All She Wrote and Watertown Public Library Present The Lilac People: Milo Todd in Conversation with David Valdes

WFPL welcomes author&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milotodd.com/">Milo Todd</a>&nbsp;as he discusses his novel&nbsp;<a href="https://watertown.minlib.net/Record/.b43079787?searchId=42343161&amp;recordIndex=1&amp;page=1&amp;referred=resultIndex">The Lilac People</a>&nbsp;with author&nbsp;<a href="https://www.davidvaldeswrites.com/">David Valdes</a>. Books will be available for purchase (and signing) from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.allshewrotebooks.com/">All She Wrote Books</a>, an intersectional feminist/queer bookstore in Somerville that celebrates and amplifies underrepresented voices spanning across all genres.&nbsp; About The Lilac People:&nbsp; In 1932 Berlin, Bertie, a trans man, and his friends spend carefree nights at the Eldorado Club, the epicenter of Berlin’s thriving queer community. An employee of the renowned Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld at the Institute of Sexual Science, Bertie works to improve queer rights in Germany and beyond, but everything changes when Hitler rises to power. The institute is raided, the Eldorado is shuttered, and queer people are rounded up. Bertie barely escapes with his girlfriend, Sofie, to a nearby farm. There they take on the identities of an elderly couple and live for more than a decade in isolation. In the final days of the war, with their freedom in sight, Bertie and Sofie find a young trans man collapsed on their property, still dressed in Holocaust prison clothes. They vow to protect him—not from the Nazis, but from the Allied forces who are arresting queer prisoners while liberating the rest of the country. Ironically, as the Allies’ vise grip closes on Bertie and his family, their only salvation becomes fleeing to the United States. Brimming with hope, resilience, and the enduring power of community, The Lilac People is an extraordinary historical fiction novel of World War II that recovers a little-known moment of trans history. Milo Todd&nbsp;is a Massachusetts Cultural Council grantee and a Lambda Literary Fellow. His work has appeared in Slice Magazine and elsewhere. He is co–editor in chief of Foglifter and teaches creative writing to queer and trans adults.&nbsp; As a gay Cuban-American and dad in a multiethnic family, intersectionality is&nbsp;David Valdes’s jam. David writes books and plays for all but that especially uplift queer and BIPOC lives, with an eye toward hope and humor. David is the author of seven books and two dozen plays, which have been staged coast to coast. As an essayist, David’s written for the New York Times, Boston Globe, Huffington Post, Medium, Howlround, and more. David teaches writing at Boston Conservatory, Brown, and Tufts.

Watertown Free Public Library

All She Wrote x Caro DeRobertis

Join All She Wrote Books at on Thursday, June 5th at 7:00pm, as we host writer Caro de Robertis&nbsp;and archivist, queer historian Mik Hamilton from The History Project! They will discuss de Robertis new book, So Many Stars, a first-of-its-kind, deeply personal, and moving oral history of a generation of trans and gender nonconforming elders of color—from leading activists to artists to ordinary citizens—who tell their own stories of breathtaking courage, cultural innovations, and acts of resistance. "Inclusivity" isn't just a buzzword to us. We make every effort to ensure our space and events are accessible to and for everyone. If you or someone in your party needs accommodations, please email us at <a href="mailto:info@allshewrotebooks.com">info@allshewrotebooks.com</a>. About So Many Stars So Many Stars&nbsp;knits together the voices of trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, and two-spirit elders of color as they share authentic, intimate accounts of how they created space for themselves and their communities in the world. This singular project collects the testimonies of twenty elders, each a glimmering thread in a luminous tapestry, preserving their words for future generations—who can more fully exist in the world today because of these very trailblazers. De Robertis creates a collective coming-of-age story based on hundreds of hours of interviews, offering rare snapshots of ordinary life: kids growing up, navigating family issues and finding community, coming out and changing how they identify over the years, building movements and weathering the AIDS crisis, and sharing wisdom for future generations. Often narrating experiences that took place before they had the array of language that exists today to self-identify beyond the gender binary, this generation lived through remarkable changes in American culture, shaped American culture, and yet rarely takes center stage in the history books. Their stories feel particularly urgent in the current political moment, but also remind readers that their experiences are not new, and that young trans and nonbinary people today belong to a long lineage. The anecdotes in these pages are riveting, joyful, heartbreaking, full of personality and wisdom, and artfully woven together into one immersive narrative. In De Robertis’s words, So Many Stars shares “behind-the-scenes tales of what it meant—and still means—to create an authentic life, against the odds.” About the Author Caro de Robertis (they/them)&nbsp;is the author of six novels, including The Palace of Eros, Cantoras, and more. Their books have been translated into seventeen languages and have received numerous honors, including two Stonewall Book Awards, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and the John Dos Passos Prize for Literature, which they were the first openly nonbinary writer to receive. De Robertis is also an award-winning literary translator and a professor at San Francisco State University. They live in Oakland, California with their two children. About the Speaker Mik Hamilton (they/any pronouns) is an archivist and queer historian. Mik is the archivist at The History Project, Boston's queer community archive, where they preserve and share local LGBTQ+ history through community programming. Mik's research interests include queer organizational histories, local LGBTQ+ grassroots efforts, and reparative archival practices, which has included working with the UMD-based Indigenous Description Group to improve accessibility to archival collections for Indigenous Tribal communities. Since 2016, Mik has worked and interned with various archives, including positions at the Smithsonian National Museum for the American Indian, Cornell University, and Harvard University. Mik earned their MA in History and Master of Library and Information Science in Archives Management from Simmons University. About our Co-Sponsor <a href="https://www.historyproject.org/">The History Project</a> is Boston’s LGBTQ+ community archive, dedicated to preserving historical records, ephemera, and stories. Since 1980, this independent nonprofit has supported research, hosted public exhibits and events, and shared LGBTQ+ history with individuals, organizations, and the public.

