write here in september 2025
New Things writing prompt, and nearly 75 bookish and writing events happening in the Greater Cincinnati literary community this month
Happy September, Cincy Writer Friend!
It’s a busy time of year! With school starting and the leaves starting to fall, it’s a season of starting new routines and getting back to some old, well-loved ones. I hope your writing and reading practices find some love in your schedule!
This month, you’ll find nearly 75 writing and literary events around the city. From workshops and readings, book swaps and sales, open mics and writing groups, you’re sure to find a way to make some time for your words in a way that works for you.
Wishing you a September of crisp leaves and words that make 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.
With the season of the school year upon us, I’m thinking about what it means to approach new things. In your writing this month, experiment with what it means to start something new. This might mean starting a new school year, for you or for a little one in your life. It also might mean something non-academic, like starting a new job, a new hobby, or a new habit. Lean into the complicated emotions that accompany starting something new: the excitement, the worry, the fear, the busyness, the needing to have just the right outfit or supplies. Follow those emotions through each piece of the new thing: the before, the during, and the after.
As usual, this can work for fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Make it work for you! 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.
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!
Goshen Library (Mini) Book Sale
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, September 2-4 at various times at the Clermont County Public Library, Goshen Branch, 6678 State Route 132, Goshen, Ohio 45122.
The Goshen Branch is excited to host an August book sale featuring a curated selection of gently used books, audiobooks, and movies. Proceeds from the sale support our library's programs and services. Mark your calendars for our biannual book sale in October.
Tuesday, September 2 from 12:00 to 7:00 pm
Wednesday, September 3 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Thursday, September 4 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
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, September 2 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, September 2 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, September 2 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 Jackie Ison Kalbli & Barbara Marie Minney
Tuesday, September 2 at 7:00 pm at Sitwell’s Coffee Shop, 324 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220.
See you in September at Sitwell's Coffee House when we welcome Jackie Ison Kalbli & Barbara Marie Minney to the mic! As always, we'll also have an open mic.
Tales to Tails with Ella
Tuesday, September 2 and 16 from 4:30 to 5:30 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.
Kids and Teens Silent Reading Club
Wednesday, September 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 2:15 to 3:30 PM at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Westwood Branch, 3345 Epworth Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211.
Read with a librarian and other kids after school. Candy is promised for every silent reader!
Virtual Author Talk with Hannah Nicole Maehrer: On Writing Darkly Charming Villainous Love
Wednesday, September 3 at 7:00 pm virtually with the Campbell County Public Library. Registration required.
Embrace your dark side (and your best evil laugh) and join us in conversation with Hannah Nicole Maehrer, creator of the New York Times bestselling Assistant to the Villain series.
Evie Sage didn’t mean to become the right-hand woman to the kingdom’s most terrifying villain. One minute, she was applying for an entry-level position that promised “light paperwork and occasional beheadings,” and the next, she was knee-deep in magical mayhem, murder plots, and an entirely inappropriate crush on her brooding, sharp-jawed, walking disaster of a boss.
Now, with a magical prophecy unraveling, assassins showing up in the break room, and a suspicious amount of frogs wearing crowns, Evie has to figure out how to survive her job without setting the kingdom on fire―or her dignity, which is hanging by a very sarcastic thread.
Being evil-adjacent was never part of the five-year plan. But then again…neither was falling for The Villain.
Full of humor and heart, this magical office comedy about a sunshine assistant and her grumpy evil boss is one you won’t want to miss out on. With the third book in the series, Accomplice to the Villain, out August 5, 2025, you need to register today to learn what tricks are up this author’s sleeve!
About the Author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer—or as TikTok Knows her, @hannahnicolemae—is a fantasy romance author and BookToker with a propensity for villains. When she’s not creating bookish comedy skits about Villains and Assistants, she’s writing to Taylor Swift songs. Her biggest passions in life include romance, magic, laughter, and finding ways to include them all in everything she creates. Most days you can find her with her head in the clouds and a pen in her hand.
Madeline Martin discussing and signing The Secret Book Society
Wednesday, September 3 at 7:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208. Book = ticket.
Join us for Madeline Martin discussing and signing The Secret Book Society. This event is book = ticket. Please purchase the book below to attend the event. Books will be available for pick up at the event.
A captivating new historical novel from Madeline Martin, set in Victorian London about a forbidden book club, dangerous secrets and the women who dare to break free.
You are cordially invited to the Secret Book Society...
London, 1885: Trapped by oppressive marriages and societal expectations, three women receive a mysterious invitation to an afternoon tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. Beneath the genteel facade of the gathering lies a secret book club--a sanctuary where they can discover freedom, sisterhood and the courage to rewrite their stories.
Eleanor Clarke, a devoted mother suffocating under the tyranny of her husband. Rose Wharton, a transplanted American dollar princess struggling to fit the mold of an aristocratic wife. Lavinia Cavendish, an artistic young woman haunted by a dangerous family secret. All are drawn to the enigmatic Lady Duxbury, a thrice-widowed countess whose husbands' untimely deaths have sparked whispers of murder.
As the women form deep, heartwarming friendships, they uncover secrets about their marriages, their pasts and the risks they face. Their courage is their only weapon in the oppressive world that has kept them silent, but when secrets are deadly, one misstep could cost them everything.
Tales to Tails with Eoin
Thursday, September 4, 11, and 18 from 10:30 to 11:30 am at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Maderia Branch, 7200 Miami Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45243.
Read a story to our furry friend Eoin, a certified therapy dog.
Children of all reading levels welcome, no registration required.
Peregrine Haiku Society with The Mercantile Library
Thursday, September 4 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.
Writing Your Legacy Workshop
Thursday, September 4 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm at the Clermont County Public Library, Williamsburg Branch, Williamsburg Meeting Room, 594 West Main Street, Williamsburg, Ohio 45176.
Learn about the personal memoir in its many forms and then get started with a writing exercise.
Silent Book Club with the Kenton County Public Library, Erlanger Branch
Thursday, September 4 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, September 4 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
Author Table with Jay VanLandinham
Saturday, September 6 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at The Bookmatters Bookstore, 6 Main Street, Milford, Ohio 45150.
Stop by on Saturday, September 6th from 12–2pm to meet author Jay VanLandingham at his author table! He’ll be signing Sentient, Sentient Rising, and Sentient Being—an action-packed sci-fi trilogy.
Local Author Spotlight at Joseph-Beth Booksellers
Saturday, September 6 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:
* John Bray
* Andy Grace
* Falia Koppe
* Kimberly Wilson
Celebration of Nikki Giovanni with Yalie Kamara, Crystal Wilkinson, and Frank X Walker for the launch of The New Book - Poems, Letters, Blurbs, and Things
Saturday, September 6 at 5:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Join us for a celebration of Nikki Giovanni with Yalie Kamara, Crystal Wilkinson, and Frank X Walker for the launch of The New Book – Poems, Letters, Blurbs, and Things. Optional RSVP, but not required to attend the event.
Nikki Giovanni’s extraordinary final collection—a landmark of American literature which speaks to the fury and upheaval of our time, as well as the triumphs and delights of her remarkable creative life.
For decades, Nikki Giovanni’s poetry has been at the forefront of American culture. The New Book is a towering work of protest against the divisions of our time, leavened with moments of joy and reflection about her indelible legacy, her family history, and the small pleasures of her richly lived life.
In The New Book, Nikki Giovanni slashes at the ridiculousness of our cultural and political climate: “We have no secrets/since the world shrunk/and the icebergs melted/and all the year books/are digitized./… and we press Like/or No Like/as if it mattered.”
She remembers 2020 and its cataclysmic reckoning with police brutality and white supremacy: “I do understand that republicans/Are cowards and so are those nazis/Cheering/And those kkk we now call police killing/Not to mention father and sons chasing unarmed Black men/and running their cars into crowds/Pretending they are brave or something/They are not only cowards/And nazis but evil fools/And who go to bed white/Wake up American/And hate themselves for having/To share this earth/They will not overcome/And we will not love them.”
But also in the same poem: “But what does 2020 mean to me/A chance to learn to open oysters/Talk to my friends/Catch up on my reading/Tell myself I am going to dust the house/Lie about it/...Enjoy my own company not to mention football/And remember there will be tomorrow/Because there will be/And evil will go and good will come/I am Black/We have seen much worse.”
With this collection, which includes brief letters and short prose from her life as well as poetry, Giovanni reaffirms her place as a giant of literature, a canny truth-teller, an indispensable radical orator, and one of America’s preeminent cultural critics. It is a book to be savored, and shared.
