What’s Happening at Writers & Books?

November 2007 Programs & Events

Pre-film Discussion and screening of The Maltese Falcon(1941, by John Huston)

Tuesday, November 6
Discussion beings at 6pm, followed by the screening at 7 pm
With Special Guests: David Kipen and George Grella
The Little Theatre  240 East Ave.
$5 Little Theatre Film Society and W&B members / $8 general public
BIG READ EVENT

Join us for a viewing of the iconic film noir picture The Maltese Falcon, starring starring Humphrey Bogart as private investigator Sam Spade, Mary Astor as his femme fatale client, Sydney Greenstreet in his film debut, and Peter Lorre. The film was John Huston's directorial debut and was nominated for three Academy Awards.

Before the movie there will be a discussion of the film by author, film critic and NEA Director of Literature David Kipen and City Newspaper film critc, author and Professor George Grella.

The first fifty attendees will recieve a free copy of The Maltese Falcon book!

Hammett on Film video series: Hammett (1982, by Wim Wenders)

Wednesday, November 7 at 7:00 pm
In the Verb Café at W&B
Free admission
BIG READ EVENT

Hammett is a 1982 stylized homage to noir and pulp fiction directed by Wim Wenders. The film is a fictionalized story about writer Dashiell Hammett, based on the novel Hammett by Joe Gores.

Hammett, trying to put his Pinkerton detective days behind him while establishing himself as a writer, and dealing with induced tuberculosis and the alcoholism that will plague him almost to the end of his days, finds himself drawn back into his old life one last time by the irresistible call of friendship and to honor a debt. Hammett on Film video series is curated and hosted by Gannett film critic Jack Garner.

Two Poets = Two New Books!

Steven Huff ( More Daring Escapes) and Kurt Brown (Future Ship) will read from their new books, both released this fall from Red Hen Press! Wine & Cheese reception following.

Genesee Reading Series

Hosted by: Wanda Schubmehl
Featuring: Paula Weld-Cary & Karla Linn Merrifield
Tuesday November 13 7:30 pm
In the Verb Café at W&B
$3W&B members, $6 general public

Now in its 23rd year, the Genesee Reading Series presents writers from the greater Genesee Valley region reading in the Verb Cafe.

Karla Linn Merrifield, who holds a master’s in creative writing (poetry) from the State University of New York College at Brockport has published poetry in journals such as CALYX, Earth’s Daughters, Poetica, Off the Coast, Negative Capability, Paper Street and Blueline; on line in New Works Review, The Centrifugal Eye and Elegant Thorn Review, and in several anthologies. She edited THE DIRE ELEGIES: 59 Poets on Endangered Species of North America, from FootHills Publishing (April); this September FootHills issued her Godwit:  Poems of Canada. She is also the author of the chapbook Dawn of Migration and Other Audubon Dreams from RochesterInk Publications, issued in conjunction with her first one-woman photography exhibit at High Falls Gallery in Rochester , NY , as part of the 3rd Annual RochesterInk Poetry in Fusion Festival. She is poetry editor of Sea Stories (www.seastories.org), the literary-artistic journal of the Blue Ocean Institute.
 
As a young girl whose literary sensibilities, passion for the sound of language, and love of nature were nurtured by a loving scientist-father and academician-grandfather, it was probably inevitable that Paula Weld-Cary would find her calling as a naturalist poet. She has work published or forthcoming in Southern Humanities Review, Atlanta Review, Nimrod International, Hawaii Pacific Review, Blueline, Penwood Review, Asphodel, Poetry Motel, Hazmat Review, The Lutheran Digest, Avocet, The Lyric and others.
 
With the birth of a son, however, she realized that her  stories had other forms to take, and she has thus spent the past several years completing four children and young adult novels while continuing to enjoy a reputation as an established poet throughout New York’s Finger Lakes and Adirondacks regions. She’s also written four picture-book manuscripts.  Her poem “Rapunzel’s Escape” was recently nominated for the 2008 Pushcart Prize.

Senior Reading Group

Tuesday November 13 2:00 pm- 4:00p.m.
In the Verb Café at W&B
Free and open to the public

Share your writing with other seniors in a comfortable, supportive atmosphere at W&B.

