write here in august 2025
Curiosity writing prompt, and over 65 bookish and writing events happening in the Greater Cincinnati literary community this month
Happy August, Cincy Writer Friend!
We’re in the thick of summer, a time that invites us to slow down and wander before the busyness of fall arrives. I hope you’re staying cool at the pool, reading stories that inspire you, and crafting words with joy.
In this issue, you’ll find over 65 writing and literary events around the city all happening this month. From workshops and readings, book swaps and sales, open mics and writing groups, you’re sure to find some way to beat the heat and connect with your words.
Wishing you an August of wonder, summer sunsets, and writing that makes you proud!
As writers, sometimes a little spark is all you need to create something new and unexpected. Whether you write a new piece or enhance your work in progress, and whether you’re writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or something in between, I hope this little prompt helps you connect with your words.
Sometimes the best stories (and characters, invented worlds, and real-life discoveries) come from our curiosities. So, what are you curious about? For your prompt this month, invite your curiosity on the page and explore where it takes you.
First, make a list of a few things that you’re curious about. These can range from the seemingly everyday, the practical, the scientific, the psychological, or the philosophical. Write down your wonderings, your questions, your musings. Spend at least 5-10 minutes brainstorming some curiosities.
Then, choose one to investigate. Let yourself fall down the rabbit hole of research and see what you uncover. What’s interesting to you here? What do you discover? What new questions arise? Where does that lead you next?
After your investigation, freewrite about what you learned a bit. This will help you organize your thoughts. Sift through them and let them settle. What connections are you making? What feels exciting or strange or worth returning to?
And then, finally, translate this curiosity and newfound knowledge into your words. If you’re writing fiction, you might write about a character who gets obsessed with this curiosity, or the possibilities this curiosity reveals might inform your worldbuilding and plot. If you’re writing creative nonfiction, you might write about your own journey of discovering this: what sparked your interest, what did you uncover, what does it mean to you? If you’re writing poetry, play with metaphor, imagery, and mood: what emotional resonance, deeper truth, or tension does this curiosity carry? Whatever form you choose, let curiosity lead the way.
If something interesting comes from this prompt, write into it with love. And please let me know! I’d love to hear about your words.
Community Book Swap at Bean & Barley
Saturday, August 2 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at Bean & Barley, 2005 1/2 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Cincy Book Swap is a community gathering for any and all readers who have books they would like to swap with other readers to find their new favorite book. Bring 2-3 books to swap with others. Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, History, whatever your genre, bring it and find others while getting to know fellow bibliophiles and supporting a local business.
Bean & Barley was conceived as a neighborhood gathering spot serving O’Bryonville. Our space is warm, inviting, spacious, and comfortable, with two levels of indoor seating, a rooftop patio, a side patio, and an outdoor beer garden. Bean & Barley seeks to celebrate the craftsmanship of local coffee roasters, brewers, bakers, and artists. Spend the day with us, bring your dog, your kids, your friends, and your family. Do good, be well, and have fun!
Local Author Spotlight at Joseph-Beth Booksellers
Saturday, August 2 at 1:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208.
Join us for a special signing with local authors! See below for the local authors being featured at this event:
* Ellen Austin-Li
* Cobie LaJeanne
* Christie Motz
* Kristina Orlea
Meet Nico Lang, Author of American Teenager
Saturday, August 2 at 3:00 pm at Transform, 6839 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45236.
NAMI Southwest Ohio invites you to a special afternoon at Transform on Saturday, August 2, from 3–5 PM with award-winning LGBTQ+ journalist and author Nico Lang. We'll have snacks and a special chance to meet the author, ask questions, and have your book signed.
Nico Lang is the author of American Teenager: How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era—a vivid and moving portrait of eight trans and nonbinary teens growing up in today’s America, navigating their identities with courage, resilience, and joy. As an acclaimed LGBTQ+ reporter and editor, Nico’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue, NPR, The Guardian, VICE, Esquire, HuffPost, and many more. Their powerful storytelling and advocacy have earned them national recognition for elevating the voices of marginalized communities.
Now, as part of their Midwest book tour, Nico is making a special stop in Cincinnati to connect directly with our community. By highlighting the voices of trans youth and their experiences, this event will help reduce stigma, foster empathy, and provide families with the resources they need to support their loved ones. Nico Lang's unique storytelling offers an impactful way to connect with our community and strengthen NAMI Southwest Ohio's mission of education, support, and advocacy.
Don’t miss this opportunity to:
Hear Nico Lang speak about "American Teenager"
Ask questions in a live Q&A
Get your book signed by the author themself
Books will be available for purchase at the event — buying directly is a great way to support Nico and their work!
Join us at Transform for conversation, connection, and inspiration. We can’t wait to see you there!
Registration/ticket is not required, but recommended to save your spot!
Parking: We have access to the lot next door, behind our building, and no charge street parking for several blocks
Accessibility: Ramp entrance available in the rear of building from Transform’s parking lot.
Snacks: Water, sparkling water, chips, fruit, and veggies.
August Reading Party at Northwood Cider Co.
Sunday, August 3 from 1:30 to 4:00 pm at Northwood Cider Co., 2075 Mills Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45212.
Read a little, gab a little, and stick around for our Book Swap at 4 PM! 📚✨ Come for the pages, stay for the stories (and maybe leave with a new favorite!).
In this digital age, we understand the value of reading time, and we're delighted to provide a cozy space for our book-loving community.
Bring a book, read an hour, and chat with new book friends over a drink about what you just read. Enjoy curated soft music in the reserved reading area. The RSVP is free and will help us prepare appropriate space.
1:30p: Arrive early to settle into your seat, grab a drink or chat
2-3p: Reading time
3-4p: Mingle and chat (or keep reading)
Summer Book Swap at Northwood Cider Co.
Sunday, August 3 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Northwood Cider Co., 2075 Mills Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45212.
You asked, and we’re bringing it back! Join us on Sunday, August 3, for an afternoon of book swapping, right after our monthly reading party.🌸 Let’s celebrate summer with good reads, great company, and refreshing drinks. Spread the word and tag your fellow book lovers! ❤️ #BookSwap
Special guest: Friends of the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County, who will be sharing information about their organization and collect any remaining books after the swap.
Book categories:
📕Mystery
📗Romance
📘Science Fiction
📙Fantasy
📓Non-fiction (biography, history, self-help, etc.)
📒Poetry & Drama
📓General Fiction (new this time)
📔Little Kids Books for 0-4yo
📔Big Kids Books for 5yo+
Sip, swap, and celebrate the joy of reading!
Dayton Poetry Slam Open Mic
First and Third Sunday at 7:00 pm at Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E 4th St, Dayton, Ohio 45402.
One of Ohio’s longest-running poetry series at 24 years strong, the Dayton Poetry Slam offers open mic nights, feature poets and musicians, as well as the chance to compete for a little spending money. Come out, show out, and explore the Dayton art scene!
Writing in Community
Monday, August 4 and 21 at 12:00 pm at the Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St #1100 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
Seeking to start or build a consistent writing practice? Join us.
Each gathering begins with a brief prompt to stir creativity, followed by shared quiet time for individual projects. Whether you identify as a writer (any genre) or are simply dabbling, all are welcome.
Drop in and bring whatever writing tools fit your fancy, and turn solitary writing into creative companionship. No registration required.
Contact hillary@mercantilelibrary.com for questions.