All She Wrote Books

All She Wrote Children's Story Hour w/Noah Grigni

Join All She Wrote Books for an in-person children's story hour with Noah Grigni, author of Mama Moon&nbsp;on Saturday, June 7th at 10:00am&nbsp; "Inclusivity" isn't just a buzzword to us.&nbsp;We make every effort to ensure our space and events are accessible to and for everyone. If you or someone in your party needs accommodations,&nbsp;please email us at&nbsp;<a href="http://mailto:info@allshewrotebooks.com/">info@allshewrotebooks.com</a>. About Mama Moon: A gentle and reassuring picture book from the point of view of a child whose mother struggles with bipolar disorder. Deeply felt and beautifully told, Mama Moon is the story of a child who muses that their mother is like the moon - ever changing, sometimes blue, sometimes bright. Mama loves warm summers, and eating cherries while stargazing with Baba and Kiddo. But on her bluest of days, she can’t do the things that other mamas do. Persevering with love, no matter what phase Mama is in, this family weathers the ups and downs of a loved one's mental illness. About Noah Grigni: Noah Grigni&nbsp;(they/them) is a queer, trans, freelance artist ?in Atlanta, GA. They make art for and with their communities. They've illustrated books for children including the highly acclaimed It Feels Good to be Yourself by Theresa Thorn. Mama Moon is their debut picture book as both author and illustrator. They love working with kids, and often visit schools to lead workshops on art, gender, and storytelling.

All She Wrote Books June Queer Romance Book Club: TIME AND TIME AGAIN

Join All She Wrote Books on Sunday,&nbsp;June 8th at 10:30am at All She Wrote Books&nbsp;for a discussion of Time And Time Again&nbsp;by Chatham Greenfield, an award-winning YA speculative romance about two queer, disabled, Jewish teens who find themselves stuck in a time loop—and falling in love. Seats are&nbsp;limited, so snag yours quick! Worried about finding the book?&nbsp;We've got you covered! Grab a physical copy through registration for the event, at <a href="http://bookshop.org/">Bookshop.org</a>, or <a href="http://libro.fm/">Libro.fm</a>. Can't make it?&nbsp;No worries! Let us know ASAP so we can release your spot to someone eagerly waiting on the waitlist. Don't miss out-register now! Remember:&nbsp;This event has limited capacity, so grab your ticket and claim your seat before it's too late! We can't wait to see you there! ✨ About the Book Phoebe Mendel’s day is never ending—literally. On August 6th, she woke up to find herself stuck in a time loop. And for nearly a month of August 6ths since, Phoebe has relived the same day: pancakes with Mom in the morning, Scrabble with Dad in the afternoon, and constant research into how to reach tomorrow and make it to her appointment with a doctor who may actually take her IBS seriously. Everything is exactly, agonizingly the same. That is, until the most mundane car crash ever sends Phoebe’s childhood crush Jess crashing into the time loop. Now also stuck, Jess convinces Phoebe to break out of her routine and take advantage of their consequence-free days to have fun. From splurging on concert tickets, to enacting (mostly) harmless revenge, to all-night road trips, Jess pulls Phoebe further and further out of her comfort zone—and deeper in love with them. But the more Phoebe falls for Jess, the more she worries about what’s on the other side of the time loop. What if Jess is only giving her the time of day because they’re trapped with no other options? What if Phoebe’s new doctor dismisses her chronic pain? And perhaps worst of all: What if she never gets the chance to find out? About the Author Chatham Greenfield (they/them)&nbsp;is a young adult author born and raised in Florida, which is why their stories often take place in humid seaside towns. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College, they were selected as a fellow in the inaugural class of LitUp by Reese’s Book Club. You can find them wherever there’s air-conditioning, wrapped up in a blanket, reading a gay love story. Time and Time Again is their debut novel. Connect with Chatham at <a href="http://chatgreenfield.com/">chatgreenfield.com</a> and on socials @chatgreenfield. Our Book Club Guidelines<ul><li>We strive for a thoughtful and respectful discussion of the featured book and its related themes.</li><li>You do not have to have finished the book to participate, but we ask that you contribute to the discussion in whatever way you feel comfortable.</li><li>We do not tolerate demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech.</li></ul>