Nikki Giovanni (1943–2024), poet, activist, mother, grandmother, and educator, grew up in Tennessee and Ohio and graduated with honors from Fisk University in Nashville. The author of over thirty books, she was also the recipient of seven NAACP Image Awards, the Langston Hughes Medal for Outstanding Poetry, the Frost Medal, as well as thirty-one honorary degrees and an Emmy Award. She garnered her most unusual honor in 2007 when a South American bat species—Micronycteris giovanniae—was named in celebration of her. A devoted teacher and honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she spent thirty-five years as University Distinguished Professor of English at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Yalie Saweda Kamara is a Sierra Leonean-American writer, researcher, and educator from Oakland, Ca. She is the Cincinnati and Mercantile Library Poet Laureate Emerita and the 2025 Ohio Poet of the Year. Her debut poetry collection, Besaydoo (Milkweed Editions, 2024), was the winner of the 2022-2023 Jake Adam York Prize and the winner of the 2025 Ohio Book Award in Poetry. She received a PhD in Creative Writing and English Literature from the University of Cincinnati and an MFA in Creative Writing from Indiana University. An assistant professor of English at Xavier University, she teaches courses in global and diasporic literature, creative writing, and hip-hop studies.
Crystal Wilkinson, a recent fellowship recipient of the Academy of American Poets, is the award-winning author of Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts, a culinary memoir, Perfect Black, a collection of poems, and three works of fiction—The Birds of Opulence, Water Street and Blackberries, Blackberries. She was inducted into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame in 2025. Crystal is the recipient of an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Poetry, an O. Henry Prize, a USA Artists Fellowship, and an Ernest J. Gaines Prize for Literary Excellence. Named Kentucky’s Poet Laureate from 2021 to 2023, she has received recognition from the Yaddo Foundation, Hedgebrook, The Vermont Studio Center for the Arts, The Hermitage Foundation and others. Her short stories, poems and essays have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies including most recently in The Atlantic, The Kenyon Review, STORY, Agni Literary Journal, Emergence, Oxford American and Southern Cultures. She currently teaches at the University of Kentucky where she is Bush-Holbrook Professor in Creative Writing.
A native of Danville, Kentucky, Frank X Walker is the first African American writer to be named Kentucky Poet Laureate. Walker has published thirteen collections of poetry, including Turn Me Loose: The Unghosting of Medgar Evers, which was awarded the 2014 NAACP Image Award for Poetry and the Black Caucus American Library Association Honor Award for Poetry. He is also the author of Buffalo Dance: The Journey of York, winner of the 2004 Lillian Smith Book Award, and Isaac Murphy: I Dedicate This Ride, which he adapted for stage, earning him the Paul Green Foundation Playwrights Fellowship Award. Walker co- founded the Affrilachian Poets, subsequently publishing the much-celebrated eponymous collection. His honors also include a 2004 Lannan Literary Fellowship for Poetry, the 2008 and 2009 Denny C. Plattner Award for Outstanding Poetry in Appalachian Heritage, the 2013 West Virginia Humanities Council’s Appalachian Heritage Award, as well as fellowships and residences with Cave Canem, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Kentucky Arts Council. His most recent collection is Masked Man, Black: Pandemic & Protest Poems.
Author Signing Event with Lacie Evans at Joy and Matt's Books
Saturday, September 6 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at Joy & Matt’s Books, 915 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
We are honored to have author Lacie Evans in store for signing her new book Hot Cowgirl Sh*t : The Hilarious Adventures of Farmer Lacie and Her Adorable, Huggable Cows.
Lacie Evans is a cattle-woman, host of the podcast Feral Cow Bitch, and owner of Cowgirl Hustle. She resides with her herd in southern Ohio.
Enjoy an intimate look into the farm that has captured the hearts of millions of people on social media, and the crazy b*tch who keeps the whole thing together.
Farm Life Isn’t Always What You See on Social Media…
“The feral cow bitch” Lacie Evans is here with a collection of hilarious and heartwarming stories about life on her cattle farm that’s become a viral sensation. Pet parents of creatures great and small will understand the urge to grab your baby by the horns (literally) and just totally smother them in love.
In these laugh-out-loud stories, Lacie opens up about her farm and brings you on an up-close-and-personal tour to meet the one and only Snow, an all-white cow who is a QUEEN and knows it. You’ll also meet Oswald, the OG bottle baby who thinks Lacie is literally his mother; Rocco Flocco Flame, a horny bull who will do anything to get with some ladies; Snow and Rocco’s miracle baby Jade; and the rest of the ragtag cast of characters who have charmed the hearts of millions. Get ready to fall head over heels for the friendliest cows on the planet and their loveably chaotic handler.
This is a free entry event. Everybody is welcome. Stop by to say hello! Lacie would love to see you there!
Peripatetic Poets Cincinnati Open Mic at Muse Cafe
Saturday, September 6 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Muse Cafe, 3018 Harrison Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211.
Summer is coming to a close and I am so excited to be bringing
Peripatetic Poets Cincinnati back to @musecafecincy for the remainder of 2025.
There is a full line up of headliners for the rest of the year, so without further adieu: In September, Peripatetic Poets Cincinnati welcomes to the stage, the writer, Juan Pizzani @juanpizzani, the poet Alex Hayden, @alexhayden023, and Ana Maria Molina!
The Open Mic follows the features, so come on out and speak your truth!
Silent Book Club
Second Monday of each month (September 8) 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.
Exhales of the Exiled: A 3-Week Writing Journey By Harriet Beecher Stowe House
Tuesday, September 8, 16, and 23 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, 2950 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206. Registration required.
Join poet and storyteller Zeda Stew for a powerful 3-week writing workshop rooted in reflection, resilience, and release. Each session explores themes of identity, healing, and liberation through creative prompts, guided discussion, and poetic exercises designed to help participants "exhale" their truths. This space is open to writers of all levels. Whether you're seasoned or just getting started, come as you are—and leave with something sacred. Limited spots available | Ages 16+ | Journals provided NOTE: Registration includes all THREE WEEKS (Sept. 9, Sept. 16, Sept. 23). No partial registrations are available.
Plates & Pages Literary Wine Dinner at Five Kitchen & Bar
Tuesday, September 9 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm at Five Kitchen & Bar, 1324 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required.
This September, Crown Restaurant Group and Household Books invite you to the return of Plates & Pages, our one-of-a-kind literary wine dinners.
Join us Tuesday, September 9th at Five Kitchen & Bar, for a night of wine that speaks with its hands and dishes born from sun-scorched fields and saltwater air. Plates & Pages is back with a Spanish summer supper — where the stories are as rich as the sauce, and every bite feels like it’s been passed down through generations.
Crown's Chef & Owner, Anthony Sitek, alongside Five's Chef Luke Schoenbachler, has crafted an evening of bold Spanish flavors, while Household Books is bringing the literary fire. Picture communal tables piled with slow-roasted pork, peppers that blister and pop, and wine that doesn’t apologize for demanding a second glass. Each course will be paired with writers who understand appetite—stories of kitchens, countryside, and the unruly beauty of a well-shared meal.
The theme: “Heat and Harvest” — an ode to late-summer abundance and the fierce, familial joy of the Spanish table.
You don’t need to be a literary scholar. You don’t even need to pronounce Tempranillo correctly. You just need to come hungry—for food, for story, for connection. Because at Plates & Pages, food, wine, and books do more than make a meal—they make culture.
THE MENU
Course 1
Gambas Al Ajillo- Garlic, Crushed Tomato, Chili, Sourdough, Olive Oil
Wine: 2024 Garcia Viadero, Ribera del Duero Blanco
Course 2
Pulpo- Patatas Bravas, Chili, Celery, Saba, Pimentón Aioli
Wine: 2015 Gancedo “6 Mesos” Mencia, Bierzo
Course 3
Albondigas- Duck, Sofrito, Olive Oil, Petite Herb
Wine: 2019 Las Moradas de San Martín “Senda” Single Vineyard Garnacha, Madrid
Course 4
Lomo- Pork Tenderloin, Marcona Roasted Red Pepper Romesco, Fresh Grape Gremolata
Wine: 2020 Valduero “Dos Maderas” Ribera del Duero
Course 5
Orange Caramel Flan
Wine: 1954 De Muller, Dulce Anejo, Tarragona
Tales to Tails with Nanny
Tuesday, September 9 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.
SOLD OUT - The Modern Novel Lecture: Kaveh Akbar at The Mercantile Library
Tuesday, September 9 at 6:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut Street #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required.
SOLD OUT - Please email michael@mercantilelibrary.com to be added to the waitlist.
New York Times Bestseller & National Book Award Finalist Kaveh Akbar delivers the 2025 Modern Novel Lecture.
