Our Big November Issue + Voting Reminder!
This is a big one, so we’re gonna keep it short with a “happy fall, y’all” and a “get out the vote!” (today, Nov. 7th - polls in Allegheny County are open until 8 p.m.) and a “scroll down for more” . . . because we’ve been adding a bunch of new posts and events to the site!
Yours in books,
The Littsburgh Crew
P.S. If you weren’t able to make it to Shannon Takaoka’s event at Riverstone in Squirrel Hill, there are a limited number of signed copies at the store - we love this super-sweet book about writing your own destiny (set in Pittsburgh in the 80s)!
P.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 volunteer-run website!—and so far we’ve raised a little less than a third of what it costs to keep the site up and running for the year, 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!
Littsburgh on KDKA: Talk Pittsburgh Book Club - November Pick!
“Littsburgh’s co-founder Rachel Ekstrom Courage joined Heather Abraham on Talk Pittsburgh again this week alongside Clare Beams, author of The Illness Lesson!”
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 Riverstone Books, White Whale, and Penguin Bookshop!
City Books Writer-in-Residence Deadline: November 30th!
“The City Books Writer’s Residency offers flexible access to a comfortable, creative space within Pittsburgh’s oldest 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…”
Q&A: Sharon Fagan McDermott and M. C. Benner Dixon (Authors of Millions of Suns: On Writing and Life)
“Sharon McDermott and Christine Benner Dixon spent five-and-a-half years working out of the same tiny English Department office at Winchester Thurston Upper School. They laughed together, shared teaching materials, and celebrated when one of them published a new poem or made progress on a writing project. In 2020, after Christine had shifted to a career as a freelance editor, Sharon suggested that the two write a book together—a book about writing. But this was not to be a handbook or a how-to manual. It was going to be about the ways that the elements of writing touch a person’s relationships and memories, how it shapes the way they tell their own stories.
Millions of Suns: On Writing and Life, published as part of the Writers on Writing series from the University of Michigan Press, is the result of their collaboration. The book is divided into twelve chapters, each with a focus on a different element of writing, including Memory, Imagery, Metaphor, Place, Reading, Structure, Beauty and more. The chapters include two short essays—one by Sharon and one by Christine—and several writing prompts. The book can be read for pleasure or employed in a writing workshop or personal writing practice…”
Don’t miss out: Sharon Fagan McDermott and M. C. Benner Dixon will be in conversation with Emily Mohn-Slate at White Whale on November 16th at 7 p.m. to celebrate the launch of Millions of Suns!
Q&A: Jennifer Joy (author of the Pittsburgh-inspired 26 Ways to Come Home for the Holidays)
“A delightful, nostalgic throwback to the warmth that could be found on even the coldest days of the wartime holiday shopping season in downtown Pittsburgh. The story of Stella and Hector is at turns as lighthearted and heartwarming as their growing friendship. The surrounding cast of quirky and endearing personalities form a team that’s impossible not to root for as they work to give Pittsburgh the holiday traditions they love. [The author’s] scene-setting and dialogue will have readers feeling they’ve been transported to 1942 where they’re surrounded by laughter, love, and just a touch of good chaos.” — Virginia Montanez, author of Nothing. Everything.
“In this new edition of Sam Stephenson’s Dream Street a vital piece of Pittsburgh’s history, as captured by W. Eugene Smith’s photographs, is brought to light. Stephenson will be joined by New York Times bestselling poet and essayist Ross Gay for a conversation about the work and its meaning…”
Q&A: Amber James, author of I Blew Up My Life, and I’ve Never Been Happier!
“Amber James is a writer, speaker, and self-love advocate who uses her voice to help inspire women to believe in themselves and live life to the fullest. Her work has been featured in top media outlets such as Us Weekly, CNN, MTV, Huffington Post, and AOL. She currently resides in Pittsburgh with her pup, Penny Lane, and continues to share her message of hope and empowerment with the world through her wildly popular Instagram, @NotesToSelfShop…”
Q&A: Janet Goldberg (author of The Proprietor’s Song)
“There was a breakfast joint on Forbes that served the best buckwheat pancakes and endless coffee. Most mornings I’d down a stack, and that usually held me until dinner. I also drank a lot of beer at Hemingway’s. Backroom poetry readings were held there, and creative writing students and professors all shared pitchers while people read at the mic. Funny, I don’t like beer anymore; pancakes though still make me think fondly of my Pitt days…”
Q&A: Andrew Dolberg and Rob Long (authors of The Great Weather Diviner: The Untold Origin of Punxsutawney Phil)!
“Set off into the unknown with an intrepid groundhog and his friends in search for a way to save his community in The Great Weather Diviner: The Untold Origin of Punxsutawney Phil. Reimagining the story of Punxsutawney Phil, debut authors Andrew Dolberg and Rob Long create a thought-provoking and delightfully charming environmental story. Perfect for readers 9 and up, and ideal for Groundhog’s Day!”
Q&A: Shannon Takaoka, author of The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne (set in Pittsburgh)!
Start Reading Heading North by Holly M. Wendt (Published by Pittsburgh’s Braddock Avenue Books)!
Littsburgh on KDKA: Talk Pittsburgh Book Club - October Pick!
Start Reading They Write Your Name on a Grain of Rice by award-winning Pittsburgh author Lori Jakiela . . .
Q&A: Susan Helene Gottfried (Maybe the Bird Will Rise and West of Mars)!