The suntan lotion may be barely dry on your battered beach read, but it's time to brace yourself for the literary whirlwind that will whip through the Queen City this fall. Work on becoming a writer, network with same or just queue up to hear some of the nation's bestselling authors talk about the books that make you go hmm…
Novello Festival of Reading
Oct. 2-30
Presented by The Public Library of Charlotte-Mecklenburg
BOOKFEST: Seriously? The PLCMC just rocks. The annual Novello Festival of Reading is one of the amazing events hosted throughout the year. Book-lovers anxiously await the star-studded list of authors who headline Novello. It may already be too late to get a ticket.
BIG BANG: Literary guns Khaled Hosseini, Scott Turow and Armistead Maupin are just the tip of the iceberg. Don't miss quirky graphic novelist Harvey Pekar of American Splendor fame and Nancy Pearl, NPR's Book Lust regular and likely the only librarian with her own action figure.
FREEBIES: Many events are free, including the Novello book brunch with youth authors and illustrators and the WordPlay Saturday festival on Oct. 11.
DETAILS: novellofestival.org.
The Power of One: Making Change,
Making Connections
Sept. 10
Presented by Johnson C. Smith University
WISE WORDS: Make plans to hear award-winning Washington Post journalist Patrice Gaines talk about her tumultuous life. Find out how a former heroin user changed her life to put prison, rape and abuse aside and became a noted reporter, author and motivational speaker. Pick up her autobiography “ Laughing in the Dark: From Colored Girl to Woman of Color A Journey from Prison to Power.”
GO WEST: If you're not plugged into JCSU's Lyceum lecture series, you're overlooking on a great community resource on a beautiful campus near Uptown. Coming up in November is California poet laureate Al Young and celebrated pianist Leon Bates.
DETAILS: Sept. 10 @ 7:30 p.m., Sarah Belk Gambrell Auditorium. Free. jcsu.edu/lyceum.
Creative Writing Workshops
Aug. 23-Sept. 24
Presented by The Public Library of Charlotte-Mecklenburg
WORK IT: Writers new and writers seasoned, writers blocked and writers blank can all benefit from this free series of workshops offered by the (ever-rockin') PLCMC. Take the Saturday Sampler and knock this out in three hours or opt for the four-week mini workshops, two hour sessions in September on Wednesday mornings at Morrison Regional Library and Thursday mornings at the Scaleybark branch.
PAINLESS PROD: Writer-in-residence and certified Amherst Writers & Artists Method leader Ellen Judith Reich uses this gentle, supportive, generative process to pull all those simmering literary thoughts out of your stagnant brain. Probably won't even hurt… much. (Find out more @ EllenJudithReich.com.)
DETAILS: Admission is free but workshops are limited to 12 participants and are for adults only. Registration is required. Call or register in person at Morrison, (704) 416-5431, or Scaleybark, (704) 529-0632. More info: plcmc.org/Programs.
Charlotte Literary Festival
Sept. 6
Presented by Real Eyes Bookstore
FEEL THE POWER: Back-to-back literary festivals in September and October would be an amazing feat in any city, so you gotta give it to NoDa's Real Eyes Bookstore for the additional opportunity to present this inspirational-themed festival which features local, regional and national authors from various genres.
NAME DROP: Essence Editorial director Susan L. Taylor speaks and signs, as does “ Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” author Susan Jeffers. Singer Stephanie Mills, urban lit guru Omar Tyree, sci-fi author Terry Brooks, Dr. Rev. Michael Beckwith and the controversial J.L. King will all make appearances.
DETAILS: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 6 at the Charlotte Convention Center. Tickets: $10; free for kids 12 and under. More info: charlotteliteraryfestival.com.
Charlotte Writer's Club
SCRIBES OF A FEATHER: Of course writers need support groups, no matter how well known or unknown they may be. The CWC has been offering workshops, networking, critiques, contests and public reading opportunities to local literati, including some of the QC's best known, for more than 80 years.
OPENING ACT: The CWC's '08-09 season begins in September. To kick things off, WFAE commentator/ Observer op-ed columnist, author and poet Kaye McSpadden will present “ Finding Your Writing Voice: Four Things You Have to Know” 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in SouthPark mall.
DETAILS: The Charlotte Writers' Club meets the third Tuesday September through May, 7-9 p.m. at Joseph-Beth. You're can visit a regular monthly meeting once or twice. If you want to join, membership dues start at $30 per year. Get the membership application and more: charlottewritersclub.org.
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