A newly sober, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, guided by the voices of artists, poets, and kings, embarks on a remarkable search for a family secret that leads him to a terminally ill painter living out her final days in the Brooklyn Museum. Electrifying, funny, and wholly original, Martyr! heralds the arrival of an essential new voice in contemporary fiction.
Cyrus Shams is a young man grappling with an inheritance of violence and loss: his mother’s plane was shot down over the skies of the Persian Gulf in a senseless accident; and his father’s life in America was circumscribed by his work killing chickens at a factory farm in the Midwest. Cyrus is a drunk, an addict, and a poet, whose obsession with martyrs leads him to examine the mysteries of his past—toward an uncle who rode through Iranian battlefields dressed as the angel of death to inspire and comfort the dying, and toward his mother, through a painting discovered in a Brooklyn art gallery that suggests she may not have been who or what she seemed.
Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr! is a paean to how we spend our lives seeking meaning—in faith, art, ourselves, others.
6 pm reception/6:30 pm program
Free to members/$25 nonmembers
Registration required.
Copies of Martyr! will be available for sale & signing courtesy of Downbound Books. You can also purchase any of Kaveh's books at downboundbooks.com/kaveh-akbar
KAVEH AKBAR’s poems appear in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Paris Review, The Best American Poetry, and elsewhere. He is the author of two poetry collections: Pilgrim Bell and Calling a Wolf a Wolf, in addition to a chapbook, Portrait of the Alcoholic. He is also the editor of The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse: 110 Poets on the Divine. He lives in Iowa City.
Rough Draft Collab Writer’s Club at the Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring Branch
Tuesday, September 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Campbell County Public Library, Cold Spring Branch, 3920 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, Kentucky 41076. Registration required.
Struggling with your work in progress? Wanting to connect with other area writers for advice? Join us at the new Cold Spring Writer’s Club led by local published author Cherie Dawn Haas. This club will meet bi-monthly so bring your current work, or just come to get inspiration! Registration required.
Silent Book Club with the Book Bus Depot and Moonflower Coffee Collective
Tuesday, September 9 from 6:30 to 8:00 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.
Jack Brennan discussing and signing Football Sissy
Tuesday, September 9 at 7:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Join us for Jack Brennan discussing and signing Football Sissy. OPTIONAL RSVP is not required to attend the event.
"Jack's sports reporting was always fair, honest, and straightforward. He tells his own story in the same exact way." --Cris Collinsworth, NBC Sunday Night Football
In Jack Brennan's decades-long career as a sports journalist, he covered teams like the MLB's Reds and the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals. As the public relations director for the Bengals, he wrangled sports stories, reporters, and players. At home, he played basketball with the neighborhood husbands and raised three kids with his wife, to whom he was devoted. At the same time, he had a passion that never left him: he liked dressing as a woman. Blonde silky hair, bright lips, and smooth legs escaping short skirts, topped off with heels as high as they go.
He kept his life as a crossdresser mostly private, so his public coming out via The Athletic in 2021--one of the first men in the NFL to come out as LGBTQ+--was a surprise to many. Football Sissy offers a no-holds-barred trip through his dual lives, from his earliest love affair with a puff-sleeve blouse at age three through to his first jaunts dressed in public to surprise visits to the hospital alongside a fulfilling family life and an exciting career.
Told with the characteristic humor and ease of Brennan's sports columns, Football Sissy is a heartwarming tale of acceptance and love, even within the most masculine of environments.
Jack Brennan worked forty-four years in sports. As a journalist for multiple papers in Cincinnati, including the Cincinnati Enquirer, he was beat writer for both a Reds World Series winner and a Bengals Super Bowl qualifier. As public relations director for the NFL Bengals, he and his staff won the 2006 Pete Rozelle Award, conferred by pro football journalists to the league's top PR staff. Brennan grew up in Dallas, where he played low-level high school football and held his own Cowboys season tickets. He is a 1973 graduate of the University of Texas and has been married fifty-one years to his wife, Valerie, with three adult children and two grandchildren.
Virtual Author Talk: Jefferson Fisher- Argue Less and Talk More
Wednesday, September 10 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm virtually through the Campbell County Public Library.
Join us (and be ready to take notes) for an afternoon virtual conversation with communication expert Jefferson Fisher, as we chat about his book, The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More.
No matter who you’re talking to, The Next Conversation gives you immediately actionable strategies and phrases that will forever change how you communicate. Jefferson Fisher, trial lawyer and one of the leading voices on real-world communication, offers a tried-and-true framework that will show you how to transform your life and your relationships by improving your next conversation.
Whether it’s handling a heated conversation, dealing with a difficult personality, or standing your ground with confidence, his down-to-earth teachings have helped countless people navigate life’s toughest situations. Now for the first time, in his book The Next Conversation, Fisher has distilled his three-part communication system (Say it with control, Say it with confidence, Say it to connect) that can easily be applied to any situation.
The Next Conversation gives you practical phrases that will lead to powerful results, from breaking down defensiveness in a hard talk with a family member to finding your own assertive voice at the boardroom conference table. Your every word matters, and by controlling how you communicate every day, you will create waves of positive impact that will resonate throughout your relationships to last a lifetime.
Everything you want to say, and how you want to say it, can be found in The Next Conversation, the definitive book on making your next conversation the one that changes everything. Register now!
About the Author: Jefferson Fisher is a board-certified Texas trial lawyer and founder of Fisher Firm. With his extensive experience as a trial lawyer, Jefferson understands the art of persuading and communicating effectively in high-conflict situations. He is one of the most sought-after names in functional thinking for modern-day communication. Known for his practical videos and authentic presence, Jefferson has amassed over 9 million social media followers-making him the most followed litigation attorney in the world in less than a year, all from inside his vehicle. Jefferson’s followers include high-profile names such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jesse Williams, Dr. Andrew Huberman, Sarah Silverman, Lewis Howes, and many more. Jefferson is on a mission to be a messenger of positivity in the world and help people learn to talk to each other again – one conversation at a time.
Author Talk & Paint: "Tropetails"
Wednesday, September 10 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Swell, 2936 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45225.
Come chat and craft with local author, Margaret C. Beeler, author of the cocktail recipe book, Tropetails.
Tropetails is full of literary-themed drink recipes perfect for book lovers! Margaret will share her writing process while we paint drinking glasses to take home. Come enjoy this relaxed evening of creativity and enter a raffle to win your own copy of Tropetails!
Salons with Sue: Discussion with Sue Spaid on her new book, Making Values Explicit: On How We Are Moved to Do, Act, Care and Change
Wednesday, September 10 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at Swell, 2936 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45225.
This book explores a wide range of topics to demonstrate how relevant values (rather than virtues, affects, emotions or beliefs) motivate people to act in ways that structure their identities, inspiring others to treat them as they see themselves (or want others to see them).
Friends of the Library Book Sale, Campbell County Public Library, Newport Branch
Thursday through Saturday, September 11-13 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Campbell County Public Library, Newport Branch, 901 E 6th St, Newport, Kentucky 41071.
The Friends of the Library have a used book sale from 9 am-5 pm in the Friends Room on the lower level of the Newport Branch. The cost is 25 cents for paperbacks, 50 cents for hardcovers and up to $3 for select titles. Some books are free! A large selection of items are available, including books, CDs, DVDs and audiobooks. The sale runs Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 11-13.
Tales to Tails with Winston
Thursday, September 11 and 25 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.
Executive Director's Author Series Silvia Moreno-Garcia at the Dayton Metro Library
Thursday, September 11 at 6:00 pm at the Dayton Metro Library, Main Library, Eichelberger Forum215 East Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402.
Step into a world where gothic themes, rich mythology, and diverse heritage come alive in unforgettable stories. On Thursday, September 11th at 6:00 pm, with thanks from the Friends of the Library, Dayton Metro Library is excited to welcome celebrated author Silvia Moreno-Garcia to our library for a special moderated discussion.
Moreno-Garcia, known for her masterful blending of Latinx heritage and captivating horror and folklore, will dive deep into how she weaves cultural narratives into contemporary fiction. With works like Velvet Was the Night and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, she brings folklore to life in fresh, modern ways, illuminating the intersection of heritage, mythology, and storytelling.
This event is a fantastic opportunity to engage with one of today’s most dynamic authors as she shares insights into her creative process and the significance of folklore in modern fiction.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from one of the most influential voices in contemporary literature—mark your calendar for September 11th at 6:00 pm! We are excited to invite Half Price Books to join us as a partner for this event featuring a discussion followed by a book signing with Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to her writing, this event is sure to be an inspiring and unforgettable experience for everyone.
Woven Branches: Land Matters at Roebling Books & Coffee
Thursday, September 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Roebling Books & Coffee, 601 Overton Street, Newport, Kentucky 41071.
UACC Place Keepers hosts a shared platform for visual artists & writers that allows spontaneous invention, story exchanges, and creative project development inspired by interpretations of homeplace & heritage.
