Our Big December Newsletter (Part One?)
It’s that end-of-year crunch again and we’re taking a break to address holiday cards and share the latest from Littsburgh:
Rachel visited KDKA again yesterday (on her birthday - happy birthday, Rachel!) to share our Talk Pittsburgh Book Club pick for December, Nick’s been writing letters to young readers for the holidays (and thinking a lot about Brian Jacques - did you know he wrote the Redwall series for students he met at a school for the blind?)…
And literary Pittsburgh has been busy, busy, busy!
So busy that we’re already thinking about sending another update this month. If haven’t visited the site lately, this is a good time to stop by and click around :)
Happiest holidays,
The Littsburgh Crew
P.S. Thank you to everyone who’s pledged their support and donated to Littsburgh… and whether or not you’re able to donate, we always appreciate your support!
Littsburgh on KDKA: Talk Pittsburgh Book Club - December Pick!
As always, thanks so much to Talk Pittsburgh and KDKA for letting us use these spots to help spread the word about local literary events - this month we were able to highlight events for local and visiting authors at Penguin Books, Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures, and City of Asylum!
Start Reading The Last Caretaker by Jessica Strawser (Our Talk Pittsburgh Book Club Pick for December)!
“Jessica Strawser, a book club favorite, is beloved for her gripping, poignant, and ultimately hopeful stories (Almost Missed You, Not That I Could Tell, Forget You Know Me, A Million Reasons Why, The Next Thing You Know) that give readers plenty to talk about: celebrating the strength of women and the complexities of life, love, friendship, motherhood, and more…”
Third Annual Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books Returns on May 11, 2024!
“The free Festival welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to explore the city’s literary treasures through national and locally renowned authors and poets; children’s activities; local bookstores and publishers; live entertainment and more…”
Save the Date: Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia® (WCoNA)!
“Join us as at the premier writers conference dedicated to the literature of northern Appalachia as we bring you our region’s foremost professionals on the craft of writing…”
Local Interest: Start Reading In the Cut by Michael Lockett!
“In the Cut is a big-hearted collection set in Appalachia that explores the lives of individuals trying to get by in the best way they can. Michael Lockett skillfully portrays characters grappling with circumstances beyond their control, including a child coping with the isolation created by the actions of her meth-addicted mother, a man torn between caregiving duties and personal aspirations, and a young boy just on the cusp of understanding what his preference for playing with dolls might mean. Lockett writes beautifully, with empathy and an insider’s familiarity with the region.” – Geeta Kothari, Author of I Break for Moose
Local Author - Q&A: Cori Wamsley, CEO of Aurora Corialis Publishing and author of The Treasures We Seek!
“When Kenzi decides to take a whirlwind trip to Italy-to work at an archeological site-she has no way of knowing that she’ll dig up far more than just priceless artifacts. She’ll also unearth a more authentic version of herself…”
Start Reading Ironblood by Mord McGhee (Set in Homestead, PA)!
“Ironblood is a historical saga exploring the raw and complicated story of America’s industrial legacy, which gives voice to humanity’s worst fears yet displays our greatest hopes. A story told through the eyes of characters from various cultures and countries after the American Civil War, pitted against one another amidst the rise of steelmaking empires…”
Local Author - Start Reading Populated by Susan Helene Gottfried…
“When an art thief breaks into the Woolslayer Art Gallery and steals all of Delia Ford’s art—and only her art—and then inexplicably leaves some of it in public places, often with taunting notes attached, Delia fights back the only way she knows how: By engaging her thief in a game of cat and mouse that elevates the entire Port Kenneth art scene, including elementary school artists and knitting bombers…”
Q&A: Meg Seitz, Author of You Are Something New – Life Lessons to Radically Change How You Think About Business…
“Pittsburgh shaped so much of my life – even before I knew it. My great-grandparents came to Pittsburgh from Eastern Europe in the early 20th century, so my family has been in Pittsburgh since then. I grew up all over the country, but we always came home to Pittsburgh to see my grandparents, so Pittsburgh people, culture, food, attitude was always a constant in my life. My family moved to Pittsburgh right as I was going into 9th grade, so I knew Pittsburgh – personally as a teenager and young adult. There’s a no-nonsense edge that’s a part of me and that’s all Pittsburgh; there’s also a deep respect for family, tradition, and where I came from that’s all Pittsburgh; there’s an appreciation for hard working, resilient people that’s a part of me that’s all Pittsburgh…”