All She Wrote x Lydi Conklin

Join All She Wrote Books at on Tuesday, June 10th at 7:00pm, as we host authors Lydi Conklin&nbsp;and Allegra Hyde! They will discuss Conklin's new book, Songs Of No Provenance, a suspenseful, wildly engaging debut novel by the award-winning author of Rainbow Rainbow, following a musician spiraling in self-doubt and self-searching after a night—and a relationship—gone wrong. "Inclusivity" isn't just a buzzword to us. We make every effort to ensure our space and events are accessible to and for everyone. If you or someone in your party needs accommodations, please email us at <a href="mailto:info@allshewrotebooks.com">info@allshewrotebooks.com</a>. About Songs Of No Provenance Songs of No Provenance tells the story of Joan Vole, an indie folk singer forever teetering on the edge of fame, who flees New York after committing a shocking sexual act onstage that she fears will doom her career. Joan seeks refuge at a writing camp for teenagers in rural Virginia, where she's forced to question her own toxic relationship to artmaking—and her complicated history with a friend and mentee—while finding new hope in her students and a deepening intimacy with a nonbinary artist and fellow camp staff member. A propulsive character study of a flawed and fascinating artist, Songs of No Provenance explores issues of trans nonbinary identity, queer baiting and appropriation, kink, fame hunger, secrecy and survival, and the question of whether a work of art can exist separately from its artist. About the Author Lydi Conklin (they/them)&nbsp;has received a Stegner Fellowship, four Pushcart Prizes, a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer’s Award, a Creative Writing Fulbright in Poland, a grant from the Elizabeth George Foundation, work-study and tuition scholarships from Bread Loaf, and fellowships from MacDowell, Yaddo, Sewanee Writers Conference, Emory University, Hedgebrook, Djerassi, the James Merrill House, Lighthouse Works, and elsewhere. Their fiction has appeared in The Paris Review, One Story, McSweeney’s, American Short Fiction, and VQR. They have drawn cartoons for The New Yorker and Narrative Magazine, and graphic fiction for The Believer, Lenny Letter, and the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago. They’ve served as the Helen Zell Visiting Professor at the University of Michigan and are now an Assistant Professor of Fiction at Vanderbilt University. Their story collection, Rainbow Rainbow, was longlisted for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Award and The Story Prize. About the Speaker Allegra Hyde (she/her)is the author of the story collection The Last Catastrophe, a The New York Times Editors’ Choice selection. Her debut novel, Eleutheria, was named a best book of the year by The New Yorker and shortlisted for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Prize. Her first story collection, Of This New World, won the John Simmons Short Fiction Award. She currently teaches creative writing at Smith College. Read Less &gt;

Stories in Bloom

Join us for a night where stories bloom, voices rise, and creativity takes center stage. Stories in Bloom is an unapologetically joyful fundraiser celebrating the radical power of storytelling—with burlesque, poetry, cocktails, and community. Every ticket supports the Ink &amp; Impact Fellowship, a transformative nine-month program for emerging writers exploring gender, sexuality, and marginalized identities. Whether you’re a lover of literature, a champion of queer art, or just looking for a magical night out, this evening promises connection, inspiration, and rebellion in full bloom. Featured performers include and poetry by Sabrina Acloque, Burhan Rebels and Aparna Paul, burlesque by Lewd Alfred Douglas, Priscilla Parsley and drag by Neon Calypso.

