October Author Readings and Events with The Seattle Public Library
release date: September 30, 2024
Dive into fall with The Seattle Public Library’s author and community events in October, including a talk by Paul Lynch, Booker Prize winning author of “Prophet Song;” a discussion of “Homelessness Is a Housing Problem” with Gregg Colburn; and a live podcast taping of Text Me Back! With Lindy West & Meagan Hatcher-Mays.
All Library events are free and open to the public. Find information and registration through the event links below or at spl.org/Calendar. Many of these events are supported by The Seattle Public Library Foundation and the Gary and Connie Kunis Foundation.
AUTHOR AND COMMUNITY EVENTS
- Taste of Iceland presents "How Words Shape a City." From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4.National Nordic Museum. Join us for a conversation about the power of words in two UNESCO Cities of Literature, Reykjavik and Seattle, with Mayor of Reykjavik Einar Þorsteinsson, best-selling Icelandic authors Ragnar Jónasson and Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Seattle Civic Poet Shin Yu Pai and former Redmond Poet Laureate Melanie Noel. Stesha Brandon, The Seattle Public Library’s Literature & Humanities Program Manager and Program Manager at Seattle City of Literature, will moderate. Registration is required.
- Escribiendo e ilustrando cuentos de suspenso. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5 and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19. Central Library, Piso 4 - Sala 2. En este serie aprenderán a escribir e ilustrar una historia de suspenso. Las sesiones serán impartidas en español por dos artistas locales mexicanas: Maria de Lourdes Victoria, autora galardonada y Adriana Morales, reconocida artista visual. Students will learn how to write short suspense stories and various graphic techniques to illustrate their prose. No se requiere inscripción, Registration not required; No se requiere inscripción.
- Wine Down Wednesday with John Jennings and Damian Duffy. From 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9. Online. Grab a beverage and pull up as Sistah Scifi discusses all things Black speculative fiction with members of our community! Registration is required.
- Paul Lynch discusses “Prophet Song” with Paul Constant. From 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9. Central Library, Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium. Lynch will discuss his highly original novel “Prophet Song,”winner of the 2023 Booker Prize, which spins a terrifying, suspenseful vision of an Ireland careening towards authoritarianism. Event partners are Elliott Bay Book Company and Atlantic Monthly Press. Registration is required.
- Live podcast taping of Text Me Back! With Lindy West & Meagan Hatcher-Mays. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15. Central Library, Level 1 – Microsoft Auditorium. Join the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival for a special election preview podcast taping of Text Me Back! Registration is required.
- How to Cultivate Strong Communities with Citizen University. From 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17. Central Library, Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium. Join Citizen University to reflect on the questions: How can I help people constructively come together in my own community; how can I help heal civic culture right here? We’ll discuss time-tested strategies to strengthen our communities and build a plan to lean into your role as a “civic catalyst” in the months and years ahead.
- Midlife: Private Parts in Public: Intergenerational Care. From 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17. Central Library, Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium. Join guest curator Angela Garbes for the kickoff of a new series and a rich discussion on intergenerational care and interdependence, with Seattle writer Claire Dederer (“Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma”) and Western Washington University associate professor Jane Wong. Registration is not required.
- Poets Against Hate. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19. Central Library, Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium. Seattle-King County-Regional literary organizations have joined together to present the work of poets who represent the work they do every day to fight injustice and inequity in our city, county, and state. Registration is required.
- Citizenship for All: Storytelling through NongGi Making with Aram Han Sifuentes. From noon to 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 20. Central Library, Level 4, Room 1. Level 4 – Room. Artist Aram Han Sifuentes will guide participants through storytelling and hands-on creation to make a NongGi (Korean folk banner). Registration is required.
- Gregg Colburn Discusses “Homelessness is a Housing Problem.” From 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 22. In this book, housing scholar Gregg Colburn and data journalist Clayton Aldern seek to explain the substantial variation in rates of homelessness apparent in cities across the United States. Registration is required.
- Rachel Kushner Presents “Creation Lake.” From 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 23. Central Library, Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium. Rachel Kushner, Booker Prize finalist and two-time National Book Award finalist, will discuss “Creation Lake”with local writer Phil Neel. “Creation Lake” is about a seductive and cunning American woman who infiltrates an anarchist collective in France.
- Jeff VanderMeer Discusses “Absolution” with Madeline Ostrander. From 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 28. Central Library, Level 1 Microsoft Auditorium. Jeff VanderMeer and Seattle writer Ostrander discuss "Absolution," the surprise fourth volume in VanderMeer’s Southern Reach series. “Absolution” is the final word on one of the most provocative and popular speculative fiction series of our time. Registration is required.
WRITING EVENTS AND BOOK CLUBS
- Low Vision Book Group. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8. Central Library, Level 1 - Room 165. Join our Low Vision Book Group for a discussion of "1984" by George Orwell.
- Write with Hugo House: Seattle Writes. From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8. 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, Oct. 9. 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.
- It's About Time Writers Reading Series. From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 10. Ballard Branch Meeting Room. It's About Time Writers Reading Series features author readings and open mics. Registration is not required.
- Writers Read. From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13. 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.
- El Club Latino. From 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13. Central Library Level 8 - Meeting Room. Únase al Club deLectura de la Biblioteca Central. El libro de este mes es: "El clima de Los Angeles" de María Amparo Escandón. No se requiere inscripción.
- Poetry Potluck. From 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16. Ballard Branch Meeting Room. Join our informal gathering to read aloud and listen to poems by writers throughout the world and across time. Registration is not required.
- Write with Hugo House: Seattle Writes. From 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct.17. 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.
- Pop Up Book Sale. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19. Northeast Branch. Find books and gifts for all ages at the Friends of The Seattle Public Library’s pop-up sale. Registration is not required.
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.