Literary calendar for week of May 19

Mary Ann Grossmann, Pioneer Press
·3 min read
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MATT GOLDMAN: Discusses his latest mystery, “Still Waters.” 6 p.m. Monday, May 20, Once Upon a Crime, 604 W. 26th St., Mpls.; 7 p.m. Thursday, May 23, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.

CHRISTINA LAUREN: Introduces “The Paradise Problem” in conversation with Ellie Palmer. 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.

MILKWEED PRESENTS: Monthly reading series features Michael Kleber-Diggs hosting a program, Art & Activism During Times of Global & Civil Conflict, with Minnesota authors Sun Yung Shin and Michael Torres. Free. 5 p.m. Thursday, May 23, Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave. S., Mpls., home of publisher Milkweed Editions

MINNESOTA MYSTERY NIGHT: Welcomes guest reader Brian Lutterman launching “Incel,” his 10th novel and the first stand-alone in a decade as he departs from his Pen Wilkinson series. His new protagonist is Kevin Arneson, whose “straight arrow” approach to law enforcement got him fired from the FBI. He joins forces with Camryn Becket, former lover and deep-cover CIA operative, to solve murders of wealthy women. In conversation with his longtime friend and fellow mystery writer Christopher Valen. May 20. Free. 7 p.m. program; restaurant opens at 5:30 p.m. for pre-program dinner. Axel’s Restaurant, 1318 Sibley Memorial Highway, Mendota. Reservations: 651-686-4840.

JULIAN RANDALL: Award-winning Chicago-based writer who identifies as Living Queer Black, introduces “The Dead Don’t Need Reminding: In Search of Fugitives, Mississippi, and Black TV Nerd Sh*t,” which deals with place, popular culture, and identity. A starred review in BookPage said: “(A) dazzling ghost story that braids intimate narratives with cultural commentary to explore the author’s own past, present and future … a story not just about a Black man surviving a visit to the Deep South, but about him staying alive long enough to learn where he came from.” Randall also reflects on his time in the Twin Cities before and after the murder of George Floyd. In conversation with Torrin A. Greathouse, transgender poet, essayist and educator, and award-wining Minnesota poet Danez Smith (“Don’t Call Us Dead’). 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, Magers & Quinn, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls. Free, registration required: magersandquinn.com.

READINGS BY WRITERS: Celebrates a new poetry anthology “Broad Wings, Long Legs: A Rookery of Heron Poems” (North Star Press) hosted by editor James Silas Rogers with contributing poets. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, University Club, 420 Summit Ave., St. Paul.

What else is going on

They just can’t top winning. Mona Susan Power’s novel “A Council of Dolls” is the Minnesota Center for the Book pick for our state’s adult Great Reads title, and Corey Doerrfeld’s “Beneath” is the state’s title in the kids’ category. The news came the same week as both authors won Minnesota Book Awards. “My jaw is still on the ground,” Power admitted on Facebook about the announcement. Each of the 56 Center for the Book affiliates of the Library of Congress chose Great Reads to be recognized at the Aug. 24 National Book Festival In Washington D.C. where every Center has a table to promote their book as well as aspects of their state’s or territory’s unique literary heritage. In Minnesota, the Center for the Book is administered by Friends of the St. Paul Public Library. The National Book Festival is free and open to the public.

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