Upstairs at Bow 

All She Wrote Books June Breakfast Club

This June, our Breakfast Club will read Women! In! Peril! by Jessica Ren Marshall. Mark your calendar for Sunday, June 15th at 10:30am as we gather at All She Wrote Books to discuss this ferociously feminist debut short story collection from award-winning playwright Jessie Ren Marshall. Event Highlights:<ul><li>Immersive Book Discussion with a Community of Enthusiastic Readers</li><li>Coffee and pastries from local French bakery, Michette</li><li></li></ul>Tickets are limited to due to capacity at the bookstore, and each ticket will include either:<ul><li>A copy of the breakfast book club pick; or&nbsp;</li><li>General admission that includes coffee and pastries.</li></ul>There are many ways to obtain a copy of the book (aside from your public library) — you can purchase it through <a href="http://allshewrotebooks.com/">allshewrotebooks.com</a>, <a href="https://manage.wix.com/dashboard/c0063556-a33e-457d-b696-a71163ba43b9/events/event/draft/98324514-676b-4e88-a399-ef3db20863ce/Bookshop.org">Bookshop.org</a>, or <a href="https://manage.wix.com/dashboard/c0063556-a33e-457d-b696-a71163ba43b9/events/event/draft/98324514-676b-4e88-a399-ef3db20863ce/www.sachakraborty.com">Libro.fm</a> to help support our work! Our event has a limited capacity and we want to ensure that as many people as possible are able to attend. By letting us know that you can no longer attend, we can open up your spot to someone on our waitlist who is eager to participate. &nbsp; "Inclusivity" isn't just a buzzword to us. We make every effort to ensure our space and events are accessible to and for everyone. If you or someone in your party needs accommodations, please email us at <a href="https://manage.wix.com/dashboard/c0063556-a33e-457d-b696-a71163ba43b9/events/event/draft/98324514-676b-4e88-a399-ef3db20863ce/www.sachakraborty.com">info@allshewrotebooks.com</a>. About the Book: In this brash and unputdownable collection, we meet a sex bot trying to outlast her return policy, a skeptical lesbian grappling with her wife’s mysterious pregnancy, and a post-Earth colonist struggling to maintain her faith in humanity as she travels to “Planet B.” Whether they exist in the grounded realism of a college dance studio or the speculative world of Deep Space, these women push against social norms and family expectations to reclaim their power, understand their mistakes, and find a better future. Hilarious, heartbreaking, and defiantly optimistic, the twelve stories in Women! In! Peril! balance humor and gravitas to explore the complexities of queerness, toxic relationships, parenting and divorce, Asian and Asian American identity, and so much more. About the Author: Jessie Ren Marshall holds an MFA in fiction from NYU, and her work has appeared in places like Gulf Coast, Joyland, ZYZZYVA, the Common, the Gettysburg Review, and the New York Times. Also a playwright, her musical Pele &amp; The Hi'iakas was a semifinalist for the Eugene O’Neill Conference and her play Hapa Girls won Kumu Kahua’s Hawai'i Prize. She lives off-grid with her dogs on Hawai'i Island. Our Book Club Guidelines:<ul><li>We strive for a thoughtful and respectful discussion of the featured book and its related themes.</li><li>You do not have to have finished the book to participate, but we ask that you contribute to the discussion in whatever way you feel comfortable.</li><li>We do not tolerate demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech.</li></ul>

Dani's Queer Bar x All She Wrote Books Book Club: Nghi Vo's SIREN QUEEN

Join All She Wrote Books on Tuesday, June 17th at 7:00pm at Dani's Queer Bar for a discussion of Siren Queen by Nghi Vo! Siren Queen offers up an enthralling exploration of an outsider achieving stardom on her own terms, in a fantastical Hollywood where the monsters are real and the magic of the silver screen illuminates every page. Seats are limited, so snag yours quick! Worried about finding the book? We've got you covered! Grab a copy through registration for the event, at <a href="http://bookshop.org/">Bookshop.org</a>, or <a href="http://libro.fm/">Libro.fm</a>. Can't make it? No worries! Let us know ASAP so we can release your spot to someone eagerly waiting on the waitlist. Don't miss out- register now! Remember: This event has limited capacity, so grab your ticket and claim your seat before it's too late! We can't wait to see you there! ✨ About Siren Queen It was magic. In every world, it was a kind of magic. "No maids, no funny talking, no fainting flowers." Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star. Coming of age in pre-Code Hollywood, she knows how dangerous the movie business is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl from Hungarian Hill—but she doesn't care. She’d rather play a monster than a maid. But in Luli's world, the worst monsters in Hollywood are not the ones on screen. The studios want to own everything from her face to her name to the women she loves, and they run on a system of bargains made in blood and ancient magic, powered by the endless sacrifice of unlucky starlets like her. For those who do survive to earn their fame, success comes with a steep price. Luli is willing to do whatever it takes—even if that means becoming the monster herself. About Nghi Vo Nghi Vo is the author of the novels Siren Queen and The Chosen and the Beautiful, as well as the acclaimed novellas Into the Riverlands, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain, and The Empress of Salt and Fortune, a Locus and Ignyte Award finalist and the winner of the Crawford Award and the Hugo Award. Born in Illinois, she now lives on the shores of Lake Michigan. She believes in the ritual of lipstick, the power of stories, and the right to change your mind. Our Book Club Guidelines<ul><li>We strive for a thoughtful and respectful discussion of the featured book and its related themes.</li><li>You do not have to have finished the book to participate, but we ask that you contribute to the discussion in whatever way you feel comfortable.</li><li>We do not tolerate demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech.</li></ul>