Learn & Create - Gratitude Journal
Monday, August 4 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, 2994 Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45239. Registration required.
Join us as we learn about the benefits of gratitude, share what we’re grateful for (if you’d like), and craft Gratitude Journals.
All Materials Will Be Provided
Registration Required
Book and Author Trivia Fun!
Monday, August 4 at 6:00 pm at the Clermont County Public Library, Williamsburg Branch, Williamsburg Meeting Room, 594 W Main Street, Williamsburg, Ohio.
Test your knowledge of all things books and authors. There will be questions throughout the history of the printed word and all genres are in play. Celebrate your book worminess with other book lovers!
The Stories, Science, and History of Birds with Smithsonian Biologist Jay Falk
Tuesday, August 5 at 2:00 pm virtually through the Campbell County Public Library.
Delve into the fascinating world of birds through astonishing photography and clear explanations in this absorbing global guide, The Bird Book: The Stories, Science, and History of Birds.
Birds are dinosaurs with a history going back millions of years. Our fascination with them runs deep in history, and our close association is reflected in creation stories, myths, legends, songs, and children's stories.
This book and presentation explore:
Both the natural history of birds and that deep cultural connection. From their evolution and anatomy to their behavior and diversity.
Hawks, finches, swans, or birds of paradise, moving the focus away from a predictable species-by-species account and allowing for truly global coverage.
The bold nature of European Robins and why they are associated with Christmas; the mythical Phoenix, which rises from the ashes; and learn about eagles, from their hunting prowess to their myriads of stories and symbolism.
Packed with information, beautiful photography, and illustrations, The Bird Book is a must-have for nature enthusiasts. Register today to learn more about your very own backyard friends!
About the Author: Dr. Jay Jinsing Falk is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the University of Colorado. He is an evolutionary biologist and behavioral ecologist fascinated by the diversity that can be found within species, especially in sexual traits. During his PhD, he began studying White-necked Jacobin hummingbirds as a STRI Short-Term Fellow, and later as a Smithsonian Predoctoral Fellow. His findings, that some females of this species look like males while others do not, has become the cornerstone of his research program. He is inspired by the dizzying array of feather coloration that can be found in hummingbirds. After completing his PhD at Cornell University, he moved to the University of Washington to study hummingbird movement and metabolism. Now at the University of Colorado, he is investigating the genetics and development of feather coloration. Jay currently lives in Gamboa, Panamá, where he studies the hummingbirds that visit the feeders at his house on the edge of the forest.
*Note: While the book will be discussed, please be aware the presenter may explore other topics in the related fields suiting their additional expertise. Presenters can be expected to be experts in the field; however, for the Smithsonian and Library Speakers Consortium Collaboration they may not always be the author of the book being highlighted.
Quills & Queers Writers Group
Every Tuesday at 6:00 pm at Roebling Books & Coffee, Newport Location, 601 Overton Street, Newport, Kentucky 41071.
Come share your words or listen to local authors share theirs!
Writers Group at the Clermont County Public Library
First Tuesday of each month: Tuesday, August 5 at 6:00 pm at the Clermont County Public Library, Batavia Branch, Batavia Meeting Room, 180 S Third Street, Batavia, Ohio.
Hosted the first Tuesday of every month. Share your writing endeavors, generate ideas, hone your craft, and network with fellow writers.
Silent Book Club with the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Downtown Main Library
Tuesday, August 5 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Downtown Main Library, 1 South 4C Suite, 800 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
Welcome to the Silent Book Club, a cozy place where all you need is a book to read. Any book, any format, any chapter. No discussions, no suffering that book, no worries about not having enough copies for everyone, no pressure to speak; just the enthralling act of reading. One hour of silent reading time, then a half an hour to get to know your fellow bookworms if you feel like staying.
Writers' Group at the Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger Branch
Tuesday, August 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger Branch, Kentucky Conference Room, 401 Kenton Lands, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018.
Share your work and give feedback in this group for writers of all genres! New members always welcome!
Poetry Night at Sitwell’s with Alissa Sammarco & Manny Grimaldi
Tuesday, August 5 at 7:00 pm at Sitwell’s Coffee Shop, 324 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220.
Come on in for our featured poets on August 5th, Alissa Sammarco and Manny Grimaldi! As always, bring a poem to share in the open mic!
Tales to Tails with Ella
Tuesday, August 5 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, North Central Branch, 11109 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45231.
Practice your reading skills in a calm, relaxed environment by reading a story to our furry friend Ella, a certified therapy dog.
No registration required. Children of all reading levels welcome.
Illustrator Talk: Alisha Monnin’s Dreams Take Flight: The Story of Deaf Pilot Nellie Zabel Willhite at The Bookmatters
Wednesday, August 6 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at The Bookmatters Bookstore, 6 Main Street, Milford, Ohio 45150.
Join us on Tuesday, August 6th from 6–7pm for an inspiring illustrator talk with Alisha Monnin, as she shares Dreams Take Flight: The Story of Deaf Pilot Nellie Zabel Willhite.
Peregrine Haiku Society with The Mercantile Library
Thursday, August 7 at 12:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required.
This haiku workshop – named for the peregrine falcons that live in downtown Cincinnati and nest at The Mercantile Library – is open to all aspiring poets.
The workshop begins with a review and discussion of an anthology of classic haiku, revealing that day’s theme. The last part of the session is spent writing haiku prompted by the theme of the day.
Led by Patti Niehoff, who has spent four decades writing, studying, and working on haiku.
Forget 5-7-5, this group is for anyone interested in focusing on those tiny moments of illumination, honing their craft, or just curious about the art form.
Free and open to the public. The in-person session includes lunch. To register or for more information, email Kara Willis.
Kids Writing Workshop: Telling True Stories
Thursday, August 7 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Madeira Branch, 7200 Miami Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45243.
Explore writing with local author Mary Kay Carson. Designed for kids 6-12.
Registration begins July 17.
Marjan Kamali discussing and signing The Lion Women of Tehran
Thursday, August 7 at 7:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208.
Join us for Marjan Kamali discussing and signing The Lion Women of Tehran. Please RSVP to attend the event.
“This beautiful book takes you on an emotional journey, following a profound friendship during the Iranian revolution. The plot is rich and the characters are captivating. Your heart will break in the best way.”
— Sarah Dupriest, Rainy Day Books, Fairway, KS
An “evocative read and a powerful portrait of friendship, feminism, and political activism” (People) set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran—from nationally bestselling author Marjan Kamali.
In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie lives in grand comfort until the untimely death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Lonely and bearing the brunt of her mother’s endless grievances, Ellie dreams for a friend to alleviate her isolation.
Luckily, on the first day of school, she meets Homa, a kind girl with a brave and irrepressible spirit. Together, the two girls play games, learn to cook in the stone kitchen of Homa’s warm home, wander through the colorful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, and share their ambitions of becoming “lion women.”
But their happiness is disrupted when Ellie and her mother are afforded the opportunity to return to their previous bourgeois life. Now a popular student at the best girls’ high school in Iran, Ellie’s memories of Homa begin to fade. Years later, however, her sudden reappearance in Ellie’s privileged world alters the course of both of their lives.
Together, the two young women come of age and pursue their own goals for meaningful futures. But as the political turmoil in Iran builds to a breaking point, one earth-shattering betrayal will have enormous consequences.
