We hope to see you at an event this year! And please share these events with your book-loving friends around the country. We’re always adding more tour dates and new locations so be sure to check back in.

2025 Events & Appearances:

• 21st Annual Winter Institute | Denver, CO
• Ennis Book Club Festival | Ennis, Ireland

2024 Events & Appearances:

Public Library Association Conference
@ Greater Columbus Convention Center | Columbus, OH
April 3-5, 2024

Past Events & Appearances:

• Bay Area Book Festival | Berkeley, CA
• Los Angeles Times Festival of Books | Los Angeles, CA
• Ennis Book Club Festival | Ennis, Ireland
• Parnassus Book Club Fun Night | Nashville, TN
• Brooklyn Book Festival | Brooklyn, NY
• Decatur Book Festival | Decatur, GA
• Wordplay Festival | Minneapolis, MN
• Wordstock Book Festival | Portland, OR
• Texas Book Festival | Austin, TX
• Maplewood Book Festival | Maplewood, NJ
• Twin Cities Book Festival | Twin Cities, MN
• American Booksellers Association (ABA) Winter Institute
• American Association of School Libraries (AASL)
• Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL)
• American Library Association (ASL)
• Texas Library Association (TLA)
• Quail Ridge Book Club Bash | Raleigh, NC
• Author Speed Dating at BookBar | Denver, CO
• Author Speed Dating at the Book Cellar | Chicago, IL
• Author Speed Dating at Milkweed Books | Minneapolis, MN
• Author Speed Dating at [words] Bookstore | Maplewood, NJ

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Reading Group Choices is happy to partner with Wordplay for a literary extravaganza to celebrate our readers. In our fast-paced world, reading groups offer us the time to slow down, catch up with friends, and talk about wonderful books.

We want to celebrate you the readers with a free session of fun giveaways, delicious snacks, and rounds of author speed-dating with these terrific authors: Linda LeGarde Grover, Kristen Arnett, Jennifer Dubois, Kali Fajardo-Anstine, and Abdi Nor Iftin! You can read about the authors and their books below.

What’s “author speed-dating”? Readers will be in small groups. The authors will speed “date” with each group, but instead of telling readers about themselves, they’ll be telling readers about their new books! It’s a fun way to hear about books straight from the authors who wrote them!

All readers are welcome! You do not have to be in a book group to attend! But after attending, you may want to start a group with your friends, or you may even meet a group to join at the event!

Date and Time:

Sunday, May 12th @ 12-1pm

Event Location:

Open Book Literary Arts Center
Room 303
1011 Washington Ave South
Minneapolis, MN

How should I get to Wordplay? Where can I park?

Find our festival map here. Wordplay does NOT have a dedicated parking lot, but paid lot and street parking is available nearby, and is labeled on our map.

NOTE: Parking is tricky in Downtown East, so we highly encourage you to walk, bike, or take public transit to Wordplay! If you’re taking the bus or light rail, you can use MetroTransit’s trip planner. If you’re cycling, we’ll have a bike valet to park your ride on-site, courtesy of Northern Coffeeworks.

Featured Authors and Books:

Authors will be available to sign their published books which you can purchase, and you can also win copies of other RGC recommended books!

Linda LeGarde Grover, In the Night of Memory
Kristen Arnett, Mostly Dead Things
Jennifer Dubois, The Spectators
Kali Fajardo-Anstine, Sabrina & Corina
Abdi Nor Iftin, Call Me American

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The novel tells the story of 16 year-old Starr Carter, an African-American teen who witnesses the fatal shooting of her unarmed friend Khalil by the police. The death sparks protests and debate among Starr’s family, friends, and community, challenging her to find her voice and tell the true story.

The novel is already being read by most Madison-area schools, but recently class discussion went one step further when Angie Thomas paid a visit to Madison for two days of workshops, presentations, and a reading. It was a rare opportunity for students to meet the author behind one of today’s most relevant books.

Reading Group Choices and 702WI coordinated the tour in partnership with local schools and Goodman Community Center (GCC). Thomas began with a presentation and Q&A at the GCC’s Lussier LOFT. Students from the Girls Inc Programs at East High School, Lussier Community Center, and GCC, as well as members of GCC’s other after-school programs, listened to Thomas’ message about the difficulty and importance of finding the courage to speak up.