Building Lore without Info Dumping Writing Workshop at Tome Books
Thursday, September 11 from 7:10 to 8:40 pm at Tome Boks, 6089 Salem Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45230.
Rich lore can add depth and intrigue to any story, but delivering it without overwhelming the reader is an art. In this workshop, writers Noah Hoffman, Sarah Wilson Gregory, and J.M. Clark will explore how to build and reveal your story’s lore in ways that feel natural, engaging, and essential to the narrative.
We’ll begin with a writing prompt, then dive into techniques for layering world details through character, dialogue, setting, and plot. Learn how to create a sense of history and scale without pausing the action or losing momentum.
Whether you're writing epic fantasy, grounded sci-fi, or literary fiction with a rich backstory, this session will help you integrate lore that enhances rather than distracts. All experience levels are welcome.
Purrfect Tales: Kids Read to Cats
Saturday, September 13 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.
Poet Laureate Office Hours with Richard Hague
Saturday, September 13 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.
SOLD OUT: J.R. Ward discussing Lover Forbidden
Saturday, September 13 at 1:00 pm at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, 1 W Rivercenter Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky 41011. Registration required.
Join us for J.R. Ward discussing Lover Forbidden. This event is SOLD OUT. Tickets are non-transferable. If you would like to be placed on a waitlist for this event, please email events@josephbeth.com.
Doors open at 11am.
This year’s event will be featuring special guests from the J.R. Ward universe. There will be a photo op with J.R. Ward following the event.
This event will be filmed and cosplay is encouraged!
The aristocracy is making a run for the throne in this latest thrilling, star-crossed paranormal romance entry in J.R. Ward’s #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
When Lyric goes out for the night, she’s not ready for a brush with death—and she’s really not ready for the male who comes out of nowhere and saves her. Her family, especially her father, Qhuinn, are so relieved she’s okay, but all she can think about is her mysterious savior.
Without telling anybody, she seeks out Devlin, and they are immediately drawn to one another. Her near-death experience has given her a fresh appreciation for life and the desire to live it to its fullest, but she has no idea that he’s hiding a secret—or that he could be the key to ending the war between the Black Dagger Brotherhood and the lessers forever.
J.R. Ward is the author of more than sixty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. There are more than twenty million copies of her novels in print worldwide, and they have been published in twenty-seven different countries. She lives in the south with her family.
Community Book Swap at Sonder Brewing West Chester Taphaus & Kitchen
Saturday, September 13 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at Sonder Brewing West Chester, 9558 Civic Centre Boulevard, West Chester, Ohio 45069.
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.
The Sonder Brewing Taphaus and Kitchen in West Chester, Ohio offers another unique way to experience Sonder’s uniquely crafted beers with our own scratch kitchen menu. The upscale but casual location also offers craft cocktails, Prosecco, bourbon and wine.
Tales to Tails with Poppy
Saturday, September 13 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.
MoPoetry Phillips Presents: Hit The Mic Cincy's Open Mic
Saturday, September 13 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm at 10142 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio 45215.
Come join us for a night of spoken word, poetry, and good vibes at 10142 Springfield Pike! Whether you're a seasoned poet or just looking to share your thoughts, this open mic event is the perfect place to express yourself. Let your words flow and connect with fellow artists in a welcoming atmosphere. Don't miss out on this opportunity to showcase your talent and support the local poetry community. See you there!
September Reading Party at Northwood Cider Co.
Sunday, September 14 from 1:30 to 4:00 pm at Northwood Cider Co., 2075 Mills Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45212.
Crisp pages for a crisp September day 🍂 — join us for this month’s reading party and settle in with your next great read.
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)
S.T. Gibson discussing and signing Ascension
Sunday, September 14 at 2:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Join us for S.T. Gibson discussing and signing Ascension.
From the international bestselling author of Evocation comes its hotly anticipated and spellbinding sequel, where Rhys steps into his new role as High Priest. A magical read for lovers of traditional urban fantasy.
Ever since Rhys McGowan was a boy, he's only wanted two things: power and love.
Now, as High Priest of Boston's premiere Secret Society, husband to his adoring witch wife Moira, and partner to David - his psychic rival-turned-boyfriend, Rhys is finally at peace. But when a strange ritual rocks Boston's occult community, and opens the Society up to sabotage, Rhys delves even deeper into the dark world of demon-summoning. He's used to carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, but the strain of managing so many spirits (not to mention the stress of his loved ones exploring other people) will push him to the brink.
As heaven and hell play tug of war for Rhys' soul, he'll have to face the greatest demon of all: his own insatiable ambition.
The second book in the bestselling Summoner's Circle series sees beloved characters return for an all new dark and enthralling adventure.
S.T. Gibson is the #1 Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling author of gothic romances and fantasy novels. A graduate of the creative writing program at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and the theological studies program at Princeton Seminary, she currently lives in New York City.
Write Now! Memoir Group
Tuesday, September 16 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.
Destroy This House: An Evening with Amanda Uhle in conversation with Yalie Saweda Kamara
Tuesday, September 16 at 6:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required.
For fans of The Glass Castle and The Liars’ Club, a tender, heartbreaking, and hilarious memoir chronicling the challenges of growing up with a desperately scheming father, a mother plagued by an acute hoarding disorder, and parenting parents while seeking independence.
The Long family’s love was fierce, their lifestyle bizarre, and their deceptions countless. Once her parents were gone, Amanda Uhle realized she was closer to them than anyone else, yet she found herself utterly confounded by the lives they had led.
Amanda’s striving fashion designer mother and her charismatic wheeler-dealer father wove a complex life together that spanned ten different homes across five states over forty perplexing years. Throughout her childhood, as her mother’s hoarding disorder flourished and her father’s schemes crumbled, contradictions abounded. They bartered for dental surgery and drove their massive Lincoln Town Car to the food bank. When financial ruin struck, they abandoned their repossessed mansion for humble parish housing, and Amanda’s father became a preacher. They swung between being filthy rich and dirt poor, devious and virtuous, lonely and loved, fake and real.
In Destroy This House, Amanda sets out to document her parents’ unbelievable exploits and her own hard-won escape into independence. With humor and tenderness, Uhle has crafted a heartfelt and utterly unique memoir, capturing the raucousness, pain, joy, and ultimately, the boundless love that exists between all parents and children.
6 pm reception/6:30 pm program
Free & open to the public.
Registration required.
Copies of Destroy This House will be available for sale & signing.
About Amanda Uhle: Amanda Uhle writes about culture, politics, and civil rights for The Washington Post, Politico Magazine, The Boston Globe, and Newsweek. Uhle is coeditor of the I, Witness series of first-person stories by youth activists, former director of the 826michigan youth writing and tutoring program, and cofounder, with Dave Eggers, of the International Congress of Youth Voices. Their work with youth writing organizations worldwide is documented in Unnecessarily Beautiful Spaces for Young Minds on Fire. Uhle is the publisher and executive director of McSweeney’s, an independent nonprofit publisher of distinctive books and magazines.
Tasha Faruqui discussing and signing Keep Your Head Up
Tuesday, September 16 at 7:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Join us for Tasha Faruqui discussing and signing Keep Your Head Up in collaboration with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. OPTIONAL RSVP but not required to attend the event.
A testament to the depth of familial love and our ability to endure in the face of childhood terminal illness
Keep Your Head Up is the incredible tale of one family's path to perseverance in the face of devastating odds. When author Tasha Faruqui gave birth to her second daughter, Soraya, she knew immediately that something was wrong. Yet as years passed and every medical test for Soraya came back normal or inconclusive, Tasha began to realize that science doesn't always have the answers, and there are some issues in life that simply cannot be fixed. Yet, we can continue to find happy moments and celebrate the beauty of what we have.
This story gives a voice to parents and loved ones of terminally ill children, illuminating the way to comfort, community, and unbreakable hope. This book discusses terminal illness with raw honesty, demonstrating how families can provide transparency to life-limited children around a terminal diagnosis, comfort them when they are afraid of what comes next, and continue to embrace life despite ongoing challenges. With beautiful narration and a heartfelt perspective, Keep Your Head Up testifies to the true depth of familial love and the hard things we can endure with grace and resilience.
This book:
Provides guidance, hope, and understanding to parents and caregivers of terminally ill children
Tells a story that will resonate with families facing elusive diagnoses, fickle healthcare systems, and emotional turmoil
Offers hope that it is possible to find joy in the face of tragedy and give sick children the gift of a fully lived life
Presents the balanced and relatable perspective of an award-winning pediatrician and parent to a child in hospice
Parents, family, and friends of terminally ill children, as well as healthcare professionals and educators, will appreciate Keep Your Head Up for its candor and its value as a guide to moving through a situation no family should have to face.
