Word Up Next
Word Up Next is a listing of writers’ events in Salem and nearby towns. All recurring writing meet-ups and Open Mics are listed at the bottom. Want to add something to the calendar? Email ellorelizabeth@gmail.com.
March
Tuesday, March 19, 2019, 6:30 PM
Author Talk with Eric Jay Dolin: BLACK FLAGS, BLUE WATERS:
Salisbury Public Library, 17 Elm Street, Salisbury
Set against the backdrop of the Age of Exploration, this slide-accompanied talk on Black Flags, Blue Waters reveals the dramatic and surprising history of American piracy’s “Golden Age”—spanning the late 1600s through the early 1700s—when lawless pirates plied the coastal waters of North America and beyond.
Eric is a bestselling author of books on American history, maritime history, wildlife, and the environment. Growing up near the coasts of New York and Connecticut, he was fascinated by the natural world, especially the ocean. At Brown University he came to realize that he wasn’t cut out for a career in science and shifted course, turning toward the field of environmental policy. Eric ultimately earned a Ph.D. in environmental policy and planning from MIT, where his dissertation focused on the role of the courts in the cleanup of Boston Harbor. For More Info
Wednesday, March 20, 6:30-8:30 pm
Writers and Illustrators Meet & Greet
Cedric’s Studio, 59 Albion St, Wakefield
A great way to enjoy the local community of writers and illustrators!
Join us for a casual event open to writers and illustrators at
If you are trying to get back into your writing, hoping to find motivation or information from others who love words–stop by! Bring business cards if you have some to share and take this opportunity to see the space available to writers at a discount through a recent partnership with Cedric’s Studio Meeting and Workspace. For More Info
Wednesday, March 20 7-8:30 pm
Julia Fox Garrison
Salem Athenaeum, 337 Essex St., Salem
Julia is the author of Don’t Leave Me This Way (or when I get back on my feet you’ll be sorry), a memoir that chronicles her struggle to regain control over her life and her body following a massive hemorrhage resulting in a paralyzing stroke. The success of the book and the message it conveys led to a new career path for Julia as a motivational speaker, evangelizing for humaneness in medicine, and in our work and in our personal relationships.
Julia has more than ten years of experience as an acclaimed national speaker. Before her stroke, Julia had a successful career as a manager in software customer support. Rapid advancement through the ranks of her company was within her grasp when she suffered the debilitating injury, effectively ending her career in the corporate world. And thus began her journey of rediscovery and reinvention as author, health care advocate and motivational speaker.
Julia was raised in Andover, MA, in a loving if chaotic household with eight brothers, an upbringing that no doubt made her battle-ready for the literal fight for her life. Julia lives with her husband Jim, son Rory, and dog Shaggy in a suburb outside Boston, where she is working on writing projects as she continues to overcome the effects of stroke. Ticketed Event. For More Info
Wednesday, March 20, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Linda McCarriston and Robert Booth
Gloucester Writer’s Center, 126 East Main St, Gloucester
Like Vincent Ferrini, poet Linda McCarriston is a native of Lynn. She has two sons and four granddaughters. It took her much longer to settle in Gloucester than it did Vincent (she treasures a copy of No Smoke that he gave her in 2002). Educated in Lynn’s Catholic schools, she won some high-school writing prizes. On the day she was to receive a Boston Globe journalism award, she was unable to get the afternoon off from her job and couldn’t attend the ceremony. She did get to the University of Alaska, where she taught poetry for 21 years; and she did get to the National Book Awards in 1992, for her second book of poems, Eva-Mary, which had won the Terrence Des Pres Prize. Her first and third books of poems, Talking Soft Dutch, and Little River, are likewise still in print. She has published poems widely, in The Atlantic, Poetry, and many other journals, and has received fellowships from the N.E.A, Vermont Council on the Arts, and the Bunting Institute of Radcliffe College. She has also published prose, especially on issues related to “the working class,” and is proud to say that her work, both teaching and writing, has often gotten her into trouble.
