The Reading Life with Julie Kane

This week on The Reading Life: Susan talks with former state poet laureate Julie Kane, whose powerful new collection of work is “Mothers of Ireland.”

 Here’s what’s on tap in the literary life this week

Here in New Orleans:

• 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.
• The National World War II Museum, New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders, and the Gay and Lesbian Archives Project of Louisiana present a screening of a 15-minute long animated film "Minor Accident of War," based on a poem by writer and poet Edward Field. The screening takes place Monday, February 3, from 5-7 p.m. at the National World War II Museum. Field, who is 95, flew 27 missions during World War II. Twenty years later in 1965, he wrote a poem about one of those harrowing missions on February 3, 1945. A panel discussion will immediately follow the film screening with First Lieutenant Field and the filmmakers. This event is free and open to the public but please register at nationalww2museum.org.
• Maurice Carlos Ruffin appears in conversation with Daniel Jose Older to celebrate the paperback publication of “We Cast a Shadow,” Tuesday, February 4, at 6 p.m. at Octavia Books.
• The St. Charles Center for Faith in Action hosts a discussion by Elizabeth Rogers, author of Faith in American Public Life, with Tulane University's Rob Lalka, Tuesday Feb. 4, at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church, 7100 St. Charles Ave. Ticketed reception at 5:30; free ticketed public lecture at 6:30. Tickets available at Facebook and Eventbrite.
• Elizabeth Fox discusses her book, “We Are Going to Be Lucky: A World War II Love Story in Letters” with Tyler Bamford, Leventhal Research Fellow with the Institute for the Study of War and Democracy, Thursday, February 6, the National World War II Museum. Free but register at nationalww2museum.org. Reception at 5, presentation at 6, booksigning at 7 p.m.
• Erin Hunter (also known as Gillian Phillip) discusses and signs “Bravelands: The Spirit Eaters,” the fifth in this series, Thursday, February 6, at 6 p.m. at Garden District Book Shop.
• One Book One New Orleans presents Dialogue on Dent, a discussion of the life and work of Tom Dent Tuesday, February 6, from 6-9 p.m. at the Will Alexander Library at Dillard University. “New Orleans Griot: The Tom Dent Reader” is this year’s selection. Panelists include New Quorum Director Gianna Chachere, Dillard University archivist John Kennedy, actress and storyteller Adella Gautier, Amistad Research Center deputy director Christopher Harter, and theater director Chakula cha Jua, with moderator Dillard University professor Nancy Dixon.
• The Saturday Writers’ Clinic at the East Bank Regional Library takes place Saturday, February 8. Creative nonfiction writer Reine Dugas discusses Why Writers Should Journal at 9:30 a.m., followed by novelist Yvette Canoura, author of “Mediterranean Sunset,” who discusses her writing process and the self- publishing experience at 11 a.m.
• The Friends of the New Orleans Public Library hold a front porch book sale, Saturday, February 8, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Latter Library.
• Former state poet laureate Julie Kane discusses and signs her new poetry collection, “Mothers of Ireland,” Sunday, February 9, at 1:30 at Garden District Book Shop.
• The New Orleans Public Library is sponsoring a Black History Month Student Poster Design Contest. All entries will be judged on creativity, artistic merit, and best representation of the 2020 Black History Month theme: “African Americans and the Vote." Winning posters will be displayed at all 15 Library locations. Copies of the winning posters will be given to winners and their schools. The deadline is Saturday, February 29 at 5 p.m., and to enter, pick up a form at any library. The New Orleans Public Library is also is again hosting an Adult Writing Contest for this Year's Black History Month, and it's open to any and all writers in Orleans Parish! Poetry, Stories, & Essays, on the theme of “Roots” are welcome. Deadline is Feb. 28.
• 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 2^nd 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.