Dani's Queer Bar

All She Wrote x Mac Crane: A SHARP ENDLESS NEED

Join All She Wrote Books at on Wednesday, June 18th at 7:00pm, as we host writers Mac Crane&nbsp;and Frankie de la Cretaz! They will discuss Crane's new book, A Sharp Endless Need, a vibrant and intimate novel about growing up, first love, and all the joy and heartbreak of competitive high school basketball. "Inclusivity" isn't just a buzzword to us. We make every effort to ensure our space and events are accessible to and for everyone. If you or someone in your party needs accommodations, please email us at <a href="mailto:info@allshewrotebooks.com">info@allshewrotebooks.com</a>. About A Sharp Endless Need Star point guard Mack Morris’s senior year of high school begins with twin cataclysms: the death of Mack’s father and the arrival of transfer student Liv Cooper.&nbsp;Playing side by side for their high school basketball team, Mack and Liv discover an&nbsp;electrifying, game-winning chemistry&nbsp;on the court. Off the court, they fall into an equally intoxicating more-than-friendship—one that feels&nbsp;out-of-bounds&nbsp;in&nbsp;their small Pennsylvania town. Mack teeters on the precipice of adulthood as desire and grief collide with drugs, sex, and the looming college signing deadline. Caught between the dual impulses of ambition and self-destruction, Mack must decide what kind of life they want to fight for. Written with the lush longing of André Aciman’s Call Me by Your Name, the obsessive attention of Jean Kyoung Frazier’s Pizza Girl, and the sweeping romance of the beloved&nbsp;film Love &amp; Basketball, A Sharp Endless Need is a stunning testament to&nbsp;the big feelings of coming-of-age, falling in love, and, of course, playing sports. About the Author Mac Crane (they/them)&nbsp;is a former college basketball player and the author of I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself, a New York Times Editors’ Choice, Indie Next pick, and winner of a LAMBDA Literary Award. They have received fellowships from the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, American Short Fiction, and Vermont Studio Center, and their short work has appeared in Literary Hub, The Sun, TriQuarterly, Prairie Schooner, Joyland, and elsewhere. Originally from Allentown, PA, they currently live in San Diego with their family. About the Speaker Frankie de la Cretaz (they/them)&nbsp;is an award-winning independent journalist whose work sits at the intersection of sports, gender, and culture. They are the co-author of Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women's Football League, and their writing has been featured in the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, The Atlantic, and more. They also write the queer sports newsletter "Out of Your League."

All She Wrote x Sarah Schulman: THE FANTASY AND NECESSITY OF SOLIDARITY

Join All She Wrote Books at on Friday, June 20th at 7:30pm, as we host Sarah Schulman and Joan Ilacqua! They will discuss Schulman's new book, The Fantasy And Necessity Of Solidarity, a brilliant examination of the inherent psychological and social challenges to solidarity movements and what that means for the future. "Inclusivity" isn't just a buzzword to us. We make every effort to ensure our space and events are accessible to and for everyone. If you or someone in your party needs accommodations, please email us at <a href="mailto:info@allshewrotebooks.com">info@allshewrotebooks.com</a>. About The Fantasy And Necessity Of Solidarity For those who seek to combat injustice, solidarity with the oppressed is one of the highest ideals, yet it does not come without complication. In this searing yet uplifting book, award-winning writer and cultural critic Sarah Schulman delves into the intricate and often misunderstood concept of solidarity to provide a new vision for what it means to engage in this work—and why it matters. To grapple with solidarity, Schulman writes, we must recognize its inherent fantasies. Those being oppressed dream of relief, that a bystander will intervene though it may not seem to be in their immediate interest to do so, and that the oppressor will be called out and punished. Those standing in solidarity with the oppressed are occluded by a different fantasy: that their intervention is effective, that it will not cost them, and that they will be rewarded with friendship and thanks. Neither is always the case, and yet in order to realize our full potential as human beings in relation with others, we must continue to pursue action towards these shared goals. Within this framework, Schulman examines a range of case studies, from the fight for abortion rights in post-Franco Spain, to NYC’s AIDS activism in the 1990s, to the current wave of campus protest movements against Israel’s war on Gaza, and her own experience growing up as a queer female artist in male dominated culture industries. Drawing parallels between queer, Palestinian, feminist, and artistic struggles for justice, Schulman challenges the traditional notion of solidarity as a simple union of equals, arguing that in today's world of globalized power structures, true solidarity requires the collaboration of bystanders and conflicted perpetrators with the excluded and oppressed. That action comes at a cost, and is not always effective. And yet without it we sentence ourselves to a world without progressive change towards visions of liberation. By turns challenging, inspiring, pragmatic, and poetic, The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity provides a much-needed path for how we can work together to create a more just, more equitable present and future. About the Author Sarah Schulman (she/her)&nbsp;is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, nonfiction writer, and AIDS historian. Her books include Gentrification of the Mind, Conflict Is Not Abuse, and Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP, New York 1987–1993 and the novels The Cosmopolitans and Maggie Terry. Schulman’s honors include a Fulbright in Judaic Studies, a Guggenheim in Playwriting, and honors from Lambda Literary, the Publishing Triangle, NLGJA, the American Library Association, and others. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, New York, Harper’s Magazine, The Atlantic, The Nation, The New Republic, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Schulman holds an endowed chair in creative writing at Northwestern University and is on the advisory board of Jewish Voice for Peace. About the Speaker Joan Ilacqua (she/her)&nbsp;is the Executive Director of The History Project, Boston's queer community archives. She's dedicated her career to centering marginalized community histories through collecting oral history interviews, preserving archival records, and sharing queer stories. Joan serves on the Boston Commemoration Commission and the Community Archives Collaborative Steering Committee. She earned her master’s degree in Public History from UMass Boston and her BA in History and Sculpture from the University of Puget Sound. In her spare time, Joan loves crafting, reading queer romance novels, and spending time with her wife and their cats.

Connexion

All She Wrote 2025 Pride Book Fair

Come celebrate Pride with All She Wrote Books on June 28th with an all-day book fair event at Connexion, located at 149 Broadway in Somerville!  This ain’t your average book fair, folks. We’ll have daytime AND nighttime activities! Our all ages event runs from 10:00am-2:00pm followed by our 18+ nighttime ticketed extravaganza from 8:00pm-10:00pm.  We’ll kick things off with our all ages book events and family friendly programming that’s open to the public. There will be books and goodies for sale, local vendors, a color book station, and organizations from 10:00am-2:00pm. We’ll even have special kids story times with local drag performers and others starting at 10:30am! You’ll find resources from the ACLU of Massachusetts, BAGLY, Fenway Health, and many more. This is a great way to find your newest read for bedtime or anytime. Bring your friends and family to Somerville from 10:00am-2:00pm for all ages fun! At 8:00pm, the 18+ party begins. We’ll have even more books for sale, music, performances, and vendors plus nostalgic snacks. From 8:30-9:00pm, we’ll have our first queer-friendly performance of the night followed by multiple drag-inspired performances from during the entire book fair. In addition, we will have along with fun LGBTQIA+ items from Crafty Queer Studio, Popwink, and more. During our evening events, you can snag that book you’ve been eyeing and find knick knacks to match. We’ll have exclusive All She Wrote Books merch, funky bookmarks, tote bags, stickers, pins, and more! Did we mention we’ll have a coloring book station too? Our 2nd Annual Book Fair is the perfect way to wrap up Pride month activities while celebrating 6 years of All She Wrote Books! Whether it’s day or night, let’s celebrate Pride right.

ASWB x Kelsey Toney

You're invited to join All She Wrote Books, in partnership with MassNOW, to celebrate the release of The Unexpected Consequences Of Bleeding On A Tuesday, on Sunday, June 29th at 3:00pm. This book is a funny, period-positive novel about a girl striving to become the compassionate doctor she's been unable to find in her journey to diagnose her excruciating period pain. The event will include a moderated discussion, an audience Q&amp;A, and a signing line. "Inclusivity" isn't just a buzzword to us. We make every effort to ensure our space and events are accessible to and for everyone. If you or someone in your party needs accommodations, please email us at <a href="mailto:info@allshewrotebooks.com">info@allshewrotebooks.com</a>. About The Unexpected Consequences Of Bleeding On A Tuesday Delia Bridges is striving to become the compassionate doctor she's been unable to find in her journey to diagnose her excruciating period pain--but when a single rule-breaking incident jeopardizes her future, she must find a way to reclaim her dreams in this funny, period-positive novel. High school senior Delia Bridges has the most amazing mom and sister, a killer GPA--and periods that are so painful they make her scream, pass out, and throw up. Though she doesn't know it yet, Delia has endometriosis, an affliction plaguing millions of people that is notoriously difficult to diagnose. Pain makes everything harder, but Delia is just one semester away from graduating from Stockwood Prep and pursuing her dream of becoming the kind of doctor she's never had: one who takes her symptoms seriously. But when she breaks a rule for the first time ever and is caught using marijuana at school to manage her pain, Delia is expelled. Her expulsion jeopardizes her college acceptance, her planned mentorship, and everything she had carefully planned for years. Without her academic success and no closer to a diagnosis, is Delia anything more than her period? About the Author Kelsey B. Toney (she/her)  writes humorous, heartfelt stories about the hope that exists after our most laughably bad decisions. In past lives, Kelsey has been a teacher, recording artist, and actress—always in pursuit of connection through art and empathy. Learn more at <a href="http://kelseybtoney.com/">kelseybtoney.com</a>, on her podcast, or in her newsletter.

All She Wrote July Queer Romance Book Club: LAVASH AT FIRST SIGHT

Join us on Sunday,&nbsp;July 13th at 10:30am at All She Wrote Books&nbsp;for a discussion of Lavash At First Sight&nbsp;by Taleen Voskuni, a delectable romantic comedy in which sparks fly between two women pitted against each other. Seats are&nbsp;limited, so snag yours quick! Worried about finding the book?&nbsp;We've got you covered! Grab a physical copy through registration for the event, at <a href="http://bookshop.org/">Bookshop.org</a>, or <a href="http://libro.fm/">Libro.fm</a>. Can't make it?&nbsp;No worries! Let us know ASAP so we can release your spot to someone eagerly waiting on the waitlist. Don't miss out-register now! Remember:&nbsp;This event has limited capacity, so grab your ticket and claim your seat before it's too late! We can't wait to see you there! ✨ About the Book Twenty-seven-year-old Nazeli “Ellie” Gregorian enjoys the prestige of her tech marketing job but is sick of the condescending Patagonia-clad tech bros, her micromanaging boss, and her ex-boyfriend, who she’s forced to work with every day. When Ellie’s lovingly overbearing parents ask her to attend&nbsp;PakCon—a food packaging conference in Chicago—to help promote their company and vie to win an ad slot in the Superbowl (no big deal), she’s eager for a brief change and a delicious distraction. At the conference, she meets witty, devil-may-care Vanya Simonian. Ellie can’t believe how easy it is to talk to Vanya and how much they have in common—both Armenian! From the Bay Area! Whose families are into food! Their meet-cute is cut short, however, when Ellie’s parents recognize Vanya as the daughter of the owners of their greatest rival, whose mission (according to Ellie’s mother) is to whitewash and package Armenian food for the American health-food crowd. Sworn as enemies, Ellie and Vanya must compete against each other under their suspicious parents' scrutiny, all while their feelings for each other heat to sizzling temps. About the Author Taleen Voskuni (she/her) is is an award-winning writer who grew up in the Bay Area Armenian diaspora. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in English and currently lives in San Francisco, working in tech. Other than a newfound obsession with writing rom-coms, she spends her free time cultivating her kids, her garden, and her dark chocolate addiction. Her first novel, Sorry, Bro, received starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist, was named an Amazon editor's pick, and was favorably reviewed in The New York Times. Sorry, Bro is also winner of the 2023 Golden Poppy award for best romance. Lavash at First Sight is her second published novel.. Our Book Club Guidelines<ul><li>We strive for a thoughtful and respectful discussion of the featured book and its related themes.</li><li>You do not have to have finished the book to participate, but we ask that you contribute to the discussion in whatever way you feel comfortable.</li><li>We do not tolerate demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech.</li></ul>

All She Wrote Books July Breakfast Club: MURDER BY CHEESECAKE

This July, our Breakfast Club will read Murder by Cheesecake: A Cozy Golden Girl Mystery by Rachel Ekstrom Courage. Mark your calendar for Sunday, July 20th at 10:30am as we gather at All She Wrote Books to discuss the first novel in the all-new Golden Girls Cozy Mystery Series! Event Highlights:<ul><li>Immersive Book Discussion with a Community of Enthusiastic Readers</li><li>Coffee and pastries from local French bakery, Michette</li><li></li></ul>Tickets are limited to due to capacity at the bookstore, and each ticket will include either:<ul><li>A copy of the breakfast book club pick; or&nbsp;</li><li>General admission that includes coffee and pastries.</li></ul>There are many ways to obtain a copy of the book (aside from your public library) — you can purchase it through <a href="http://allshewrotebooks.com/">allshewrotebooks.com</a>, <a href="https://manage.wix.com/dashboard/c0063556-a33e-457d-b696-a71163ba43b9/events/event/draft/98324514-676b-4e88-a399-ef3db20863ce/Bookshop.org">Bookshop.org</a>, or <a href="https://manage.wix.com/dashboard/c0063556-a33e-457d-b696-a71163ba43b9/events/event/draft/98324514-676b-4e88-a399-ef3db20863ce/www.sachakraborty.com">Libro.fm</a> to help support our work! Our event has a limited capacity and we want to ensure that as many people as possible are able to attend. By letting us know that you can no longer attend, we can open up your spot to someone on our waitlist who is eager to participate. &nbsp; "Inclusivity" isn't just a buzzword to us. We make every effort to ensure our space and events are accessible to and for everyone. If you or someone in your party needs accommodations, please email us at <a href="https://manage.wix.com/dashboard/c0063556-a33e-457d-b696-a71163ba43b9/events/event/draft/98324514-676b-4e88-a399-ef3db20863ce/www.sachakraborty.com">info@allshewrotebooks.com</a>. About the Book: When Dorothy’s obnoxious date is found dead in a hotel freezer, it not only ruins a gorgeous cheesecake but threatens the elaborate St. Olaf–themed wedding Rose is hosting. Things are heating up, and not just because of Blanche’s hot flashes. Rose’s cousin is eloping to Miami, and Rose is playing host. If she can’t balance the groom’s family’s snobbery against the traditional St. Olaf wedding week guidelines, her hometown may never accept her cousin again!&nbsp; Dorothy quickly realizes she needs a date with whom she can exchange wedding-related wisecracks. Turning to a newfangled VHS dating service, she believes she’s found the ideal conversationalist. Unfortunately, what looks good on TV can actually be a total jerk in real life. It seems she’ll just have to enjoy the company of Sophia, Blanche, and whomever Blanche has targeted for a hookup. As the Girls all pitch in, Rose is thrilled that the tea-and-fish-themed kickoff event is perfect, not a herring out of place. That is until Dorothy’s date is found dead—face-planted in an otherwise scrumptious-looking cheesecake. With every guest a suspect (especially Dorothy) and a marriage on the line, the four besties must ID the real killer, get the should-be-happy couple down the aisle, and make sure nobody from St. Olaf gets lost in the wilds of Miami. It’s up to the Golden Girls to sleuth out a way for friendship and love to win the day! About the Author: Rachel Ekstrom Courage is the New York Times, USA Today, and American Booksellers Association bestselling author of Murder By Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery (Hyperion Avenue/Disney) and the Young Adult thriller Nothing Bad Happens Here (PRH/Delacorte). She lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband (the children’s book author Nick Courage) and their dog, Chaely. By day she’s the founder of Courage Literary, advocating for books and authors that make the world a better, smarter, and more interesting place. As a literary agent, Rachel has represented New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon Best Sellers. Her clients include GoodReads Choice Award Winners, IndieNext Picks and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections as well as finalists for the Lambda Award, the National Jewish Book Award, and the ITW Thriller Award. When she’s not busy working on books, you can find Rachel playing with her dog and restocking her Little Free Library. Our Book Club Guidelines:<ul><li>We strive for a thoughtful and respectful discussion of the featured book and its related themes.</li><li>You do not have to have finished the book to participate, but we ask that you contribute to the discussion in whatever way you feel comfortable.</li><li>We do not tolerate demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech.</li></ul>

All She Wrote Books x Sarah Moon: FAMILY WEEK

Join All She Wrote Books on Sunday, July 27th at 11:00am, as we host authors Sarah Moon and ! They will discuss Moon's latest book, Family Week, a middle grade coming-of-age story that celebrates identity, acceptance, and found family. "Inclusivity" isn't just a buzzword to us. We make every effort to ensure our space and events are accessible to and for everyone. If you or someone in your party needs accommodations, please email us at <a href="http://mailto:info@allshewrotebooks.com/">info@allshewrotebooks.com</a>. About Family Week Four best friends spend Family Week together at an annual gathering of LGBTQ+ families in Provincetown, MA—the largest of its kind across the world! For as long as they can remember, Mac, Lina, Milo and Avery have celebrated Family Week together in "the smallest, gayest town in the world"—Provincetown, Massachusetts. But this summer, their big rented beach house feels different. Avery’s dads are splitting up, and her life feels like it’s falling apart. Milo’s flunked seventh grade, which means everyone is moving on to bigger and better things except for him. Mac’s on his way to a progressive boarding school that lets transgender kids like him play soccer, but it means leaving his twin sister, Lina, and his moms—and the safety of home—behind.  Everything is changing, and for Lina, it feels like it's happening with or without her. Avery, Milo, and Mac know this is going to be their last summer together. But Lina can't accept that—and if she can make this the best summer ever, maybe she'll convince them that there will be a Family Week next year. Good things might not last in the real world, but they do in P-town.... Right? About the Author Sarah Moon (she/her) is the author of SPARROW and MIDDLETOWN, both of which received critical acclaim. A teacher and college counselor, she lives and works in Brooklyn with her wife and their daughter. About the Speaker Kimm Topping Ed.M. (they/them) is an educator, historian, and artist. As the founder of Lavender Education, they lead a national initiative that celebrates LGBTQIA+ history through arts, education, and youth organizing. Their extensive collaborations with educational institutions and organizations focuses on promoting the well-being and leadership of queer and trans youth. Prior to founding Lavender Education, Kimm managed the Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students in Massachusetts. They currently serve as a Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, specializing in gender and sexuality studies. In 2023, the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition awarded Kimm the inaugural In-Service Award in recognition of their significant contributions to the transgender community across Massachusetts. Generation Queer is Kimm's first full-length book. Residing in the Boston area, Kimm also leads historical tours highlighting queer and feminist landmarks. Find them online at <a href="http://kimmtopping.com/">kimmtopping.com</a>.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S19: interest based

WBUR’s 75th birthday celebrations 💫

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.