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Literary Events Calendar
Editor: Cathy Allen

click here for Ongoing Writing Classes and Groups

2010: March • April

MARCH 2010

3/4/2010 11:30 AM – 1 PM: “Legacy: folklore, legends and family stories” Workshop, presented by Sylvia Wright. Free and open to the public. At Fairfield Library, 1001 N Laburnum Ave, 804-652-3251. Details at http://www.thewrightscoop.com/.

3/4/2010 12 PM: Michael Kranish presents his book Flight from Monticello: Thomas Jefferson at War. Part of the Banner Lecture Series. Admission $5 Adults/$4 Seniors/$4 Children & Students/Free to VHS members. Free parking available. At The Virginia Historical Society, 428 N. Boulevard, 358-4901, http://www.vahistorical.org/news/lectures_banner.htm.

3/4/2010 7 – 10 PM: JRW members Stephanie Salmon Weis and Jennifer Salmon Melton launch Pink Sky at Night, a tribute to their father. Light fare and drinks provided. At Bank and Vault, 1005 E Main St.

3/4/2010 8 PM: Richmond Noir. Featuring editors Andrew Blossom, Tom De Haven & Brian Castleberry, with contributors X.C. Atkins, Clay McLeod Chapman, Dennis Danvers, David L. Robbins & Howard Owen.  At New York Deli, 2920 W Cary St.

3/5/2010 7 – 9 PM: “Richmond Writer’s Series.” Wayne Dementi and Brooks Smith discuss Songlines of Richmond. At Richmond Public Library, Main Branch, 101 E. Franklin St, 804-649-0083.

3/6/2010: 1 – 4 PM: Sylvia H. Wright signs A Path Worn Smooth, and Connie Lapallo signs Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky. In partnership with Simple Pleasures Books & Gifts. At Ashland Coffee & Tea, 100 N. Railroad Ave., Ashland, 804-798-1702.

3/6/2010: 3 – 5 PM: Langhorne Gibson, Jr. signs his memoir For the Love of Greenwood. At Book People, 536 Granite Avenue, 804-288-4346.

3/6/2010 5 PM & 8 PM: SlamRichmond’s Poetry Slam Workshop and Open Mike. At Artspace Gallery, 31 E 3rd St, 804-232-6464. For more details visit http://www.myspace.com/slamrichmond.

3/7/2010 3 – 5 PM: “Book Swap.” Meet, greet and talk books with fellow book lovers. At Book People, 536 Granite Avenue, 804-288-4346.

3/7/2010 4 PM: “Wine and Cheese Soiree,” with JRW Board member Emyl Jenkins (The Big Steal). Tickets $16 must be purchased by March 1. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Clover Hill Library. At Birkdale Country Club, 8511 Royal Birkdale Dr, Chesterfield, 804-739-8800. For program details and registration view Wine and Cheese Soiree.

3/8/2010 7 – 9 PM: The Richmond Playwright's Forum meets monthly at the Barksdale Theatre Willow Lawn conference room. Members share works and discuss playwriting. RPF is open to all interested persons, and welcomes your participation as voice actors or active listeners. For more information, contact Margie Langston at margie.langston@yahoo.com.

3/9/2010 12 – 1 PM: Martin Clagett discusses and signs Scientific Jefferson: Revealed. Free and open to the public. Limited free parking under the library. At The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St, 804-692-3500, http://www.lva.lib.va.us/.

3/10/2010 5:30 – 7:30 PM: “Writers Wednesday.” JRW hosts a casual meet and greet for writers of all genres every second Wednesday. NEW LOCATION: At Café Gutenberg, 1700 E. Main, 804-497-5000.

3/11/2010 9 AM – 5 PM: “The Craft of Writing: A Workshop with NYT best-selling author Steve Berry.” Contribute $150 for morning and afternoon workshop sessions; $170 contribution includes workshop and lunch. Add $20 for lunch at the author’s table. Call 804-692-3900 to learn more or reserve your spot. Limited free parking under the library. At The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St.

