Book It: The Six Best Literary Events in Denver This Week

November commences with a movable feast of literary goodness for the Denver book lover, from stories of strong women to superheroes, from weird Westerns to World War II, with a generous helping of indigenous, LGBTQ+ and myriad other valuable perspectives. There’s something on the menu for everyone, so grab a plate and get in line for any of these six events that will sate your hunger for the written word in the coming week.

Inside the Writer’s Studio: Julia Alvarez with Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Wednesday, November 6, 7:30 p.m.
University of Denver Newman Center
2344 East Iliff Avenue
$20
University of Denver’s Robert and Judi Newman Center hosts an Inside the Writer’s Studio event connected with the NEA Big Read and Lighthouse Writers Workshop. This on-stage conversation between Julia Alvarez (In the Time of the Butterflies) and Kali Fajardo-Anstine (Sabrina & Corina) will focus on the two authors' artistic processes, their lives as writers, and their responses to questions from the audience. Tickets to the event are available now and going fast.

David Boop, Straight Outta Deadwood
Thursday, November 7, 6 p.m.
Barnes & Noble Bookstore
960 South Colorado Boulevard
Free
Local sci-fi writer and editor David Boop hosts a collective signing of his latest weird-Western anthology Straight Outta Deadwood at the Barnes & Noble on Colorado Boulevard. We covered the first anthology in this series (Straight Outta Tombstone) a couple of years back; this celebratory event features the Colorado authors in this iteration's lineup: Alex Acks, Mario Acevedo, Jennifer Campbell-Hicks, Betsy Dornbusch, Travis Heermann, Steven Graham Jones, and Steven Ransic Tem.

Marissa Meyer, Supernova
Thursday, November 7, 7 p.m.
Tattered Cover
2526 East Colfax Avenue
$20
New York Times bestselling YA author Marissa Meyer brings the conclusion to her Renegades trilogy to the Tattered Cover for a reading and signing. Supernova is a thrilling epic that brings a close to the story of Nova and Adrian battling the anarchy that threatens Gatlon City. Think superheroes are limited to comic books? Think again, my friends. Tickets to the event include a copy of the book and a place in the autograph line.

Ellie Swensson, salt of us
Thursday, November 7, 7 p.m.
Boulder Creative Collective
2500 47th Street, Boulder
Free
Local poet and activist Ellie Swensson (whom we interviewed just last week) celebrates her new book, salt of us, with Punch Drunk Press at Boulder Creative Collective. In honor of Swensson’s project, and to help build community, there will be a collage-making station where attendees can make art out of printed pages from the book, plus watercolor paints and salt. Come out and celebrate creativity by getting creative yourself.

Beth Piatote, The Beadworkers
Friday, November 8, 7 p.m.
BookBar
4280 Tennyson Street
Free
Beth Piatote, a Nez Perce writer and Berkeley professor, brings her debut collection to BookBar for a special event co-sponsored by At the Inkwell. The pieces in The Beadworkers are stories of the Native Northwest, exploring the inventive and unforgettable pattern of Native American life in the contemporary world. Piatote will be joined in conversation by fellow writers Cristosto Apache and Abigail Chabitnoy.

Maurice Isserman, The Winter Army
Monday, November 11, 7 p.m.
Tattered Cover LoDo
1628 16th Street
Free
Award-winning author Maurice Isserman (Fallen Giants, Cronkite’s War) brings his new book The Winter Army: The World War II Odyssey of the 10th Mountain Division, America’s Elite Alpine Warriors to the Tattered Cover LoDo for a discussion and signing. It’s the epic story — with deep roots right here in Colorado — of the elite soldiers who broke the last line of German defenses in Italy’s mountains in 1945, spearheading the Allied advance to the Alps and final victory.

Have a literary event you think should be included on this list? Send details to [email protected].