“It took me my whole life to realize that I had any power at all,” Thomas told them. “You matter, and you have value. You got power — well, how do you use it?”

Thomas shared her own journey from being a teen rapper to becoming a writer. The killing of Oscar Grant, an unarmed African-American, by police in Oakland in 2009 along with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement shifted her into activism.

Students responded to her message of speaking out against injustice. They also commented on the connection between her book and her life—and the similarities to their own lives. “I thought it was a book she just wrote,” one student said, “but she experienced some of the things in it. I felt like I really was her.”

In the evening, Thomas spoke to a crowd from more than 20 area schools and community centers that came together at Goodman Community Center. More than 100 students received a copy of the book, made possible by Reading Group Choices.

Thomas spent the following day talking to sophomore English classes at Madison West High School, followed by a visit to La Follette High School, where students from Whitehorse, Sennet, and Sun Prairie Middle Schools also attended.

At this last event, Thomas was introduced by senior Sharita Holden, who performed an original poem that shared themes with the novel.

“It’s the idea that you’re more than what you might be perceived by society,” Holden explained. More than 100 students received a copy of the book, made possible by a grant from La Follette’s Student Support Foundations and Reading Group Choices.

The visit allowed students to witness the connection between literature and real life. As one attendee mentioned afterward: “It was cool how she came to us.” Thomas also left her audience with a clear message. “Speak up and speak out when things, or the things people say, make you uncomfortable,” she said. “I have one big request. I want you to change our world.”

Thomas’ next novel, On the Come Up, is scheduled for release in 2019.

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Reading Group Choices is happy to partner on an event with [words] during the Maplewood South Orange Book Festival for a literary extravaganza to celebrate our readers. In our fast-paced world, reading groups can offer us the time to slow down, catch up with friends, and talk about wonderful books. We want to celebrate you the readers with a free evening of fun giveaways, delicious snacks, and rounds of author speed-dating with 7 terrific authors: Christina Baker Kline, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Caroline Leavitt, Sheba Karim, Julia Fierro, Marina Cramer, and Lauren Grodstein! You can read about the authors and their books below.

What’s “author speed-dating”? Readers will be in small groups. The authors will speed “date” with each group, but instead of telling readers about themselves, they’ll be telling readers about their new books! It’s a fun way to hear about new books straight from the authors who wrote them!

All readers are welcome! You do not have to be in a book group to attend! But after attending, you may want to start a group with your friends, or you may even meet a group to join at the event!

The event is FREE. There is not a ticket cost.

Date and Time

Saturday, June 10th
6-6:30pm Reception for groups and authors
6:30-7:30pm Author speed-dating
7:30-8pm Signings and Shopping

Event Location

[words] Bookstore
179 Maplewood Avenue
Maplewood, NJ

Parking and Transit:

Via NJ Transit:
-Get off train at Maplewood Station stop
-Walk southwest on Depot Plaza/Ricalton Sq
-Turn left on Maplewood Ave
– [words] will be on the right

Via I-78:
-Take exit 50B toward Maplewood/Millburn
-Turn right at Vauxhall Rd
-Slight left at Millburn Ave
-Take 1st right onto Ridgewood Rd
-Turn right at Winthrop Pl
-Slight left at Maplewood Ave
– [words] will be on the left

The Featured Authors and Books

Authors will be available to sign their published books which you can purchase, and you can also enter to win copies of their upcoming books! [words] will offer a 10% discount for book group bulk orders.