3/11/2010 6:30 PM: Deanna Raybourn (The Dead Travel Fast) signs her works. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 804-788-1594.

3/11/2010 8 PM: VCU Visiting Writers Series continues as poet Linda Bierds (Flights of the Harvest-Mare) shares her works. Sponsored by VCU English Department and MFA Program. Free and open to the public. At the VCU Harris Hall Auditorium, 1015 Floyd Ave. For more information call 804-828-1329.

3/12/2010 12 PM: Richmond Noir, with editors Andrew Blossom, Tom De Haven, and Brian Castleberry. At Barnes & Noble, VCU Bookstore, 1111 W. Broad St..

3/12/2010 5 – 7 PM: Richmond Noir Open House. Authors include X.C. Atkins, Mina Beverly, Laura Browder, Clay McLeod Chapman, Dennis Danvers, Dean King, Clint McCown, Howard Owen, Conrad Ashley Persons, Hermine Pinson, David L. Robbins, Pir Rothenberg, Meagan J. Saunders, & Anne Thomas Soffee. Editors include Andrew Blossom, Brian Castleberry, & Tom DeHaven. At Book People, 536 Granite Ave, 804-288-4346.

3/13/2010 10 AM – 12 PM: Virginia Romance Writers present “Scene CPR: The Sequel.” With special guest speaker Lauren Wittig. At Twin Hickory Library, 5001 Twin Hickory Rd, Glen Allen, 804-364-1400. For further details please visit http://www.virginiaromancewriters.com/.

3/13/2010 1 PM: Sean Heuvel signs copies of Remembering Virginia’s Confederates. At Barnes & Noble, Short Pump, 11640 W. Broad St, 804-360-0103.

3/13/2010 9:30 AM – 4PM: “Writers Workshop,” featuring JRW “favs” Lee Gimpel, Kris Spisak, Laura Browder, Helene Wagner; Linda Dini Jenkins, Kristen King, and Patty Smith. $30 nonrefundable fee includes box lunch. Registration required by March 5th at http://www.library.chesterfield.gov/screens/events.html. At Chesterfield Co Public Library, Central Branch, 9501 Lori Rd, 804-717-6381.

3/13/2010 5 PM & 8 PM: SlamRichmond’s Poetry Slam Workshop and Open Mike. At Artspace Gallery, 31 E 3rd St, 804-232-6464. For more details visit http://www.myspace.com/slamrichmond.

3/15/2010 5:30 – 6:30 PM: Rob Corcoran launches his book discusses and signs Trustbuilding: An Honest Conversation on Race, Reconciliation, and Responsibility. Reception follows presentation. At The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad Street, 804-692-3500.

3/16/2010 10:30 AM – 1 PM: The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) present “Get a Grip on Word Files,” by publishing expert Bevi Chagnon. Open to members, member guests, and prospective members. Feel free to bring laptop. For more details see http://www.the-efa.org/chp/?chp=virginia. At West End Public Library, 5420 Patterson Ave, 804-646-1877.

3/16/2010 6:30 – 7:30 PM: Architect Andrea Ponsi discusses and signs his book Florence: A Map of Perceptions. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 804-788-1594.

3/17 – 3/21/2010: The “Virginia Festival of the Book” celebrates its 16th year in Charlottesville. Author appearances, panels, and more. Most events are free. For more details or to purchase tickets for special functions visit http://www.vabook.org/index.html/.

3/17/2010 6 PM: “Poetic Principles,” with novelist Christine Schutt (All Souls). Co-sponsored by the New Virginia Review. Tickets $8 non-members/$5 members and students. At the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N Boulevard. To register visit http://www.vmfa.museum/poetic.html or call 804-340-1405.

3/18/2010 11:30 AM – 1 PM: “Legacy: folklore, legends and family stories” Workshop, presented by Sylvia Wright. Free and open to the public. At Tuckahoe Library, 1901 Starling Dr, 804-270-9578. Details at http://www.thewrightscoop.com/.

