Lit Boston: What's Happening in September?

In the September 2019 edition of "Best of Boston," we bring you our top Boston lit events this month, curated from the Boston Literary District's event calendar, an essential source of literary happenings.

Madeline Miller presents Circe at Harvard Bookstore

When: Tuesday, September 3rd, 6:00pm (Free)

Harvard Book Store welcomes Madeline Miller—the celebrated, critically acclaimed author of Song of Achilles—for a discussion of her #1 New York Times bestselling novel Circe.

Edwin Hill in Conversation with Daniel Ford

When: Wednesday, September 4th, 7:00pm (Free)

Edwin Hill will discuss his novel The Missing Ones in conversation with Daniel Ford, author of Black Coffee and host of the Writer’s Bone podcast.

Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg presents The Nine: A Novel

When: Friday, September 6, 7:00pm (Free)

Harvard Book Store welcomes award-winning writer and GrubStreet board member Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, author of Eden, for a discussion of her latest novel, The Nine.

Brookline Booksmith Book Club: The Bluest Eye

When: Monday, September 9th, 7:30pm (Free)

The Brookline Booksmith Book Club is free and open to the public. It is held on the second Monday of every month. This month, they will discuss Toni Morrison’s virtuosic first novel, which asks powerful questions about race, class, and gender with the subtlety and grace that have always characterized her writing.

Fall GrubStreet Providence Showcase and Info Session

When: Monday, September 9th, 6:00pm - 8:00pm (Free)

While this event isn't technically in Boston, it's close enough that we're including it here! if you live near the Providence area, you won't want to miss our Fall GrubStreet Providence Showcase and Info Session. Grub Providence coordinator Ethan Gilsdorf and other instructors will be on hand to discuss your writing goals and recommend classes that are right for you. Not only that, but current Grubbies will read from their work in our Student Showcase! Plus, we'll offer a discount on classes for all attendees.

September Happy Hour at GrubStreet

When: Friday, September 13th, 5:30pm - 6:30pm (Free)

Maximize that Friday feeling and kick off your writing weekend. In 60 jam-packed minutes, you’ll meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some great writing exercises. Free drinks (beer, coffee, water) and snacks provided.

New Voices in Fiction: Kimberly King Parsons

When: Wednesday, September 11th, 7:00pm (Free)

Harvard Book Store and GrubStreet welcome award-winning writer Kimberly King Parsons for a discussion of her debut collection of stories, Black Light. She will be joined in conversation by acclaimed novelist and editor Mark Doten.

The 2019 MAAH Stone Book Award Event

When: Thursday, September 12th, 5:30pm - 7:30pm (Free)

Join the Museum of African American History (Boston and Nantucket) and the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation for an evening of celebration and stimulating conversation at the 2019 MAAH Stone Book Award Event at the African Meeting House located at 46 Joy St. on Boston's Beacon Hill featuring WGBH Under the Radar host Callie Crossley and this year's Winning Author Julius S. Scott for The Common Wind. Finalists Mary Schmidt Campbell for An American Odyssey and Kellie Carter Jackson for Force and Freedom will also be in attendance!

Louisa May Alcott's Boston

When: Sunday, September 15th, 11:00am - 12:30pm ($5-$15)

This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of one of the most beloved books of all time — Little Women. Co-sponsored by the Boston Literary District, this tour will focus on Alcott and her literary contemporaries, their connections with each other, and their Boston world.

A Poetry Reading with Emily O'Neill and Brandon Amico

When: Sunday, September 15th, 7:00pm - 8:30pm (Free)

Join Brandon Amico and Emily O’Neill at Trident Booksellers & Cafe as they read from their new poetry collections. A discussion and book signing will follow!

New Voices in Fiction: Elizabeth Ames

When: Monday, September 16th, 7:00pm (Free)

Harvard Book Store and GrubStreet welcome debut author Elizabeth Ames for a discussion of her new novel, The Other's Gold.

WDtS Mattapan: Folktales and the 21st Century

When: Tuesdays, starting September 17th, 5:45pm - 7:45pm (Free)

Folktales have the distinction of being as plainspoken as postcards while carrying the emotional heft of entire cultures. In this four-week class, you’ll read through a diverse selection of folktales and discuss how they connect to our modern stories and lives. Each week, you’ll also be taking steps toward writing our own 21st century folktale. Write Down the Street programs are offered tuition-free thanks to the support of generous donors who are committed to our mission of ensuring all voices are heard.

Salem LitFest Kickoff and Opening Keynote: Whitney Scharer

When: Friday, September 20th, 7:00pm - 11:00pm ($10 Donation)

The 10th Salem Literary Festival kicks off with a keynote lecture by Whitney Scharer, author of The Age of Light, her new novel based on the life of pioneering photographer Lee Miller. After her talk, hang out in The Cellar from 8-11pm for a round of Flash Poetry and Prose followed by live music from the local favorites Rule of Three.

Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP): FREE Saturday Sessions

When: Saturday, September 21st, 12:00pm - 4:00pm (For Teens)

GrubStreet throws its doors open during one Saturday each month, offering FREE creative writing workshops for Boston-area high schoolers. September’s workshops include Unpacking the Poetry Toolkit with Marlon Carey, where teen poets can unpack and clarify some of the tools in the Poet's Toolkit and create their own poems using some of these literary devices; Trick or Treat: Writing Horror & Dark Fantasy with Jess Mann, where students can write spooky stories, weird stories, sci fi, speculative fiction, and fantasy; Your Adventure, Your Way: Stories with Multiple Endings with Drew Jameson, where teens can explore fiction that follows branching paths and multiple endings. All students must register in advance.

New Voices in Fiction: Lara Prescott (w/ Michelle Hoover)

When: Tuesday, September 24th, 7:00pm (Free)

Harvard Book Store and GrubStreet welcome award-winning writer Lara Prescott for a discussion of her debut novel, The Secrets We Kept. She will be joined in conversation by acclaimed author and writing instructor Michelle Hoover, head of GrubStreet's Novel Incubator program.

Alice Hoffman presents The World That We Knew: A Novel

When: Tuesday, September 24th, 6:00pm (Free)

Harvard Book Store welcomes beloved, bestselling local author Alice Hoffman for a discussion of her latest novel, The World We Knew.

September Brown Bag at GrubStreet

When: Wednesday, September 25th, 12:30pm - 1:15pm (Free)

Do you work downtown and want to fit some writing into your day? Or do you have a schedule that gives you free afternoons instead of evenings? Join our FREE Brown Bag Lunch Writing Series. You’ll meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some cool writing exercises.

Sports Management Notes: A Book Talk with Michael Chamblain

When: Thursday, September 26th, 6:00pm - 7:30pm (Donation)

Join author and sports agent Michael Chamblain as he discusses his book detailing his experience and insights into the sports industry. Spend over $10 on your ticket and receive a copy of the book! Ticket proceeds support More Than Words, a non-profit social enterprise empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.

WDtS Egleston Drop-In: Boston in 100 Words Story Contest Submit-a-thon

When: Friday, September 27th, 12:00pm - 1:30pm (Free)

Boston in 100 Words continues an initiative which is almost 20 years old. Originating in Santiago de Chile, this global writing project has now expanded to cities in Mexico, Colombia, Poland, The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. Boston will become the first American city to join. In this FREE, 90-minute class, you’ll craft your own 100-word stories about Boston (and surrounding towns) and submit them because, as the contest maintains, “storytelling is a powerful social tool that connects individuals to each other despite our differences.”

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