Valley Manor Book Group Discussion

Hosted By: Martin Naparsteck
Tuesday November 13 10:30 am- 12
At Valley Manor, 1570 East Ave
Free and open to the public. no reservations

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Teen Mystery Writing Contest submission deadline

Friday, November 9 at 5:00 pm
In the Verb Café at W&B
Free admission
BIG READ EVENT

Open to short fiction, plays and screenplays. Send one submission per author of maximum 2,500 words for short stories and maximum 10 pages (double-spaced) for plays and screenplays to Karen vanMeenen,
Writers & Books, 740 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14607. Deadline: Friday, Nov. 9 at 5pm. Click here for more information.

Performance of “The Maltese Buffalo,”

Friday, November 9 at 7:00 pm
In the Verb Café at W&B
Free admission
BIG READ EVENT

An original play by Timothy Madigan and Glenn Odden.

Staged Reading of The Maltese Falcon

Saturday, November 10 at 7:00 pm
In the Verb Café at W&B
Free admission
BIG READ EVENT

A reading of The Maltese Falcon audio play directed by Jean Ryan, New Plays Coordinator at GEVA Theatre. You can download an audio file of the original 1946 performance on our Big Read main page.

The Bertrand Russell Society

Hosted by: Dr. David White
Thursday, November 15, at 7:00 pm
In the Verb Café at W&B
Admission: Free to W&B Members; $3/General Public

Tim Madigan will discuss the tortured relationship between Bertrand Russell and Albert Barnes - Russell was hired by Barnes to teach philosophy at Barnes' Art Foundation, but was later fired by him in acrimonious circumstances..

As all Russellians know, after being denied a position at the College of the City of New York, Russell taught for a time at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Russell and Barnes had a bitter falling out. In 1943, Barnes self-published a pamphlet entitled "The Case of Bertrand Russell versus Democracy and Education." In this talk, I will present and critique Barnes' argument that Russell had nothing but derision and contempt for democracy and education, and betrayed the ideals of Barnes' friend and associate John Dewey.

Tim Madigan teaches philosophy at St. John Fisher College and is a long-time member of the Bertrand Russell Society.

This ongoing lecture series promises to enlighten and entertain. Monthly meetings are open to everyone, not just members of the Bertrand Russell Society.

For further information, call 415-5925 or e-mail: tmadigan@rochester.rr.com

25 & Under

Hosted by Sally Bittner Bonn
Tuesday November 27 at 7:00 pm
In the Verb Café at W&B
Free toW&B members and students/ $3 general public

Twenty-five years ago W&B first opened its doors. To celebrate this milestone anniversary we present a new monthly reading series featuring writers who are 25 and younger. Join us as we discover a new generation of writers for the next quarter century.

Wide Open Mic

Hosted by: Norm Davis
Monday November 26 7:30 pm
In the Verb Café at W&B
Free to W&B members, $3 general public

W&B is proud to sponsor Rochester's largest running open mike, hosted by Norm Davis, poet and editor of HazMat Review. Known for its eclectic mix. Wide Open Mike welcomes poets, performers, and writers of all kinds.

Book discussion of The Maltese Falcon

Wednesday, November 28 at 6:00 pm
In the Verb Café at W&B
Free admission
BIG READ EVENT

Come discuss The Maltese Falcon with us as part of The Big Read Rochester.

Panel presentation: “Bird Hunting: Mystery Authors Stalk The Maltese Falcon”

Thursday, November 29 at 7:00 pm
In the Verb Café at W&B
Free admission
BIG READ EVENT

Panelists: When he’s not searching the world for exotic settings for his mysteries, Edgar® and Barry® award nominee Charles Benoit spends his days writing irresistible ad copy for Dixon Schwabl in Rochester. Ruthe Furie, author of the three-book Fran Kirk series, was nominated for Shamus Awards for two of them.Robert Knightly is an ex-cop, ex-defense lawyer and editor of Queens Noir, an anthology of original crime stories set in nineteen neighborhoods in Queens, New York. Miriam Grace Monfredo’s first novel, Seneca Falls Inheritance, was nominated for the Agatha Award for Best First Mystery Novel in 1992. She has since written eight more novels that focus on the history of America and the evolution of women and minority rights. Gary Earl Ross won the 2006 Edgar Award for his play Matter of Intent.

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