Dr. Tasha Faruqui is a pediatrician, author, speaker, and advocate.
Cincinnati Children's is a nonprofit, comprehensive pediatric health system. As the leader in research and education, Cincinnati Children’s is consistently ranked as one of America's best children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report and is one of the top recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health.
Rebecca Stead in conversation with Jennifer L. Holm discussing The Experiment
Tuesday, September 16 at 7:00 pm virtually through Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Registration required.
Join us for Rebecca Stead in conversation with Jennifer L. Holm discussing The Experiment. RSVP to attend the event. You will be sent a link the day before the event.
From the Newbery Medalist and national-bestselling author Rebecca Stead, here is a bold story that will appeal to fans of A Wrinkle in Time and The First State of Being.
Nathan wants to help his people, but first he has to figure out who they are...
Nathan never understood what was "fun" about secrets, probably because he’s always had to keep a very big one.
Although he appears to be a typical sixth-grader (with parents, homework and a best friend, Victor), Nathan learned at an early age that his family is from another planet. Now, their time on Earth may be coming to an end.
Nathan, his parents and nine other families are part of an experiment that suddenly seems to be going wrong. Some of the experimenters, including Nathan's first crush, Izzy, are disappearing without a word. After his family is called back to the mothership, Nathan begins to question everything he’s been taught to believe about who he is and why he's on Earth.
The Experiment is a fast-paced coming-of-age novel that asks universal questions about how we figure out who we want to be, and whether it’s ever too late to change.
Rebecca Stead is the New York Times bestselling author of When You Reach Me, Liar & Spy, First Light, Goodbye Stranger, Bob, and, most recently, The List of Things That Will Not Change. Her books have been awarded the Newbery Medal, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Fiction and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize. Rebecca lives in New York City, where she is always on the lookout for her next story idea.
Jennifer L. Holm is the New York Times bestselling and three-time Newbery Honor-winning author of multiple novels for young readers. With her brother Matthew, Jennifer created the graphic novel series Babymouse and Squish. She lives in California.
Virtual Author Talk: Gabe Henry- Our failed Attempts to Make English Eezier to Spell
Wednesday, September 17 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm virtually through the Campbell County Public Library.
Have you ever wondered why the English spelling of words is sometimes… well… just weird? Come on a surprisingly hilarious journey with us and author Gabe Henry through the history of the English language, while we discuss troublemakers like Mark Twain who broke all the rules.
Anyone who has the misfortune to write in English will, every now and then, struggle with its spelling. In our erratic system, choir and liar rhyme, daughter and laughter don’t, and somehow you and ewe can’t agree on a single letter. So why do we still use it? If our spelling is so inconsistent, why haven’t we tried to fix it?
In the comic annals of linguistic history, legions of rebel wordsmiths have died on the hill of spelling reform, risking their reputations to simplify English spelling. This book is about them: Mark Twain, Eliza Burnz, Noah Webster, Upton Sinclair, Emma Dearborn, Theodore Roosevelt, Benjamin Franklin, and the countless other “simplified spellers” who, for a time in their lives, became fanatic about writing kof instead of cough, tung for tongue, and fyzics for physics (and tried futilely to get everyone around them to do it too).
In Enough is Enuf, Gabe Henry humorously traces the “simplified spelling movement” from medieval England to Revolutionary America, from the birth of standup comedy to contemporary pop music, and explores its lasting influence in words like color (without a U), plow (without -ugh), and the iconic ’90s ballad “Nothing Compares 2 U.” Finally, Henry brings us to the digital age, where the swift pace of online exchanges now pushes us all 2ward simplification.
Register now for this informative and entertaining conversation to find out why Gabe Henry thinks UR not a bad speller, the English language is.
About the Author: Gabe Henry is the author of three books including the poetry anthology Eating Salad Drunk, a humor collaboration with Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Odenkirk, Mike Birbiglia, Margaret Cho, and other titans of comedy. Eating Salad Drunk was featured in The New Yorker in February 2022 (“A Smattering of Haiku for the Burnout Age”) and ranked one of Vulture’s Best Comedy Books of 2022. Henry’s work has been published in TIME, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, the Weekly Humorist, US News & World Report, and more. He has spent more than a decade exploring the strange and forgotten history of simplified spelling, which, by his own admission, has only made him a worse speller. He lives and works in New York. Learn more at www.gabehenry.com.
The Prison Industry Book Talk at Swell
Wednesday, September 17 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at Swell Cafe, 2936 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45225.
Space limited - Reserve your free tickets!
Join us for a compelling conversation to celebrate the release of The Prison Industry: How It Works and Who Profits. The event will feature a panel conversation offering a deep dive into the complex dynamics of the prison industry, the false ethics of carceral capitalism, and its far-reaching consequences on communities.
Speakers:
Tamaya Dennard, Programs and Partnerships Manager of Represent Women
Tyra Patterson, Community Outreach Strategist & Paralegal at Ohio Justice and Policy Center
Bianca Tylek, Executive Director of Worth Rises
The Prison Industry: How It Works and Who Profits is a groundbreaking exposé that uncovers the vast network of corporations and government entities profiting from incarceration. Written by Bianca Tylek, a leading advocate for criminal justice, and Worth Rises, a renowned non-profit organization dedicated to dismantling the prison industry, this book reveals the economic forces that sustain mass incarceration in the U.S.
Through meticulous research and compelling narratives, The Prison Industry sheds light on industries that thrive off incarceration, from telecom and healthcare to food services and community corrections. In doing so, it provides a powerful call to action for policymakers, business leaders, and the public to challenge and dismantle the prison industry.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHIES
Bianca Tylek is the Founder and Executive Director of Worth Rises. She is one the nation’s for most experts on the prison industry and a nationally recognized leader in criminal justice advocacy more broadly. Bianca is best known for her innovative strategies and successful campaigns to secure free prison phone calls and eliminate financial exploitation across the criminal legal system. Bianca’s work has been featured on the TED stage as well as in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NPR. She is based in New York City.
Tamaya Denard is the Programs and Partnerships Manager at RepresentWomen. Inspired by Shirley Chisholm and Barbara Jordan and an abiding belief that everyone deserves a non-tokenized voice in what’s happening in their community, in 2017, Tamaya became the first openly gay woman elected to public office in the City of Cincinnati and served as President Pro Tem of Cincinnati City Council. Her focus in office was dismantling legislation rooted in systemic racism, classism and sexism and creating equitable policies that gave everyone an equal opportunity to succeed.
In addition to being the Chair of the first City Council committee focused exclusively on issues of equity, inclusion and young people, among her proudest legislative moments is the creation of Cincinnati’s Salary History Ordinance and the Girls in Government program.
Tamaya studied at the Toulouse School of Business in Toulouse, France, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business from the University of Cincinnati. In her spare time, you can find Tamaya sitting courtside rooting for the University of Cincinnati Women’s Basketball team, playing golf or pickleball and listening to 90’s RnB and hip-hop (the golden era).
Tyra Patterson: On December 25, 2017, Tyra Patterson walked out of prison after serving 23 years for crimes she did not commit. While incarcerated, Tyra discovered and fostered her artistry, first as a mechanism of survival and second as a means of expression.
Today, Tyra travels all over the country as an artist and an activist, speaking at law schools, colleges, prisons, conferences and high schools, leveraging her story and art to educate people on social justice. She currently lives in Cincinnati and works at the Ohio Justice & Policy Center, where she is the Community Outreach Strategist. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Just Media, Life After Justice, ArtWorks Cincinnati, Represent Justice and Black Art Speaks. She serves on the Board of Trustees for the Art Academy of Cincinnati, where she received an honorary Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in 2020.
Her story has been featured by media outlets, including Rolling Stone, Essence Magazine, The Guardian, ABC News, CNN and many others.
Tyra Patterson is an artist-activist who works to leverage her platform and privilege to help other justice-impacted artists gain visibility.
Worth Rises is a nonprofit organization dedicated to dismantling the prison industry and ending its exploitation of incarcerated people and their families. Through narrative change, policy advocacy, and corporate activism, Worth Rises has successfully influenced legislation and changed industry practices nationwide.
Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry Reading with UC Visiting Writers Series
Thursday, September 18 at 5:30 pm at the University of Cincinnati, Elliston Poetry Room, 646 Langsam Library, 2911 Woodside Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45221.
The Creative Writing Program's Visiting Writers Series brings a number of distinguished authors to campus each semester. Visitors often conduct a colloquium with creative writing students in addition to giving a public reading.
Sponsored by the Elliston Poetry Fund and the Robert and Adele Schiff Fund for Contemporary Fiction .