“Reminiscent of The Kite Runner and My Brilliant Friend, The Lion Women of Tehran is a mesmerizing tale” (BookPage) of love and courage, and a sweeping exploration of how profoundly we are shaped by those we meet when we are young.
Marjan Kamali, born in Turkey to Iranian parents, spent her childhood in Kenya, Germany, Turkey, Iran, and the United States. She holds degrees from UC Berkeley, Columbia University, and New York University. She is the 2022 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Award. She is the author of The Lion Women of Tehran, The Stationery Shop, and Together Tea. Marjan lives with her husband in the Boston area. They have two children.
Silent Book Club with the Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger Branch
Thursday, August 7 from 7:30 to 8:30 pm at the Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger Branch, Mark Twain Room, 401 Kenton Lands, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018.
Looking for some dedicated time to read, but don't want to be told WHAT to read? Try out this Silent Book Club! You bring what you're reading, whether it's for another book club or the door stopper you've been working through for months, and you read for an hour. There will be snacks and drinks. We will meet in the Reading Garden. In case of rain, we will meet instead in the Twain meeting room. Registration not required but if you sign up, you'll get a reminder prior to the event!
Bring the Noise Poetry Slam by Def Poets Society
Thursday, August 7 from 8:00 to 11:00 pm at Gallery Off Vine, 6819 Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45216.
Whether you're a poet ready to shake the mic or a fan there to cheer your favorite wordsmith to victory, this slam is louder, bolder, and realer than the rest. Audience reaction (measured by a decibel meter!) determines who takes home the crown — so come loud, come proud, and bring the noise.
🎙 Open to all poets
🎟 All vibes welcome
🏆 Winner takes the spotlight
Doors open at 8PM | Open Mic starts at 9PM | Mini-Slam Starts at 10pm
The End of Childhood: An Evening with Wayne Miller
Friday, August 8 at 6:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut Street #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required.
"These poems achieve the beautiful, uncanny fusing that Miller defines as poetry itself.”—Rick Barot, author of Moving the Bones
A tender and provocative collection of poems interrogating the troubles and wonders of both childhood and parenthood against the backdrop of global violence.
From accomplished poet Wayne Miller comes a collection examining how an individual’s story both hews to and defies larger socio-political narratives and the sweep of history. A cubist making World War I camouflage, a forlorn panel on the ethics of violence in literature, an obsessive litany of “late capitalist” activities, a military drone pilot driving home after work—here, the awkward, the sweet, and the disturbing often merge. And underlying it all is Miller’s own domestic life with two children, who highlight the hopeful and ingenious aspects of childhood, which is “not // as I had thought / the thicket of light back at the entrance // but the wind still blowing / invisibly toward me / through it.”
The End of Childhood, Miller’s sixth collection of poems, is his most intimate, juxtaposing his own fraught youth with that of his children amid insurrection and pandemic, vacation and vocation, art and war. This piercing book spares nothing as it searches for a measure of personal benevolence and truth in today’s turbulent, brutalizing world—which it confronts through a singularly candid and lyrical voice.
6 pm reception/6:30 pm program
Free & open to the public.
Registration required.
Copies of The End of Childhood will be available for sale & signing courtesy of Joseph-Beth Cincinnati.
About Wayne Miller: Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wayne Miller is the author of six poetry collections, most recently The End of Childhood (Milkweed, 2025) and We the Jury (2021). His awards include fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, as well as the UNT Rilke Prize, two Colorado Book Awards, two Pushcart Prizes, the George Bogin Award, the Lucille Medwick Award, the Lyric Poetry Award, and a Fulbright Distinguished Scholarship to the Seamus Heaney Centre in Northern Ireland. He has co-translated two books by the Albanian writer Moikom Zeqo—most recently Zodiac (Zephyr, 2015), shortlisted for the PEN Center USA Award in Translation—and he has co-edited three books, most recently Literary Publishing in the Twenty-First Century (Milkweed, 2016). He teaches at the University of Colorado Denver, co-directs the Unsung Masters Book Series, and edits the literary journal Copper Nickel.
MoPoetry Phillips Presents: Hit The Mic Cincy's Open Mic
Friday, August 8 from 8:00 to 11:00 pm at Oasis at Grace, 5501 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224.
Hit The Mic Cincy is right back at it after a VERY eventful July!! Join us and our host Nanci Mays as we kick off another fulfilling Open Mic on Friday, August 8th 2025 @8pm to 11pm located at Oasis at Grace in College Hill , 5501 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45224. (Enter through red door on Belmont Ave) . Advance tickets $5 via cash app $moneecaphillips, PayPal 1mopoetry@gmail.com, or Venmo @moneeca-phillips, or pay $10 at the door. For more upcoming dates, visit our website https://www.hitthemiccincy.com. Don’t meet us there, BEAT US THERE!!
Purrfect Tales: Kids Read to Cats
Saturday August 9 at 9:00 and 10:00 am at The League for Animal Welfare, 4193 Taylor Road, Batavia, Ohio 45103. Registration required.
Brush up on your reading skills by teaming up with a cat friend who loves to hear stories. Participants ages 5-14 will be given a 30-minute session to visit and read to an adoptable cat. We will have books available to read and check out. If you don’t have a library card, you can sign up for one at the event. All kids must be accompanied by an adult during the session. There will be a 15-minute registration and orientation period before spending time with the cats.
Be advised that cats are not hypoallergenic and may cause a reaction in those with allergies. Register as a parent/child pair. Please only register for one session per parent/child pair.
Bookstore Romance Day
Saturday, August 9 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm at The Bookmatters Bookstore, 6 Main Street, Milford, Ohio 45150.
Whether you're into swoony rom-coms, epic romantasy quests, or steamy dark romance, we’ve stocked the shelves with love stories for every kind of reader. Come browse, flirt with a new favorite author, and fall hard—for a book (or three). One day only, all romance, all heart.
Chuck Sambuchino sharing and signing Goodnight, Pickleball
Saturday, August 9 at 10:30 am at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208.
Join us for Chuck Sambuchino sharing and signing Goodnight, Pickleball. OPTIONAL RSVP is not required to join the event.
A young girl helps cheer on her dad's pickleball team while learning all about America's fastest growing sport in this delightful bedtime picture book for picklers of all ages!
Grab your paddles, balls, and a bunch of friends--it's time to play pickleball! Goodnight, Pickleball celebrates this trending sport, capturing the excitement of the game through the eyes of a young girl who is cheering on her dad's team on the pickleball court. After the game, the girl says goodnight to all the picklers and the gear before getting tucked into bed with a brand new surprise treat. The book will include a glossary of pickleball terms for any beginning enthusiast! This is a great introduction to pickleball for the younger generation and a wonderful read aloud especially at bedtime for adults who want to share their love of this sport with children in their life.
Chuck Sambuchino is the author of 20+ books, including the Guide to Literary Agents (250,000 copies sold of all editions), and the humor book How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack (Ten Speed Press), which sold 100,000+ copies and was optioned by Sony Pictures. He is a professional editor and the founder of Writing Day Workshops, which plans writers’ conferences all over the country as well as online. Chuck is involved in the Ohio pickleball scene. He lives in Cincinnati with his 10-year-old daughter, who got her first pickleball paddle last year.
Illustrator Story Time with Alisha Monnin
Saturday, August 9 from 10:30 to 11:00 am at The Bookery, 3704 Eastern Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.
