As we head into the first official days of spring, the world is starting to open up again. The grass is getting green, buds are appearing on trees, you realize that you have neighbors you haven’t really seen since October, and literary events are starting to blossom across Denver, too.

Much like the praise heaped upon author Luis Urrea’s book The House of Broken Angels (he's at the
Tattered Cover on March 23; keep reading for details), the literary scene in Denver is “a big, messy, warmhearted epic.” Here are the five best events on the calendar over the next week.

Corey Stiles, Grief Interrupted
Wednesday, March 21, 7 p.m.
Tattered Cover LoDo
1628 16th Street
No one escapes grief in their life, but the loss of a child is something that can only be understood by someone who’s lived through it. Is it possible for a parent to find joy and purpose in life after the passing of a young adult child? Corey Stiles, who lost her seventeen-year-old daughter to a car accident, has walked the path and emerged on the other side, ready to guide parents in similar situations through the sorrow and then reclaim their joy. She'll talk about Grief Interrupted: A Holistic Guide to Reclaiming Your Joy, a “personal healing retreat for mothers,” page by healing page.

Shawn Dougherty, Wake
Thursday, March 22, 5:30 p.m.
Boulder Book Store
1107 Pearl Street, Boulder
This free, kid-friendly event celebrates Shawn Dougherty and her lush and lyrical picture book Wake, which focuses on a boy awakened in the quiet hours of the night to join Oak and Wood in the forest. It’s a whispered celebration of our bond with the natural world, filled with striking watercolor illustrations by Leah Busch.