Millennials everywhere have been singing N*SYNC for the last week or so, and it’s finally here! May is upon us! The pools will soon be opening and schools will soon be closing, but through it all, we have a lot of good bookish things happening this month! But first, an introduction!
We Have a New Poet Laureate in murfreesboro!
Meet Matthew Leavitt Brown, a poet, educator, and interdisciplinary artist whose work explores language, consciousness, and community engagement through experiential art and writing. He is a lecturer at Middle Tennessee State University and has spent nearly two decades developing expressive writing initiatives that serve veterans, survivors of trauma, and marginalized communities. His past projects, including Writer Corps, The Lavinia Project, and Nuestros Voces, reflect his deep commitment to the transformative power of language. Brown’s current work spans multiple disciplines. His art installation Stations is a multimedia experience that blends photography, text, and sound to explore intimacy, impermanence, and loss. He is the creator of WellSpoken, an AI-driven language tool designed to help individuals articulate pain and emotion with greater clarity. Alongside this, his work through The Iona Initiative and The Center for Linguistic Health fosters spaces where language serves as both a method of healing and a means of civic engagement. These projects are part of his ongoing work with Vanderbilt University’s Wond’ry Center for Innovation. Beyond his studio practice, Mark has been actively involved in arts advocacy, serving as Board Chair for the Rutherford Arts Alliance and playing a key role in establishing artist residencies and K-12 partnerships through state and federal grants. He lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with his partner, two children, and three energetic puppies.
I’m excited to get to know Matthew better, and I hope you are too! No doubt we will be seeing him around more upcoming events. Now onto the things happening this month!
Events
Saturday, 5/3, 9 AM-5 PM, at Smyrna Library AND 10-4 at Linebaugh Library: Free Comic Book Day
Both the Smyrna Library and Linebaugh Library will be having special events for Free Comic Book Day, including trivia, movies, games, snacks, and, yes, giveaways of comic books and toys! Click the pictures above to see what each library has in store.
Sunday, 5/4, 5:30-8:30, at a special location: Writers’ Mingle with Killian Gunn
Please take note that the time and place of this month’s Mingle are different than in Mingles past!! Killian offered to host a Mingle at his home, and we are so honored! Some come kindle your creativity around the campfire! All writers welcome! Click the image for more details and email poetryintheboro@gmail.com for the address.
Friday, 5/9, 6:30 at Dapper Owl Coffee Pub: Peace, Love, and Poetry with Poetry in the Boro and Benevolent Friends
Join us at Dapper Owl Coffee Pub & Bakery on Friday, May 9th, for a groovy evening of open-mic poetry hosted by Benevolent Friends in collaboration with Poetry in the Boro! Admission is free and doors open at 6 pm, giving us time to mingle before we fire up the mic at 6:30. Feel free to sit back and listen – or bring your own original work to share. The evening is all about “Peace and Love,” inviting writers to celebrate themes such as kindness, compassion, community, and non-violence. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or just starting out, your voice is welcome here. Bring a friend and enjoy some good vibes. If you come hungry, the Dapper Owl has great snacks and amazing coffee on their menu. Drip coffee and light nibbles will also be available at no charge. Click the picture for more info!
Saturday, 5/10, 1-4 PM at Linebaugh Library: Lin Stepp Book Signing
Linebaugh Public Library is pleased to host local author Lin Stepp for a book signing on Saturday, May 10th, from 1:00 pm until 4:00pm. Lin will be selling and signing copies of her books including new releases The Red Mill Bookstore and The Light Continues.
Lin Stepp is a New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon best-selling international author. A native Tennessean, businesswoman, and former faculty member at Tusculum College, Lin has over twenty-six published novels set around the Smoky Mountains and the South Carolina coast. Her latest Mountain Home title, The Red Mill Bookstore, is set in Townsend, Tennessee, on the quiet side of the Smoky Mountains and her fourth book in the ongoing Lighthouse Sisters series, The Light Continues, takes readers to the quiet charm of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Lin and her husband J.L. Stepp also write regional guidebooks and have published a bestselling Smokies hiking guide and three state parks guidebooks, all loaded with over 700 color photos. Lin and J.L. enjoy hiking and exploring out of doors, speaking for events, and sharing about their work and interests. Website, blog, and newsletter at: www.linstepp.com.
