acclaimed writer and documentary filmmaker Rupert Russell for a discussion of his book Price Wars: How the Commodities Markets Made Our Chaotic World. He will be joined in conversation by award-winning scholar, writer, and activist Timothy Patrick McCarthy. Learn more.

Hester Fox with Adriana Mather: A Lullaby for Witches

Wednesday, February 2nd at 6:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $36

A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith

Celebrate the release of A Lullaby for Witches with author Hester Fox, in conversation with Adriana Mather! Learn more.

Lan Samantha Chang in Conversation with Sue Miller

Wednesday, February 2nd at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by Belmont Books

We are so excited to invite you to join author Lan Samantha Chang, who will be discussing her new book The Family Chao, with New York Times bestselling author Sue Miller! This event is co-sponsored by the Belmont Chinese American Association. Learn more.

Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose Launch, in Conversation with B.A. Shapiro

Thursday, February 3rd at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by Belmont Books

Please join us and bestselling authors Randy Susan Meyers and M.J. Rose as they launch their new book, The Fashion Orphans, and discuss it with bestselling author B.A. Shapiro! Learn more.

Jennifer Haigh presenting Mercy Street: A Novel

Thursday, February 3rd at 7:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $28.99

A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store

Harvard Book Store, Politics and Prose, and Books & Books welcome Jennifer Haigh—the award-winning author of Mrs. Kimble, Baker Towers, and News from Heaven—for a discussion of her latest novel, Mercy Street. She will be joined in conversation by celebrated novelist Andre Dubus III. Learn more.

Lindsey Vonn with Angela Duckworth, Rise

Thursday, February 3rd at 7:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $28.99

A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books

Join Lindsey Vonn for a discussion with Angela Duckworth about her life, incredible career, and new memoir, Rise! Porter Square Books is delighted to partner with HarperCollins for this virtual event. The first 36 orders placed will receive a signed copy of Rise with their ticket. If you'd like to send in any questions for Lindsey to answer during the event, please email [email protected] by 1/21. Learn more.

Belmont Books Bookclub - Transcendent Kingdom

Monday, February 6th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by Belmont Books

Heather O'Neill with Starlee Kine: When We Lost Our Heads

Monday, February 7th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $35

A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith

Our book club meets once a month on Mondays from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Right now, all meetings are held on Zoom. All are welcome for casual discussions of fiction and nonfiction books. Occasionally, a meeting will feature a visit from a local author whose book we are reading. Please email [email protected] to register. Learn more.

Lisa Stringfellow with Tui T. Sutherland: A Comb of Wishes

Tuesday, February 8th at 6:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $25.99

A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith

Celebrate the release of A Comb of Wishes with author Lisa Stringfellow, in conversation with Wings of Fire author Tui T. Sutherland! Books purchased on the registration page will be signed and personalized by the author! Learn more.

Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis: What Is Love?

Tuesday, February 8th at 6:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith

Celebrate the release of What Is Love? with Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis and our Indie partner bookstores! Learn more.

Tara Westover with Natalie Portman: Educated

Tuesday, February 8th at 8:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $20 - $29

A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith

Please join #1 New York Times bestselling author Tara Westover and Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman for a special, one-night-only virtual event celebrating the paperback launch of Educated: A Memoir. Your ticket includes admission to this exclusive event, and a paperback copy of Educated. Learn more.

Memoir Incubator Open House & Info Session

Wednesday, February 9th at 6:30 PM 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. 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. Learn more.

Sara Freeman presenting Tides: A Novel

Thursday, February 10th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store

Harvard Book Store's virtual event series and GrubStreet welcome award-winning writer Sara Freeman for a discussion of her debut novel, Tides. She will be joined in conversation by Emma Cline, the acclaimed, bestselling author The Girls. Learn more.

Kodo Nishimura in Conversation With Athena Bahri

Thursday, February 10th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by Belmont Books

We are very excited to welcome Kodo Nishimura, who will be discussing his new book, This Monk Wears Heels: Be Who You Are, with Athena Bahri! Learn more.

Jabari Asim with Deborah Douglas, Yonder

Thursday, February 10th at 7:30 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books

Porter Square Books is thrilled to present an event with Jabari Asim for his new novel, Yonder—lauded in a starred review from Booklist as "a mesmerizing touch of magical realism." He will be joined in conversation by award-winning journalist Deborah Douglas. Learn more.

Alice Guthrie with Omar Berrada

Friday, February 11th at 5:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $24.95

A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith

Join the Transnational Literature Series for a virtual event with translator Alice Guthrie to discuss and celebrate the release of Blood Feast: The Complete Short Stories of Malika Moustadraf. She will be in conversation with writer Omar Berrada. Learn more.

February Friday Night Writes

Friday, February 11th 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, February 11th, 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. Learn more.

Ariana Harwicz and Annie McDermott with Maryse Meijer

Saturday, February 12th at 12:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $55.85

A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith

Join the Transnational Literature Series for a virtual event with author Ariana Harwicz and translator Annie McDermott to discuss and celebrate the release of Tender, the last book in the "Involuntary Trilogy." They will be in conversation with writer Maryse Meijer. Learn more.

Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP): Art Talks Back: Exploring Ekphrastic Poetry

Saturday, February 12th at 12:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by GrubStreet

Art urges us to look more closely at the world around us, and at ourselves. In and around Boston, there’s an ever changing gallery of portraits and messages from local artists. In this generative writing workshop, participants will choose an image to have a “conversation” with. Each writer will be given prompts and questions in order to interact with their image. After having this dialogue with art, writers can pick eight of their favorite lines and arrange them into a working draft of an ekphrastic poem, to share with each other and the community. Learn more.

Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP): A Workshop of Weird

Saturday, February 12th at 12:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by GrubStreet

It’s okay if you’re not weird (or if you are, for that matter), but these prompts definitely lean to the weird side. The situations are a bit strange, the images are a bit wacky, but, hopefully, they’ll be more than a bit fun. Get ready to think about what might be and what could happen. If you’re the type to imagine mysterious notes left in odd places or things that (probably) shouldn’t be possible, this is the workshop for you. Learn more.

Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP): Writing Inspired by Found Objects

Saturday, February 12th at 12:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by GrubStreet

Have you ever found an old photograph at a flea market and wondered: who are these people, and what is their story? That’s how Ransom Riggs wrote Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, structuring the plotline entirely around found photographs. Using Miss Peregrine as our model, this course will be all about looking for inspiration for your writing in the objects that surround you, creating narratives out of things that already exist. We will look at an array of items––old photographs, video footage, antique maps, even junk and trash––and find the stories and poems hidden within. This course will also explore the relationship between images and words, looking at examples such as Brian Selznick’s Wonderstruck and Tom Phillips’s A Humument. A great course for those who are visual artists in addition to writers. Learn more.

Racquel Marie and Friends: Ophelia After All

Saturday, February 12th at 6:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $26.99

A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith

Celebrate the release of Ophelia After All with author Racquel Marie, in conversation with Chloe Gong, Tashie Bhuiyan, and Christina Li! Books purchased on the registration page include signed bookplates! Learn more.

Seaport Free Writes

Wednesday, February 16th at 12:30 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 Wednesday, February 16th, from 12:30-1:15pm. 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. Learn more.

TJ Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea: a place in LGBTQ Literature

Thursday, February 17th at 6:30pm (EST) | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by Fairfield Public Library and Triangle Community Center

Please join Fairfield Public Library's Philip Bahr for an hour-long celebration of our 2022 One Book One Town selection: author TJ Klune's novel The House in the Cerulean Sea. We welcome participants who’ve read the book, are in the middle of reading, or are just curious about this magical piece of literature. Learn more.

Olga Tokarczuk and Jennifer Croft

Saturday, February 19th at 1:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $44

A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith

Join the Transnational Literature Series at Brookline Booksmith, Community Bookstore, and Third Place Books for a virtual event with author Olga Tokarczuk and translator Jennifer Croft to discuss and celebrate the release of the sweeping and ambitious novel The Books of Jacob. Learn more.

Live at Brookline Booksmith! Kit Mayquist & S.T. Gibson: Tripping Arcadia

Tuesday, February 22nd at 6:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $26.99

An In-Person Event by Brookline Booksmith

Live and in person at Brookline Booksmith! Celebrate the release of Tripping Arcadia with author Kit Mayquist, in conversation with S.T. Gibson. Preorder a book on the registration page to get a Booksmith-exclusive Tripping Arcadia art print and pin! Learn more.

Novel Immersive for LGBTQ+ Writers Open House & Info Session

Tuesday, February 22nd at 6:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $0

A Virtual Event by GrubStreet

Thinking of applying to the Novel Immersive for LGBTQ+ Writers? GrubStreet will host an online Q&A session with instructor Milo Todd on Tuesday, February 22nd, from 6:00-7:00p.m. Milo will answer any questions you have about the Novel Immersive, including the workload, the application process, what the program does and doesn’t entail, the schedule, the philosophy behind our approach, and anything else you have on your mind! Please note that the upcoming round of the Novel Immersive for LGBTQ+ Writers, which begins in June 2022, will take place online via Zoom. Learn more.

Gretchen Felker-Martin with Carmen Maria Machado: Manhunt

Tuesday, February 22nd at 8:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $27

A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith

Celebrate the release of Manhunt with author Gretchen Felker-Martin, in conversation with Carmen Maria Machado! Learn more.

Live at Brookline Booksmith! Elly Swartz, Jarrett Lerner, Anna Staniszewski

Wednesday, February 23rd at 6:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $5

An In-Person Event by Brookline Booksmith

Live and in person at Brookline Booksmith! Join us for a celebration of children's books with Massachusetts authors Elly Swartz (Dear Student), Jarrett Lerner (Party Pal: Geeger the Robot) and Anna Staniszewski (Double Clique). Learn more.

Sara Freeman, Tides

Thursday, February 24th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

An In-Person Event by Porter Square Books

Porter Square Books is delighted to present an event with Sara Freeman in celebration of her captivating debut novel, Tides! This event is presumed in-person at Porter Square Books: Boston Edition. Learn more.

Live at Brookline Booksmith! Laura Kolbe with Zoë Hitzig: Little Pharma

Thursday, February 24th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $27

An In-Person Event by Brookline Booksmith

Live and in person at Brookline Booksmith! Join Laura Kolbe (Little Pharma) for a night of poetry, in conversation with Zoë Hitzig. Learn more.

Seaport Free Writes

Saturday, February 25th 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, February 25th, from 5:30pm-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. Learn more.

Monthly Storytime

Saturday, February 26th at 4:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0

A Virtual Event by Belmont Books

Join authors Rashin Khieriyeh (The Shape of Home), author Lee Wind and illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky (Red and Green and Blue and White), and Tillie Walden and Emma Hunsinger (My Parents Won't Stop Talking) for our monthly storytime! Learn more.

Mariko Tamaki with Michael V. Smith: Cold

Sunday, February 27th at 2:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 - $27.99

A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith

Celebrate the release of Cold with author Mariko Tamaki, in conversation with Michael V. Smith! Books purchased on the registration page include a signed bookplate! Learn more.