Robert Booth is a writer and the manager of a national mental healthcare nonprofit. He has written a few books of nonfiction, including a feminist history, The Women of Marblehead (2016); Mad For Glory (2015), about nation-building and imperialism in 1813; and Death Of An Empire (2011), about Salem’s demise as a world trading center (Boston Globe bestseller etc.). Booth is finishing one more book of history (Untamed Spirits, about Marblehead and Gloucester in the 1600s) but has been overcome by post-factualism and has turned to writing poems, fiction, scripts for documentary films, screenplays (Confession, based on his Salem book), and plays (The Long Trick, mainly about Gloucester). His hobbies are
Monday, March 25, 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Featured Scholar Series: A Conversation with Alexandria Peary About Her Book, Prolific Moment: Theory and Practice of Mindfulness for Writing
Salem State University, Berry Library and Learning Commons, North Campus, 4 College Drive, Salem
Erika Meitner is the author of five books of poems, including Holy Moly Carry Me (forthcoming in 2018 from BOA Editions), Copia (BOA Editions, 2014), and Ideal Cities (HarperCollins, 2010), which was a 2009 National Poetry Series winner. Her poems have been published in Best American Poetry 2011, Ploughshares, The New Republic, Virginia Quarterly Review, The Southern Review, Tin House, and elsewhere. She is currently an associate professor of English at Virginia Tech, where she directs the MFA and undergraduate creative writing programs.
Wednesday, March 26, 6:30 – 7:45 pm
Adult Poetry Workshop: Imagery – It Starts Here
Ipswich Public Library, 25 North Main Street, Ipswich
This workshop is part of a series of workshops offered by local poet and teacher Carla Panciera. Each session will explore a different topic in poetry. Join us for as many as you like, and then come share your work and listen to others at a reception and reading on April 10th here at the library. Registration Required. For More Info
Wednesday, March 27, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Brenda Coultas
Gloucester Writer’s Center, 126 East Main St, Gloucester
Brenda Coultas’ poetry can be found in the recent anthologies: Readings in Contemporary Poetry published by the DIA art foundation, What is Poetry (Just Kidding, I Know You Know) Interviews from the Poetry Project newsletter, (1983-2009) and Symmetries Three years of Art and Poetry at Dominque Levy. This fall Coultas was a featured blogger for Harriet, at the Poetry Foundation.org and in Bomb, Hurricane Review, and other journals. Books
Thursday, March 28, 7-8:30 pm
Dyan deNapoli: The Great Penguin Rescue
Salem Athenaeum, 337 Essex St., Salem
Dyan deNapoli is a penguin expert, a TED and Nat Geo speaker, and the award-winning author of THE GREAT PENGUIN RESCUE: 40,000 Penguins, A Devastating Oil Spill, and the Inspiring Story of the World’s Largest Animal Rescue.
After working as a Penguin Aquarist at Boston’s prestigious New England Aquarium for 9 years, Dyan began traveling the world as The Penguin Lady, teaching children and adults of all ages about penguin biology, behavior, and conservation. Over the last 23 years, she has captivated hundreds of thousands of audience members with stories of her various experiences with penguins, including her involvement in the largest animal rescue operation to date, and her deep passion and extensive knowledge about penguins. She donates 20% of the proceeds from her book and from every appearance to penguin rescue, research, and conservation groups. For More Info
April
Wednesday, April 3, 3:30 – 5 pm
Adult Poetry Workshop: Out of this World
Ipswich Public Library, 25 North Main Street, Ipswich
This workshop is part of a series of workshops offered by local poet and teacher Carla Panciera. Each session will explore a different topic in poetry. Join us for as many as you like, and then come share your work and listen to others at a reception and reading on April 10th here at the library. Registration Required. For More Info
Wednesday, April 3, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Yonghong Gu and Joseph Torra
Gloucester Writer’s Center, 126 East Main St, Gloucester
Yonghong Gu is from Suzhou, China. She is a visiting scholar at UMass Boston. She has studied history, literature, and business. She has worked in education and business. Joseph Torra is a poet, fiction writer, editor, and teacher. Being Exiled is a novel in progress by Yonghong Gu. She and Joseph Torra are currently translating the book into English. They will read from the novel, both in Chinese and English and discuss the translating process. For More Info
Thursday, April 4, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Poetry and Flash Fiction Contest Reception
Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, 14 Union Street, South Hamilton
Please join us for the Library’s 9th annual Teen Poetry and Flash Fiction Contest Reception. Our featured reception speaker is Daniel Sklar.