Meet local illustrator Alisha Monnin on Saturday, August 9th at 10:30 am as she presents an interactive drawing session for children of all ages! This is a free event at the bookshop.
Alisha Monnin is the illustrator of the new picture book Dreams Take Flight, a biography of Nellie Zabel Willhite. Willhite was the first female pilot in South Dakota and the first deaf pilot in the nation.
Alisha Monnin was born and raised in rural Ohio in a small village where distance is measured by cornfields. Growing up, she was a voracious reader and daydreamed about going on magical adventures. As an adult, she still does! She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and now resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with her Manx cat named Beignet.
We are excited to welcome Alisha Monnin to the Bookery for this fun children’s event!
Poet Laureate Office Hours with Richard Hague
Saturday, August 9 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut Street #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required.
Second Saturday of each month, 12 noon-2pm. We will begin each session with One Poem At A Time, a close reading of a classic, noting matters of form, figures of speech, diction, and other features relevant to both readers and writers of poetry. Then a poetry-writing prompt and discussion, followed by thirty to forty minutes of drafting. Each session will end with a voluntary read-around of drafts, with general pointers for revision. Richard will also entertain questions about any aspect of the poetry game: submitting, publishing, networking, reading, performing. Occasionally, participants can take the opportunity to recite from memory a poem of their choice for the general delight of the group, if they so desire.
Author Appearance: Jan Brandenburg
Saturday, August 9 at 1:00 pm at Roebling Books & Coffee, Newport Location, 601 Overton Street, Newport, Kentucky 41071.
Come join us and Jan Brandenburg for conversation and book signing!
Back to School Book Sale with the Clermont County Public Library
Monday August 11 through Saturday, August 16 at various times (see below) at the Clermont County Public Library, Union Township Branch, Union Township Small Meeting Room, 4450 Glen Este-Withamsville Road, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Come to the Union Township Branch for our back-to-school book sale! Pick up gently used and pre-loved books for the back-to-school season.
Monday, August 11 from 10:00AM - 7:45PM
Tuesday, August 12 from 12:00PM - 7:45PM
Wednesday, August 13 from 10:00AM - 5:45PM
Thursday, August 14 from 10:00AM - 5:45PM
Friday, August 15 from 9:00AM - 4:45PM
Saturday, August 16 from 9:00AM - 4:45PM
Kristy Cambron discussing and signing The French Kitchen
Monday, August 11 at 7:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208.
Join us for Kristy Cambron discussing and signing The French Kitchen. OPTIONAL RSVP is not required to join the event.
"In The French Kitchen, award-winning author Kristy Cambron weaves multiple characters and storylines into a tapestry of secrets, betrayals, and redemption. Full of mouthwatering culinary scenes and peppered with several appearances from famed chef Julia Child, who worked in intelligence during World War II, this story of spies and lovers zips between the coast of northern France during the war and Paris in the early 1950s . . . Delicious!" --Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau
As Paris rebuilds in the aftermath of World War II, Kat Fontaine never expected the skills she learned in a French chateau kitchen to be the key that unlocks the secrets swirling in her new post-war life.
Paris, 1952--Still haunted by the years she spent serving in the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII, ex-pat Kat Fontaine, now living in Paris, finds a simple cookery class led by indomitable chef Julia Child unearths the tangle of gut-wrenching memories of war. Determined to find her brother who went missing during the war and is presumed dead, Kat questions everything, especially her high-ranking society husband whose past is as murky as her own. But when the puzzle pieces start to come together--and her carefully crafted Paris world begins to fall apart--Kat must confront her own secrets against the mounting suspicions of the husband she thought she knew . . .
Rue, 1943--Deep in the heart of Nazi-controlled northern France, Manon Altier shifts between working for the enemy by day--as a French chef at the famous Chateau du Broutel, where names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels frequent the guest list--and running with underground networks against the Vichy regime at night. Working undercover to filter critical information to agents within the burgeoning OSS presence in France, Manon digs deep into the glitz and glamour of a Nazi stronghold that has her teetering on the edge of being discovered at any turn. But when an intriguing stranger appears at the chateau claiming to work with the French Resistance, Manon must lean on her instincts to judge whether to run and hide or stand firm--even as a terrifying discovery tests her resolve to continue the fight.
From the heights of culinary cuisine in 1950s Paris society to the underbelly of a WWII spy network embedded deep within Nazi-controlled Vichy France--and the spy backstory of the world's most famous would-be French chef, Julia Child--The French Kitchen turns up the heat on the pasts of women whose worlds collide, and forces each to question what she thought she'd planned for a perfect future.
Silent Book Club
Second Monday of each month (August 11) from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Silent Book Club is a global community of readers and introverts, with more than 500 chapters in 50 countries around the world. SBC members gather in public at bars, cafes, bookstores, libraries, and online to read together in quiet camaraderie.
Tales to Tails with Nanny
Tuesday, August 12 from 5:00 to 5:45 pm at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Harrison Branch, 10398 New Haven Road, Harrison, Ohio 45030.
Drop- in to read a story to our furry friend, Nanny, a certified therapy dog. Nanny is a super sweet dog who loves listening to stories that you can either bring with you or pick off the shelf to share with her.
For youth of all reading levels.
No registration required.
Silent Book Club with the Book Bus Depot and Moonflower Coffee Collective
Tuesday, August 12 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Moonflower Coffee Collective, 10936 Reading Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45241.
Join us for an evening of quiet reading and cozy vibes at our Silent Book Club! There’s no assigned book, no pressure to discuss—just you, your book, and fellow book lovers enjoying the peace.
The Book Bus Depot will be open for purchases, and Moonflower Coffee Collective will have their full drink and treat menu.
The Art of Release: An Art Therapy Experience
Wednesday, August 13 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at Righteous Room, 641 Walnut St, Cincinnati, OH 45202. RSVP required.
🎨 The Art of Release: An Immersive Art Therapy Experience🧠 Presented by Nichefire
Step away from the noise and into a space designed to help you reconnect—with yourself and with others. The Art of Release is an immersive art therapy experience curated by Nichefire, blending creativity, mindfulness, and emotional wellness.
Through expressive outlets like painting, journaling, music therapy, poetry, and fragrance blending, participants are invited to explore healing through the five senses in a safe, guided environment. No artistic skill is required—just a willingness to let go and lean in.
🖐🏽 Engage All 5 Senses
🎨 Visual Art Stations – guided painting, collaborative canvas, mandala making
🎶 Sound Healing & Music Therapy – ambient music, guided breathing, live vocals
🍇 Edible Art Tastings – small bites designed for mood elevation
🕯️ Fragrance Lab – create a grounding scent to take home
✍🏽 Spoken Word & Journaling Prompts – emotional reflection & poetic release
Whether you're managing stress, seeking clarity, or simply craving creative time, this one-of-a-kind experience offers a therapeutic space to slow down and express without judgment.
💡 Presented by Nichefire — where insight meets intention.
Mindful Poetry Moments 2025 Book Launch
Thursday, August 14 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at The Well, 2454 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206 or virtually. Registration required.
Mark your calendars for the launch of Mindful Poetry Moments 2025, the sixth edition of our annual anthology of poetry featuring poetry written from around the world during National Poetry Month.
Join us–in-person or virtually–as we celebrate the highly anticipated launch of Mindful Poetry Moments, featuring live readings from newly published poets from around the world and of all ages.
