(Chelsea Update would like to thank Patty Roberts for the information in this story.)
The Chelsea District Library celebrates 10 years of the Midwest Literary Walk with another stellar author lineup.
Known for showcasing nationally recognized authors and poets, this year’s event will feature Michael Eric Dyson, Will Schwalbe, and Ada Limón. The walk will take place at historic venues throughout downtown Chelsea on Saturday, April 28 from 1-5 p.m. and is open to everyone.
The 2018 walk begins at 1 p.m. at the First Congregational Church (121 E. Middle St.) featuring New York Times bestselling writer Will Schwalbe.
Schwalbe is the author of The End of Your Life Book Club, winner of Best Inspirational Memoir at the Books for a Better Life Awards and an established book club favorite.
His latest work, Books for Living, is a warm and insightful book about books that explore the role literature plays in our lives, and how these stories can teach us to live more fully and meaningfully.
At 2:30 p.m., acclaimed poet Ada Limón joins us at the historic Chelsea Depot (125 Jackson St.). Limón is a National Book Award Finalist and winner of the Chicago Literary Award for Poetry.
Her most recent collection, Bright Dead Things, was one of the New York Times Top Ten Poetry Books of the Year and examines a sense of self across time and geography. Her poetry has been lauded as “consistently generous, accessible, and ‘effortlessly lyrical’” by the New York Times.
The final author session, starting at 4 p.m. at Main Street Church (320 N. Main St.), features Michael Eric Dyson, author, activist, and professor of sociology at Georgetown University.
Dyson is an American Book Award winner and recipient of two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Literary Work in Non-Fiction. With nearly 20 published works, he has written on everything from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, to the life of Martin Luther King Jr., to the historic significance of Barack Obama’s presidency.
His 2017 book Tears We Cannot Stop urges for social change in a time of racial strife and was declared “one of the most frank and searing discussions on race” and “a deeply serious, urgent book” by the New York Times Book Review.
Books will be available for purchase from Literati Bookstore at each location; and time will be reserved for book signings following each author session.
After the final author talk, participants are invited to Zou Zou’s Cafe (101 N. Main St.) for a 10th Anniversary toast and gift card drawing. Midwest Literary Walk participants may also take advantage of a plethora of business discounts from local restaurants and shops before and after the walk.
To learn more about the 2018 Midwest Literary Walk and for information on local business discounts the day of the event, visit www.midwestliterarywalk.org.
This event is sponsored in part by Friends of Chelsea District Library and in partnership with Literati Bookstore, Detroit Public TV, WDET, Astral Road Media, ChelseaMich.com, and Serendipity Books.
