Today's Featured Books— Events

Free online: Ramp Up the Action, featuring authors Patricia Bradley, Lynette Eason, and Nancy Mehl. Dive into the heart-racing moments of their work, uncover their thought processes, and learn about the artistry of suspenseful storytelling in this look at the world of action literature. Presented by Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thursday, July 27, 6 PM CDT. 

"Resistance and change often begin in art.” ~Ursula K. Le Guin

Free online: Feminist Futures - VERVE Books Autumn Showcase. Join Verve Books for an inspiring online event celebrating the power of feminist literature. This showcase brings together UK- and USA-based authors who are shaping the future of feminist writing. Get ready to dive into thought-provoking discussion, captivating readings, and an engaging Q&A session. Tuesday, July 25, 19:00 GMT+0100 (British Summer Time), 1 PM CDT.

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ~Henry James

Free Online: Writing Deliciously. Join author Jane Wong for a discussion of how writing about food strengthens our communities and opens up our creative craft. Along with celebrating and exploring food writing by poets such Naomi Shihab Nye, Hanif Abdurraqib, Audre Lorde, and Chen Chen, this class will offer numerous delicious writing prompts and opportunities for feedback, connection, and sharing. Saturday, July 22, 12 PM CDT. 

“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” ~Ernest Hemingway

Free online: Strong Women, Strange Worlds. Enjoy a "book tasting" of science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories by women and non-binary writers. The event will feature six authors, and each author reads for eight minutes followed by Q&A. The event will be fast and fun, and there will be prizes/giveaways. Thursday, July 20, 7 PM EDT.

“We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel… is an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become.” ~Ursula K. Le Guin

Poet & Artist Reading: Black Sunflower Poetry Press invites you to an enchanted hour of art and poetry in the company of extraordinary black women poets and artists. Poet Harryette Mullen will read from Open Leaves - poems from earth. Artist Tiffanie Delune will present and discuss some of her artworks. Poet Morgan Christie will read from à genoux. And artist Virginia Chihota will present some of her artworks and ideas. Tickets from £5.00. (Note: Normally, LitNuts only recommends free online events, but this sounds like a wonderful event--and admission is free if you buy a copy of Open Leaves.) Tuesday, July 18, 12:00 CDT.

“There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” ~Amanda Gorman

New giveaway: Our friends at indie publisher Familius are partners in the Big Summer Reading Giveaway to help your family keep your summer reading going. Three lucky winners will each receive a bundle of 10 books. LEARN MORE.

“One benefit of Summer was that each day we had more light to read by.” ~Jeannette Walls, The Glass Castle

Free online: Join author Martin Boroson and Robert Gass for a free webinar as they use Marty's acclaimed story Becoming Me as a touchstone to help people see how even the most challenging moments are reminders to see the big picture and find the Great Big Love that is always here for you. Publisher's Weekly on Becoming Me: "Gentle yet thought-provoking, this will offer readers another way to contemplate the nature of the divine." Thursday, July 13, 9 AM Pacific, 16.00 UK. 

“Try to experience each step as if it were your only destination.” ~Martin Boroson

Free online literary event: The New York Public Library presents a free online discussion of the short story "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving. Read the story for free online and then join the NY Public Library and other booklovers for a discussion. Choose from one of two sessions: Wednesday, July 12, 11 AM EDT or 3 PM EDT.  

"Age is a matter of feeling, not of years." ~Washington Irving

Free online literary event this weekend: The Back Room presents authors Terah Shelton Harris, Michael Koryta, Mindy Mejia, and John Pruitt. Each online event starts with a short introduction to the four authors, then the audience is divided into four breakout rooms where they remain for the rest of the program while the authors visit each room in turn. Everyone’s video is turned on and their mics are unmuted, allowing for informal, face-to-face discussion. Sunday, July 9, 6-8 PM CDT.

"Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music—the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls, and interesting people. Forget yourself." ~Henry Miller

Enter this Reader Central Giveaway to learn about new authors and for a chance to win a $150 Amazon.com gift card. Deadline: July 31. 