For virtual attendees, the Zoom link will be sent to your email after registering.
For any questions, concerns, or technical difficulties, please reach out to patrick@thewell.world.
Archer Sullivan discussing and signing The Witch's Orchard
Thursday, August 14 at 7:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208.
Please join us for Archer Sullivan discussing and signing The Witch’s Orchard. OPTIONAL RSVP is not necessary to attend the event.
A ninth generation Appalachian herself, Archer Sullivan brings the mountains of North Carolina to life in The Witch’s Orchard, a wonderfully atmospheric novel that introduces private investigator Annie Gore.
Former Air Force Special Investigator Annie Gore joined the military right after high school to escape the fraught homelife of her childhood. Now, she’s getting by as a private investigator and her latest case takes her to an Appalachian holler not unlike the one where she grew up.
Ten years ago, three little girls went missing from their tiny mountain town. While one was returned, the others were never seen again. After all this time without answers, the brother of one of the girls wants to hire an outsider, and he wants Annie. While she may not be from his town, she gets mountain towns. Mountain people. Driving back into the hills for a case this old—it might be a fool’s errand. But Annie needs to put money in the bank and she can’t turn down a case. Not even one that dredges up her own painful past.
In the shadow of the Blue Ridge, Annie begins to track the truth, navigating a decade’s worth of secrets, folklore of witches and crows, and a whole town that prefers to forget. But while the case may have been buried, echoes of the past linger. And Annie’s arrival stirs someone into action.
ARCHER SULLIVAN is a ninth generation Appalachian. She's moved thirty-seven times and has lived everywhere from Monticello, Kentucky to Manhattan, New York and from Black Mountain, North Carolina to Beverly Hills, California. Her work has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Tough, Shotgun Honey, Reckon Review, Rock and a Hard Place, and The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2024.
Writing Workshop — Writing Action and Setting with Clarity and Impact
Thursday, August 14 from 7:10 to 8:40 pm at Tome Books and Novelteas, 6089 Salem Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45230.
Great scenes live in the details, but not too many. In this workshop, writers Ian Sykes, Sarah Wilson Gregory, and J.M. Clark will help you strike the perfect balance between vivid scene setting and clear, concise action.
We’ll begin with a writing prompt, then explore techniques for writing movement that flows smoothly and settings that feel alive on the page. Learn how to anchor your reader without slowing the pace, craft tension without confusion, and bring your world and characters to life through purposeful, well-placed detail.
Perfect for writers of all genres looking to sharpen their scenes and tighten their prose. All experience levels welcome.
Tales to Tails with Winston
Thursday, August 14 and 28 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Green Township Branch, 6525 Bridgetown Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45248.
Read a story to our furry friend Winston, a certified therapy dog!
For children of All Ages, no registration required.
Children's Author Meet and Greet with Don Tassone and Jane Rytel
Saturday, August 16 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at The Bookmatters Bookstore, 6 Main Street, Milford, Ohio 45150.
Bring the kids for a special Meet and Greet with children's authors Don Tassone and Jane Rytel on Saturday, August 16th from 12–2pm! They'll be signing and sharing Clara’s Big Discovery—a heartwarming story about curiosity, courage, and the magic of learning something new.
Tales to Tails with Poppy
Saturday, August 16 from 2:00 to 2:45 pm at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Walnut Hills Branch, 2533 Kemper Lane, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206.
Drop-in to read a story to our furry friend, Poppy, a certified therapy dog. Poppy is a super sweet Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who loves listening to stories that you can either bring with you or pick off the shelf to share with her.
For youth of all reading levels.
K P March Book Release Event
Saturday, August 16 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm at The Bookery, 3704 Eastern Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.
We are excited to welcome local romance author K P March back to the Bookery for the release of her newest book, The Gem! Join us on Saturday, August 16th at 2 pm for her book signing.
We fell in love with her regency romance debut, The Mistress. The Gem takes place in the same world, following Genevieve Edwards and Oliver Sinclair.
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Genevieve Edwards never expected to see Oliver Sinclair again. When he finally returns after seven years, they both find themselves straddling the lines between hatred, passion, love, and scandal in a new London Season.
Genevieve does not trust people easily. Growing up in a cruel home, her only solace had been the strangely kind little boy who decided to be her friend. But when that boy grew up and left to travel the world, the heartbreak of his abandonment stayed with her. Now, he’s returned on the eve of her first Season, and she finds herself full of bitter resentment...and something far more unexpected for the handsome and charming man Oliver has become.
Oliver returns to England unaware of the animosity his childhood friend now feels for him. The broken little girl he’d befriended, cared for, and spent years building trust with is now a grown, spitfire of a woman he’s not sure he can stand. Except her beauty and fierceness cause his blood to stir in more than just anger. Which is why, against his better judgement, he follows Genevieve to London to join the Season.
But when their history and intense attraction put Genevieve and Oliver in a compromising position, can they let go of their hurts and doubts long enough to find their way back to one another?
To Coney, With Love
Saturday, August 16 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Clermont County Public Library, Amelia Branch, Amelia Meeting Room, 58 Maple Street, Amelia, Ohio.
Rob Lowe, author of To Coney, With Love, will be sharing the moments and memories that went into the making of his book.
Young Writers Society
Monday, August 18 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Kenton County Public Library, Covington Branch, 502 Scott Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky 41011.
A social network for teens to share their creative works and learn new writing skills, techniques, and habits!
Refreshments will be provided! Registration is encouraged, but not required!
Best for teens ages 13-18!
Make sure to bring your preferred writing medium (laptop, tablet, notebook and pencil, etc.) and any creative works you may want to share!
Jennae Cecelia discussing and signing Deep in My Feels
Monday, August 18 at 7:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208.
Join us as we host Jennae Cecelia, the poet who inspired millions with her poem, “I Met My Younger Self for Coffee,” to discuss her newest book, Deep In My Feels. OPTIONAL RSVP is not necessary to attend the event.
When vulnerability is hard, Deep in My Feels is the perfect poetry collection to remind you that sharing your feelings is not only okay, but necessary.
Through the evocative verses of her fourteenth book of poetry, Jennae Cecelia invites readers to explore the rich tapestry of love, loss, and hope that defines the human condition as she walks with you on a journey of self-discovery and emotional liberation. Deeply vulnerable and innately honest, each poem in Deep in My Feels is a poignant reflection of life's ever-evolving roller coaster of experiences—from moments of triumph and heartache, and all the peaks and valleys in between.
Jennae Cecelia is a best-selling author and poet known for her poem, “I Met My Younger Self for Coffee.” Since 2016, Jennae has self-published 13 books – the most popular being, The Sun Will Rise and So Will We and Healing for No One But Me. She is now signed with Andrews McMeel. Her first traditionally published book, Deep In My Feels is the perfect poetry collection to remind you that sharing your feelings is not only okay, but necessary. Jennae lives a life of simplicity. Her latest interests are thrifting – anything vintage, people-watching, and hosting themed dinner parties!
Write Now! Memoir Group
Tuesday, August 19 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the Clermont County Public Library, Union Township Branch, Union Township Small Meeting Room, 4450 Glen Este-Withamsville Road, Cincinnati, Ohio.
This beginning writers' group provides encouragement and support to help you write your own memoir. We will read examples and practice writing prompts in a safe and welcoming space.
