Literary Pittsburgh: Bigger & Better Than Ever!
We thought our last email was our biggest one yet, but there’s so much going on in literary Pittsburgh that we keep hitting our word count limit on these newsletters!
In this email, we have: updates from the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books, the Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia, and the Pitt Poetry Series. We have excerpts and interviews and calls for submissions and proposals. We had events listed through July 2022… but we had to cut some of those from this email to make space.
If you haven’t visited the site since our last email, scroll down for updates!
Yours in books,The Littsburgh Crew
P.S. Nick’s been taking a break from writing to make some baking videos (aka top-level procrastination). If you’re interested in NYC-style bagels or pumpkin-shaped pumpkin bread, you can check those out here!
The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books: First Preview of Participating Authors!
“We are engaging some wonderful and exciting authors to participate at the Festival. Here’s a quick look at three great Pittsburgh literary giants to start. Many more authors are being engaged and will be announced over the next several months…”
Now Accepting Proposals for Presentations: The Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia (WCoNA®)!
“The Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia (WCoNA®), happening live at Duquesne March 11-13 2022, and featuring keynote speakers Lee Gutkind, Vanity Fair’s ‘Godfather behind creative nonfiction,’ and Edgar Award-winning novelist Kathleen George, invites proposals for presentations.”
Start Reading Beneath the Veil of Smoke and Ash: A Novel by Tammy Pasterick!
“It’s Pittsburgh, 1910—the golden age of steel in the land of opportunity. Eastern European immigrants Janos and Karina Kovac should be prospering, but their American dream is fading faster than the colors on the sun-drenched flag of their adopted country…”
Ed Ochester retires from the Pitt Poetry Series…
“Ochester took over the Pitt Poetry Series in 1978 and has published hundreds of collections by established and rising poets. When Ochester inherited the series, he sought to broaden the scope of what American poetry looked like, publishing women poets, queer poets, and poets of color at a time when there was little diversity to be found in the poetry publishing realm…”
Life reflected in poetry: An Interview with Djehane Hassouna!
“My poetic journey began early in my childhood, in Egypt. a few steps away from the Egyptian pyramids and the mysterious world of the pharaohs…
From ‘Oakland’: The lights of the Cathedral of Learning / And those of CMU’s Hammerschlag Hall / Glimmer in the darkness”
Call for Submissions: Rubbertop Review (Akron, Ohio)!
Rubbertop Review is an annual literary journal based in Akron, Ohio… and their editors just reached out to let us know that they’re currently open for submissions!
The City Books Writer’s Residency Now Accepting Applications! (Deadline: Nov. 30)
Write Pittsburgh Announces Free “Boys Write Pittsburgh” Workshops!
Start Reading The Heiress of Pittsburgh by Ken Gormley (New York Times Bestselling Author and President of Duquesne University)…
October 28, 2021: Reading: “Deadheading & Other Stories” by Beth Gilstrap w/ Flick, Squillante, and Timblin @ Online More information
October 28, 2021: Mystery Lovers - Book + Author: Gregg Hurwitz @ Online More information
October 28, 2021: Megha Majumdar, Author of the Bestselling Novel A Burning @ Online More information
October 29, 2021: Poetry Reading: “about:blank” by Tracy Fuad and “Little Pharma” by Laura Kolbe @ Online More information
October 30, 2021: Fall Poetry Reading with the Squirrel Hill Poetry Workshop! @ Online More information
October 31, 2021: Craig Johnson - Daughter of the Morning Star In Person / Zoom Event @ Mystery Lovers @ Mystery Lovers Bookshop More information
November 1, 2021: 4-Week Writing Workshop: Tackling Tough Topics w/ Deesha Philyaw @ Online More information
November 1, 2021: The Bantha Readings @ Bantha Tea Bar More information
November 2, 2021: Outdoor Storytimes at the Pleasant Hills Arboretum (Fall 2021) @ Pleasant Hills Arboretum More information
November 2, 2021: Poetry & Pints @ Online More information
November 3, 2021: Poets at Diners: A Night Out w/ Jane Wong, Rajiv Mohabir, Diana Khoi Nguyen, & S. Brook Corfman @ Online More information
November 3, 2021: Artificial Intelligence & the Future of Creativity. Presented with Carnegie Mellon University @ Online More information
