Lit Boston: What's Happening in January?
In the January 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.
Porter Square Books | New Years Day Sale: In Boston & Cambridge
Saturday, January 1st from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
An In-Person Event by Porter Square Books
It's Porter Square Books’ annual New Years Day Sale! Make the most of your gift cards. Get started on a resolution. Pick up that book your friends and family neglected to give you over the holidays. Everything in both stores (aside from the hold shelf, electronics, and a few other things) is 20% off in celebration of 2020. Learn more.
Julie Wittes Schlack Launch, in Conversation With James Glickman
Wednesday, January 5th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Belmont Books
Join Belmont Books for the launch of Julie Schlack's new book, Burning and Dodging, which she will be discussing with author James Glickman. Register here.
New Voices in Fiction: Daphne Palasi Andreades
Thursday, January 6th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 ($5 contribution suggested)
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store and GrubStreet
Harvard Book Store's virtual event series and GrubStreet welcome award-winning writer Daphne Palasi Andreades for a discussion of her debut novel, Brown Girls. Register here.
A Month Later: What To Do With Your NaNoWriMo Novel
Saturday, January 8th at 10:00 AM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Ashland Public Library
So, you got word to paper during NaNoWriMo (or, really, anytime!). What to do now? In this program, author Alicia Gregoire will discuss next steps on your road to being published! Whether that is through a traditional agent/publisher or going Independent, there is room the world for all! Register here.
Poetry Open Mic Night
Sunday, January 9th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
An In-Person Event by Trident Booksellers & Cafe
Join Trident Booksellers & Cafe for a fun evening of open mic poetry. The sign-up list opens at 6:30 PM in the upstairs cafe and the mic opens at 7:00 PM. Learn more.
Sasha Sagan & Emily Levesque
Monday, January 10th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $28
An In-Person Event by Brookline Booksmith
Join Brookline Booksmith for a conversation between Sasha Sagan (For Small Creatures Such as We) and Emily Levesque (The Last Stargazers) as they celebrate the paperback releases of their books. Register here.
Jabari Asim | Yonder: A Novel
Tuesday, January 11th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 ($5 contribution suggested)
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store welcomes Jabari Asim — director of the MFA Program in creative writing at Emerson College and acclaimed author of We Can’t Breathe: On Black Lives, White Lies, and the Art of Survival — for a discussion of his latest novel, Yonder. Register here.
Darcie Little Badger with Jordan Ifueko, A Snake Falls to Earth
Tuesday, January 11th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $5
A Virtual Event by Porter Square Books
Porter Square Books presents a virtual event with Darcie Little Badger for her newest novel, A Snake Falls to Earth, longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Joining Darcie in conversation will be Jordan Ifueko, author of the bestselling Raybearer series. Register here.
Picture Book Hour: Emilie Boon and Jamie A. Swenson
Wednesday, January 12th at 4:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $25.99
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Join Brookline Booksmith for a reading of We Want Snow: A Wintry Chant with picture book author Jamie A. Swenson and illustrator Emilie Boon, followed by an art demonstration and Q&A. Register here.
Martin Puchner | Literature for a Changing Planet
Wednesday, January 12th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 ($5 contribution suggested)
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store
Harvard Book Store welcomes Martin Puchner — the Byron and Anita Wien Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Harvard University and author of The Written World — for a discussion of his latest book, Literature for a Changing Planet. Register here.
Julia Cameron with Joel Fotinos: Seeking Wisdom
Thursday, January 13th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $5 – $40
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Joni Brookline Booksmith in celebrating the release of Seeking Wisdom with author Julia Cameron, in conversation with Joel Fotinos. Register here.
Boston BookLab presents Judy Bolton-Fasman
Thursday, January 13th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
A Virtual Event by Boston BookLab
Joni Boston BookLab in discussing Judy Bolton-Fasman's memoir Asylum. To RSVP email Boston BookLab at [email protected]. Register here.
Jami Attenberg | I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home
Friday, January 14th at 8:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $33.75
A Virtual Event by Harvard Book Store, Books & Books, Literati, and Changing Hands Bookstore
Harvard Book Store, Books & Books, Literati, and Changing Hands Bookstore welcome Jami Attenberg — acclaimed author of All Grown Up and All This Could Be Yours — for a discussion of her memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home. She will be joined in conversation by Benjamin Dreyer, bestselling author of Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style. Register here.
Elizabeth George with Jacqueline Winspear: Something to Hide
Tuesday, January 18th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $38
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Joni Brookline Booksmith in celebrating the release of Something to Hide with author Elizabeth George, in conversation with Jacqueline Winspear. Register here.
Jacquelyn Mitchard: The Good Son
Tuesday, January 18th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $37
An In-Person Event by Brookline Booksmith
Joni Brookline Booksmith in celebrating the release of The Good Son with author Jacquelyn Mitchard. Register here.
January Grubby Desk Lunch
Wednesday, January 19th from 12:30 PM – 1:15 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 with instructor Meghan Lamb live via Zoom. For 45 minutes, you’ll meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some cool writing exercises. Register here.
(For Teens) Make It Weird: Writing Sci-Fi and Magical Realism
Thursday, January 20th from 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM ET | Workshop Fee: $0
A Virtual Workshop by Grubstreet and the Boston Public Library
For new and experienced teen writers exploring Sci-Fi and Magical Realism styles, this session with instructor Marcella Haddad will get our gears turning and take our work to the next level. Together we’ll push our weird and wonderful ideas forward. For writers age 13 - 18 ONLY. Register here.
An Evening of Poetry: Jenny Qi and Antonio Lopez
Wednesday, January 19th at 8:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $45
A Virtual Event by Brookline Booksmith
Joni Brookline Booksmith for an evening of poetry with Jenny Qi (Focal Point) and Antonio López (Gentefication). Register here.
Poetry Open Mic Night
Sunday, January 23rd at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
An In-Person Event by Trident Booksellers & Cafe
Join Trident Booksellers & Cafe for a fun evening of open mic poetry. The sign-up list opens at 6:30 PM in the upstairs cafe and the mic opens at 7:00 PM. Learn more.
Mark Ludwig: Our Will to Live
Monday, January 24th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $55
An In-Person Event by Brookline Booksmith
Joni Brookline Booksmith in celebrating the release of Our Will to Live with Mark Ludwig. Register here.
January U35 (Virtual)
Monday, January 24th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0
An In-Person Event by Mass Poetry
Mass Poetry's bimonthly reading series returns (virtually) on January 24th, featuring local poets under 35. Register here.
Joanna Schaffhausen: Last Seen Alive
Tuesday, January 25th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $37
An In-Person Event by Brookline Booksmith
Joni Brookline Booksmith in celebrating the release of Last Seen Alive with author Joanna Schaffhausen. Register here.
Seaport Free Writes
Wednesday, January 26th from 12:30 PM – 1:15 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 GrubStreet’s Seaport Free Writes session with instructor Peter Medeiros. You’ll meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some fresh writing exercises. Please note that you must register ahead of time and provide proof of vaccination to attend this session. Register here.
Sara Freeman with Joanna Rakoff: Tides
Friday, January 28th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $35
An In-Person Event by Brookline Booksmith
Joni Brookline Booksmith in celebrating the release of Tides with author Sara Freeman, in conversation with Joanna Rakoff. Register here.
Transnational Series Live: Susan Cohen
Saturday, January 29th at 7:00 PM ET | Event Fee: $0 – $24.95
An In-Person Event by Brookline Booksmith
The Transnational Series hosts Susan Cohen to celebrate the release of Journeys from There to Here with Gazmend Kapllani and Ronnie Millar. Register here.
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