Office Hours: Writer-in-Residence
Tuesday, August 19 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Price Hill Branch, 970 Purcell Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45205.
Join Mary Kay Carson, the Library's 2025 Writer-in-Residence, for an office hours session. Bring questions about how to best put your ideas on the page or how to address that challenge you've encountered in your current project. Mary Kay's expertise is in children's nonfiction writing, and she welcomes writers of all genres.
Crossing Borders, Expanding Boundaries: An Evening with Dan Hurley
Tuesday, August 19 at 6:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut Street #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required.
Through 720 letters home, Irwin Hurley created a remarkable record documenting the personal impact of service in the World War II U.S. Army. He commented on military campaigns but, more importantly, reflected on the way military service challenged him to mature as a person.
Irv grew up in a middle-class Catholic family in a Northern Kentucky suburb of Cincinnati. After graduating from college and law school, he secured a job and married before being drafted in September 1942. The army challenged him in many ways to expand his horizons, especially after being assigned as a lieutenant to the 3659th Quartermaster Truck Company.
Composed of 130 African Americans from the deep South led by a Jewish Captain, this was the first time Irv came face-to-face with the crushing legacy of American segregation and racism. It culminated in a brutal murder of a uniformed enlisted African American who dared to sit in the “wrong” seat on a city bus.
Once in Europe, Irv became very aware of the way the French and Germans puzzled over the way multiracial and multiethnic American units fought effectively together. On two occasions, he commented on the irony that surrendering Nazi troops found themselves guarded by “American colored boys” in a unit commanded by a Jewish captain.
At the end of fighting in May 1945, the 3659th helped liberate the Dachau Concentration Camp, forcing Irwin to confront the horrors of the Holocaust.
6 pm reception/6:30 pm program
Free & open to the public.
Registration required.
Copies of Crossing Borders, Expanding Boundaries will be available for sale & signing courtesy of Joseph-Beth Cincinnati.
About Dan Hurley: Dan Hurley founded Applied History Associates, a public history consulting firm, in 1985. Dan contracts with museums and corporations to produce research reports, books, exhibits and video documentaries. He is best known locally as a producer and on-air reporter for Local 12 News (CBS affiliate) for 36 years. He worked as a columnist for the Cincinnati Post and Cincy Magazine from 2005 to 2020. He also served as the original project manager from 1994 to 1997 for what became the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Since retiring as director of Leadership Cincinnati in 2016, Dan has stepped in as the interim President of the Freedom Center and as host of Cincinnati Edition on 91.7 WVXU (NPR affiliate).
Virtual Author Talk: Casey McQuiston - Returning to Romance Through Food and Flirty Fun in Fiction
Wednesday, August 20 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm virtually through the Campbell County Public Library. Registration required.
Bring an appetite for sizzling drama as we discuss New York Times bestselling author Casey McQuiston’s latest romantic comedy, The Pairing.
When two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour, they challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they’re over each other—except they’re definitely not.
Theo and Kit have been a lot of things: childhood best friends, crushes, in love and now estranged exes. After a brutal breakup on the transatlantic flight to their dream European food and wine tour, they exited each other’s lives once and for all.
Time apart has done them good. Theo has found confidence as a hustling bartender by night and an aspiring sommelier by day, with a long roster of casual lovers. Kit, who never returned to America, graduated as the reigning sex god of his pastry school class and now bakes at one of the finest restaurants in Paris. Sure, nothing really compares to what they had, and life stretches out long and lonely ahead of them, but it’s in the past.
All that remains is the unused voucher for the European tour that never happened: it’s good for 48 months after its original date and about to expire. Four years later, it seems like a great idea to finally take the trip. Solo. Separately.
It’s not until they board the tour bus that they discover they’ve both accidentally had the exact same idea. Now, they’re trapped with each other for three weeks of stunning views, luscious flavors and the most romantic cities of France, Spain and Italy. It’s fine. There’s nothing left between them. So much nothing that, when Theo suggests a friendly wager to see who can sleep with their hot Italian tour guide first, Kit is totally game. And why stop there? Why not a full-on European hookup competition?
But, sometimes, a taste of everything only makes you crave what you can’t have.
Register now to join our discussion about Casey McQuiston’s spiciest book yet!
About the Author: Casey McQuiston is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of romantic comedies, including One Last Stop, Red, White & Royal Blue, I Kissed Shara Wheeler and The Pairing. Red, White & Royal Blue was adapted into a movie in 2023 and released on Amazon Prime. Casey was recently named on the 2022 Time100 Next List. Their writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Bon Appetit. Born and raised in southern Louisiana, Casey now lives in New York City with a poodle mix named Pepper.
On the Menu: Author Panel
Wednesday, August 20 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at the Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger Branch, Bronte Room, 401 Kenton Lands, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018.
In anticipation of our local author event and book fair on Saturday, hear from local authors about their journeys as writers.
The panel of authors will include
Morgan Coleman, author and illustrator of children's book "This Cat is Fat and I'm Fine with That"
Christen Randall, author of YA novel "The No-Girlfriend Rule"
Sarah Williams-Bryant, author of poetry collection "Currently Healing"
Snappy Tomato pizza will be provided to those registered.
Peace Keepers Wide Open Mic
Thursday, August 21 at 6:00 pm at Roebling Books & Coffee, Newport Location, 601 Overton Street, Newport, Kentucky 41071.
All genres welcome—poetry, fiction, non-fiction, songs, visual art, and more! Come share or just come vibe.
WordPlay Thursday's Open Mic Night
Thursday, August 21 from 8:00 to 11:00 pm at Gallery Off Vine, 6819 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45216.
DEF POET'S SOCIETY MONTLY OPEN MIC AT SOMERSET
8-9PM NETWORKING AND OPEN MIC SIGN UP
9PM OPEN MIC STARTS
10PM FEATURE POET PERFORMANCE
1030PM-UNTIL FINISH OPEN MIC
11PM-UNTIL CLOSE MUSIC X VIBES
Local Author Book Fair – A Book Fair… Grown-Up Style!
Saturday, August 23 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger Branch, 401 Kenton Lands, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018.
Step into a book lover’s dream at our school-style (Local) Author Book Fair! Meet talented local authors, browse books for all ages, and discover your next favorite read. Shop, chat, and enjoy the nostalgic charm of a classic book fair—library edition. Perfect for readers, writers, and curious minds of all ages!
10:15-11am: Open Mic Social
Come early for fresh coffee and donuts, while authors briefly share their books and writings in a relaxed, supportive setting with patrons and other authors
11-2pm: Book Sales
Come shop among a variety of local authors, bookshops, and used books from our Friends of the Library.
11-2pm: Drop In Book Craft
11-1pm: Book Fair Swag Shop
Each attendee will get five tickets to "shop" the fun Book Fair Swag table filled with fun writing utensils, stickers, bookmarks, and more
11-1pm: Poster Print
Racecars, kittens, ufos, oh my!! Drop in the STREAM Center to print a fun library-loving poster. Posters do cost money per foot printed.
11am: Book Storytime
A storytime about books! Best for ages birth to 6 years old.
12-12:45pm: Book Bingo
Bingo but with books! All bingo winners will receive a book prize. Best for ages 5 and up.
1-2pm: Book Trivia
Test your knowledge of books in this exciting round of trivia featuring categories below and more. Any age is welcome, but most questions will feature adult books.