Christina Baker Kline, Orphan Train, Orphan Train Girl, and A Piece of The World
Jean Hanff Korelitz, The Devil and Webster
Caroline Leavitt, Cruel Beautiful World
Sheba Karim, That Thing We Call A Heart
Marina Cramer, Roads
Julia Fierro, The Gypsy Moth Summer
Lauren Grodstein, Our Short History

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Reading Group Choices is happy to partner with The Book Cellar during the ALA Annual Conference for a literary event to celebrate our readers. In our fast-paced world, reading groups can offer us the time to slow down, catch up with friends, and talk about wonderful books. We want to celebrate you the readers with a free evening of fun giveaways, delicious snacks, and rounds of author speed-dating with 9 terrific authors: J.L. and M.A. Powers, Lucy Knisley, Krystyna Poray Goddu, Sarah Shoemaker, Pénélope Bagieu, Jennifer Latham, Marguerite Abouet, and Alex Lyttle! You can read about the authors and their books below.

What’s “author speed-dating”? Readers will be in small groups. The authors will speed “date” with each group, but instead of telling readers about themselves, they’ll be telling readers about their new books! It’s a fun way to hear about new books straight from the authors who wrote them!

All readers are welcome! You do not have to be in a book group to attend! But after attending, you may want to start a group with your friends, or you may even meet a group to join at the event!

The event is FREE. There is not a ticket cost.

Date and Time

Saturday, June 24th 
6:30pm Come early to browse and snack
7:00pm Author speed-dating
8:00pm Signings and Shopping

Event Location

The Book Cellar (Chicago, IL)
4736 N. Lincoln Avenue
Across from Giddings Plaza and just north of the Chicago Brauhaus

Parking and Transit: Limited parking is available at the meters located along Lincoln Avenue, across the street from The Book Cellar. There are also two public parking lots with parking meters right around the corner. One is just outside the CTA Brown Line Western Station, and the other is across the street at the corner of Western and Leland. A third lot is a few blocks south on Lincoln Avenue, across from the Old Town School of Folk Music.

The Book Cellar is a block away from the Western CTA Brown Line Station at Western and Leland. Exit the station and head east toward Lincoln Avenue, then make a left. A number of bus lines pass through the area, many stopping at the Brown Line Western Station. The Book Cellar is also about a 15-minute walk from the Ravenswood Metra station, on the UP-N line.

The Featured Authors and Books

Authors will be available to sign their published books which you can purchase, and you can also enter to win copies of their upcoming books! The Book Cellar will offer a 10% discount during the event of all of the authors’ titles currently available.

J.L. and M.A. Powers, Broken Circle
Lucy Knisley, Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride
Krystyna Poray Goddu, A Girl Called Vincent
Sarah Shoemaker, Mr. Rochester
Pénélope Bagieu, California Dreamin’
Jennifer Latham, Dreamland Burning
Marguerite Abouet, Aya and Akissi
Alex Lyttle, From Ant to Eagle 

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Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth at Winter Institute, and to everyone who came out for the book lovers extravaganza event we hosted at Milkweed Books! If you couldn’t attend the event, you can still read below to find out about these wonderful books and authors!

Hala Alyan, Salt Houses
Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King
Marina Benjamin, The Middlepause: On Life After Youth 
Ashley Shelby, South Pole Station
Heather Harpham, Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After
Beth Dooley, In Winter’s Kitchen
Deepak Unnikrishnan, Temporary People
Jamie Harrison, The Widow Nash

The post Winter Institute & Book Lovers Extravaganza Wrap-up appeared first on Reading Group Choices.

Reading Group Choices is happy to partner with Milkweed Books for a literary extravaganza to celebrate our readers. In our fast-paced world, reading groups can offer us the time to slow down, catch up with friends, and talk about wonderful books. We want to celebrate you the readers with a free evening of fun giveaways, delicious snacks, and rounds of author speed-dating with 8 terrific authors: Hala Alyan, Tricia Levenseller, Marina Benjamin, Ashley Shelby, Heather Harpham, Beth Dooley, Deepak Unnikrishnan, and Jamie Harrison! You can read about the authors and their books below.

What’s “author speed-dating”? Readers will be in small groups. The authors will speed “date” with each group, but instead of telling readers about themselves, they’ll be telling readers about their new books! It’s a fun way to hear about new books straight from the authors who wrote them!

All readers are welcome! You do not have to be in a book group to attend! But after attending, you may want to start a group with your friends, or you may even meet a group to join at the event!

