Ten events this week in the Buffalo literary community.

Monday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m.: Talking Leaves Books and Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center presents a conversation between journalist Jim Shultz, author of Lessons from Lockport (State University of New York Press) and investigative journalist Jim Heaney, founder and editor of Investigative Post. The two seasoned journalists will talk about the politics of journalism and the journalism of politics, especially in this historical moment. This event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of Talking Leaves Books.

About the book:

During a time of great national division and a growing working-class rebellion that has turned American politics on its head, a longtime liberal activist moves to a small town in the conservative northwest corner of New York State. He becomes a weekly opinion columnist for the city’s two-hundred-year-old daily newspaper. His columns force light into the dark corners of local politics and provoke local debate over national issues, from guns to climate change. Dozens of people begin to speak to him about his columns, in stores, on the street, in playgrounds, and beyond. His columns also spark fierce debate in a community Facebook group that includes almost everyone in town. The result is an up-close education about what makes small-town America tick, just as small towns like this one are driving a national political upheaval. Told through stories that will entertain readers as well as make them think, Lessons from Lockport offers a unique look at one of the most misunderstood corners of American culture.

About the author:

Jim Shultz is the Founder and Executive Director of the Democracy Center, a longtime advocacy advisor to UNICEF, and a contributing writer at The New York Review of Books. He is the author of five previous books, including The Democracy Owners’ Manual: A Practical Guide to Changing the World and Dignity and Defiance: Stories from Bolivia’s Challenge to Globalization.

Tuesday, Sept. 30, 6 p.m.: Book talk and signing with Buffalo-based author P.A. Kane, author of the novel Larry Plumb is Still Here. Lackawanna Public Library, 560 Ridge Rd. Lackawanna, NY 14218. Free and open to the public.

Tuesday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Tuesday Night Open Mic Series at the Em Tea Coffeecup Café. All are welcome whether new to poetry or a long-time member of the community. 80 Oakgrove Ave., Buffalo, NY. Free and open to the public.

Wednesday, Oct.1,  7 p.m.: The Buffalo Newspaper Guild presents: The Future of Local Journalism, A Community Conversation featuring:

-Maki Becker, Reporter, WKBW
-Jon Harris, Reporter, The Buffalo News
-Geoff Kelly, Associate Editor, Investigative Post
-Charles Gilbert, Executive Producer, What’s Next
-Dave Greber, Anchor, WIVB
-Elizabeth Licata, Moderator, The Buffalo News

Free and open to the public.

Burchfield Penny Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo.
 
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 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, Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m.: CFI Literary Café Series reading hosted by poet Ryki Zuckerman and featuring poets Dallas Taylor and Gary Earl Ross.
Center for Inquiry, 1310 Sweet Home Rd. in Amherst. The event free and open to the public.

About the authors:

Dallas Taylor is a Buffalo-based poet, writer, and performer whose work explores the intersections of language, rhythm, and cultural storytelling. Blending spoken word with raw emotion, his poetry attempts captures themes of identity, resilience, and human connection. You can follow his work on his YouTube channel, on Substack, and on Instagram.

Gary Earl Ross is a novelist, playwright, short story writer, essayist, poet, audiobook narrator, director, and occasional actor. For over three decades, he was a University at Buffalo EOC language arts professor and is professor emeritus from UB now.

His works include the short story collections The Wheel of Desire (2000) and Shimmerville (2002); the children’s tale, Dots (2002); the historical novel Blackbird Rising (2009); and the stage plays Sleepwalker (2002), Picture Perfect (2007), The Best Woman (2007), Murder Squared (2010), The Scavenger’s Daughter (2012), The Mark of Cain (2014), The Guns of Christmas (2014), and Matter of Intent, winner of the 2006 Edgar Allan Poe Award from Mystery Writers of America.

He is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Private Eye Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, the Dramatist Guild, and a Teaching Artist at Just Buffalo Literary Center. He lives in Buffalo, N.Y, the setting for all his Nickel City and Gideon Rimes mystery series of novels.

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 9 p.m.: Poetry Night at Caffe Aroma, biweekly open mic reading series hosted by Ben Brindise and Justin Karcher. 957 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. Free and open to the public.

Thursday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m.: The Canisius University Contemporary Writing Series presents it 21st annual Hassett Reading: “The Humanities, Education, and Democracy” with Dame Louise Richardson, President of the Carnegie Corporation. Montante Cultural Center, 2001 Main St., Buffalo. Free and open to the public.

Saturday, Oct. 4, Noon to 2 p.m.: ARTS FOR SOMETHING!: Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art and Civic Arts (an ASI-funded project by teaching artist Robin Lee Jordan) have partnered to create  Arts for Something! — a FREE visual/written arts & advocacy program for young artists (ages 14-19) held the first Saturday of every month (October through June) at The Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art, 30D Essex St., Buffalo.
 
Arts for Something! will be a unique opportunity for young people to get more involved in their community and to develop their civic + artistic skills and imaginations! Plus, we’ll end with a group exhibition at BICA’s beautiful gallery, and an anthology. 

The program begins Oct 4th with a collage + found poetry workshop with teaching artist Robin Lee Jordan! While youth are welcome to simply drop-in, they are strongly encouraged to register to secure a spot as we are capping each session at 20 young artists. Contact https://www.thebica.org/arts-for-something for further information.

Sunday, Oct. 5, 2 p.m.: Book launch reading for Peter Siedlecki’s latest collection of poems Beginning at the Left (BlazeVox Books). Siedlecki will read from his powerful new collection, a moving meditation on memory, language, and the beauty of everyday experience. He’ll be joined by poet and publisher Geoffrey Gatza, who will share selections from his own recent book, Self Geofferential. Brighton Place Library, 999 Brighton Road, Tonawanda, NY 14150.

About the author:

Peter Siedlecki is Professor Emeritus of English and Poet in Residence at Daemen University. He has taught and lectured widely, including as a Fulbright Senior Lecturer in literature at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, and at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany. He has coordinated the Readings at the RIC poetry series and served as director of the Catherine Burchfield Parker artist salon. Beyond literature, Siedlecki has been deeply engaged in music, from his days with the 1970s folk group The Circle to his present singing with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus and Calvary Episcopal Church Choir.