(Chelsea Update would like to thank Shannon Powers for the information in this story.)
The Chelsea District Library (CDL) is proud to bring one of its favorite annual events, Midwest Literary Walk, directly to your homes.
This inspiring literary event will take place on Saturday, April 24, beginning at 1 p.m. and wrapping up around 5 p.m. Tune in to hear from three award-winning authors: New York Times bestselling young adult author, Laurie Halse Anderson (Speak & Shout), critically-acclaimed author Azar Nafisi (Reading Lolita in Tehran & That Other World), and National Book Award finalist, Ross Gay (The Book of Delights & Be Holding).
Anderson, Nafisi, and Gay will each interview with long-standing Lit Walk partner Rich Fahle, before engaging in a live Q&A session with the audience. Attendees can register in advance by visiting www.midwestliterarywalk.org or calling a librarian at 734-475-8732 x 219.
Reflecting on prior events, one CDL board member remarked “The Lit Walk is always an unexpected deep dive into the minds and worlds of the people who write books we remember long after reading them.”
This year’s virtual event will seek to maintain the intimacy of previous years where attendees are left with the inspiration and joy of having experienced each author’s creative process.
“I treasure the Midwest Lit Walk,” said CDL trustee Jan Carr in a press release. “It offers me the ‘up close and personal’ chance to meet well known and budding authors.”
Event Schedule:
A full event schedule and author bios may be found at www.midwestliterarywalk.org.
1pm | Laurie Halse Anderson
Throughout her career, Anderson has written powerful, unflinching books for mature teens and adults and is well known for her novel, Speak. Her latest, Shout, is a memoir in verse, described as a “captivating, powerful read” by Booklist and a manifesto to the #MeToo movement. Anderson will open this year’s event by discussing Shout and her other works.
2:30pm | Ross Gay
Poet and Essayist Ross Gay set out to write every day for one year about something that delighted him. The uplifting result was The Book of Delights, a collection of essays described by Kirkus as “provocative and noncloying” and “charming, and yes, delightful.” Gay and Fahle will speak about The Book of Delights, and Gay’s most recent poetry publication, Be Holding.
4:00pm | Azar Nafisi
Nafisi’s stunning memoirs are a testament to strength and resilience, including one of her most popular works, Reading Lolita in Tehran, a book about teaching forbidden western literature to young women while living through censorship and political upheaval in Iran. Nafisi will conclude this year’s Lit Walk with a discussion of her memoirs, and her most recently published essay collection, That Other World, a precursor to Reading Lolita in Tehran proclaimed by Kirkus as “graceful” and “discerning.”
Copies of Anderson, Gay, and Nafisi’s books can be borrowed from CDL in a variety of formats, including print, audiobook, and ebook. Visit www.midwestliterarywalk.org for a curated list, or call a librarian for assistance placing holds.
Attendees looking to purchase books should visit www.literatibookstore.com. Literati Bookstore is an award winning independent bookstore and the official bookseller of the 2021 Midwest Literary Virtual Walk. Copies may also be purchased from Lit Walk partner and charming Chelsea bookstore, Serendipity Books.
Following this year’s Lit Walk author talks and Q&A, participants can join in a community book discussion. CDL’s oldest book club, Reading Glasses, will discuss Things I’ve Been Silent About by Azar Nafisi on May 5th over Zoom. Register by visiting www.chelseadistrictlibrary.org, and selecting events, event calendar and registration, or call 734-475-8732 x 219 for assistance.
