Kaki Sjogren and Elizabeth K. Gordon  lead a discussion based on the book Walk With Us: Triplet Boys, Their Teen Parents & Two White Women Who Tagged Along by Elizabeth K Gordon

..."In Philadelphia's badlands, traumatized but resilient teens and two middle-aged, privileged white women reach across differences of age, race, class, education, religion and more to try to forge a hopeful future for at-risk triplet babies." 

Monday, October 5, 6 PM

Featuring

The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to

Writing Flash Fiction

This is an unprecedented gathering of brief essays, exercises and brand new stories by experts in the field – including authors Robert Olen Butler, Ron Carlson, Kim Chinquee, Stuart Dybek and Jayne Anne Phillips.

Mark is also the author of My Life at First Try and editor of Vestal Review, a magazine of flash fiction.

JUMPSTART’S READ FOR THE RECORD

Thursday, October 8, 9:30 – 12:30 AM

Binghamton University Nature Preserve

The Penguin Group, in partnership with the Friends of Binghamton University Nature Preserve will host a reading of The Very Hungry Caterpillar at the nature preserve.  The event aims to beat the current Guinness Book Record of 425,000 children reading the same book on the same day nationwide.  Before the reading, there will be a guided walk to the footbridge at the beaver dam and back.  Various bugs, wildlife and flora will be shown to the children during the walk.  The event also will include craft activities, a drawing for a complete children’s library and a free copy of the book for all participants under age 10.  Join us!

Reading from The Binghamton Poems and The Great Death

http://www.johnsmelcer.com/books.html

 

John Smelcer is currently teaching at Binghamton University and is the award-winning author of over 40 books published in an eclectic range of interests. Aside from John's many novels and poetry collections, he has published books in history, mythology, anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, as well as anthologies, plays, screenplays, and children’s picture books. His short stories, poems, interviews, and essays -- read by millions -- appear in over 400 magazines and journals worldwide. His novel, The Trap, published in the United States and the United Kingdom, has been hailed an "epic" and a "masterpiece." It won the James Jones Prize, was named a Notable Book by the New York Public Library, was a BBYA Top Ten Pick and a VOYA Top Shelf Selection." Nobelist Elie Wiesel called John's follow-up novel, The Great Death, "Stunning!" Tony Hillerman called it "a small miracle," and Frank McCourt said he "couldn't put it down." 

Many of America’s greatest writers and scholars collaborate with John Smelcer, including John Updike with The Binghamton Poems , Nobelist Saul Bellow with Stealing Indians and  Noam Chomsky with The Complete Ahtna Poems and The Ahtna Noun Dictionary, Carl Sagan with Tracks, Gary Snyder with In the Shadows of Mountains, Denise Levertov and Allen Ginsberg with Songs from an Outcast, and Ted Hughes  (Sylvia Plath's ex-husband) with Raven Speaks.

Facilitator: Bill Huston

October Selection:

AN EVENT WORTH WAITING FOR!

RICK MARSI

Friday, October 16, 7 PM

A Reading and discussion

You read his columns just about every week in the Press & Sun Bulletin as he shares his thoughts on the local environment, the beauty that surrounds us and from places far away.  Rick is the author of Bridge to Borovichi, Wheel of Seasons and his new CD “These Hills and Beyond” – spoken word essays on nature. Please join us as we welcome Rick to his first reading here at RiverRead Books.  

ANOTHER GREAT AUTHOR EVENT!

THERESE WALSH

Author of

The Last Will and Testament of 

Moira Leahy

Saturday, October 17, 7 PM

In her debut novel, Theresa introduces us to Maeve Leahy, an accomplished professor of languages and former musical prodigy who is tortured by the loss of her twin sister Moira.  With its emotionally charged story of the bonds of sisterhood and its touch of magical realism, The Last Will and Testament of Moira Leahy will appeal to a wide demographic of women readers.  This mesmerizing novel will have readers grieving the loss of Moira, exploring the identity of the twin left behind and unraveling the secrets of the mysterious ancient Javanese dagger.  This will be of great interest to book groups!  Join us!

WE ARE HONORED TO HOST 

AN EVENT WITH

MIKE FARRELL

Author of 

Of Mule and Man 

And

New York Times’ bestseller Just Call Me Mike

Tuesday, October 20, 7 PM

NOTE:  Location is at Binghamton University’s

Anderson Center Osterhout Concert Theater 

Best known for his eight years on M*A*S*H (B.J. Hunnicutt) and five seasons on Providence, Mike is also a writer, director, and producer.  He has served on human rights and peace delegations to many countries around the world.  Shortly after being named “Person of the Year” by the LA Times in 2008, Mike undertook a book tour like no other to promote  his memoir Just Call Me Mike.  Covering 8,000 miles and 30 cities, he drove himself from LA to NY and back in a rented Prius, a trusty companion he nicknamed “Mule”.  The tour resembled a grassroots human rights campaign as he engaged local and national human rights groups.  Of Mule and Man is a tour diary of musings that provide an account of his road trip.  Simply told, it is storytelling at its best.

We have moved the event to Binghamton University so that we can accommodate everyone who will be interested in hearing Mike speak.  The Environmental Studies department and the BRSC 350.org campaign are assisting us with the event.  The Binghamton Regional Sustainability Coalition (BRSC) is planning a week-long campaign around October 24^th, International Day of Climate Action (aka 350.org) with talks, films, rallies and community forums.  Mike’s visit has become part of the week’s events.

Please come!  Mike enters every community prepared to speak off-the-cuff, encouraging the audience to guide him.  From memories of M*A*S*H and Providence to heated debates on the death penalty, environmental causes, international human rights and more, Mike is ready to talk.  We are VERY proud that Mike and his publicist asked to come to Binghamton – let’s make them glad that they did!  Invite your friends, be ready for a lively discussion and best of all – 

IT’S FREE!