IRIS SMYLES

Iris Has Free Time
(Soft Skull Press, 2013)

Editors, agents—and, for that matter, real-world readers—make snap decisions. What makes them keep reading? What are three things you want to establish immediately, regardless of whether you’re writing traditional or transgressive fiction, or anything in between? What are three things that can sink you? This will be an interactive class using concrete examples. The class is limited to 15 so that everyone present can participate.

Over a decades-long career, Dawn Raffel has edited fiction at a diverse range of literary and mass circulation magazines, working with well-known authors and discovering new ones. Fiction she has edited has twice won the National Magazine Award. In addition, she has taught in the MFA program at Columbia University and at Summer Literary Seminars in St. Petersburg, Russia; Vilnius, Lithuania; and Montreal. She is the author of four books, most recently, The Secret Life of Objects, and is the editor of The Literarian at the Center for Fiction.

With Chris Gethard, Dave Hill, Julie Klausner and moderator Adam Frucci.

On the third Thursday of every month, comedian and author Bob Powers (author of Happy Cruelty Day) hosts the city’s best humor writers for a night of wine-addled, text-based hilarity. Tonight’s show features Owen Egerton, author of the apocalyptic novel Everyone Says That at the End of the World, Iris Smyles, author of the semi-autobiographical novel Iris Has Free Time, and other authors, stand up comics, and TV writers TBA; check our website and Facebook page for an updated lineup.

Suzanne Palmieri (AKA Suzanne Hayes) is an author, a teacher, and the mother of three little witches. Her debut novel, THE WITCH OF LITTLE ITALY was published by Saint Martin’s/Griffin has sold internationally. Her co-authored novel, I’LL BE SEEING YOU (written as Suzanne Hayes) will be published by Mira books on May 28, 2013, and has also sold internationally. She lives by the ocean in Connecticut with her husband and three darling witches. Suzanne is represented by Anne Bohner of Pen and Ink Literary.

Deirdre Sinnott’s personal essays have appeared in various literary magazines and websites. RIGHT-SIZED RATS, a chapter from her upcoming memoir, has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and her essay OUTSIDE won Honorable Mention in the Writer’s Digest 79th Annual Writing Competition in 2010 and the Remember in November Contest at Hippocampus Magazine. She has won many scholarships for the Norman Mailer Writers Colony. For more information visit www.DeirdreSinnott.com.

Jim Warner is the author of two poetry collections TOO BAD IT’S POETRY and SOCIAL STUDIES (Paper Kite Press). His poetry has appeared in The North American Review, PANK Magazine, Word Riot, and other journals. Jim received his MFA at Wilkes University. Follow him on Twitter: @whoismisterjim.

Amye Archer has an MFA in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. Her work has appeared in [PANK], Twins Magazine, Provincetown Arts, The Ampersand Review, H_ngm_n, Boston Literary Magazine, and Hippocampus. Her first chapbook, NO ONE EVER LOOKS UP was published by Pudding House Press in 2007. Her latest chapbook, A SHOTGUN LIFE, was published by Big Table Publishing in 2011. Her memoir, FAT GIRL, SKINNY, is represented by the Einstein Thompson Agency. Her first play, SURVIVING, was produced locally as part of the Jason Miller Playwright’s Project. She is the winner of the first Scranton Storyslam and she hosts the reading series Prose in Pubs. She is the former Reviews Editor for [PANK]. You can learn more about her at www.amyearcher.com.

New Yorkers and tourists alike will savor this one-of-a-kind volume that uniquely celebrates the energy and spirit of the city that never sleeps. A charmingly illustrated journey through NYC, neighborhood by neighborhood. All the Buildings in New York is a love letter to the city.

10 stories, 3 teams of judges, 1 winner. $8 at the door.