Mr. Sklar teaches creative writing at Endicott College. Some of his poems, plays, and stories have been published in the Harvard Review, the New York Quarterly, Madcap Review, Clockwise Cat, A Progressive Literary Magazine, The American Dissident, Nature Writing, The Somerville Times, the English Journal, and other magazines. His plays have been seen at the Actors Studio, the Firehouse Theater, and the Boston Theater Marathon. His latest book, Flying Cats, was published by Ibbetson Street Press. He rides a bicycle to work. Mr. Sklar has been a poetry contest judge every year since the first year of our contest.
Following Daniel Sklar’s presentation, the winning entries in the Teen Poetry and Flash Fiction Contest will be announced by the Library’s teen advisory board members. Contest entrants must be present at the Reception to win. For More Info
Saturday, April 6, 2 PM
Author Talk with Eric Jay Dolin: BLACK FLAGS, BLUE WATERS:
Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester
Set against the backdrop of the Age of Exploration, this slide-accompanied talk on Black Flags, Blue Waters reveals the dramatic and surprising history of American piracy’s “Golden Age”—spanning the late 1600s through the early 1700s—when lawless pirates plied the coastal waters of North America and beyond.
Eric is a bestselling author of books on American history, maritime history, wildlife, and the environment. Growing up near the coasts of New York and Connecticut, he was fascinated by the natural world, especially the ocean. At Brown University he came to realize that he wasn’t cut out for a career in science and shifted course, turning toward the field of environmental policy. Eric ultimately earned a Ph.D. in environmental policy and planning from MIT, where his dissertation focused on the role of the courts in the cleanup of Boston Harbor. For More Info
Sunday, April 7, 2-3:30 PM
Sisters in Crime Author Panel: Stealing from the Dead
Ipswich Public Library, 25 North Main Street, Ipswich
Stealing from the Dead: You don’t need to be an international spy to write a page-turning thriller, or
Sisters in Crime is a robust organization of mystery and thriller authors whose speakers span New York Times bestselling authors to emerging greats. Each engages and entertains while sharing their experiences in the fast-changing world of publishing. Registration is Required. For More Info
Wednesday, April 10, 6:30 – 7:45 pm
Poetry Reading and Celebration
Ipswich Public Library, 25 North Main Street, Ipswich
Open to all: come listen to the work of our spring workshop participants, share a poem you’ve written, or introduce the group to a poem or poet you love. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Ipswich Public Library For More Info
Thursday, April 11, 7:30-9:00 pm
Steven Rowley Author Event
Spirit of ’76 Bookstore, 107 Pleasant St, Marblehead
Join us as we welcome Steven Rowley, esteemed author of the breakout sensation Lily and the Octopus, discussing his newest book, The Editor. The Editor is set in 1992. It’s the story of a struggling young writer, who finally gets his big break. He is called into the offices at Doubleday to discuss his book with a real editor, only to discover the editor that is interested in his book is one of the most famous women alive; Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. This incredible novel tells the story of that
Writers Series: Jabari Asim
Salem State University, Ellison Campus Center, 1 Meier Drv, Salem
The Salem State Writers Series presents Jabari Assim on Thursday,
Jabari Assim is an associate professor of writing, literature
The evening will include selections from his new book, “We Can’t Breathe: On Black Lives, White Lies and the Art of Survival.” In “We Can’t Breathe,” Jabari Asim disrupts what Toni Morrison has exposed as the “Master Narrative” and replaces it with a story of black survival and persistence through art and community in the face of centuries of racism.
His forthcoming books include “My Baby Loves Christmas” (HarperCollins), “Going To Meet The Greatest” (Penguin/Nancy Paulsen), and “Sing It Like A God” (Penultimate Press).
His children’s books include the bestselling “Whose Toes Are Those”, “Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis”; and “A Child’s Introduction to African-American History.” His reviews, essays
His honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts, the Carter G. Woodson Award from the National Council for the Social Studies, a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award, an ALA Notable Children’s Book citation, and two NAACP Image Award nominations. For More Info
Sunday, April 14, 3-5 pm
Author Talk with Jane Healey: The Beantown Girls
A Fundraiser for The Clothing Connection, Espacio, 105 Congress Street, Salem
“The Beantown Girls” is a fictionalized account of the real-life Red Cross Clubmobile girls, who delivered doughnuts and coffee to Allied troops across Europe during WWII. The book’s author, Melrose novelist Jane Healey, will be giving a presentation on the Clubmobile Girls and her new book at a benefit for The Clothing Connection.
