Today's Featured Books— Events

Free online: Veteran Poets & Storytellers. Military veterans Ralph S. Carlson, Ken Klemm, Benjamin Fortier, and Kyrie Ravencry will present their original poetry and creative nonfiction via Zoom. In addition to sharing their experiences in the military and coming home, they will take questions from the audience afterwards. Saturday, February 8, 5:00 - 6:30 PM PST. 

“No soldier ever really survives a war.” ~Audie Murphy

Free online: First Friday Book Talk & Reading with author Susan Aizenberg, who will read from her newest poetry collection, A Walk with Frank O'Hara: Poems. Presented by Larksong Writers Place. February 7, 12 pm CT. 

"Poetry is a phantom script telling how rainbows are made and why they go away." ~Carl Sandburg

Free online: What's New in Historical Fiction, a regular panel series featuring historical novelists with new and upcoming titles. Moderated by Colin Mustful, founder of History Through Fiction, this special panel includes Tiffany L. Warren, author of The Unexpected Diva; Elaine Neil Orr, author of Dancing Woman; Julia Bryan Thomas, author of The Kennedy Girl; and Rosa Kwon Easton, author of White Mulberry. Monday, February 3, 7 PM CST. 

"If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree." ~Michael Crichton

Free online: NYPL Virtual book Tasting. Get a "taste" of a variety of new and popular books, courtesy of the librarians of the New York Public Library. Friday, January 31, 3 - 4 PM EST. 

“When the going gets tough, the tough get a librarian.” ~Joan Bauer

Free online: Talk with Janika Oza, author of A History of Burning, winner of the 2024 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, a finalist for the 2023 Governor General’s Award for Fiction, longlisted for the 2024 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, and a New York Times Editor’s Choice. A masterful and breathtakingly intimate saga of colonialism and exile, complicity and resistance. Presented by the Mississauga Library, Ontario, Canada. Wednesday, January 29, 7 - 8 PM EST. 

“What was love but one long act of forgiveness, of choosing to return, over and over again.” ~Janika Oza, A History of Burning

Free online: An Evening with Amy Tan. Best known for her iconic novel The Joy Luck Club, Amy will share insights from her latest work, Backyard Birding Chronicles, a heartfelt exploration of her connection to nature through birdwatching. Through this intimate look at her own backyard, Amy’s book highlights the profound impact that everyday interactions with the natural world can have on our lives. This event is several weeks away, but it's sure to sell out, so reserve your spot now! February 25, 7 PM PST. 

"In the quiet mornings, the birds' songs are a symphony, a reminder of life's simple, enduring beauty." ~Amy Tan, Backyard Birding Chronicles

Want to see more of the world this weekend? Visit the Cinque Terra, the Sahara Desert, the Antartic, Manhattan, the Great Pyramids, and more via AirPano.com. 

"Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving." ~Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

Free online: Author Talk with Anika Hussain. Join the New York Public Library online for a discussion with Anika Hussain about her YA romance novel, This Is How You Fall in Love. Perfect for young readers ages 13 - 18. Friday, January 24, 3 - 4 PM ET. 

"You don’t have to understand things for them to be.” ~Madeleine L’Engle, A Wrinkle in Time

Free online: Fairy Tale Variations. Five amazing storytellers will each bring you a unique version of the Snow White fairy tale. A Q&A with the tellers will follow the show, and a recording will be sent to all ticket holders. Please note that this is an Adults Only show. Some of these stories will be adult retellings, so the show is recommended only to those over 18 years of age. Saturday, January 18, 7 - 9 PM CST.

"When hearts are high, the time will fly, so whistle while you work." ~Snow White

Free online: Strange Women, Strange Worlds. Join for a tasting menu of science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories. Six authors will each have 8 minutes to tempt and tantalize you with their reading. Thursday, January 16, 6 - 7 PM CST.

“If you want to understand today you have to search yesterday.” ~Pearl S. Buck

Free online: An End of Troubles. Join indie publisher History Through Fiction to celebrate the release of An End of Troubles, an anthology of historical fiction in which diverse characters confront pivotal historical moments, challenging their resilience and sparking transformation. Wednesday, January 15, 12 - 1 PM CST.

“If there’s no meaning in it,” said the King, “that saves a world of trouble, you know, as we needn’t try to find any.” ~Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Free online: Wine and Wishes - a Virtual Vision Board Party. Join Wine and Wishes for an uplifting virtual event designed to help you visualize your goals while connecting with a community of dreamers and doers. This interactive experience combines creativity, intention-setting, and relaxation in a fun, supportive atmosphere—all from the comfort of your own space. Saturday, January 11, 6 - 8 PM CST.

