Five events this week in the Buffalo literary community, including a return visit by fiction writer Brock Clarke to Buffalo in the Exhibit X Fiction Series.

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.: Ground and Sky Poetry Roundtable, informal reading and poetry discussion group led by Joel Lesses. Format is ‘no mic, no list, no podium,’ but an organic discussion of life and poetry. Inspiration Point, 483 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. Free and open to the public. Program also available via Zoom. Contact www.educationtrainingcenterinc.com/ for the link.

Wednesday, Nov.5, 7:30 p.m.: CFI Literary Café Series reading hosted by poet Ryki Zuckerman and featuring poets John Burroughs and Susan Nusbaum.

About the authors:

John Burroughs is an American poet, writer, performer, and publisher known for his association with the Beat poetry movement, having served as both Ohio Beat Poet Laureate and the U.S. National Beat Poet Laureate. He is the founder and publisher of Crisis Chronicles Press and an author of multiple books and chapbooks, including Rattle and Numb: Selected and New Poems and The Wrest of the Worthwhile. His work is characterized by its musicality and often addresses themes of social injustice and the human condition.

Susan Dworski Nusbaum is the author of the full-length poetry collections What We Take With Us (2014) and Open Wide, The Eye (2016), Alive in This Place (2019) and This Uncertain Voyage (2024), all published by Coffeetown Press. This poem will appear in her forthcoming Sign Language, to be release in August of 2026 by Finishing Line Press. Born in Rochester, and a graduate of Smith College and the University at Buffalo Law School, she lives in Buffalo, where she has worked as a teacher, arts administrator, and criminal prosecutor.

Center for Inquiry, 1310 Sweet Home Rd. in Amherst. The event free and open to the public.

Thursday, Nov. 6, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: The University at Buffalo Exhibit X Fiction Series presents author Brock Clarke. (Conversation with Brock Clarke begins at 5 p.m. Reading begins at 6 p.m.)

About the Author

Brock Clarke is the author of ten books, most recently the short story collection Special Election, the novel Who Are You, Calvin Bledsoe? and the essay collection I, Grape; or The Case for Fiction. His earlier books include The Happiest People in the World, An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England and the short story collection The Price of the Haircut.

His individual stories and essays have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Boston Globe, Ploughshares, Virginia Quarterly Review, The Sewanee Review, One Story, The Believer, Georgia Review, New England Review, The Cincinnati Review, and Southern Review, as well as in the annual Best American Essays, Pushcart Prize and New Stories from the South anthologies, and on NPR’s Selected Shorts. He lives in Portland, Maine, and is the A. LeRoy Greason Professor of English and Creative Writing at Bowdoin College.

Event location: UB Center for the Arts Art Gallery, CFA Room 103 (1st door on left from the front entrance off the circle. UB North Campus.). Free and open to the public. Clarke’s books will be available for purchase and signing at the event courtesy of Talking Leaves Books.

Thursday, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.: Just Buffalo Literary Center presents Teachers ARE Writers with City of Buffalo poet laureate Aitina Fareed-Cooke. This creative writing workshop will provide space for school teachers and educators to explore their own creative work and writing practice, with space for discussion and exploration.

This workshop is free and aimed at teachers. BPS teachers can register on PGS; non-BPS teachers register by emailing Molly Eldridge at MEldridge@buffaloschools.org

About the artist

Aitina Fareed-Cooke is an accomplished creative arts strategist who has developed a strong reputation for her work with a diverse range of creatives, entrepreneurs, educators, and emerging artists. With a wide range of artistic skills encompassing poetry, creative writing, photography, film, music, and graphic design, Aitina has provided creative services to tens of thousands of individuals, including youth, educators, and nonprofit organizations. Known for her exceptional creative problem-solving abilities, Aitina’s expertise has proven invaluable in delivering innovative solutions tailored to the specific needs of each project, making her a highly sought-after professional in the industry.

Aitina earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Masters in Science & Education from Buffalo State University. With an extensive career spanning nearly 20 years, Aitina has worked with numerous non-profit organizations, companies, artists and entrepreneurs throughout the country. During this time, she has successfully developed, managed, and implemented arts and education programs, effectively mobilizing youth, emerging artists, entrepreneurs, and educators to foster growth in creative problem-solving, social awareness, and entrepreneurship.

Currently, Aitina is the Founder and Creative Director at Get Fokus’d Productions, which is a prominent award-winning Creative Media Arts company. As a nationally recognized recording artist, Aitina has executively produced and written 3 albums that have accumulated over 1 million streams collectively. Her work within music has earned her multiple prestigious awards and has garnered acclaim from esteemed figures in the industry, including Grammy award winners like Lecrae and Derek Minor. Additionally, she serves as a foundation board member at Buffalo State University and as a board member at CEPA Gallery. Aitina’s expertise and exceptional contributions have garnered her multiple awards, accolades, and substantial funding for a variety of creative arts projects.

Aitina has received awards, recognition, and features through NYSCA, CRNY, Citizen’s Bank, Arts Services Inc., 43North’s Ignite Buffalo, Just Buffalo, CEPA Gallery, Buffalo State University, Canisius College, the National Society of Leadership & Success, Kingdom Choice, Buffalo Urban League, NPR’s Buffalo What’s Next, WBFO, Upstart New York, Challenger News, Buffalo News, Buffalo State Alumni Magazine, National Young Audiences Emerging Leaders, DJ Booth, Rapzilla, and Trackstarz.

Aitina’s original and curatorial work has been exhibited at Buffalo State University, CEPA Gallery, Jamestown Community College, Thiel College, Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Burchfield Penney Art Center, Buffalo Arts Studio, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, and the Erie County Public Library.

Friday, 6:30 p.m.: Blue Bag Press presents LIMITED PALLETTE 10: Dancing at the Upset Disco featuring readings and performances by Brooklyn-based poet Geoffrey Olsen, author of Nerves Between Song (Beautiful Days Press) and six chapbooks; Yuyi Chen, author of the chapbook EROTIC CONTINENT (Discount Guillotine, 2025); Thom Eichelberger-Young, publisher of Blue Bag Press; and Buffalo-based visual and intermedia artist Silas Rubeck.

Rust Belt Books, 415 Grant St., Buffalo. Free and open to the public.