Thursday, 5/15, 7:00 at Walnut House: The Bloom Stage Multi-Genre Storytelling on Time Travelers
Bloom Stage proudly announces our next show, “Time Traveler,” brought to you by Kara Kemp, Kory Wells, and Crave Tohn. Step into a portal of possibility for an evening in which eras collide and timelines tangle — a curated gathering of stories, poems, music, and art that drifts through the past, the future, and those curious moments in between. From nostalgic echoes to bold visions ahead, “Time Traveler” explores what it means to be out of sync with time … and maybe find truth in the timeless. Click the picture for more information!
Reading Groups
Last month, I highlighted the writing groups available in our area. So this month, I’m going to list all the reading groups that I know of! (And this does not include kids’ storytimes. Maybe we’ll do those another month.) Check ‘em all out—and let me know if I missed any!
Afternoon Book Group at Linebaugh - meets on the 1st Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. in the Linebaugh Conference Room, reading a mixture of light and serious novels and nonfiction.
Lit Wits Book Group at Linebaugh - meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Linebaugh Conference Room. The Lit Wits Book Club is a small, informal group which holds lively discussions with nonjudgmental, warm, welcoming book lovers.
Forever YA Book Club at Linebaugh - a group of YA fans who are a little less “Y”(oung) and a bit more “A”(dult). Whether you’re a regular YA reader or you need a break from your usual “to read” list, all are welcome! Meets every third Saturday at 2:00 in the Meeting Room at Linebaugh. Click HERE for the current list of upcoming books.
Graphic Novel Book Club at Linebaugh - meets on the 4th Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m in the Club Room. This book group will focus on all genres of this format, revisiting classics as well as discussing more recent Graphic Novel titles.
Tuesday Morning Book Club at Linebaugh - meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the Linebaugh Conference Room. The Tuesday night group reads a mixture of literary fiction, non-fiction, and classics.
Read it First Book Club at Linebaugh - for young readers each Friday at 4 pm. We’ll watch the movie adaptation on the last Friday of each month to compare the two!
Friends of Eagleville Library Book Club - meets on the first Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. at the Eagleville Bicentennial Public Library. Everyone is welcome!
Books and Brews in the Boro - an ebook club based out of the Technology Engagement Center. The plan is to meet monthly, off-site, at a fine, locally owned establishment.
Sci-Fi Fantasy Book Club at Linebaugh - meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6:00 pm. This group meets in the Linebaugh Meeting Room on the 2nd floor. Click here to see the list of their monthly book choices for the year.
SciFri Book Club - meets on the last Friday of every month at 5:30 pm at the Technology Engagement Center to discuss their book club pick.
Bookin’ It Walk-and-Talk Book Club at Smyrna Library - Audiobooks are a great way to read! Listen to your audiobook, then talk about it on our walk around the library in Old Rock School Park. Check out an audiobook on CD or MP3 from the library, or visit Libby or Hoopla to find an e-Audiobook to listen to! Themes will be released monthly, please email smyref@rclstn.org for questions. No registration is required!
Novel Nerds at Smyrna Library - meet monthly at 12pm in the Smyrna Conference Room and even have a virtual option if you cannot attend in person. Please email smyref@rclstn.org for details.
Banned Book Club at The Spine - Come join us as we discuss a book that has been routinely banned and discover what the reasons are for the ban.
Local Author Book Club at The Spine - Mark your calendars for the first Friday of every month and join us for our Local Author Book Club! From 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, we'll gather to discuss a featured book written by a local author. Pick up your copy from The Spine Bookshop and get ready for engaging conversations, insightful perspectives, and a whole lot of fun! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with other book lovers and support our talented local authors. We can't wait to see you there!
Silent Book Club - meets two or three times a month, usually at The Dapper Owl, with a short time to mingle before having some quiet time to read together. I can confirm it’s a good time!
That’s gonna be May! As always, check with your favorite libraries and bookstores for other events and news that is happening this month. And if you have anything you want to share, please email me at taffetachimewrites@gmail.com. Thanks, and we’ll see you in June!
Image courtesy of @nganduong93
