William Evans, author of “We Inherit What The Fires Left,” had been scheduled to read with local poet Raych Jackson at Volumes Books.
Due to social distancing related to the virus and Governor Pritzker’s mandate to remain indoors, many musicians are offering online entertainment. If you’re looking for literary inspiration, here’s a compilation of upcoming readings in March and April.
1 Costura Creative Living Room Series This series has been up and running and this installment features William Evans, Julian Randall, Natalie Scenters-Zapico, Cameron Awkward-Rich and Camonghne Felix. March 23, 7pm CST
2 #TheQuarantineReadingSeries Southern poet and essayist Aurielle Marie is organizing this event with poets Kay Barrett, Rachel McKibbens, Faylita Hicks, Joy Priest, Porsha Olayiwola, Alán Palaez Lopez, Vanessa Angélica Villarreal and torrin a. greathouse. March 25, March 26, March 27, 7pm CST
3 Readings by Writers The literary organization Writing by Writers starts this series on Thursday evenings with author and event organizer Pam Houston. Upcoming dates include Paul Lisicky, Lidia Yuknavitch, Rebecca Solnit and Carolyn Forche. March 26, 7pm CST
4 The Virtual Book Club LitHub’s The Virtual Book Club (The VBC) kicks off regular Friday programming with readings and literary shows. March 27
5 Black Ladies Brunch Collective Teri Ellen Cross Davis of D.C.’s Folger Shakespeare Library and the Black Ladies Brunch Collective hosts a reading on Zoom featuring Saida Agostini, Katy Richey and others. March 28, 2-3:30pm CST
6 No Desk Poetry Concert This New York City-based series hosted by John Paul Davis and Mahogany Browne will stream on Instagram Live from @BoweryPoetry. This installment features Eve Ewing, Aja Monet, Willie Perdomo, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Emily Rose and Aaron Samuel. March 29, 3pm-6pm CST
7 Revolving Door Reading Series Chicago’s own Jennifer Steele will host a series of readings on Zoom starting 4/1 and 4/15, 7pm. The reading on 4/8 takes place at 8pm. The first reading will include George Abraham and Arielle Greenberg. April 1
Newcity Lit Editor Tara Betts is the author of “Break the Habit” and “Arc & Hue.” Her interviews and features have appeared in publications such as Hello Giggles, Mosaic Magazine, NYLON, The Source, Sixty Inches from Center, and Poetry magazine. She also hosts author chats at the Seminary Co-Op bookstores in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood.
A Literary Parthenon: A Review of “BLAB! Volume 1” For the uninitiated, "BLAB Volume 1" makes "BLAB"’s mission quite clear. "BLAB" is a comics anthology concerned with comics itself: presenting, preserving, and commenting on the history of the medium.
Reassembling Home: Nishanth Injam and the Journey To "The Best Possible Experience" This new collection of short stories by Injam, published this month, includes themes centered largely around the notion of home, identity, and the lives of immigrants. “The book began…from the impulse to reassemble home and keep my country next to me.”