One-Star book reviews (guess the book based on the review)
Author category
Classics
Books referencing other books
Classics in kid lit
Writing Your Memoir: Getting Started
Saturday, August 23 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger Branch, 401 Kenton Lands, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018.
Join Dr. Jessica C. Hindman, Kentucky Writer & Creative Writing Professor at Northern Kentucky University, for a generative creative writing workshop. We will examine a few brief excerpts of memoir writing and complete writing exercises to help participants start to get their memories down on the page.
Arts Equity Collective Presents: SOS Empowerment Arts & Healing Book Signing & Reading
Saturday, August 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Walls of Wellness, 4307 Whetsel Ave, Cincinnati OH 45227.
Admission FREE. Donations Encouraged. Book cost $18 .Refreshments served. Contact MoPoetry 513-344-0870 for details.
Boozy Book Fair with Roebling and New Riff
Sunday, August 24 at 1:00 pm at New Riff Distilling, 24 Distillery Way, Newport, Kentucky 41073.
Come shop our bestsellers and grab a drink at New Riff.
Kathleen Smythe and Chris Hanlin discussing and signing Bicycling Through Paradise - Historical Tours Around Cincinnati
Monday, August 25 at 7:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208.
Join us for Kathleen Smythe and Chris Hanlin discussing and signing Bicycling Through Paradise – Historical Tours Around Cincinnati. OPTIONAL RSVP is not required to attend the event.
A revised edition of the award-winning book of historically themed cycling tours in and around Cincinnati, Ohio.
Bicycling Through Paradise: Historical Rides Around Cincinnati includes nineteen historically themed cyclist tours for all abilities centered around Cincinnati, Ohio. Written by two longtime cyclists—one a professor of history and one an architect—this book dives into the details of local landscape and history encountered along the route. Rides combine familiar destinations like Lunken Airport, Eden Park, and Loveland Castle with lesser-known sites like Underground Railroad stations, ruined stone canal locks, and a nineteenth-century socialist commune, all located in and around the greater Cincinnati area. Stops along the way include public parks, covered bridges, and one-room schoolhouses.
The book includes a QR code to link readers to a companion Community Page where cyclists will find downloadable turn-by-turn directions and wayfinding photos, plus a place for cyclists to share their feedback, making this book an interactive experience.
Kathleen Smythe is an avid cyclist and a professor of history at Xavier University.
Chris Hanlin is an architect, amateur historian, photographer, and longtime cyclist.
Kim Shearer and Chas! Pangburn discussing and signing Double Booking 2: When and Where Wolf?
Tuesday, August 25 at 7:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208.
Join us for Kim Shearer and Chas! Pangburn discussing and signing Double Booking 2 – Where and Where Wolf? RSVP is OPTIONAL, and not required to attend the event.
Put the FULL story into perspective with TWO interconnecting sibling tales written by actual siblings! The middle-grade graphic novel series continues with more adventure, humor, teachable moments, and bone-chilling fun!
SPOOKY ADVENTURES AHOY!
While on a cruise trip with their father, two siblings, Otto and Nan, learn of a furry menace wreaking havoc for passengers: a real-life werewolf! The resulting "weredunit" adventure has them questioning family, fellow travelers, and even themselves as they battle the ocean's waves and the full moon. Canine capers are nothing to bark at...especially for two growing kids!
See both perspectives in this flip graphic novel, written by real-life siblings Chas! Pangburn and Kim Shearer. TWO stories, TWO unique perspectives, and TWO different art styles--all in ONE book! However, in order to get the full tail/tale, readers have to read BOTH sides of the story. Humor, action, the supernatural, emotional beats, and educational components—it's an adventure for all!
Kim Shearer has been a public educator since 2003, serving students as an English teacher and librarian. She was named the 2012 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. She resides in Kentucky with her husband, her two daughters, and her two rescue dogs, Elmer and Gordie.
Be it as a writer, editor, and/or letterer, Chas! Pangburn puts words in balloons for a variety of publishers across the industry. He’s been fortunate to have known Kim Shearer, his co-writer and big sister, since birth, so the highs and lows of sibling life are second nature to him. Which, speaking of, their mom says it’s now his turn to play on the Nintendo.
SOLD OUT - The Science & Nature Lecture: Ada Limón
Wednesday, August 27 at 6:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut Street #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required. Waitlist available.
SOLD OUT - Please email michael@mercantilelibrary.com to be added to the waitlist.
24th Poet Laureate of The United States and National Bestseller Ada Limón delivers the 2025 Science & Nature Lecture.
Published in association with the Library of Congress and edited by the twenty-fourth Poet Laureate of the United States, a singular collection of poems reflecting on our relationship to the natural world by fifty of our most celebrated contemporary writers.
In recent years, our poetic landscape has evolved in profound and exciting ways. So has our planet. Edited and introduced by the twenty-fourth Poet Laureate of the United States, Ada Limón, this book challenges what we think we know about "nature poetry," illuminating the myriad ways our landscapes-both literal and literary-are changing.
You Are Here features fifty previously unpublished poems from some of the nation's most accomplished poets, including Joy Harjo, Diane Seuss, Rigoberto González, Jericho Brown, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Paul Tran, and more. Each poem engages with its author's local landscape-be it the breathtaking variety of flora in a national park, or a lone tree flowering persistently by a bus stop-offering an intimate model of how we relate to the world around us and a beautifully diverse range of voices from across the United States.
Joyful and provocative, wondrous and urgent, this singular collection of poems offers a lyrical reimagining of what "nature" and "poetry" are today, inviting readers to experience both anew.
6 pm reception/6:30 pm program
Free to members/$25 nonmembers
Registration required.
Copies of You Are Here will be available for sale & signing courtesy of Joseph-Beth Cincinnati.
Please pre-order the book here - https://www.josephbeth.com/event/mercantile-library-event-%E2%80%93-science-nature-ada-limon
Ada Limón is the author of six books of poetry, including The Carrying, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry. Her most recent book of poetry, The Hurting Kind, was shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize. She is the 24th Poet Laureate of The United States, the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, and a TIME magazine woman of the year. As the Poet Laureate, her signature project is called You Are Here and focuses on how poetry can help connect us to the natural world. Her first books for children include In Praise of Mystery and And, Too, The Fox.
Sable Sorensen discussing and signing Dire Bound
Wednesday, August 27 at 7:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208.
Join us for Sable Sorensen discussing and signing Dire Bound. OPTIONAL RSVP but not required to attend the event.
Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games in this spicy, page-turning romantasy where humans and direwolves forge unbreakable bonds and fight for survival at all costs. Featuring exclusive bonus content!
Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them.
Meryn Cooper has always hated the Bonded, elite warriors who form mental links with the massive, vicious direwolves they ride. While they live in luxury, Meryn struggles to keep her family out of poverty. When her little sister, Saela, is kidnapped—stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting—Meryn’s world falls apart.
Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army and is thrown into the deadly Bonding Trials, where any mistake will cost her life.
Now Meryn must survive four months of training at the castle. She is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her cold and beautiful instructor, Stark Therion, is eager to punish any weakness.
Everything is a competition, and everyone is out to get her—everyone except the dangerously handsome crown prince, whose attention adds another target to her back. In the castle, every smile hides a knife…and the halls hide dark secrets.
