July's Book of the Month + Chuck Palahniuk, Writers-in-Residence, New Events, Q&As, Excerpts, and more!
What a weird, hazy month in Pittsburgh!
If the Air Quality Index is keeping you inside, we’ve got lots of book recs for you—including our pick for July’s Talk Pittsburgh Book of the Month—and we’ve been adding a bunch of new events to the calendar: Zadie Smith! Vertical Bridges: An Evening About Pittsburgh’s City Steps! Collective Chaos: A Roller Derby Team Memoir…
And we just got our tickets to see Chuck Palahniuk!
This and more on good ol’ Littsburgh dot com.
Yours in books,
The Littsburgh Crew
Littsburgh on KDKA: Talk Pittsburgh Book of the Month – July Pick!
“Mary Ours talks with Rachel Ekstrom Courage and Kristina Marusic, the author of our July book of the month, A New War on Cancer: The Unlikely Heroes Revolutionizing Prevention.”
Previously: Start Reading A New War on Cancer: The Unlikely Heroes Revolutionizing Prevention by Kristina Marusic…
“For more than fifty years, we have been waging, but not winning, the war on cancer. We’re better than ever at treating the disease, yet cancer still claims the lives of one in five men and one in six women in the US. The astonishing news is that up to two-thirds of all cancer cases are linked to preventable environmental causes. If we can stop cancer before it begins, why don’t we?”
Erica Hom and Leo Smith named City Books Writers-in-Residence for Fall 2023!
“The City Books Writer’s Residency offers flexible access to a comfortable, creative space within Pittsburgh’s oldest existing bookstore for adult writers to develop new writing or to advance existing work-in-progress. The opportunity allows writers to pursue individual writing goals or projects without the expectation of a page count or publication. It is intended for local/regional writers within driving distance of the bookstore…”
Q&A: Nancy McCabe, Author of Vaulting through Time!
“Nancy McCabe directs the writing program for Pitt’s regional campus in Bradford. She also teaches in the low-residency graduate program at Spalding University, has three times been a writer-in-residence at Chautauqua, and until recently taught classes for the Creative Nonfiction Foundation (currently on hiatus).
Nancy is a former gymnastics mom whose daughter competed all over Western PA. She’s the author of six previous books [and] Vaulting through Time is her debut young adult novel.”
Featured Event: A Night of Grief and Mystery (August 25, 2023)
“A Night of Grief & Mystery combines stories and observations by author/culture activist Stephen Jenkinson, drawn from his decades of work in palliative care, with original songs/sonics by recording artist Gregory Hoskins.
These two Canadian artists have been exploring the intersection of their work for 8 years, across 3 continents, in 3 recordings and 2 short films. They come to the road now in 2023 as they did in the beginning: the two of them, a singer and a storyteller, out into the mystery days.”
Featured Event: An Evening with Bestselling Author Chuck Palahniuk!
“Prepare yourself for a one-of-a-kind evening with a one-of-a-kind author. Will there be kangaroos in attendance? We can’t say, but there are sure to be prizes, treats, and literary delights…”
Excerpt and Q&A: Barry K. Nelson (local author of Evil Walks)!
“Operating from the Fallen Angel tavern in Pittsburgh’s North Side, the mysterious Sandman waits for the chance to grant the denizens of the city their every wish. From the darkest corners they come in search of wealth, power, or revenge. The deal is simple. Just tell the Sandman about one of your dreams and he’ll grant you a wish…”
Start Reading To Fill The Void: A Novel by (Local Author!) Ken McCarthy…
“Sam left for boot camp on a cold, cloudy day in February. I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat as I watched him walk away…”
PA’s Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Grant: Open to Writers!
Start Reading Team Building: A Memoir about Family and the Fight for Workers’ Rights by (Pittsburgher) Ben Gwin…
Littsburgh on KDKA: Talk Pittsburgh Book Club – June Pick!
Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures Announces 2023/24 Ten Evenings Season!
PulpFest 2023: “Celebrating Mystery, Adventure, Science Fiction, and More!”