All readings are free and open to the public. The Elliston Poetry Room is located in Suite 646 on the 6th Floor of Langsam Library on the UC Uptown Campus at 2911 Woodside Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45221. Public parking is available in the Woodside Garage beneath Langsam Library, or along Martin Luther King Drive on the north edge of the Uptown Campus. An elevator in Woodside Garage will take you to Floor 4 (ground level) and once inside Langsam Library another elevator can take you to floor 6.
Marianne Chan grew up in Stuttgart, Germany, and Lansing, Michigan. She is the author of All Heathens (Sarabande Books, 2020), which was the winner of the 2021 GLCA New Writers Award, and Leaving Biddle City (Sarabande Books, 2024). Her poems have appeared in Poetry, Best American Poetry, New England Review, Kenyon Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, and elsewhere. She is an assistant professor of creative writing at Old Dominion University and teaches poetry in the Warren Wilson College MFA program for Writers.
Emma Hudelson is a nonfiction writer from Indiana, where she directs the Writing for Wellness program at Butler University. Sky Watch: Chasing an American Saddlebred Story (University Press of Kentucky, 2024) is her first book. Emma holds a PhD in creative writing from the University of Cincinnati. She has one daughter, one husband, three dogs, one cat, and one horse.
Maggie Su is the author of the novel Blob: A Love Story (Harper, 2025). She holds a PhD in fiction from University of Cincinnati and an MFA from Indiana University. Her short fiction has appeared in New England Review, DIAGRAM, TriQuarterly Review, and elsewhere. She lives in South Bend, Indiana, with her partner, daughter, cat, and turtle.
Open Mic at Roebling Books & Coffee
Thursday, September 18 at 6:00 pm at Roebling Books & Coffee, Newport Location, 601 Overton Street, Newport, Kentucky 41071.
Join us the third Thursday of every month from 6-8PM for our monthly Open Mic segment. Stop in any of our stores to see the featured poet of the month.
Eileen Flanagan discussing and signing Common Ground
Thursday, September 18 at 7:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Join us for Eileen Flanagan discussing and signing Common Ground. OPTIONAL RSVP but not required to attend the event.
In Common Ground, veteran organizer Eileen Flanagan weaves together a series of stories of hard won successes in the climate change movement, including against a multinational bank in one case, and a heavily polluting fossil fuel company in another, based on grassroots organizing.
As heat waves, wildfires, storms, and floods become ever more deadly, the book describes a groundswell of action in which citizens of all ages, races and political stripes struggle to understand each other and the enormous challenges we face fighting companies and governments wilfully blind to the climate change dangers we face as a society.
A Quaker activist, facilitator, and teacher, Flanagan takes us on a personal journey through her environmental direct-action experiences as well as her relationships with community leaders to understand how we can form coalitions to actually make a difference. Flanagan shows that “the illusion of separation”—the fallacy that humans can thrive in a dying world—is at the root of interlocking environmental crises and that it’s often politicians and corporations who benefit by keeping the rest of us divided across lines of race, class, religion, and generation.
In Common Ground, Flanagan argues that more than technology or even elections, acting in solidarity with all life is humanity’s best hope for survival.
Includes a foreword by internationally acclaimed South African activist Kumi Naidoo, President of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative and former head of Greenpeace International and Amnesty International.
EILEEN FLANAGAN brings a forty-year commitment to justice to her speaking, writing, and climate leadership. From a working-class Irish American family, she has confronted corporate CEOs, prayed in their lobbies, and been arrested alongside Indigenous water protectors, Black preachers, and fellow Quakers. Nationally known for helping people to make their activism more effective and spiritually-grounded, she shepherded a scrappy group of Quakers to pressure a $4 billion-a-year bank to stop financing mountaintop removal coal mining. She earned a BA from Duke and an MA from Yale as a first-generation college student, focusing on resistance to colonialism, which she taught on the college level. The Dalai Lama endorsed her award-winning book The Wisdom to Know the Difference, and some of the best-known climate activists in the world endorsed her memoir Renewable. She lives with her husband on Lenape land in Philadelphia.
Such Great Heights: An Evening with Chris DeVille
Thursday, September 18 at 6:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Registration required.
The definitive history of indie rock—from Iron & Wine and Death Cab for Cutie to Fiona Apple and St. Vincent—and how the genre shifted the musical landscape and shaped a generation.
Maybe you caught a few exhilarating seconds of “Teen Age Riot” on a nearby college radio station while scanning the FM dial in your parents’ car. Maybe your friend invited you to a shabby local rock club and you ended up having a religious experience with Neutral Milk Hotel. Perhaps you were scandalized and tantalized upon sneaking Liz Phair’s Exile in Guyville from an older sibling’s CD collection, or you vowed to download every Radiohead song you could find on Limewire because they were the favorite band of the guy you had a major crush on.
However you found your way into indie rock, once you were a listener, it felt like being part of a secret club of people who had discovered something special, something superior. In Such Great Heights, music journalist Chris DeVille brilliantly captures this cultural moment, from the early aughts and the height of indie rock, until the 2010s as streaming rocks the industry and changes music forever. DeVille covers the gamut of bands and in the vein of Chuck Klosterman’s The Nineties, touches on staggering pop culture moments like sharing music recommendations via AOL Instant Messenger and the life-changing OC soundtrack. Nerdy, fun, and a time machine for millennials, Such Great Heights is about how subculture becomes pop culture, how capitalism consumes what's “cool,” about who gets to define what's hip and how, and how an “underground” genre shaped our lives.
6 pm reception/6:30 pm program
Free & open to the public.
Registration required.
Copies of Such Great Heights will be available for sale & signing courtesy of Joseph-Beth Cincinnati.
About Chris Deville: Chris Deville is the managing editor at Stereogum, where he has written extensively about the full spectrum of indie music for the last ten years. In 2014, he launched The Week In Pop, a column exploring mainstream music from an indie fan’s perspective. Chris has also been featured in outlets like The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone and prominent digital outlets like The Ringer, Deadspin, and The Verge. He lives with his family in Columbus, Ohio.
WordPlay Thursday's Open Mic Night
Thursday, September 18 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
Miles McBride discussing and signing Deuce: The Champion of Friendship
Friday, September 19 at 5:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Join us for Miles McBride discussing and signing Deuce: The Champion of Friendship. Optional RSVP, but not required to attend the event.
Deuce is an inspiring and action-packed story about friendship, courage, and doing what's right-on and off the court.
Every Saturday, best friends Deuce and Lily play basketball at their local park. But everything changes when they meet Ravi, a shy new kid who's never felt like he belonged. As a school basketball tournament approaches, Deuce must choose between winning with the popular team or standing up for a new friend who just needs a chance.
With powerful themes of empathy, inclusion, and teamwork, Deuce reminds readers that real champions aren't just the ones who win games-they're the ones who lift others up.
Based on the real-life values of NBA player Miles "Deuce" McBride, this story is perfect for readers ages 7-11, young athletes, and any child who's ever felt like an outsider. A heartwarming tribute to friendship, perseverance, and the power of standing together.
Cincinnati native, Miles "Deuce" McBride is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Writer and Author's Symposium at the Dayton Metro Library
Saturday, September 20 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Dayton Metro Library, Main Library, 215 East Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402.
Dayton Metro Library is an event intended to inspire writers, motivate authors, and engage readers. We are excited to connect our patrons with the local writers and authors. During this full-day symposium, please join us for workshops, mini writing-themed activities, and an exploration of local authors. Books will be available for sale by local authors. During each workshop, the audience is invited to actively listen in as writers share what inspires their writing and what shapes their creativity.
Workshops: All Located In The Community Room 2nd Floor
1. Demystifying Publishing
2. Beginner Writer Workshop - Build the foundation for your fiction story through characters & plot
3. From Story to Sketch: Finding the Right Illustrator, Designer, or Cover Artist for Your Book
4. Ready, Set, Launch! – Tables, Promotions, Books, Oh My!
Activities:
1. Reading Nook: Read works by local authors available in Dayton Metro Library's collection.-The Eichelberger Forum
2. Open Writing Room: Write to provided prompts or work on your current work in progress.- St. Clair Ops
3. Local Children's Book Read-A-Long -Children's Creativity Space
4. Book Trivia-The Eichelberger Forum
5. Featured Writers Showcase- Bassani Theater Off Third
See the Story with the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library and the Cincinnati Art Museum
Saturday, September 20 at 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
Do you love to read? Love art? Join CHPL and CAM staff for this bi-monthly book club at the Cincinnati Art Museum. See the Story combines authors’ works from around the world (both fiction and non-fiction) with artwork on view in the museum’s galleries. Participants meet at the Cincinnati Art Museum to discuss the book of the month then take a tour of related artworks. Join us and see the story!