November 4, 2021: Wednesday Webinars with Creative Nonfiction - Literary Agents 101: What You Need to Know about Getting and Working with an Agent! @ Online More information
November 5, 2021: Prime Stage Theatre: KARLOFF The Man and the Monster @ The New Hazlett Theater More information
November 6, 2021: Author Chat with Paula Chase @ Online More information
November 6, 2021: Book Talk: “The Sisters Are Alright, Second Edition” w/ Tamara Winfrey Harris & Patrice Grell Yursik @ Online More information
November 7, 2021: The Poetry Atelier @ The Space Upstairs More information
November 8, 2021: Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures: Lawrence Wright @ Online More information
November 9, 2021: Outdoor Storytimes at the Pleasant Hills Arboretum (Fall 2021) @ Pleasant Hills Arboretum More information
November 9, 2021: Pittsburgh Poetry Society Reading @ Riverstone – Squirrel Hill More information
November 9, 2021: Book Launch! “Uprooted” by Nina Padolf w/ Matthew Ussia, Charlie Brice, and Judy Brice @ Online More information
November 10, 2021: Wednesday Webinars with Creative Nonfiction - Best Foot Forward: Make the Most of Your Application Materials @ Online More information
November 10, 2021: WSJ Reporter Kris Maher in conversation on the battle for clean water in Appalachia @ Riverstone – Squirrel Hill More information
November 10, 2021: Book Launch! “Nightjar” by Michael Simms, w/ Gerry LaFemina, Gail Langstroth, and Sharon Fagan McDer @ Online More information
November 11, 2021: Book Talk: “The Book of Mac: Remembering Mac Miller” by Donna-Claire Chesman @ Online More information
November 12, 2021: Reading & Conversation: “All Who Belong May Enter” by Nicholas Ward w/ Ben Gwin @ Online More information
November 13, 2021: A Signing With Tammy Pasterick @ Riverstone Books (McCandless) @ Riverstone Books – McCandless More information
November 13, 2021: Book Talk: “Castaway Mountain” by Saumya Roy (w/ Suchitra Vijayan, “Midnight’s Borders”) @ Online More information
November 14, 2021: “Dead Letters: Delivering Unopened Mail from a Pennsylvania Ghost Town” with Jess Weible @ Online More information
November 16, 2021: Outdoor Storytimes at the Pleasant Hills Arboretum (Fall 2021) @ Pleasant Hills Arboretum More information
November 17, 2021: Wednesday Webinars with Creative Nonfiction - Revision Made Simple® @ Online More information
November 17, 2021: Reading & Conversation: “Memorial Ride,” Stephen Graham Jones w/ Anjali Sachdeva @ Online More information
November 17, 2021: STEEL City SLAM Hybrid Event (online & in person) @ The PA Market More information
November 17, 2021: I’ve Been Here All the While: An Evening with Dr. Alaina E. Roberts @ Mt. Lebanon High School – Fine Arts Theater More information
November 17, 2021: Penguin Bookshop Writers Series: A Conversation with Ethan Joella @ Online More information
November 18, 2021: Reading & Conversation: “The Future of Black” w/ Yona Harvey, Cynthia Manick, and Yvonne McBride @ Online More information
November 20, 2021: Parsec Monthly Meeting @ Online More information
November 20, 2021: Author Chat with Sheryll Cashin @ Online More information
November 21, 2021: Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures: Sharon Draper @ Online More information
November 22, 2021: Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures: Maggie O’Farrell @ Online More information
November 23, 2021: Outdoor Storytimes at the Pleasant Hills Arboretum (Fall 2021) @ Pleasant Hills Arboretum More information
November 23, 2021: Gregg Behr & Ryan Rydzewski @ Riverstone Books – McCandless More information
November 30, 2021: Call for Poetry Submissions: A Critique of the Gods! (Deadline: Nov. 30) @ Online More information
December 2, 2021: Poetry Reading: “My Wilderness” by Maxine Scates & "The Thicket” by Kasey Jueds @ Online More information
December 5, 2021: The Poetry Atelier @ The Space Upstairs More information
December 6, 2021: Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures: Yaa Gyasi @ Online More information
December 11, 2021: Literature and Catholic Imagination @ Brother Andre’s Cafe More information
January 12, 2022: STEEL City SLAM Hybrid Event (online & in person) @ The PA Market More information
January 24, 2022: Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures: Douglas Stuart @ Online More information
February 6, 2022: Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures: Avi @ Online More information