#8: April 2024
Poetry slams, midnight book releases, & more!
Welcome back to Camberville Lit!
Spring is in full swing, and literary events are popping up all over town. If you apply to any opportunities or attend any events that you found out about through this newsletter, we’d love to hear about them!
Grants, Awards, & Programming
[Massachusetts] Seeking Slam Staff Volunteers
Mass Poetry is seeking poetry slam bout staff for the Write Here | Write Now | Speak Loud! Teen Spoken Word Festival! On May 4th and 5th we will be hosting both a Team and an Individual Poetry Slam. We are looking for bout managers, time keepers, scorekeepers, and venue managers! If you have some knowledge of slam culture and are interested in offering some of your wisdom and experience, please fill out our slam bout staff volunteer form at the link!
[Massachusetts] Reading Frederick Douglass Together
Each year, Mass Humanities organizes and funds free public events where communities gather together to read and talk about Frederick Douglass’ influential address, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Organizations interested in hosting an event can propose any format for the reading and discussion that will foster a rich and productive community conversation. Monthly deadlines from Jan-June.
Residencies & Fellowships
[Massachusetts] The Studios at Mass MoCA
The Studios is MASS MoCA’s artist and writers residency program situated within the museum’s factory campus and surrounded by the beautiful Berkshire Mountains. Operated by MASS MoCA’s Assets for Artists department, the residency runs year-round and hosts up to 10 artists at a time. Artists of any nationality can apply for stays of 2 or 4 weeks. There is a special fellowship for Massachusetts artists in all disciplines, as well as other fellowships and financial aid available. Apply for the January-June 2025 residencies by June 8.
Local Events
[Boston] Midnight Release Party: Funny Story by Emily Henry
Monday, April 22 at 10pm
Porter Square Books is thrilled to join hundreds of bookstores across the country in presenting a special Midnight Release Party for Funny Story! Pick up your trivia sheets on the way in. All completed (and correct!) trivia sheets will be entered into a raffle for some swell prizes. Please note: this event will take place at our Boston location!
[Virtual] How to Make a Poetry Book
Sunday, April 28, 7-8:30pm on Zoom
In this workshop hosted by DIY MFA, we will be discussing how to put together a poetry book, from concept to layout and publishing options. We’ll be looking closely at the work of poet Adam Stone who will also be joining us, and talking about Valerie Loveland’s new publication, a collection of poems about the Unsolved Mysteries series.
[Cambridge] Tara Conklin, author of Community Board, in conversation with Joanna Rakoff
Wednesday, May 1 at 7pm
Porter Square Books is thrilled to welcome New York Times bestselling author Tara Conklin for the paperback release of her novel Community Board, a wise, timely, big-hearted novel of unplanned isolation and newly forged community. Author Joanna Rakoff will join Conklin in conversation.
[Boston] Write Here | Write Now | Speak Loud! Teen Spoken Word Festival
Friday, May 3 at 6pm through Sunday, May 5 at 7pm
Join us for Mass Poetry’s first-ever Teen Spoken Word Festival. This three-day, statewide event will take place at the GrubStreet Center for Creative Writing and the Institute of Contemporary Art. It will feature team and individual poetry slams, youth-centered workshops, open mics, special events, and more!
Local Project Spotlight
[Bliss Bennet] Not Quite a Scandal Book Release
Cambridge author Bliss Bennet's latest historical romance, Not Quite a Scandal, will be released this April 2024! Will an outspoken Quaker’s plans to marry her best friend be dashed after he unexpectedly inherits an earldom—and his aloof, urbane cousin insists he give over both his religion and his bride-to-be?
[Side Quest Books & Games] April Pop-Up!
Side Quest is a woman-owned pop-up shop for fantasy books, indie role-play games and small-batch gaming accessories from women and underrepresented creators. Until the end of April, catch their pop-up on the second floor at Bow Market!
Are you hosting an event, launching a book, looking for a writer’s group, or running a workshop sometime soon? Let me know via this handy form and I’ll review it for next month’s issue!
Our next issue is schedule for: Sunday, May 19.
Until next time,
Kay Marlow Allen (they/them)
Editor, Camberville Lit