|
What's happening at WORD?
|
| |
Over 400 people (and babies!) came out to see the great Ina May Gaskin.
Hosted by WORD at The Warsaw, March 6.
Happy Spring! We're making a few changes around here in response to our survey last month. For starters, we're happy to see that while many of you read our newsletter for information about upcoming events, there are also a lot of people who like book recommendations--almost half of you, in fact! So as to keep this monthly email from becoming any longer, we are adding a second email each month, to be sent mid-month, in which we'll update you on new favorites (as well as rediscovered gems) from every section of the store. We hope you'll enjoy hearing more about books we think you'll like! (If you'd prefer not to get this second email, please enter your email address here and update your preferences.) We were also surprised to learn that despite what we've heard in the media, 57% of respondents are not reading ebooks at all. For those of you who are, we want to remind you that you can buy your ebooks from our website and read them on a laundry list of devices, including your phone (but unfortunately not the Kindle). To continue to encourage you to bring your ebook habit to WORD, and also because we're pretty sure that ebooks and print books can live in harmony, we're going to extend last month's special. All April, if you buy a Google ebook from our site and bring the proof into the store in the form of your confirmation email, we'll give you 20% off the physical book of your choice. As with last month, this offer is good for every ebook you buy all month! But here's the most important thing to know about April at WORD: this month we're throwing a big party for all our customers! Why? Well, why not? If you've come to one of our events since the start of this year, you already know about our new event attendee raffle. If you haven't been to an event yet this year (where've you been?), here's the scoop: one lucky devil will win a signed copy of the featured book from events hosted at WORD from January through April. That's nearly 50 books! To enter the raffle, you just need to attend an event and fill out a raffle slip. So if you haven't yet entered this drawing to win what is basically an entire personal library of signed books, you should definitely get to an event before Tuesday April 26th, because that's when we're choosing the winner. We'll have donuts and other goodies, but really, we just wanted an excuse to have all of our favorite people in one place at the same time, and that's you guys. So Facebook RSVP if you want and we'll see you then! Here's what the pile looks like up to today. Isn't it beautiful? Don't you want it for your very own? 
|
March events at WORD
|
| |
All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
Don't forget, every time you attend an event, you get a chance to enter our event book raffle, in which we raffle off a signed set of featured books!
Facebook RSVPs appreciated but certainly not mandatory.
 Thursday, April 7, 7:30 p.m.: The Untold Stories of H.P. Lovecraft
H.P. Lovecraft had so many extra ideas, he gave them away! Well, not really, but he did leave behind many unused story ideas. In A Commonplace Book of the Weird: The Untold Stories of H.P. Lovecraft, writers from all over the country wrote pieces based on notes left behind by the master of weird fiction. Join local contributors for a reading and celebration of all things Lovecraftian (including a short screening!), hosted by editor Joseph Fink. Facebook RSVP here.
 Saturday, April 9, 1:30 p.m.:
Comics Workshop with Ben Hatke
Meet the daring and adventurous Zita the Spacegirl on her quest to save her best friend! You'll also meet cartoonist, juggler, and author Ben Hatke, Zita's creator, who will tell you all about his new graphic novel and lead an interactive workshop on comics for kids. Ben also used to be a performer, and rumor has it there will be juggling and acrobatics as well. Open to comic fans/aspiring writers of all ages. Facebook RSVP here.
 Wednesday, April 13, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.:
Writing Workshop with Roy Kesey - TICKETED EVENT
This workshop, led by author Roy Kesey, will introduce participants to a number of techniques that will help them fine-tune their literary vocal chords. Please note: this 3-hour workshop is ticketed and limited to 30 participants. Each ticket includes a copy of Kesey's debut novel, Pacazo. Kesey's work includes a novella called Nothing in the World (winner of the Bullfight Media Little Book Award) and a collection of short stories called All Over (one of The L Magazine's Best Books of the Decade). Tickets can be purchased in store or online.
 Thursday, April 14, 10:30 p.m.:
Memorial Readathon for The Pale King
WORD is hosting a memorial David Foster Wallace readathon in honor of the release of his unfinished novel The Pale King. Authors and customers will read from their favorite of his works. Please email info@wordbrooklyn.com with your selection, if you'd like to read, so we can avoid duplicates! Note: while this was formerly a midnight release, we have updated the event to account for the early release of the book. Tickets are no longer required, feel free to bring your friends! Facebook RSVP here.
 Friday, April 15, 7:30 p.m.:
Celebrate Just Working On My Novel's 2nd Birthday!
Just Working On My Novel is a new works series that's now celebrating its second birthday. Come to hear readings from three of curator Russ Marshalek's favorite book people: southern satirist Zachary Steele (Flutter), Brooklyn novelist Emily St. John Mandel (The Singer's Gun) and publishing guru Richard Nash (formerly of Soft Skull) who is celebrating the launch of his new imprint Red Lemonade. There will be treats, free wine and a select few audience members readings on any topic. To RSVP to read email russ@russcomm.net. Facebook RSVP here.