September 20: We Are Each Other’s Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy by Natalie Baszile
V. L. Rummer signing Imminent Danger
Saturday, September 20 at 1:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Join us for V.L. Rummer Signing Imminent Danger. OPTIONAL RSVP but is not required to attend the event.
Fate had a funny way of setting you up for success… or failure, depending on how you looked at it.
A collection of books detailing the malicious acts of the Carvelli family mafia was anonymously donated to my library, and what started as an innocent fixation turned into a very real threat.
I was dropped into a new world teeming with deceit, manipulation, and violence. And to make matters worse, a bounty had been placed on my head.
Everything I’d known had changed in a matter of hours. And the only person to blame was him.
Solomon Carvelli.
The object of all my newfound fears and deepest desires.
He was the reason my very existence had been unceremoniously uprooted. His presence caused a cosmic shift, not only altering my perspective on life, but also myself.
And while it was terrifying… it felt right. Like I was always meant to exist in this version of reality.
To me, he was a king. An unyielding force. A man drowning in power and influence.
To him, I was everything. The solution to any problem, the answer to every question.
The queen meant to be ruling by his side.
V. L. Rummer is a lover of all things smut and romance. The first adult romance novel she ever read was From Ashes by Molly McAdams, and ever since then she’s been hooked. Outside of reading and writing, she works in the field of helping others and recently completed her last semester of grad school. She enjoys local theatre, anything pastel pink, trivia nights at dingy bars, iced vanilla chai lattes, astrology, candles that smell like baked goods, buying cute journals she never uses, being gay, and her feisty calico cat, Poppy.
Writer-in-Residence Workshop: Decoding Picture Books
Saturday, September 20 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Forest Park Branch, 660 Northland Boulevard, Cincinnati, Ohio 45240.
Everyone loves picture books. Many harbor fond memories of reading adorable bedtime stories to toddlers or of cuddling on an adult’s lap and helping turn the magical pages of a gorgeous picture book. The wonderous look of wide-eyed young listeners during picture book storytime motivates many an author. But picture books are a deceptively difficult form of children’s literature to write. Each is an at times mysterious melding of art and words, a balance of visual and text cues that relay a simple story with sufficient depth to warrant multiple rereadings. All within 32 pages!
Join the Library's 2025 Writer-in-Residence, Mary Kay Carson, to learn the form and format of modern picture books, gather tools like mentor texts and book dummies, and spend time honing your ideas into a manuscript.
Elin Hilderbrand discussing and signing The Academy
Tuesday, September 23 at 6:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208. Book = ticket.
Join us for Elin Hilderbrand discussing and signing The Academy. This event is book = ticket. Please purchase the book to attend the event. Books will be ready for pick up at the event. For this tour, Elin's theme colors are orange and white. Photos of readers in orange and white will be featured on Elin's social media page.
From #1 bestselling author of The Perfect Couple, Elin Hilderbrand, and her daughter, Shelby Cunningham: the irresistible, deliciously scandalous story of one drama-filled year at a New England boarding school.
It’s move-in day at Tiffin Academy and amidst the happy chaos of friends reuniting, selfies uploading, and cars unloading, shocking news arrives: America Today just ranked Tiffin the number two boarding school in the country. It’s a seventeen-spot jump – was there a typo? The dorms need to be renovated, their sports teams always come in last place, and let’s just say Tiffin students are known for being more social than academic. On the other hand, the campus is exquisite, class sizes are small, and the dining hall is run by an acclaimed New York chef. And they do have fun—lots of parties and school dances, and a piano man plays in the student lounge every Monday night.
But just as the rarefied air of Tiffin is suffused with self-congratulation, the wheels begin to turn – and then they fall off the bus. One by one, scandalous blind items begin to appear on phones across Tiffin’s campus, thanks to a new app called ZipZap, and nobody is safe. From Davi Banerjee, international influencer and resident queen bee, to Simone Bergeron, the new and surprisingly young history teacher, to Charley Hicks, a transfer student who seems determined not to fit in, to Cordelia Spooner, Admissions Director with a somewhat idiosyncratic methodology – everyone has something to hide.
As if high school wasn’t dramatic enough...As the year unfolds, bonds are forged and broken, secrets are shared and exposed, and the lives of Tiffin’s students and staff are changed forever. The Academy is Elin Hilderbrand’s fresh, buzzy take on boarding school life, and a thrilling new direction from one of America’s most satisfying and popular storytellers.
Elin Hilderbrand is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Iowa Writers Workshop. The Academy is her thirty-first novel, and the first co-written with her daughter, Shelby Cunningham. Hilderbrand is the co-host of the podcast "Books, Beach and Beyond" along with @TimTalksBooks creator, Tim Ehrenberg. She is raising four young adult children and likes to spend her free time at the beach and on her Peloton. She's a grateful ten-year breast cancer survivor.
Edgar Garcia Poetry Reading
Wednesday, September 24 at 5:30 pm at the University of Cincinnati, Elliston Poetry Room, 646 Langsam Library, 2911 Woodside Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45221.
The Creative Writing Program's Visiting Writers Series brings a number of distinguished authors to campus each semester. Visitors often conduct a colloquium with creative writing students in addition to giving a public reading.
Sponsored by the Elliston Poetry Fund and the Robert and Adele Schiff Fund for Contemporary Fiction .
All readings are free and open to the public. The Elliston Poetry Room is located in Suite 646 on the 6th Floor of Langsam Library on the UC Uptown Campus at 2911 Woodside Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45221. Public parking is available in the Woodside Garage beneath Langsam Library, or along Martin Luther King Drive on the north edge of the Uptown Campus. An elevator in Woodside Garage will take you to Floor 4 (ground level) and once inside Langsam Library another elevator can take you to floor 6.
Edgar Garcia is a poet and scholar of the hemispheric cultures of the Americas. He is the author of Skins of Columbus: A Dream Ethnography (Fence Books, 2019); Signs of the Americas: A Poetics of Pictography, Hieroglyphs, and Khipu (University of Chicago Press, 2020); Infinite Regress (collaborative work with Eamon Ore-Giron, Bom Dia Books, 2021); and Emergency: Reading the Popol Vuh in a Time of Crisis (University of Chicago Press, 2022). His collection of adaptations and translations of mid-sixteenth century Nahuatl-language songs, Cantares, is forthcoming from Wesleyan University Press in 2026; and a book about the baroque titled Caravaggio’s Americas is also in final stages of completion. Most recently he has been collaborating with the American Modern Opera Company on adaptations of these writings, which have performed at the Clark Art Institute, Peabody Essex Museum, and Lincoln Center. He is faculty in the departments of English and Creative Writing at the University of Chicago.
Friends of the Library Book Sale, Campbell County Public Library, Newport Branch
Thursday September 25 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!
Silent Reading Party at The Mercantile Library
Thursday, September 25 at 5:00 pm at The Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St #1100, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
It’s our favorite reason to ssshhhh. Bring a book — or pick one up here — and enjoy an evening reading in companionable silence.
Nathan Harris discussing and signing Amity
Thursday, September 25 at 7:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208.
Join us for Nathan Harris discussing and signing Amity. OPTIONAL RSVP and not required to attend the event.
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Sweetness of Water comes a gripping story about a brother and sister, emancipated from slavery but still searching for true freedom, and their odyssey across the deserts of Mexico to escape a former master still intent on their bondage.
New Orleans, 1866. The Civil War might be over, but formerly enslaved Coleman and June have yet to find the freedom they’ve been promised. Two years ago, the siblings were separated when their old master, Mr. Harper, took June away to Mexico, where he hoped to escape the new reality of the postbellum South. Coleman stayed behind in Louisiana to serve the Harper family, clinging to the hope that one day June would return.
When an unexpected letter from Mr. Harper arrives, summoning Coleman to Mexico, Coleman thinks that finally his prayers have been answered. What Coleman cannot know is the tangled truth of June’s tribulations under Mr. Harper out on the frontier. And when disaster strikes Coleman’s journey, he is forced on the run with Mr. Harper's daughter, Florence. Together, they venture into the Mexican desert to find June, all the while evading two crooked brothers who'll stop at nothing to capture Coleman and Florence and collect the money they're owed. As Coleman and June separately navigate a perilous, parched landscape, the siblings learn quickly that freedom isn't always given—sometimes, it must be taken by force.
As in his New York Times bestselling debut The Sweetness of Water, Nathan Harris delves into the critical years of the Civil War’s aftermath to deliver an intimate and epic tale of what freedom means in a society still determined to return its Black citizens to bondage. Populated with unforgettable characters, Amity is a vital addition to the literature of emancipation.
