April 2024 Author Readings And Community Events with The Seattle Public Library
release date: March 29, 2024
Celebrate April and National Poetry Month with The Seattle Public Library by visiting a citywide poetry installation, writing poetry that celebrates trees, exploring the influence of legendary science fiction writer Octavia Butler with Seattle Reads, hearing bestselling author Karl Marlantes read from his latest book “Cold Victory,” and more!
All Library events are free and open to the public. Find information and registration through the event links below or at spl.org/Calendar.
The Library offers a range of other free events and workshops in April, including story times, Homework Help, one-on-one business help and special and civic and community programs.
AUTHOR AND COMMUNITY EVENTS
- “Poetry in Place” - Citywide Civic Poetry Project. April 1 through April 30. During National Poetry Month, the Central Library and the South Park Branch will be part of a citywide public poetry installation organized by Seattle Civic Poet Shin Yu Pai that features short poems on Seattle places relating to sustainability. You can engage with the selected poems and visual elements of the campaign at sites including the two libraries, Wa Na Wari, Friends of Little Saigon, Seattle Municipal Tower, Belltown’s Slide Gallery and the Bureau of Fearless Ideas. Find out more: https://seattle.gov/arts/programs/civic-poet/shin-yu-pai
- “Neurodivergence and Poetry: An All-Levels Community Workshop” with Arianne True. 7 p.m. to 8:10 p.m., Thursday, April 4. Central Library, Level 4 - Room 1. Neurodivergent folks (and support people they'd like to bring) are invited to a workshop with Washington State Poet Laureate Arianne True on exploring how neurodivergence can make for very cool poems. The self-diagnosed and formally diagnosed are equally welcome. Arianne True (Choctaw, Chickasaw) is a queer poet and teaching artist from Seattle. This event is supported by The Seattle Public Library Foundation and the Gary and Connie Kunis Foundation. Registration is optional.
- Research and Resources for Writing the ‘Other’ with Melody Steiner: From 7 p.m. to 8:10 p.m., Tuesday, April 9. Central Library – Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium. As the second program in a three-part series on “Reading and Writing the Other,” curated by Nisi Shawl, author and research librarian Melody Steiner delves into ways our libraries and online search engines can guide us to the information we need for respectful, realistic depictions of differing communities in our writing. This event is supported by The Seattle Public Library Foundation and the Gary and Connie Kunis Foundation. Registration is required.
- Ladies Musical Club Concert. From noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 10. Central Library, Level 1 - Microsoft Auditorium. Join us for a Ladies Musical Club concert featuring a Debussy piano solo and songs by Luksan, Schubert, Brahms and more. Registration is not required.
- Elizabeth A. Nesbitt and David B. Williams Discuss “Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales.” From 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, April 20. Central Library – Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium. Paleontologist Elizabeth A. Nesbitt and science writer David B. Williams will discuss the amazing array of past life featured in their new book, "Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales: Fossils of Washington State." Registration is not required.
- Poetrees with Claudia Castro Luna. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 20. Columbia Branch Meeting Room. In honor of Earth Day and Poetry Month, former Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro Luna will lead an indoor/outdoor interactive workshop that celebrates trees through poetry. This event is supported by The Seattle Public Library Foundation and the Gary and Connie Kunis Foundation. Registration is required.
- Seattle Reads - eARThseed: How Octavia Butler's Work Inspires the Arts. From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, April 21. ARTE NOIR, 2301 E. Union Street, Suite H, Seattle. As part of this year’s Seattle Reads, which celebrates the legacy of Octavia Butler’s “The Parable of the Sower,” ARTE NOIR will host a conversation about Butler’s influence on the art world with visual artist Aramis Hamer, and photographer and filmmaker Berette Macaulay. Design researcher Brooke Bosley, Ph.D. will moderate.
- Seattle Reads - Reading Our Futures: A Black Futurist Book Club. From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 22. Loving Room: diaspora books + salon. 1400 20th Avenue, Seattle. As part of this year’s Seattle Reads programs, join Reading Our Futures -- a monthly Afrofuturist, African futurist, African jujuist, Black speculative fiction, sci-fi and fantasy book club -- for a discussion of "Parable of the Sower," facilitated by Brooke Bosley, Ph.D. Registration is required.
- 50 Years of Asian American Literary History at the University of Washington Press. From 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday, April 26. Central Library, Level 1 – Microsoft Auditorium. From the seminal anthology "Aiiieeeee!" and Carlos Bulosan's "America Is in the Heart" to the most recent publication, Willyce Kim's "Dancer Dawkins and the California Kid," join us for a celebration of the UW Press' contribution to Asian American literature in bringing classic works back into print and championing new writing. Hosted by Shawn Wong, the celebration will feature readings from Willyce Kim, Ching-In Chen, and Yanyi, with a Q&A moderated by Eunsong Kim. Registration is not required.
- Karl Marlantes discusses "Cold Victory.” From 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., Tuesday, April 30. Central Library, Level 1 – Microsoft Auditorium. Marlantes, bestselling local author of the modern classic "Matterhorn," will discuss his latest novel, a propulsive and sweeping novel in which loyalty, friendship, and love are put to the ultimate test. This event is supported by The Seattle Public Library Foundation and the Gary and Connie Kunis Foundation. Registration is required.
WRITING EVENTS AND BOOK CLUBS
- Low Vision Book Group. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 9. Central Library, Level 1 - Room 165. Join our Low Vision Book Group for a discussion of "Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Mysteries of World War II" by Robert Kurson.
- Write with Hugo House: Seattle Writes. From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 9. Fremont Branch. Write with Hugo House is a drop-in writing circle for adults of all experience levels. All genres of writing welcome. Registration not required.
- Virtual Write With Hugo House. From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 10. Join us for an online writing circle for all ages and genres of writing. Facilitated by poet Jeanine Walker, this circle will focus on generative writing through poetry prompts, but it’s designed for all writers. Registration is required.
- Writers Read. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, April 14. Columbia Branch meeting room. Join us for a monthly reading series with the African American Writers’ Alliance featuring an open mic and selected author readings from local writers. Registration is required.
- Write with Hugo House: Seattle Writes @ Douglass-Truth Branch. From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 18. Douglass-Truth Branch meeting room. Do you crave a dedicated space to write and connect with fellow writers? Our group, facilitated by Miz Portiontè Floes, provides just that.
MORE INFORMATION
The Library believes that the power of knowledge improves people's lives. We promote literacy and a love of reading as we bring people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community. Find more events at www.spl.org/Calendar.
Contact the Library’s Ask Us service by phone at 206-386-4636 or by email or chat at www.spl.org/Ask. Staff are ready to answer questions and direct you to helpful resources and information.