This week on The Reading Life: Susan talks with bestselling author Erica Spindler about her chilling new thriller, “The Look-Alike.”
Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week
Here in New Orleans:
- The LGBT Community Center of New Orleans, at 2727 S. Broad, holds a community book sale Sunday, January 26, until 3 p.m. The Center was the recipient of the book collection of Mr. John Smith, and an there is not enough space at the Center for all of the books. There are books on Black history, American history particularly of the South, spirituality, philosophy, self help, travel books, coffee table books, and an assortment of fiction.
- The Neighborhood Story Project hosts a book release celebration for “Return to Yakni Chitto: Houma Migrations,” photographs and essays by Monique Verdin, with an opening essay by Houma historian and philosopher Michael Dardar, poems by Ray Moose Jackson, and stories by Artspot Productions director Kathy Randels and Mondo Bizarro co-director Nick Slie! The event takes place Sunday, January 26, at 2 p.m. at the Neighborhood Story Project, 2202 Lapeyrouse St.
- Blue Cypress Books presents an afternoon with Alexis Braud, discussing and signing her new children’s book, “Cordelia’s Key,” Sunday, January 26, at 2:30 at Blue Cypress Books. Tickets available on Facebook and at Eventbrite.
- Erica Spindler signs her novel, “The Look-Alike,” Tuesday, January 28, at 7:00pm at Barnes & Noble (Metairie)
- Author and educator Carol Allen will lead a seminar for writers about creating children’s books, Thursday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.
Dogfish presents Robert Fieseler, author of Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation, & poet Karisma Price, visiting assistant professor of poetry at Tulane University, read and discuss their work, Thursday, January 30, from 7-10 p.m. at 2448 N. Villere.
- Bayou Magazine Launches Issue 72 at a party, Friday, January 31, from 7-10 p.m. at the Tigermen Den, 31113 Royal St.
- Contributors to the poetry anthology “On a Wednesday Night: Poems from the Creative Writing Workshop at the University of New Orleans,” edited by Kay Murphy, read from their work Saturday, February 1, from 2-4 p.m. at the Latter Library
- And coming up: 826 New Orleans presents Origin Stories, a discussion with Sarah Broom, 2019 National Book Award winner and author of The Yellow House, Jami Atttenberg, Sarah M. Broom, New York Times-bestselling author of All This Could Be Yours, and 826 New Orleans Young Writers' Council members Kawaynea Washington and Paige Mosley. The discussion will be moderated by 826 author and 4th grader Markia Jones. The event takes place Monday, February 3, from 6-9 at 826 New Orleans, 1750 St. Bernard Ave. This is a ticketed event, tickets available at Garden District Book Shop.
- Tulane University Special Collections announces a new exhibit: Where We Stand: Zines from New Orleans, on display now until April 3. at Tulane University Special Collections 2nd Floor Gallery, 6801 Freret Street, Joseph Merrick Jones Hall, on Tulane University’s Uptown campus. Hours are 10am–5pm Monday-Friday. Free admission. This exhibit featuring zines from the holdings of Tulane University Special Collections, Newcomb Archives, Amistad Research Center, and private collectors and creators, and was curated by Eli Boyne. The zine, short for magazine, is the epitome of do-it-yourself publishing. Made by anyone, photocopied or hand-printed, and easily accessible, zines are repositories for personal experiences, politics, art, or writing that might not be visible in mainstream culture. Nearly each zine presented in this exhibit was made in New Orleans. Zines ranging from the 1970s to today cover the topics of LGBTQ+ history and culture, Indigenous and African American history and culture, environmental and civil rights, science fiction and comics, personal experiences (perzines), Katrina and its aftermath, and Mardi Gras.
And in Baton Rouge:
Bryan Washington’s debut book, “Lot,” a collection of short stories, has won the 2019 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. He will receive the award Thursday, January 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the Manship Theatre at the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge.
Washington’s fiction and essays have appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Boston Review, and other publications. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Houston and a master’s in creative writing from the University of New Orleans. He is a lecturer at Rice University.