$15 donation, suggested only – all welcome to attend. To RSVP, email susanna.baird@gmail.com. If you can’t attend the event but would like a copy of the book (The Clothing Connection receives a portion of sales), also email Susanna, who will deliver the book to Salem and neighboring communities. For More Info
Saturday, April 20, 10 am -3 pm
Writing From the Five Senses
Nahant – Final location given after registration
No matter if you are an aspiring or seasoned writer, one rule is the same for us all; you need to put pen to paper and
Wednesday, April
Teen Poetry Contest
Beverly Public Library32 Essex Street, Beverly, MA, 01915
Starting at 7 PM in the Sohier Room the library will host a reception and awards ceremony for the Beverly Teen Poetry Contest held this winter. All
Author Evening: Alex Marzano-Lesnevich
Peabody Institute Library, 15 Sylvan St, Danvers
Join author Alex Marzano-Lesnevich as they discuss their true crime memoir The Fact of a Body!
Before Alex Marzano-Lesnevich began working at a law firm, they thought they were staunchly anti-death penalty. But once they heard convicted murderer Ricky Langley speak on his crimes, they realized they wanted him to die. Shocked by the reaction, they dug into the case, finding Langley’s story unsettlingly and uncannily familiar. An intellectual and emotional thriller as well as a murder mystery, The Fact of a Body explores the intersection of violent crime with personal history. It tackles the nature of forgiveness and if a single narrative can ever really contain the truth. It shows how the law is more personal than we like to believe—and the truth more complicated and powerful than we can imagine. For More Info
Saturday, April 27, 12 pm
Writing Workshop: Walking Salem
Salem Athenaeum, 337 Essex St., Salem
Information TBD Here
Newburyport Literary Festival
Saturday, April 26-27, 2019
Location and time and list of authors, TBD For More Info
Thursday, April 30, 7- 9 PM
Author Evening: Michael R. McGowan
Peabody Institute Library, 15 Sylvan St, Danvers
Details to follow. For More Info
May
Wednesday, May 22, 7-9 pm
Julie Dobrow: After Emily
Salem Athenaeum, 337 Essex St, Salem
When Emily Dickinson died in 1886, she was unknown outside the small circle of her family and friends. Her sister, Lavinia, promised she would burn all of Emily’s papers once she was gone. But Lavinia could not bring herself to destroy the remarkable cache of nearly 1,800 poems she discovered after Emily’s death. Instead she sought an editor, a person who knew and loved Emily, who could decipher the confusing manuscripts and put them into publishable form. Mabel Loomis Todd was that person. Though Emily and Mabel never met face-to-face, the friendship they had built through correspondence afforded Mabel the insight she would need as she and her daughter Millicent Todd Bingham built Emily’s literary legacy.
Julie Dobrow, a journalist and a professor at Tufts University and author of AFTER EMILY, a new biography that weaves together the stories of Emily, Mabel, and Millicent using hundreds of primary source materials, many of which have never before been quoted in published works. Dobrow pored over hidden diaries, long-lost letters, and rarely seen documents. Her work allows readers to hear the thoughts, hopes, and sorrows of these women in their own words—from the unforgettable feuds between Mabel and members of the Dickinson
Recurring Meet-Ups & Open Mics
Below is a listing of writing groups and writing meet-ups happening in the area. We do our best to keep this up-to-date but please click the link to confirm weekly meeting times with the group’s web page. Want to add your group? Email ellorelizabeth@gmail.com.
Salem State Veteran Writers Workshop
First Tuesday of the month
Location alternates monthly between Salem State and Salem VFW Post 1524
A monthly writing workshop that provides military veterans and civilians an open forum in which to explore writing among peers. Writing prompts will be given, followed by workshopping and conversation. Our location alternates monthly between Salem State and Salem VFW Post 1524. For More Info
Ipswich Poetry Group
Dates/Times: 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 6:30 PM
Location: Ipswich Library, Collins Room, 25 N Main St, Ipswich
The Ipswich Poetry Group meets to share poems in progress and give and receive feedback. All are welcome! Email ipswichpoetrygroup@gmail.com with questions or call Sarah at 617-584-7025. For more info
North Shore Poets’ Forum Meetings
Dates/Times: 3rd Saturday of the month at 11 am – 1:30 pm
Location: Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex St, Beverly
Members are asked to bring a little bit of food or a beverage to share (cookies, little sandwiches, cheese, whatever). Each meeting will feature a presentation on a poet, movement or form that should be of general interest to members. After the program, members are encouraged to bring an original poem and six to 10 copies for members to offer gentle critique. For More Info
Open Mic
Dates/Times: 1st Monday of the month, 7:30 – 9:30 PM
Location: Gloucester Writer’s Center, 126 East Main St, Gloucester
Read for five minutes. Bring your words. Get heard. For More Info
Amesbury Library Writers’ Group
Dates/Times: Monthly on the 1st Wednesday at 6:30 pm
Location: Amesbury Public Library, 149 Main St, Amesbury
The Amesbury Library Writers’ Group is an open group of writers who are currently working on writing projects. The purpose of the group is to meet to read and critique the writings of each group member. Each member is to be actively and regularly engaged in submitting their own work in progress for review, regularly reading the submissions of other members of the group, and regularly meeting in person to discuss their writings and the writings of the other group members. Writers in all genres are welcome to attend.
