Tuesdays Dec 9, 16, & 23 writers' quiet work time 9-11 a.m. Wed. Dec. 10 Writers in Your Neighborhood w/ @ainegreaney.bsky.social Karen Gross, Danielle Jones, Rod Kessler, Paul Marian & Victoria Sirriani. Sat. Dec. 13 at 11 in person or Zoom discussion of Jane Austen's PERSUASION. salemathenaeum.net

Read & listen to interviews with SLF alumni! James Bird @publisherswkly.bsky.social (11-18) re: showcasing Indigenous culture & community in books for young readers. Jim DeFilippi recently featured 3 alumni on Blue Smoke & Black Ink (YouTube): Stephen P. Kiernan January Gill O'Neil & J.D. Scrimgeour

Congrats Kylie Lee Baker—I’LL FIND YOU WHERE THE TIMELINE ENDS—magical YA romance; Jennifer Lynn Barnes—THE SAME BACKWARD AS FORWARD—romantic YA thriller; @jcostabates.bsky.social—RICA BAPTISTA: THE BOX OF POSSIBILITIES—creative, funny chapter book; Danielle Jones—HUNGER—fierce, intimate poetry

11-12 Gord Hill THE 500 YEARS OF INDIGENOUS RESISTANCE COMIC BOOK zoom & @salemstatelibrary rm 209; 11-15 poetry reading by @instacolleenm @thebottleshopbeverly 112 Rantoul St.; 11-23 storytime w/ @tavaresbooks DASHER AND THE POLAR BEAR Hastings House 14 Oak St. Beverly, more @bookshopofbeverlyfarms

Congrats Lit Fest alums! Amanda Foody & C.L. Herman-A FATE SO COLD, first in a new fantasy duology; @alixeharrow.bsky.social-THE EVERLASTING, a moving and genre-defying quest; @kendallkulper.bsky.social-A TIME TRAVELER’S HISTORY OF TOMORROW, a time-bending love story

Coming to the Salem Athenaeum: 11-13 KILL TALK with Dr. Janet McIntosh plus combat poetry readings by @myownwilderness.bsky.social Dave Connolly, Preston Hood & Marc Levy. 11-15 Writing Workshop: Pieces of Salem with J.D. Scrimgeour. 11-21 The Hard Work of Hope with @michaelansara.bsky.social

Congrats to alumni with YA books out in PB: @missdahlelama.dahliaadler.com edited AT MIDNIGHT: 15 Beloved Fairy Tales Reimagined; in Kathleen Glasgow’s THE GLASS GIRL, a teenager struggles with alcohol; @laurataylornamey.bsky.social’s WITH LOVE, ECHO PARK features two Cuban teens in LA—sparks fly!

Congrats to Lit Fest alum whose middle-grade books are out in PB: In @kalynnbayron.bsky.social’s RISE OF THE WRECKING CREW, the Squad makes a stand against the undead. In @annhood56.bsky.social’s HARRY HOUDINI: PRINCE OF AIR, Maisie & Felix find themselves at an 1894 magic show with Harry Houdini.

Congratulations Lit Fest alumni! @kristinbairokeeffe.bsky.social—CLEMENTINE CRANE PREFERS NOT TO, narrated by @sarasounds.bsky.social. Julie C. Dao—SO BLOOMS THE DAWN. @kyliu99.bsky.social—ALL THAT WE SEE OR SEEM. @aptshadow.bsky.social—LIVES OF BITTER RAIN.

Silent Book Club at The Castle Bvrly Oct 21 6PM cohosted @copperdogbooks.bsky.social; book talk w/ Daniel Seddiqui—GETTIN' NAUTICAL IN NEW ENGLAND—Oct 23 6PM The Bookstore of Gloucester; book event w/ @kristinbairokeeffe.bsky.social—CLEMENTINE CRANE PREFERS NOT TO—Oct 25 5PM Jabberwocky Newburyport

Congrats to Lit Fest alums! @kalynnbayron.bsky.social’s MAKE ME A MONSTER is a Frankenstein-tinged horror romance. Tiffany D. Jackson’s THE SCAMMER follows a girl whose roommate’s ex-convict brother moves in. Return to Katie Zhao’s hidden world of the Descendants of the Zodiac in ZODIAC LEGACY.

Congrats to Lit Fest alumni @victoriachang.bsky.social Jim DeFilippi & Matthew E. Henry on recent publications/pods.

Congratulations to Salem Lit Fest alumni honored at the 2025 Mass Book Awards! In alphabetical order: @marjankamali.bsky.social @crystalking.bsky.social Margot Livesey Catherine Newman Jennifer Martelli January Gill O’Neil (Did we miss you? DM us and we’ll shout you out!)