It’s bond or bleed. Duel or die. Failure is ruin.
Don’t miss the brand-new bonus chapter from Stark Therion’s perspective!
Dire Bound contains mature content including depictions of graphic violence, and is therefore recommended for readers 17+. For a full list of tropes and TWs, please visit the author's website.
Sable Sorensen is the pen name for Eliza Phillips and Annie Paige-Stone, two fantasy fangirls who grew up on a steady diet of wizards, magical creatures, and sweeping love stories.
Friends of the Library Book Sale, Campbell County Public Library, Newport Branch
Thursday, August 28 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Campbell County Public Library, Newport Branch, 901 E 6th St, Newport, Kentucky 41071.
The Friends of the Library hosts a book sale from 9 am – 12 pm on the fourth Thursday of the month from January through October. The book sale is in the Friends Room on the lower level of the Newport Branch.
Come browse the great selection of books and take advantage of incredible prices!
Virtual Author Talk: Organizational Psychologist Dr. Tash Eurich - 'How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos'
Thursday, August 28 at 2:00 pm virtually through the Campbell County Public Library.
Learn how to master the daily grind and become shatterproof in a tumultuous world with key insights by Dr. Tasha Eurich as she talks about her newest book, Shatterproof: How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos (And Why Resilience Alone Isn’t Enough).
Are you working too much but feel like it’s never enough? Have you turned the act of pretending you’re “fine” into an art form? Does self-care feel like one more item on your already long to-do list?
We’ve been taught that resilience is the secret to navigating life’s most difficult moments. However, according to New York Times bestselling author, organizational psychologist and researcher, Dr. Tasha Eurich, there is one problem with this assumption. Scientifically, resilience isn’t an unlimited resource, especially with the growing pressure and uncertainty we’re experiencing today.
Whether you’re grappling with work stress, personal challenges or the chaos of everyday life, Shatterproof offers an urgent alternative to stoic endurance as the only strategy for survival. Combining cutting-edge research, practical tools and insights from her own struggle with a life-defining health crisis, Dr. Eurich will overturn your beliefs about what it takes to thrive through adversity. She will offer a scientifically supported system to help you feel better, do better and live better than before. You’ll discover how to:
Reclaim your best self when stress turns you into someone you barely recognize.
Uncover the unmet needs that keep you stuck in self-limiting patterns.
Turn stress into strength, exhaustion into energy and confusion into confidence.
Find peace in the present, be prepared for what the future holds and much more!
This timely discussion with Dr. Eurich is sure to unlock powerful new ideas about how to show up as our best selves. Register now to be a part of the conversation!
About the Author: Dr. Tasha Eurich is an organizational psychologist, researcher and New York Times bestselling author on a mission to help people and organizations thrive in an ever-changing world. Recognized as the world’s leading self-awareness coach (Marshall Goldsmith Coaching Awards) and communication expert (Global Gurus), she’s spent over two decades teaching people practical strategies to supercharge their self-awareness, sanity and success. Her work has been featured in outlets like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, NPR, CNN, NBC and Fast Company, as well as peer-reviewed journals. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and rescuing dogs, and she is a proud, unapologetic musical theater nerd.
Worldbuilding Lessons for Any Genre
Thursday, August 28 from 7:10 to 8:40 pm at Tome Books and Novelteas, 6089 Salem Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45230.
Every story takes place in a world, whether it is a quiet neighborhood, a sprawling fantasy realm, or something in between. In this workshop, writers Noah Hoffman, Sarah Wilson Gregory, and J.M. Clark will share strategies for building immersive, believable worlds that support your characters and strengthen your story.
We’ll begin with a writing prompt to get the creative energy moving, then explore how to weave worldbuilding into your narrative without slowing the pace. Learn how to develop setting, culture, history, and atmosphere in ways that enhance tension, theme, and plot across all genres.
Whether you are crafting epic adventures or grounded dramas, this session will give you tools to deepen your story’s world and make it feel real. All experience levels are welcome.
Poetic Vogue at The Greenwich
Friday, August 29 at 8:00 pm at The Greenwich, 2442 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45206. Tickets required.
Step into the rhythm of Poetic Vogue — an unforgettable night of spoken word, soul, and unapologetic expression at The Greenwich on Every Final Friday
Hosted by the dynamic Fresh The Poet, this electrifying showcase features the powerful voices of Artistic Genius and Blakk Sun, two of the most compelling poets in the region. Their verses move like jazz, bold yet tender, cutting deep and healing all at once.
Set in the legendary atmosphere of The Greenwich, where art, history, and Black excellence intersect, Poetic Vogue invites you to experience poetry that walks the runway of truth — fierce, vibrant, and raw.
Come for the bars, stay for the vibe.
Doors open at 8:00 PM | Show begins at 9:00 PM
The Greenwich | 2442 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH
Tickets available at www.EightTwenty.co, in person with Fresh The Poet, or at the door. Early arrival strongly encouraged.
Are you ready to feel every word?
Danise DiStasi sharing and signing Louie’s Little Legs and the Magic of Kindness
Saturday, August 30 at 10:30 am at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208.
Join us for Danise DiStasi sharing and signing Louie’s Little Legs and the Magic of Kindness. OPTIONAL RSVP and is not required to attend the event.
Every purchase goes toward our mission to eradicate bullying.
Louie's Little Legs and The Magic of Kindness is a magical story about love and kindness, based on Louie, a rescue pup, whose little legs take him to fun places. While frolicking in the meadow, Louie runs into a cat he despises. His pal Stitchy helps Louie understand how to treat others with kindness and not to be mean.
Louie learns a magical secret to being kind, "There's always something unknown in other people's lives."
Writer's Club
Saturday, August 30 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Kenton County Public Library, Covington Branch, Conference Room 2, 502 Scott Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky 41011.
Come enjoy a community of writers! Learn how to world build and create characters within your own writing projects! Light refreshments will be provided.
Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome!
Make sure to bring your preferred writing medium (laptop, tablet, notebook and pencil, etc.)
Writer's Club is 18+
Community Book Swap at Higher Gravity Northside
Sunday, August 31 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Higher Gravity Northside, 4110 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223.
What's better on a hot summer August day than a ice cold beer and some new (to you) books? Nothing! Join us!
Cincy Book Swap is a community gathering for any and all readers who have books they would like to swap with other readers to find their new favorite book. Bring 2-3 books to swap with others. Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, History, whatever your genre, bring it and find others while getting to know fellow bibliophiles and supporting a local business.
Higher Gravity is a bar and bottle shop with 2 locations – Northside, and Summit Park in Blue Ash. Our bars generally offer over 400 beers and 150 wines, along with a full cocktail bar. The inventory is constantly rotating with new beers and breweries coming in every week. Every bottle or can of beer & wine that you see in our store can be enjoyed on-site at the bar, or taken to-go as a retail purchase.
This project is a labor of love, one that I truly believe is worthwhile. All of our writing grows when we share in community together and learn from each other. I hope you find this monthly newsletter useful to your practice and your creative writing journey. I hope you attend events that bring joy, inspiration, and commitment to your writing!
If you know of any upcoming events that I should feature, send them my way! Whether you’re hosting it or just know about it, I’d love to include any ways to further support and connect our community. You can email me and/or comment on this post any time!
And if you find this newsletter helpful, feel free to share it with a friend! We all grow when we support each other.
With love and cheer for your writing!
—Rachel