The group will meet the first Wednesday of every month. This group is open to anyone who would like to participate and an individual must attend two consecutive meetings of the group to have their work critiqued. This group will be run and facilitated by volunteeers
The library hosts a monthly poetry series with an open mic. Each month there will be a featured poet followed by a discussion, an open mic and light refreshments. Stephen Wagner, Amesbury Poet Laureate, hosts this event.
For More Info
Powow River Poets Reading Series
Dates/Times: Bimonthly, 2nd Saturday at 3 pm; next up Nov. 10
Location: Newburyport Public Library, 94 State St, Newburyport
The bimonthly series, is free and open to the public, and includes an Open Mic. Poetry enthusiasts are urged to attend. The Open Mic is limited to ten poets, so come early to the library to sign up. The time limit is one poem or two minutes, whichever is shorter, so please time your reading when you rehearse. For More Info
Readers & Writers Guild
Dates/Times: 3rd Friday of select months at 7:30 pm
Location: Christ Church, 149 Asbury Street, South Hamilton
Our Readers & Writers Guild meets to hear a featured reader as well as share open mic time, peruse attendee’s books for sale, and enjoy pot luck refreshments. Check website for upcoming dates. All are welcome! For More Info
River Bards Fall Poetry Series & Open Mic
Dates/Times: First Friday of the month at 7 pm
Location: Battle Grounds Coffee Company, Haverhill
Creative Haverhill’s River Bards present Fall Poetry Series and Open Mic nights at Battle Grounds Coffee Company! Each event will begin with a featured poet, followed by the open mic portion of the evening. Participants should limit their readings to 3-5 minutes. Sign ups are first come, first served on the night of the event. Food and drink are available for purchase! For More Info
Witch City Writers’ Workshop
Dates/Times: 3rd Monday of the month at 6:30 pm
Location: Varies between Beverly Library and the Cummings Center
Join our workshop! Please review submissions before you attend and be ready to offer feedback (written feedback is always welcome). Please also review the workshop guidelines in the drop-off folder. You are welcome to bring food/drink (no alcohol). Please bring a $2 cash contribution to workshop meetings to participate. If you prefer, you can bring $30 cash for a full year of no-fee workshops. For More Info
Writer’s Open Studio
Dates/Times: Every Tuesday at 8:40 am – 11:30 am
Location: Salem Athenaeum, 337 Essex St, Salem
Weekly Writing Studios at the Salem Athenaeum. The building will be open from 9:45-12:00 every Tuesday (unless announced otherwise). Feel free to come by and write in a quiet peaceful setting. Come for as long as you’d like–for 20 minutes or all three hours. For More Info
Salem Writer’s Group
Date/Time:
1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm
Location: Salem Athenaeum, 337 Essex St, Salem
All are welcome to bring work-in-progress to share with the group for feedback. The group is facilitated by J.D. Scrimgeour, Professor of English, Salem State University. For more info
Winter Street Writer’s
Date/Time: Last Tuesday of the Month 9:30 – 11 am
Location: Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex St, Beverly
We are a Beverly-based writing group.
For inquiries, please contact winterstreetwriters5@gmail.com
Poetry Open Mic
Date/Time: Last Tuesday of the Month 6-7 pm
Location: Amesbury Public Library, 149 Main St, Amesbury
The library hosts a monthly poetry series with an open mic. Each month there will be a featured poet followed by a discussion, an open mic and light refreshments. Stephen Wagner, Amesbury Poet Laureate, hosts this event. Learn More