Congrats to Lit Fest alumni James Bird on the publication of WOLF CLUB, about 3 kids who search for an elusive wolf, and to Lori Haskins Houran on the PB publication of THE WOOFMORE ON THIN ICE, about a luxury hotel for dogs, co-written w/ Donna Gephart & illustrated by Josh Cleland

Congrats! @levacrosen.bsky.social’s Evander Mills series follows a 1950s detective taking on cases related to the queer community. #4 MIRAGE CITY, out now, #3 ROUGH PAGES out in PB. In @hankphillippiryan.bsky.social’s ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS, a glam book tour becomes a deadly cat-and-mouse chase.

Congrats to Lit Festers with new work! Moh Afdhaal published “The Kaiju in the Room” with Razzle Dazzle Cafe (Substack&YouTube); Denise Granniss published an excerpt of THE PLAGUE SHIP with @embarklitjournal.bsky.social; & @chadpoetforhire.bsky.social published 4 poems with A Thin Slice of Anxiety

Oct 6 2:30-5 @leannareneehieber.bsky.social, AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC, @wickedgoodbooks.bsky.social. Oct 10 7pm Ally Russell, author of middle-grade MYSTERY JAMES DIGS HER OWN GRAVE, @copperdogbooks.bsky.social. Oct 22 7-9 @stgibson.bsky.social, author of Savage Blooms, @nocturnesalem.bsky.social.

Jennifer Martelli, talented poet & dedicated literary citizen, passed away last week. Jenn was a Salem Athenaeum trustee and friend of Lit Fest; past committee member and many-time panelist, including earlier this month. We will miss Jenn's strong poetry, sharp humor, and literary friendship.

Congrats to Lit Fest alums @painternik.bsky.social & @scottymagoon.bsky.social! LOVE STAYS STRONG, written Paula Schneider & illustrated by Nicole, is about the strength of a family's love. Scott’s THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE GNOME’s presents a loving example of a community supporting each other.

Today is National Coffee Day! Enjoy a coffee-cup read by Matt Yost from Lit Fest partner @fiveminutelit.bsky.social - short enough to read while you're sipping your first (fifth?) cup.

Congrats Lit Fest alum @peculiaritea.bsky.social @chuckwendig.bsky.social & studiohoffmann.bsky.social on Kayla's EXTRAORDINARY QUESTS FOR AMATEUR WISHES & (PB) PRACTICAL RULES FOR CURSED WITCHES; Chuck's (PB) MONSTER MOVIE!; & PIGGY BANK SAVES THE DAY, by Kimberly Wilson & illustrated by Mark.

The Salem Athenaeum presents the Salem Lit Fest in September, and so much more all year! Tomorrow - free tours at 11 and 1. Quiet writing Tuesday at 9, and for four weekend nights in October at 5:30 and 7, parlor magic with Evan Northrup. salemathenaeum.net

Congrats to Lit Fest alums Halle Butler, @maddieday.bsky.social @missdahlelama.dahliaadler.com (editor) and @rajanilarocca.bsky.social on the recent publications!

Congrats to Lit Fest alum Piper CJ on publication of A FROZEN PYRE, @niclesperance.bsky.social on publication of A SPELL TO WAKE THE DEAD, @kyliu99.bsky.social on inclusion in DEEP MAGIC III, & @catherineyuwrites.bsky.social on publication of THE DEVIL’S IN THE DANCERS.

Congrats to @marjankamali.bsky.social on the PB publication of THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN (Aug) @tehlorkay.bsky.social on the publication of THE BETTER TO EAT YOU WITH (today) & the PB publication of IT HAPPENED TO ANNA (Aug) & to @aptshadow.bsky.social on the publication of THE HUNGRY GODS (Aug)

Thank you to everyone who supported Salem Lit Fest 2025, including these amazing donors!

Thanks to supporters & collaborators Salem Main Streets, building community in Salem; the Salem Five Foundation, supporting orgs making a positive impact; the Essex National Heritage Area, preserving cultural heritage; & the Peabody Essex Museum, celebrating creativity, collecting art & culture.

Thanks to sponsors & collaborators Theater in the Open, bringing free theater to Newburyport; @fiveminutelit.bsky.social, publishing micromemoirs; Molecule, publishing all genres 50 words or less; & Coffee Time Bakeshop, serving the North Shore for 30+ years. P.S. APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUTS ARE BACK.

Thanks 2025 sponsors & collaborators St. Peter's-San Pedro's, a welcoming, bilingual community of faith; Mass Center for the Book, promoting literacy & libraries; @northshorebank.bsky.social w/ locations in MA & NH; & Salem Maritime National Historical Park, with 12 structures & a visitors' center.

Thank you to sponsors & supporters Punto Urban Art Museum, a social justice art program in Salem's El Punto neighborhood; The House of the Seven Gables, offering house tours & programming; Recorded Books, audiobook publisher spanning fiction & nonfiction; & indie movie theater Cinema Salem!