Our Big Hallowe'en Issue!
We haven’t really been feeling the spooky season yet this year…
But we’re trying our best to get into the spirit: this morning we started re-reading “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti like we do every Halloween (“We must not look at goblin men, / We must not buy their fruits: / Who knows upon what soil they fed / Their hungry thirsty roots?”) and there are some great halloween-y events coming up in the ‘burgh. You can visit our literary events calendar or scroll down for more about those!
Just to highlight a few non-Halloween-y events: Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures is bringing the author of Dork Diaries to Pittsburgh (big news for some of our littler readers!), Mystery Lovers is hosting their annual ARC (Advanced Readers’ Copy) Fundraiser, Sheila Squillante is launching her new book (All Things Edible, Random & Odd) with Marissa Landrigan at White Whale, Scribble House is hosting their monthly submission workshop for local writers and artists (Send It!), there’s a Pittsburgh Streets 1950s book launch at the Heinz History Center, and you can check out Littsburgh’s own Nick Courage at Riverstone in Squirrel Hill with Shannon Takaoka (and read some of his thoughts about having a book banned here and here).
There’s too much going on this fall to fit it all here . . . but we hope you’ll check out the site and the calendar for more!
Yours in boo(k)s,
The Littsburgh Crew
P.S. Sincerely: thank you to everyone who’s pledged their support and donated to Littsburgh!
We’re not a non-profit—we’re just a website!—but we’re renewing all of Littsburgh’s web stuff (like the servers that keep the site running) this month, so if you’d like to help out by becoming a paid subscriber here on Substack, there should be a link for that at the bottom of this email. We also accept donations on the site . . .
And whether or not you’re able to donate, we always appreciate your support!
P.P.S. Shout-out to Magda, Standing (a historical novel set in Pittsburgh) - we just saw that it won a Moonbeam award, and you can read a Q&A with the author here!
Start Reading Blood Ending: A Vampire Novel by Michael McGovern!
Don’t miss out: “Michael McGovern will be celebrating the first year anniversary of the publication of his vampire novel Blood Ending on October 28!
He’ll be performing his one-man Stand-Up Horror show (a cabaret of characters and monologues of B movie humor and horror) with a special tie-in to his novel. After the show there’ll be a wine and cheese Halloween party with copies of Blood Ending available for sale.”
Patricia Dobler Poetry Award: Open to Women Aged 40+ Who Haven’t Published a Full-Length Book (October 31st Deadline)!’
“Open to women writers aged 40 and over who are United States citizens or permanent residents, currently living in the United States, who have not published a full-length book of poetry (chapbooks and self-published poetry books of any length excluded).”
Q&A: Shannon Takaoka, author of The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne (set in Pittsburgh)!
“[Takaoka] grounds readers in Gracie’s 1987 world, from an immersive midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show to Orange Juliuses at the local mall, landline phones, and Aqua Net. . . . A warmhearted story that will resonate with anyone who has ever dreamed of reinventing themselves.” —Kirkus Reviews
Don’t miss out: Shannon Takaoka will be visiting her home town of Pittsburgh on November 5th to discuss her new novel (set in the ‘burgh) at Riverstone Books (Squirrel Hill) with Littsburgh’s Nick Courage!
This newsletter is sponsored by the Peters Township Library Foundation… who are bringing #1 NYT bestselling author V.E. Schwab to Pittsburgh on November 1st!
“Victoria “V.E.” Schwab is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books, including the acclaimed Shades of Magic series, the Villains series, the City of Ghosts series and the international bestseller The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. When not haunting Paris streets or trudging up English hillsides, she lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is usually tucked in the corner of a coffee shop, dreaming up monsters…”
Start Reading Heading North by Holly M. Wendt (Published by Pittsburgh’s Braddock Avenue Books)!
“A ‘tender hockey story’ might sound like a contradiction, but more precisely, it’s a rarity—and a gift. In Holly M. Wendt’s Heading North we follow one athlete whose life has been upended across a tragic, transformative season, but we also experience many moments of resiliency, generosity, and possibility within his web of teammates and supporters…” —Emily Nemens, author of The Cactus League
Q&A: Kosoko Jackson (author of The Forest Demands Its Due)!
“Strange magic, mad creatures and cruel curses abound in this eerie tale of becoming. This book calls to you sure as the dark forest calls to Douglas – and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll answer that call.” –Chuck Wendig, New York Times bestselling author of Aftermath
“Pittsburgh is such a cool artsy city! I love the art scene and the personal vibe I get from it. I’ve only been a few times and I hope to spend more time there but I love to walk the bridges when I need to think. I’d love to spend more time getting to know the writing scene and the creative scene here too when I come back!”
Featured Event: Travis Baldree (NYT Bestselling Author of Legends and Lattes)!
“Set in the world of New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books…”
Start Reading Call of Aetherterra by K. N. Corwin…
“K. N. Corwin has created a dark, beautiful, intriguing, complex, frightening world here.” —Mystique Roberts
K. N. Corwin lives in the mountains of the Laurel Highlands in southwestern Pennsylvania, with her intended and a little fur abyss named Wizard. When she isn’t in service to the crown, K. N. Corwin passes time convincing herself it’s time to write . . . drinking wine, and eating charcuterie.