3/18/2010 6:30 – 7:30 PM: Howard Frank Mosher discusses and signs Walking to Gatlinburg. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 804-788-1594.

3/20/2010 9 AM – 2 PM: “Spring Book Drive,” benefiting the Friends of the RPL. Accepting gently used books, audio books, CDs, and DVDs. Drive-thru /Drop-off service. Volunteers will unload books and provide receipts for tax purposes. At Richmond Public Library, Main Branch, 101 E. Franklin St, 804-649-0083.

3/20/2010 2 – 3 PM: Julie Campbell presents The Horse in Virginia: An Illustrated History. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 804-788-1594.

3/20/2010 5 PM & 8 PM: SlamRichmond’s Poetry Slam Workshop and Open Mike. At Artspace Gallery, 31 E 3rd St, 804-232-6464. For more details visit http://www.myspace.com/slamrichmond.

3/21/2010 1 PM: Kate Hall signs Richmond Rocks! At Barnes & Noble, Short Pump, 11640 W. Broad St, 804-360-0103.

3/21/2010 2 – 5 PM: Richmond Christians Who Write meets on the third Sunday of every month. At Grove Avenue Baptist Church, 8701 Ridge Rd. For more information, contact Tom Lacy, 804-749-4050, revtcl@aol.com or Rebekah Robb, 804-527-0913, info@rebekahrobb.com.

3/22/2010 7 PM: “University of Richmond Writers Series,” with American prose writer David Shields (The Thing About Life Is That One Day You’ll Be Dead).  Free and open to the public. At U of R, Weinstein Hall, 804-289-8287, http://news.richmond.edu/english/2009/english-writers-series.html.

3/23/2010 6:30 PM: Alan DeNiro presents his book Total Oblivion, More or Less. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 804-788-1594.

3/24/2010 6:45 – 9 PM: The Virginia Screenwriters' Forum meets monthly (except July, August and December) at Art Works in downtown Richmond. VSF offers support and constructive feedback to screenwriters. Throughout the years, member scripts have been made into movies, a PBS documentary, and optioned by major production companies. Aspiring screenwriters are welcome. Website: http://www.virginiascreenwritersforum.org/. To attend email vsf@comcast.net.

3/25/2010 12 PM: Melvin Urofsky presents his book Louis Brandeis: An American Legal Giant.Part of the Banner Lecture Series. Admission $5 Adults/$4 Seniors/$4 Children & Students/Free to VHS members. Free parking available. At The Virginia Historical Society, 428 N. Boulevard, 358-4901, http://www.vahistorical.org/news/lectures_banner.htm.

3/25/2010 6 – 8 PM: Book Release Party, for JRW Board member Dean King’s latest Unbound: a True Story of War, Love, and Survival. Bookseller: Fountain Bookstore, 804-788-1594. At Page Bond Gallery, 1625 W. Main St.

3/25/2010 6:30 – 8:30 PM: JRW presents “The Writing Show: Stranger Than Fiction.” The art of first-person narrative, with nonfiction authors David Henry Sterry, Phyllis Theroux, and Candace Walsh. Moderated by Slash Coleman. Tickets $10 in advance/$12 at the door/$5 students with valid id. At Children’s Museum of Richmond, 2626 W Broad St, 804-474-7000, http://www.c-mor.org/. Visit http://www.jamesriverwriters.org & click The Writing Show link to register.

3/27/2010 10 AM – 4 PM: “Getting Published” class. Presented by Piper Nichole (The Everything Homebuying Book, 3rd Edition). Cost $70 VFMA members/$85 non members. At Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Studio School, 200 N. Boulevard, 804-340-1405. To register click here http://www.vmfa.museum/springclass2010.html.

3/27/2010 1 PM: Joe Wayne Brumett signs copies of North of Big Spring. At Barnes & Noble, Short Pump, 11640 W. Broad St, 804-360-0103.

3/27/2010 5 PM & 8 PM: SlamRichmond’s Poetry Slam Workshop and Open Mike. At Artspace Gallery, 31 E 3rd St, 804-232-6464. For more details visit http://www.myspace.com/slamrichmond.

3/30/2010 6:30 PM: Laura Bynum signs her novel Veracity. At Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E. Cary, 804-788-1594.

APRIL 2010

4/1/2010 DEADLINE for submissions to Virginia Romance Writers “Fool For Love” Contest. Please visit http://www.virginiaromancewriters.com/Contests/contest.html for guidelines.

4/1/2010 12 – 1 PM: JRW Board member Dean King presents his latest true adventure book Unbound: a True Story of War, Love, and Survival. Free and open to the public. Limited free parking under the library. At The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St, 804-692-3500, http://www.lva.lib.va.us/.

4/1/2010 7:30 – 9:30 AM: “Creativity Forum,” with Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future. Presented by The Visual Arts Center of Richmond and U of R Robins School of Business, in conjunction with other community partners. Cost $25. At U of R Modlin Center for the Arts. Advance registration suggested by calling 804-353-0094 or clicking http://visarts.org/special-events/creativity-forum-2010.

4/1/2010 12 PM: Eugene Trani presents his book Distorted Mirrors: Americans and Their Relations with Russia and China in the Twentieth Century. Part of the Banner Lecture Series. Admission $5 Adults/$4 Seniors/$4 Children & Students/Free to VHS members. Free parking available. At The Virginia Historical Society, 428 N. Boulevard, 358-4901, http://www.vahistorical.org/news/lectures_banner.htm.

4/1/2010 8 PM: VCU Visiting Writers Series, featuring author Fanny Howe (Gone). Sponsored by VCU English Department and MFA Program. Free and open to the public. At the VCU Student Commons, Richmond Salons III-IV, 907 Floyd Ave. For more information call 804-828-1329.

4/3/2010 5 PM & 8 PM: SlamRichmond’s Poetry Slam Workshop and Open Mike. At Artspace Gallery, 31 E 3rd St, 804-232-6464. For more details visit http://www.myspace.com/slamrichmond.

4/4/2010 3 – 5 PM: “Book Swap.” Meet, greet and talk books with fellow book lovers. At Book People, 536 Granite Avenue, 804-288-4346.

4/6/2010 6:30 PM: “An Evening with best-selling author Lee Smith (The Last Girls).” Preorder the book at Fountain Bookstore to reserve your seats. At Sam Miller’s Restaurant, 1210 Cary St.

4/9/2010 5 – 7 PM: Florence Moore Sthreshley signs her memoir See What God Can Do. At Book People, 536 Granite Ave, 804-288-4346.

4/10/2010 1 – 3 PM: T. S. Chin signs his book H.A.P.P.Y. L.I.F.E. At Book People, 536 Granite Ave, 804-288-4346.

4/10/2010 5 PM & 8 PM: SlamRichmond’s Poetry Slam Workshop and Open Mike. At Artspace Gallery, 31 E 3rd St, 804-232-6464. For more details visit http://www.myspace.com/slamrichmond.

4/11/2010 2 – 4 PM: “Shockoe Poets Open Mike Readings” (2nd and 4th Sundays) at art 6 Gallery, 6 E. Broad Street, 804-343-1406, http://www.art6.org/. Contact Shann Palmer for information (804-335-9403 or shannp@gmail.com).

4/12/2010 7 – 9 PM: The Richmond Playwright's Forum meets monthly at the Barksdale Theatre Willow Lawn conference room. Members share works and discuss playwriting. RPF is open to all interested persons, and welcomes your participation as voice actors or active listeners. For more information, contact Margie Langston at margie.langston@yahoo.com.