Sunday, April 17, 7:30 p.m.:
Largehearted Lit: 2 Under 35 with Blake Butler and Justin Taylor
  Two of our favorite up-and-coming authors, Blake Butler (There is No Year, Scorch Atlas) and Justin Taylor (The Gospel of Anarchy, Everything Here Is the Best Thing Ever), will talk about the music that influences their work, as well as read from their new novels. They'll be joined by singer/songwriter Jennifer O'Connor, who will perform and talk about her taste in books. Hosted by David Gutowski of Largehearted Boy; snacks and beverages will be on-hand! Facebook RSVP here.
 Monday, April 18, 7:30 p.m.:
Wold Newton & NYRSF present a Birthday Party for Carol Emshwiller
The New York Review of Science Fiction and the Wold Newton Reading Extravaganza present the 90th birthday celebration of science fiction legend Carol Emshwiller, one of the original feminist science fiction writers, at not one but two events. On 4/12, she'll be at the SoHo Gallery for Digital Art, and here at WORD on Monday April 18th. The WORD event will include birthday magic from acclaimed comedy magician Magic Brian, and the main event, an interview of Carol with science fiction scholar Matt Cheney. Facebook RSVP here.
Thursday, April 21, 7:30 p.m.:
Tim Brown & Paul McComas
Speculative fiction authors Tim Brown and Paul McComas team up to bring you a night of genre fun. McComas's collection Unforgettable: Harrowing Futures, Horrors, and (Dark) Humor contains 51 of his short stories, plus excerpts from his collaboration with William Nolan on the sequel to Logan's Run. Brown's Second Acts follows the members of a 1960s love triangle back in time to 1830s America. Facebook RSVP here.
Wednesday, April 27:
WORDs of Love Launch Party for Sarah MacLean, Maya Rodale and Kieran Kramer
Regency romance authors Kieran Kramer, Maya Rodale, and Sarah MacLean celebrate the release of their newest novels, Cloudy With a Chance of Marriage, A Tale of Two Lovers, and Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart respectively. Come and party Regency-style (which is to say, we'll have ladyfinger sandwiches and sparkly wine, and maybe a rake or two). Facebook RSVP here. Sarah MacLean will also be interviewed at 5 p.m. on the 27th by bestselling romance author Eloisa James on Livestream!
 Thursday, April 28, 7:30 p.m.:
Exploring the Digital Dead End with Virginia Eubanks
Can broadband access, high-tech jobs, and cutting-edge science pull us out of our current economic downturn and move us toward social equality? In Digital Dead End, Virginia Eubanks argues that the realities of the information age are more complicated, particularly for poor and working-class women and families. Join Eubanks at her New York launch for a reading and a discussion of how we can ensure that technology serves social justice. Eubanks is the cofounder of Our Knowledge, Our Power (OKOP), a grassroots anti-poverty and welfare rights organization, and teaches in the Department of Women's Studies at the University at Albany, SUNY. Facebook RSVP here.
|
Book Groups
| |  Our book group pick for May is Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn. This strange book is much loved by several WORD staffers, and we're excited to read it with a group. Set on a fictional island that is losing the use of one letter after another due to their devotion to Nevin Nollop (author of the phrase "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog") and a totalitarian government, this epistolary novel is both fun and awe-inspiring. The physical book is 10% online and in-store all month. And don't forget to join our Facebook group for WORD book club here, so you can share links and thoughts about the books between meetings.
 Continuing our year of Russian literature, our next classics book club pick is Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol. As Gogol's wily antihero, Chichikov, combs the back country wheeling and dealing for "dead souls"--deceased serfs who still represent money to anyone sharp enough to trade in them--we are introduced to a Dickensian cast of peasants, landowners, and conniving petty officials, few of whom can resist the seductive illogic of Chichikov's proposition. Don't be frightened off: due to its length and density, we'll be reading and discussing this book in both May and June. The book is divided into two volumes, so we'll discuss Volume 1 on Saturday, May 14th at noon, and Volume 2 (along with the book as a whole) on Saturday, June 11 at noon.
|
Greenpoint happenings
| | |
For those who wanted more news about Greenpoint happenings, here's one you really shouldn't miss: our friends at Worksong Chinese Medicine (88 Franklin Street) will join Community Acupuncture Network clinics across the nation in offering free rejuvenating acupuncture to celebrate International Worker's Day. Make an appointment for 8am to 8pm and receive a treatment or health evaluation. Give them a call at 347 742 3834 to make your appointment!
On the literacy front, we're proud to continue to support the efforts of two groups trying to increase access to books across NYC: ReadThis and The Desk Set. We are currently working with ReadThis to supply PS 376A in Bushwick with more small-group reading sets to help reluctant readers enjoy reading and read at grade level; if you can help, please click here. We're also almost finished with The Desk Set's fundraiser for classroom sets for East River Academy at Rikers Island, and you can help them by clicking here. |
| Join our list |
 |
|
|
|
|
WORD 126 Franklin St Brooklyn NY 11222 open from 11am to 9pm, seven days a week 718.383.0096 www.wordbrooklyn.com |
|
|