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." ~Peter Drucker

Free online: Poetry Lit! Explore the world of poetry from the comfort of your favorite chair. Poetry Lit! is a monthly reading series with international poets and their passionate fans. This month's event features poets Alyson Hallet and Isobel Dixon. Friday, January 10, 1:00 - 2:30 CST. 

"When you read something beautiful you find coexistence; it breaks walls down." ~Mahmoud Darwish

Free online: Speaking Crow. Presented by Plume Winnipeg, Speaking Crow is Winnipeg's longest running poetry open mic. Come hear poets from across Canada and around the world.

"If you fill your face with laughing, there will be no more room for crying." ~Rohinton Mistry, A Fine Balance

Free online Saturday: Hill Writers Reading Series. Presented by A Southern Writers' Collective, this event will feature two authors from the Appalachian region, Shaun Turner and Karrington Aliyah Garland. Saturday, January 4, 6 - 8 PM EST.

“The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.” ~Robert M. Pirsig

Free online: A New Year Celebration of Poetry. Join poets Joseph Fasano, Alessandra Lynch, and Matthew Nienow for this online celebration, presented by ELJ Editions & Redacted Books. Thursday, January 2, 7-8 PM EST. 

"And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been." ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Free online: NYE Meditation. Got big plans for NYE? Or maybe something more low-key at home? Either way, take a moment earlier in the day for yourself with 30 minutes of guided meditation to express gratitude for 2024 and to welcome 2025. Tuesday, December 31, 2:00 - 2:30 PM EST. 

“For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice.” ~T.S. Eliot

Free online: Drawing & Painting for Beginners, Amateurs, and Experts. Interested in drawing or painting? Then this may be the session for you. No experience required! This is a bi-weekly session of 1.5 hours, with different activities for beginners, amateurs, and professionals. Next session is Sunday, December 29, 12:00 - 1:30 PM CST.

“Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant. There is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing.” ~Georgia O’Keeffe

First of all, we are pleased to announce that Suzanne King of Prentiss, Mississippi, is the winner of the LitNuts Holiday Giveaway. Suzanne's prize is her choice of a Beginner Biography Set of books from Red Chair Press or a $75 Barnes & Noble Gift Card. Congrats, Suzanne!

Second, we invite you to participate in our new Library of America Boxed Set Giveaway. Win your choice of The Philip K. Dick Collection, The Complete Novels of Kurt Vonnegut, or a $75 Amazon.com Gift Card.

Free online: Winter Solstice Writing Ritual. No experience necessary! Join for an evening of creativity and connection. This online event will guide you through a series of writing prompts and exercises to honor the longest night of the year. Celebrate the turning of the seasons and tap into inner wisdom through the power of words. No writing experience necessary, just bring an open heart and a willingness to explore. Saturday, December 21, 7:00 PM EST. 

"Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise." ~Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

Free online: PEN/Dau Best Debut Short Stories 2024. Join six winners of the 2024 PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers as they read selections from their award-winning stories. Thursday, December 19, 7:00 - 8:30 PM EST. 

“Storytelling is the essential human activity.” ~Edward O. Wilson

Free online: MOMA Virtual Art Tour. Join Art Historian Caterina Pierre for a virtual visit to the Museum of Modern Art's current exhibition entitled Life Dances On: Robert Frank in Dialogue. Best known for his 1958 photography book entitled The Americans, the exhibition will focus on the six decades of art Frank produced after that significant publication. Wednesday, December 18, 11:00 - 11:45 AM EST. 

“When people look at my pictures I want them to feel the way they do when they want to read a line of a poem twice.” ~Robert Frank

Free online: Hudson Valley Writers Center Event. Join to hear from four recenlty published HVWC poetry students and two memoir students at the semi-annual HVWC Published Student Reading. Sunday, December 15, 4-5 PM ET.

“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” ~Anaïs Nin

Free online: Poetry Lit! Join this monthly online reading series with international poets and their passionate fans. This month's event features poets Laura Fyfe and Finola Scott. Friday, December 13, 1:00 - 2:30 CST. 

"A good poem helps to change the shape of the universe." ~Dylan Thomas

Cozy Mystery Book Giveaway! Hosted by BookSweeps, enter for a chance to win a bundle of 10 cozy mysteries. 2 winners! Giveaway ends Jan. 1. 

“No one ever got in trouble keeping his mouth shut.” ~Elmore Leonard