Nathan Harris is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Sweetness of Water, which was an Oprah’s Book Club pick, the winner of the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, and longlisted for the Booker Prize, the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. He holds an MFA from the Michener Center at the University of Texas, and lives in Chicago.
Writing Dialogue and Nailing Character Interiority Writing Workshop at Tome Books
Thursday, September 25 from 7:10 to 8:40 pm at Tome Boks, 6089 Salem Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45230.
The best stories are driven by both what characters say and what they keep to themselves. In this workshop, writers Sarah Wilson Gregory and J.M. Clark will help you sharpen your dialogue and deepen your character’s inner world.
Like normal, we’ll begin with a writing prompt, then explore how to write conversations that feel authentic and purposeful, while also capturing the emotional undercurrents and unspoken truths that shape your characters. Learn how to balance external action with internal thought, revealing motivation, tension, and growth through both voice and silence.
Whether your characters whisper, shout, or say nothing at all, this session will give you the tools to make their voices and minds come alive on the page. All experience levels are welcome.
Quills & Queers Open Mic
Friday, September 26 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at Roebling Books & Coffee, Newport Location, 601 Overton Street, Newport, Kentucky 41071.
Join us for a queer open mic night; a space to share your voice and your stories. Come perform, cheer on local talent, and celebrate queer creativity in all its forms!
Sign ups start at 6:00pm
Headliners read at 6:35pm
Mic opens at 6:45pm
Author Appearance: Ellen Austin-Li and Friends
Saturday, September 27 from 2:00 to 3:30 pm at Roebling Books & Coffee, Newport Location, 601 Overton Street, Newport, Kentucky 41071.
Meet and listen to authors Ellen Austin-Li, Preeti Parikh, and Ben Kline as they share their poetry and celebrate Ellen's latest release, "Accidental Pollen".
Emily Jane discussing and signing American Werewolves
Saturday, September 27 at 6:00 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208. Book = ticket.
Please join us for Emily Jane discussing and signing American Werewolves. This event is book = ticket. Purchase the book to attend the event. Book will be available for pick up at the event. For those unable to attend the event, there is a personalized pre-order below as well. The first 50 that pre-order the book – either for the in person signing or to be shipped, will receive a bracelet from Emily. Limited quantity. While supplies last.
America’s venture capitalist werewolves meet their match in USA Today bestseller Emily Jane’s third rollicking, genre-defying novel.
“It takes aliens (or an Emily Jane) to help us see our society for the bizarre, sugary, microplastic-poisoned dream it is.” —Edgar Cantero
From the author of On Earth as It Is on Television and Here Beside the Rising Tide…
Many full moons ago, a young American boy with ambition in his belly and the moon in his veins followed his destiny west, determined to carve a path to success no matter the carnage.
Two centuries later, a city is captivated by the strange and savage murder of a young woman. Her roommate, Natasha, no longer able to afford their apartment alone—and hounded by both rumors of wolves and a pop-star’s angry fan-swarm—has resorted to living in her car. There’s nothing left for her…except vengeance.
Across town, Shane LaSalle is about to see his wildest dreams come true. He already has a gorgeous apartment and a high paying job in venture capital. Now the partners of Barrington Equity have invited him to board the company’s private jet for an exclusive retreat. But with partnership finally in his reach, Shane realizes he’s losing his taste for just how ruthless and all-consuming the firm is.
Epic and electric, American Werewolves brings readers from the wilds of the New World to the opulent board rooms and golf courses of the twenty-first century, where devouring the weak is an American birthright as old as the country itself.
Emily Jane is the USA Today bestselling author of On Earth as it Is on Television and Here Beside the Rising Tide. She grew up in Boise, Boulder, and San Francisco. She earned her BA in psychology from the University of San Francisco and her JD from UC Law San Francisco. She lives on an urban farm in Cincinnati with her husband, Steve; their two children; their cats, Scully and Ripley; and their husky, Nymeria.
Young Writers Society
Monday, September 29 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!
Poetry Class Series by Arts Equity Collective’s Voices Unleashed
Multiple events this months at various Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library Branches.
Poetry class workshops for kids and teens hosted by Arts Equity Collective’s Voices Unleashed and the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library. There are different workshops each week at three different location.
Lyrics as Poetry: This peer-led workshop allows students to choose their favorite songs of any genre and use them as the primary focus of their work. It combines written and video analysis that give students a keen eye to both celebrate and critique the songs and videos they love. Hands on arts, crafts, and drawing opportunities available with each session.
Wednesday, September 3 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at Westwood
Saturday, September 6 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at Westwood
Monday, September 8 from 4:15 to 6:00 pm at Walnut Hills
Monday, September 8 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Price Hill
Extreme Pictionary: A fun and engaging game of Pictionary with a twist will invoke critical thinking, mental flexibility, and switching between multiple concepts simultaneously. Hands on arts, crafts, and drawing opportunities available with each session.
Wednesday, September 10 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at Westwood
Saturday, September 13 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at Westwood
Monday, September 15 from 4:15 to 6:00 pm at Walnut Hills
Monday, September 15 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Price Hill
Celebrating Everyone's Gifts: This spoken word and writing workshop is a powerful and inclusive event designed to honor and uplift the diverse talents, identities, and experiences within our community. It includes poetry, prose, and storytelling that addresses themes of justice, belonging, shared human experience, and recognizes the inherent value in every person. Hands on arts, crafts, and drawing opportunities available with each session.
Wednesday, September 17 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at Westwood
Saturday, September 20 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at Westwood
Monday, September 22 from 4:15 to 6:00 pm at Walnut Hills
Monday, September 22 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Price Hill
What Happened to Show & Tell: A unique event that blends classic show-and-tell with creative writing and storytelling. Each participant brings up to (5) personal items that are meaningful, funny, weird, or inspiring. They will share the story behind the object aloud to building confidence and storytelling skills. A short guided writing session will help them turn that story into a written piece. Hands on arts, crafts, and drawing opportunities available with each session.
Wednesday, September 24 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at Westwood
Saturday, September 27 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at Westwood
Monday, September 29 from 4:15 to 6:00 pm at Walnut Hills
Monday, September 29 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Price Hill
Mary S. Stern Lecture with Nicholas Kristof
Tuesday, September 30 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202. Tickets required.
Please join us for the annual Mary S. Stern Lecture with New York Times columnist, Pulitzer Prize winner, and bestselling author Nicholas Kristof at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.
Tickets are on sale, priced from $5 to $15. Click to buy tickets to the lecture.
Find more details at CHPL.org/stern.
About the Lecture
Join Kristof for an evening discussing Chasing Hope: A Reporter's Life. If there is one thing that Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Nicholas Kristof has learned over his decades of reporting for The New York Times, it’s this: Side by side with the worst of humanity, you always see the best. It’s a lesson he’s taken to heart. In this inspiring talk based on his upcoming memoir, Kristof shares some of these stories and his life as a journalist, from growing up on a farm in small-town Oregon to reporting from every corner of the world. He’ll talk about some of the greatest members of his profession and introduce you to extraordinary people he has met. These are the people, the heroes, who have allowed Kristof to remain optimistic and continue to dedicate his life to the pursuit of truth.
Books will be sold on site and a book signing will follow the lecture.
The late Mary S. Stern endowed an annual lecture series for the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library through The Library Foundation to support bringing internationally renowned thought leaders to our community. The Stern Lecture selection committee was formed in 2018 to select and invite lecturers who can honor Stern’s legacy by advancing the Library’s mission to connect our community with a world of ideas and information. The committee is committed to making the topic and speaker accessible to the community physically and financially.
The Mary S. Stern Lecture Series is possible through an endowment to The Library Foundation.
The views and opinions expressed by the Mary S. Stern lecturer are solely those of the lecturer and do not represent those of the Library Foundation, the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, staff, and partner organizations.
The Friends of Steely Library 2025 Michael Berry Literary Series featuring author Crystal Wilkinson
Tuesday, September 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Northern Kentucky University, W. Frank Steely Library, Farris Reading Room, 1 Louie B Nunn Drive, Newport, Kentucky 41076. Registration required.
The Friends of Steely Library Presents:
2025 Michael Berry Literary Series Featuring Author – Crystal Wilkinson
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025 | 6:30 – 8:30p.m.
W. Frank Steely Library, Farris Reading Room (Second Floor)
Crystal Wilkinson, a recent fellowship recipient of the Academy of American Poets, is the award-winning author of Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts, a culinary memoir, Perfect Black, a collection of poems, and three works of fiction – The Birds of Opulence, Water Street and Blackberries, Blackberries. She currently teaches at the University of Kentucky, where she is Bush-Holbrook Professor in Creative Writing.
This event will feature a reading by Ms. Wilkinson, a Q&A with the audience, and a chance to purchase a book and have it signed by the author.
Register today to attend this FREE event!
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