TAIYON COLEMAN: Poet, author and literature professor at St. Catherine University discusses her book “Traveling Without Moving: Essays from a Black Woman Trying to Survive in America” in Friends of the St. Paul Public Library’s Fireside Reading series. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Rondo Community Library, 461 N. Dale St., St. Paul, or Zoom. Information at thefriends.org.
MARK GUSTAFSON: Presents “Sowing Seeds: The Minnesota Literary Renaissance & Robert Bly 1958-1980.” In conversation with Thomas R. Smith. 7 p.m. Thursday, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.
AARON LEVENTHAL: Launches “The New Fit: How to Own Your Fitness Journey in Your 40s, 50s and Beyond.” 7 p.m. Tuesday, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.
LITERARY BRIDGES: Hosts a special program featuring co-host/curator Stanley Kusunoki looking back at his tenure with the series that he has co-hosted for seven years with Donna Isaac and Jeanne Lutz. It will be bittersweet as Lutz is leaving to fill a board position at the Traffic Zone Center for Visual Art and Kusunoki is moving to Duluth. Advance copies will be available of “Social Studies,” Kusunoki’s new poetry collection due out in spring. Other featured readers include Isaac, Lutz, Mary Jo Thompson, Margaret Hasse, Sharon Chmielarz, Micah Ruelle and Claudia Hampston Daly. Literary Bridges began as separate reading series — Bridges, hosted by Kusunoki, and Literary Lights, hosted by Isaac. When the venue they shared folded, the two series merged into Literary Bridges to forge connections — bridges — across cultures. 2 p.m. Jan. 5, Next Chapter Booksellers, 38 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul.
MIDSTREAM READING SERIES: Presents Jim Lenfestey, Lia Rivamonte, Zach Goldberg and Naomi Cohn, hosted by Marg Walker. Free. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Unity Church-Unitarian, 732 Holly Ave., St. Paul.
DAVID M. PERRY: Presents “Oathbreakers: The War of Brothers that Shattered an Empire and Made Medieval Europe,” in conversation with Adam Stemple. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.
What else is going on
Sybil Smith (Minnesota Fishing Museum and Hall of Fame)
Our literary community lost a pioneer independent publisher in December with the death of author Sybil Smith. According to independent publishing professional Pat Morris, Smith became ill on a plane to New Orleans where she was planning to leave for a cruise, and was hospitalized with heart failure.
“Sybil was a fixture in Twin Cities publishing for decades as a writer, publisher, instructor, and consultant,” Morris wrote to the Pioneer Press. “Smith House Press published books on health and healing, including one of the earliest books on fibromyalgia, and Finns Publications published Sybil’s popular ‘The Twin Cities Fishing Guide’ (which sold 80,000 copies when it was first published in 1993) and other fishing guides and maps. She served two terms as president of Midwest Independent Publishers Association and conducted multiple community education classes on publishing and fishing, In 2021 she was inducted into Minnesota’s Fishing Hall of Fame.”
Minneapolis author Marissa Bader’s children’s book “Petunia the Perfectionist” has been chosen as one of Kirkus Reviews’ Best Independently Published titles of 2024, celebrated for its compelling story, relatable characters and vibrant illustrations. It’s about a likable perfectionist who spends her days trying to avoid mistakes until one slip-up sparks an unexpected chain of inspiration for everyone, including herself. Kirkus Review’s recognition of the book compliments the author for underscoring the importance of its message — embracing imperfection as a path to creativity, flaws and all.
Related Articles
Moving to France for 6 months taught Shoreview man about wine, food and belonging
Shoreview author’s pasta and clams recipe offers a taste of France
Readers and writers: Coffee table books to wrap up the year
Family travel 5: Read the book, then visit the setting
‘The Great Gatsby’ turning 100, and the place to celebrate is St. Paul
Leave a Reply