Date and Time:

Saturday, January 28th
6-6:30pm Reception for groups and authors
6:30-7:30pm Author speed-dating
7:30-8pm Signings and Shopping

Event Location:

Milkweed Books
1011 Washington Ave South
Located on the first floor of Open Book Literary Arts Center
Minneapolis, MN

Parking and Transit: There is a free parking lot for patrons on the southeast side of the building as well as metered street parking and parking in the Riverfront Municipal Parking Ramp. There is bicycle parking at the front and the back of the building. The US Bank Stadium light rail stop is a short walk away.

RSVP:

The event is FREE. There is not a ticket cost. But, if you would like to attend, please RSVP by January 28th by emailing Mary Morgan at Reading Group Choices at mmorgan@readinggroupchoices.com. If you would like to RSVP for your group and for your group to sit at the same table, please let us know and we will reserve a table for you. We will post a notice if the event fills so email soon to be sure to get a spot!

The Featured Authors and Books:

Authors will be available to sign their published books which you can purchase, and you can also enter to win copies of their upcoming books! Milkweed Books will offer a 10% discount on single copies and a 20% discount for 4 or more copies of all of the authors’ titles.

Hala Alyan, Salt Houses
Tricia Levenseller, Daughter of the Pirate King
Marina Benjamin, The Middlepause: On Life After Youth 
Ashley Shelby, South Pole Station
Heather Harpham, Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After
Beth Dooley, In Winter’s Kitchen
Deepak Unnikrishnan, Temporary People
Jamie Harrison, The Widow Nash

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RGC partnered with The Little Free Library Organization on their National Build Day in Madison, Wisconsin in 2015. RGC employees and friends built a library, and then donated two libraries to two communities in Wisconsin.

One of the LFLs is at the family student housing community at the University of Wisconsin. It is located on the path between the student housing community and the K-5 elementary school so there is great foot traffic! It is well used and appreciated by children and parents from all over the world.

RGC received a special donation of books for this LFL from Lee & Low Books. Those books were so popular they were picked up the first week! We continue to restock with donations and from our local library book sales.

Thank you to the Little Free Library Organization and Lee & Low Books for helping to make this wonderful little red library available for so many appreciative families and children!

Here is a letter this LFL received from one of the families. It was fun to show up and see this!

The second LFL is in place at American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin. APT is a professional theater situated on 110 acres of hilly woods and meadows, which includes an 1140-seat outdoor amphitheater and a 200-seat indoor theatre. From June through October, APT produces 8 plays in rotating repertory, and receives an annual attendance of over 100,000. APT is the country’s second largest outdoor theater devoted to the classics. This LFL will serve the APT audience of all ages from all over the world!

This LFL is Shakespeare/Theater themed so we also provided a large inventory of Shakespeare and theater themed books, which we received as donations from authors and publishers. It’s great to see the library stocked with The Millionaire and the Bard, The Tutor, Will in the World, and How to Be a Victorian, along with works by Shakespeare himself!

Thank you again to the Little Free Library Organization and to our publishing partners for helping to make this wonderful library available for so many lovers of literature!

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The Art of Waiting includes Belle’s personal experience struggling with infertility. But it also explores the cultural, psychological, and political views on fertility. Belle uses other people’s experiences (IVF, surrogacy, adoption) as well as examples from art, film, literature, and other species. In her talk at the festival, Belle discussed the socially isolating experience of infertility. And she spoke of the grief she felt after three years of trying. The experience created a large divide between the life she thought she would lead, and the one she was actually living.

During the Q&A, the audience asked wonderfully challenging and compassionate questions. Belle commented on the ease of writing the book versus talking about the same issues in front of a group. She provided insight into the insurance challenges related to IVF since it is not considered a disease. This means the treatment is only possible for privileged people. Many attendees had a personal connection to someone struggling with infertility. They were able to ask Belle how best to provide support and care.

Belle provides an empathetic exploration of the evolution of human health and fertility. And she contemplates the emotional resiliency of people faced with hard choices. The Art of Waiting will provide important and heartening discussion for men and women of any age.

Order a copy of Reading Group Choices 2017 in our store, featuring The Art of Waiting and dozens of other recommended books!

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