4/14/2010 5:30 – 7:30 PM: “Writers Wednesday.” JRW hosts a casual meet and greet for writers of all genres every second Wednesday. NEW LOCATION: At Café Gutenberg, 1700 E. Main, 804-497-5000.

4/14/2010 7 PM: “University of Richmond Writers Series” concludes for the season, with American poet Rae Armantrout (Next Life).  Free and open to the public. At U of R, Weinstein Hall, 804-289-8287, http://news.richmond.edu/english/2009/english-writers-series.html.

4/16/2010 5 – 7 PM: Preston M. Browning, Jr. signs his memoir Affection and Estrangement. At Book People, 536 Granite Ave, 804-288-4346.

4/16/2010 7 PM: Author Travis Bowman presents and signs his book about Peter Francisco Hercules of the Revolution. Tickets Adults $10/Children age 12 and under Free. At St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 110 North Union St, Petersburg, 804-733-2402.

4/17/2010 5 PM & 8 PM: SlamRichmond’s Poetry Slam Workshop and Open Mike. At Artspace Gallery, 31 E 3rd St, 804-232-6464. For more details visit http://www.myspace.com/slamrichmond.

4/18/2010 2 – 5 PM: Richmond Christians Who Write meets on the third Sunday of every month. At Grove Avenue Baptist Church, 8701 Ridge Rd. For more information, contact Tom Lacy, 804-749-4050, revtcl@aol.com or Rebekah Robb, 804-527-0913, info@rebekahrobb.com.

4/18/2010 3 – 5 PM: “Bend Your Ear.” Open mike poetry, every 3rd Sunday. At art6, 6 E. Broad Street, 804-343-1406, http://www.art6.org/.

4/19/2010 7 PM: VCU Visiting Writers Series, featuring Richmond Noir. Readings by contributors Mina Beverly, Pir Rothenberg, Anne Thomas Soffee, and Dennis Danvers. Sponsored by VCU English Department and MFA Program. Free and open to the public. At the VCU Student Commons, Richmond Salons IV, 907 Floyd Ave. For more information call 804-828-1329.

4/22/2010 12 PM: Jeremy Black presents his book War: A Short History. Part of the Banner Lecture Series. Admission $5 Adults/$4 Seniors/$4 Children & Students/Free to VHS members. Free parking available. At The Virginia Historical Society, 428 N. Boulevard, 358-4901, http://www.vahistorical.org/news/lectures_banner.htm.

4/23/2010 12 – 5 PM: “Big Book Sale.” Gently used books, CDs, DVDs, cassettes, LPs, and sheet music for sale. All proceeds benefit Friends of the Richmond Public Library. At Richmond Public Library, Main Branch, 101 E. Franklin St, 804-649-0083.

4/24/2010 10 AM – 4 PM: “Big Book Sale.” Gently used books, CDs, DVDs, cassettes, LPs, and sheet music for sale. All proceeds benefit Friends of the Richmond Public Library. At Richmond Public Library, Main Branch, 101 E. Franklin St, 804-649-0083.

4/24/2010 5 PM & 8 PM: SlamRichmond’s Poetry Slam Workshop and Open Mike. At Artspace Gallery, 31 E 3rd St, 804-232-6464. For more details visit http://www.myspace.com/slamrichmond.

4/25/2010 2 – 4 PM: “Shockoe Poets Open Mike Readings” (2nd and 4th Sundays) at art 6 Gallery, 6 E. Broad Street, 804-343-1406, http://www.art6.org/. Contact Shann Palmer for information (804-335-9403 or shannp@gmail.com).

4/28/2010 6:45 – 9 PM: The Virginia Screenwriters' Forum meets monthly (except July, August and December) at Art Works in downtown Richmond. VSF offers support and constructive feedback to screenwriters. Throughout the years, member scripts have been made into movies, a PBS documentary, and optioned by major production companies. Aspiring screenwriters are welcome. To attend email vsf@comcast.net.

Email calendar@jamesriverwriters.com with literary calendar listings. Please submit at least two weeks in advance.