“Compassion isn’t about solutions. It’s about giving all the love that you’ve got.” ~Cheryl Strayed

Free online literary event (two sessions!): Short Story Club, presented by the Yarra (Australia) Libraries. Each month, the club reads one short story or piece of narrative non-fiction (available to readers online for free) and then meets to discuss it. For July, the story is "The Gift" by Else Fitzgerald, a selection from the author's debut short story collection, Everything Feels Like The End of the World, which won the Richell Prize in 2019. 

• "Afternoon" session: Tuesday, July 4, 10 PM CDT (which is 1 PM on the afternoon of July 5 in Yarra).
• "Evening" session: Wednesday, July 5, 3:30 AM CDT (which is 8:30 PM the evening of July 5 in Yarra).

Bill Bryson on Australia: "It is stable and peaceful and good. It doesn’t need watching, and so we don’t. But I will tell you this: the loss is entirely ours.”

Free online lit event: Bilingual book launch and reading to celebrate the publication of La Ciudad en Mi Lengua | The City in My Tongue, an anthology comprised of writings from participants in Spanish-language creative writing workshops. Co-sponsored by Word Up bookstore and Westbeth Artists Housing. Friday, June 30, 7 PM EDT. 

“If we spoke a different language, we would perceive a somewhat different world.” ~Ludwig Wittgenstein

LitNuts Deals Giveaway - win a $100 Barnes & Noble gift card. Enter by midnight central time on June 29 for a chance to win.

Be sure to also check out the highly rated indie books from the authors and publishers who are sponsoring the giveaway!

“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” ~J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

New Giveaway & Free Webinar!

Today, LitNuts is pleased to share news about the Becoming Me Giveaway and Webinar.

Becoming Me by Martin Boroson is a beautifully illustrated book that takes you on a cosmic journey into the heart of who you are. Read on to learn more.

Join Martin Boroson and Robert Glass for a free webinar that will use Becoming Me as a touchstone to explore "The Radical Promise of Mysticism in the Modern World." (Thursday, July 13, 9 AM Pacific, 16.00 UK) 

Bonus: Enter the Becoming Me Giveaway for a chance to win a signed hardcover gift edition of Becoming Me plus a $25 Amazon.com gift card.

Becoming Me: A Story of Creation

From its remarkable opening line, “Once upon a time, I was,” this little book takes you on a cosmic journey into the heart of who you are. With deceptively simple language by Martin Boroson and breath-taking illustrations by Christopher Gilvan-Cartwright, Becoming Me conveys the deepest mystical view of life as a process of divine self-discovery.

Profound and playful, this "children’s book for adults" has been hailed by psychologists, scientists, and leaders of many different faiths. Best given to celebrate life’s big moments or to comfort people feeling sad, anxious, or lonely, Becoming Me has been taught in philosophy classes and religious sermons, and has uplifted people at every stage of their spiritual journey. This new edition is an ideal gift for new babies, weddings…or yourself. Perfect for the bedside table.

“One of those magical stories that can color your whole life, however young or old you are. The simple words and radiant illustrations convey the most powerful, heart-resonating truths about creation and why we are here.” ~Cygnus Reviews
 
More Praise for Becoming Me
"Gentle yet thought-provoking, this will offer readers another way to contemplate the nature of the divine." ~Publishers' Weekly
 
"The approach and the artwork nicely together not only to captivate children but also to provide much opportunity for discussion." ~Booklist

"Becoming Me undoubtedly captures the emerging spirit of the 21st century." ~Ervin Laszlo, Science Advisor to the Director General of UNESCO

"A deceptively simple expression of the nature of the divine, with breathtaking artwork." ~The Times (UK)

Free online: The New York Public Library presents Liberation Day: Stories by George Saunders. This week, they will discuss the short stories “Ghoul” and “Mother’s Day.” Tuesday, June 27, 4:00 - 4:45 PM EST.

“Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial.” ~George Saunders

Free online: The Back Room. Grab your favorite cocktail and yoin authors Brett Battles, Claire Jiminez, Alex Marwod, and Matthew Quirk for an evening of great conversation. Each online event starts with a short introduction to a panel of authors. The audience is then divided into breakout rooms where they remain for the rest of the program while the authors visit each room in turn. Everyone’s video is turned on and their mics are unmuted, allowing for informal, face-to-face discussion. Sunday, June 25, 6 PM CDT. 

"Summertime is always the best of what might be." ~Charles Bowden

Free online: The Big Texas Read. Join author Richard Z. Santos for a reading and discussion of his new novel, Trust Me. "One of the most anticipated books of the year." ~Crime Reads. Wednesday, June 21, 7 PM CST.

“The summer night is like a perfection of thought.” ~Wallace Stevens

Free online: Rogue Reads. Meet authors Steve Berry, Isabella Maldonado, Richard North Patterson, and Kate White as they reveal the latest about their brand-new suspense novels, read excerpts for you, and answer questions. Monday, June 19, 7 PM EST.

"Forever is composed of nows.” ~Emily Dickinson

Free online: Winners of the 2022 International Book and Pamphlet Competition. Tune into this special digital launch event for readings and discussion with winners Karen Downs Barton, Luke Samuel Yates, Jon Miller, and Zoë Walkington. Sunday, June 18, 1 PM CDT. 

Also, don't forget to enter the current LitNuts Deals Giveaway for a chance to win a $100 Barnes & Noble gift card!

"Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example, not his advice." ~Charles Kettering

Free online tonight: A Buddhist's Journey Through Mind, Matter, and the Nature of Reality. Copperfield's Books presents Andy Karr for a discussion of Into the Mirror, a book that combines contemporary Western inquiries into the nature of consciousness with classical Buddhist investigations into the nature of the mind. Wednesday, June 14, 6 p.m. 

"Know from the rivers in clefts and in crevices: those in small channels flow noisily, the great flow silent. Whatever’s not full makes noise. Whatever is full is quiet." ~Buddha

Free online: Summertime Virtual Storytime Event. Reading makes a happy camper! Wear your camping attire, grab your flashlight, create that homemade tent, and join Preschool Readers at this extra-special, fun-filled event as we feature our favorite summer stories and activities! Tuesday, June 13, 6 PM CDT.

“A book, too, can be a star, ‘explosive material, capable of stirring up fresh life endlessly,’ a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.” ~Madeleine L’Engle

Free this weekend: NYC's Museum of Modern Art International Highlights Tour. The tour will focus on MOMA's international (non-American) art collection: Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Rousseau, Gustav Klimt, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, Salvador Dali, Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and more. Saturday, June 10, 2:00 - 3:30 PM CDT.

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” ~Pablo Picasso

Free online: Pick up a Page Turner. It's National Crime Reading Month in the UK. Join Steve Cavanagh, master of the modern thriller, and a panel of bestselling crime authors as they reveal their favourite crime and thriller reads, and the books that inspired them. Thursday, June 8, 1 PM CDT.

“You can’t beat a good whodunnit: the twists and turns, the clues and the red herrings and then, finally, the satisfaction of having everything explained to you in a way that makes you kick yourself because you hadn’t seen it from the start.” ~Anthony Horowitz

Free online: Nature's Wonders - Meet the Author. Nature’s Wonders is a mix of evocative writing, beautiful photographs, and facts that serve as an inspiring guide to connecting with nature. Author Jane V. Adams has been featured in BBC Countryfile Magazine and BBC Wildlife Magazine. Tuesday, June 6, 2 PM CDT. 

"There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” ~Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

Free online this weekend: Meet the Indie Author Project Award Winners from Logos & Mythos: Florida Indie Author Project Award Winner J.S. Farmer, Nevada Winner J.A. Curtis, Missouri Winner Annie Lisenby, Illinois Winner Alina Rubin, and Louisiana Winner Joy E. Rancatore. One attendee will win a Book Swag Prize Pack. Sunday, June 4, 7 PM CDT.

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke