River of Words: Portraits of Hudson Valley Writers makes for a veritable Who’s Who in contemporary regional authorship, written by Nina Shengold with stunning black-and-white photographs by Jennifer May. Seventy-six authors of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essays, memoir, plays and scripts grace the pages of this collection, each one interviewed at one time or another by Shengold and photographed by May, as they talked about their work and about spending time in the greater Hudson Valley area. Some are year-round residents; some escape from the City to hide out in the Catskills; and some were born here and reconnect their roots whenever they can. Shengold writes that the lure of community pulls writers in, and she admits that the subtitle might be more accurate if it read “Some” Hudson Valley Writers. What is it about this landscape that attracts contemplative types and supports the solitary act of writing – besides the natural beauty, the relative quiet, the rich history and general ambience, that is?

Her work as books editor of Chronogram magazine, where many of these profiles were first published, gave Shengold the reason to seek out and amass such an inspiring collection of interviews. She generally works without a net, using no recording equipment but a legal pad and her tenacious mind to absorb all the fascinating utterances that her interviewees reveal.

May avails herself of all the technological equipment needed to bring out the best in her subjects, whether they are people, pigs, cows or veggies. Watching her set up a shoot (she uses a Nikon D700 digital camera, bags full of lights and reflectors and a selection of lenses) is fascinating in itself, as she concentrates on elements of light and shadow, texture, composition, the weather. May comments, “Nina and I work together whenever possible. I enjoy listening to [her] conversational interview, and she is great help with my gear.” And together they’ve combined creative forces to get at who these literary people are, both in their professional capacities and in their lives.

The product of this collaboration is a book that gives readers an inside look at “literary life, the craft of writing and the pull of this distinctive landscape” – evidence of the discerning expertise of them both. Since its release last August, May and Shengold have hosted a number of book-launching celebrations around the area, with a different combination of subject authors at each event. Shengold quips, “The Hudson Valley is home to an astonishing array of literary talent. One celebration just isn’t enough.”

On Sunday, November 7 at 3:30 p.m., Inquiring Minds Bookstore in Saugerties will present five authors from River of Words as a part of its Sunday Reading Series. Appearing with May and Shengold will be poet Cornelius Eady, journalist and murder-mystery writer Alison Gaylin, poet and fiction writer Robert Kelly, novelist Sarah Micklem and memoirist and fiction writer Abigail Thomas. For more information, visit www.riverofwordsbook.com. Contact Inquiring Minds at (845) 246-5775 for more details.

At Bard College in Annandale:

Monday, November 1 at 2:30 p.m. in Weis Cinema in the Bertelsmann Campus Center – Presented as part of Literature professor Bradford Morrow’s “New Directions in Contemporary Fiction” course, award-winning novelist, short-story writer and translator Howard Norman will read from his work, which includes The Bird Artist, The Museum Guard, The Haunting of L, The Northern Lights, Devotion and his latest novel, What Is Left the Daughter. A question-and-answer session will follow. This event is free and open to the public; no reservations are required. Call (845) 752-4933 for further information.

At Barnes & Noble in Kingston:

Sunday, November 14 at 2 p.m. – Author and commentator Kate Buford launches her new book Native American Son: The Life and Sporting Legend of Jim Thorpe, the first detailed biography of the legendary figure who defined excellence in American sports.

Wednesday, November 17 at 6:30 p.m. Nonna Tell Me a Story: Lidia’s Christmas Kitchen is famed Italian-American cook Lidia Bastianich’s new book, out just in time to delight readers and inspire cooks with Lidia’s Christmas traditions, delicious recipes and decorating ideas.

Saturday, November 6 at 3 p.m. – Meet Glenn Kreisberg, editor of Lost Knowledge of the Ancients, a new anthology featuring accounts in alternative theories on history, the origins of civilization, technology and consciousness by Graham Hancock, Richard Hoagland and more.

Thursday, November 11 at 3 p.m. – With carefully chosen photographs and detailed text, New Paltz Revisited traces the history of New Paltz from the Colonial Era to the present. Meet author Carol Johnson this afternoon.

Wednesday, November 3 at 6:30 p.m. – Cartoonist and writer Lincoln Peirce introduces his new book Big Nate Strikes Again, an entertaining and humorous tale cast as a comic-book-style diary.

Thursday, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. – Celebrated “young readers” author Leslie Margolis will be here to read from and sign copies of Girl’s Best Friend, a hip new book featuring a clever and lovable heroine.

At Barnes & Noble in Poughkeepsie:

Thursday, November 4 at 7 p.m. – Meet Thomas Cobb, author of Shavetail, winner of the 2009 Spur Award for Long Fiction.

Saturday, November 13 at 1 p.m. – Children’s author Susannah Appelbaum of The Tasters’ Guild will be on hand to work her magic.

Monday, November 15 at 5 p.m. – Jesse A. Saperstein, author of Atypical: Life with Asperger’s in 20 1/3 Chapters, will be here to sign books and talk about his memoir – a poignant, funny and truly unique observation of a young writer diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Monday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m. – Meet children’s author Susanna Hill, who will present Can’t Sleep without Sheep to her fans young and old.

Monday, November 15 at 7 p.m. – Alisa Kwitney’s Flirting in Cars is a witty, romantic and compassionate novel about an urban working mom who leaves the city only to find that her talents are no match for country life.

Monday, November 22 at 6 p.m. – Children’s author Lorry Macpherson reads from The Adventures of Super Keith, a collection of stories sure to delight adventurous youngsters.

Friday, November 26 at 3 p.m. – New York Times best-selling author Dr. Michael Roizen launches his newest book, You: Raising Your Child: The Owner’s Manual from First Breath to First Grade. Parents, don’t miss this chance to get your questions answered.

At Half Moon Used Books in Kingston:

Saturday, November 6 at 6:30 p.m. – Rebecca Schumejda hosts poets Will Nixon, Howie Good, Robert Milby, Roberta Gould and John Dorsey, who will read from their books.

Saturday, November 13 at 7 p.m. – Come to a book-signing and reading by James Lonergan. Poached Dreams is his debut collection of poetry.

 

At Inquiring Minds in New Paltz:

Monday, November 15 at 7 p.m. – Discussion group moderated by Tom Meyer for this year’s One Book/One New Paltz selection: Dave Egger’s Zeitoun. Inquiring Minds Bookstore is located at 6 Church Street in New Paltz, and can be reached by phone at (845) 255-8300.

Saturday, November 13 at 7 p.m. – A book event and signing with Lois Heymann, author of The Sound of Hope: Recognizing, Coping with and Treating Your Child’s Auditory Processing Disorder. Inquiring Minds Bookstore is located at 6 Church Street in New Paltz, and can be reached by phone at (845) 255-8300.

At Inquiring Minds in Saugerties:

Thursday, November 11 at 7 p.m.:  Meet Sebastian Stewart, who will be reading from his book To the Manor of the Dead.

Sunday, November 21 at 2 p.m. – Colin Duke will read his children’s book Mulligan’s Journey.

 

At (or sponsored by) Merritt Books in Millbrook:

Wednesday, November 3 at 7 p.m. – Christina Baker Kline, author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be, will be at the Ulster Savings Bank in Red Hook for a reading and signing.

Saturday, November 6 at 5 p.m. – Jennifer Donnelly shares her new book Revolution.

Sunday, November 7 at 2 p.m. – Liza Donnelly, a staff cartoonist for The New Yorker magazine, will be celebrating her new book When Do They Serve the Wine?: The Folly, Flexibility and Fun of Being a Woman.

Sunday, November 14 at 2 p.m. – Three poets read: Lee Briccetti, executive director of Poets’ House in New York will read from her book Day Mark; Tom Healy, with his first book of poetry What the Right Hand Knows, nominated for both the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Lambda Literary Award; and Ryan Murphy, author of The Redcoats and Down with the Ship.

Thursday, November 18 at 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Fishkill – Health Quest presents “Ladies’ Night Out with Lisa Ling.” Ling will speak and sign the book Somewhere Inside: One Sister’s Captivity in North Korea and the Other’s Fight to Bring Her Home, co-authored with Laura Ling.

At Mirabai Books in Woodstock:

Sunday, November 14 at 3 p.m. – Harpist and singer Meryn will read from her new book Betwixt and Between: Poems from the Wild Woods and Beyond.

At Oblong Books in Rhinebeck:

Friday, November 5 at 7:30 p.m. – Akiko Busch will read from Patience: Taking Time in the Age of Acceleration.

Saturday, November 6 at 7:30 p.m. – Liza Donnelly will be on hand with When Do They Serve the Wine?: The Folly, Flexibility and Fun of Being a Woman.

Tuesday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m. – Come to a “Young Adult Extravaganza” with authors Rachel Cohn and David Levithan of Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares and Sarah Mlynowski, author of Give Me a Call.

Thursday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m. – Meet novelist-turned-dog-sanctuary-owner Steven Kotler, who will read from and sign A Small Furry Prayer: Dog Rescue and the Meaning of Life.

Thursday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m. – Glenn Kreisberg, editor of Lost Knowledge of the Ancients, will be on hand for a discussion and book-signing.

At Oblong Books in Millerton:

Saturday, November 6 at 12 noon – Meet Jane Garmey, author of Private Gardens of Connecticut.

Saturday, November 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. – Local historian Elinor Mettler’s new book Down Maple Lane chronicles her life growing up in Copake Falls.

At Vassar College Bookstore in Poughkeepsie:

Thursday, November 11 at 5 p.m. in the College Center of the Main Building – Vassar professor emeritus of English and world-renowned poet Eamon Grennan will read from his new collection, Out of Sight: New and Collected Poems.

At Village Books in Hunter:

Saturday, November 20 at 1 p.m. – Author and illustrator Mercedes Cecilia will be on hand to read from, discuss and sign her new children’s book Kusikiy: A Child from Taquile, Peru.