The 5th Annual Midwest Literary Walk offers a star-studded cast of award-winning poets, authors, and musicians known to the public, the literary world, and even to Hollywood. The event takes place at various venues in downtown Chelsea on Sat., April 27, 11 to 5. The public is invited to all readings.
First up is prolific crime novelist and screenwriter Elmore Leonard, winner of numerous awards over his 60-year career, including the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award, a PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award, and the National Book Foundation’s Medallion for Distinguished Contributions to American Letters. He will be joined by his son Peter Leonard, an acclaimed writer of suspense thrillers.
Also reading at the event are Michael Brian Ogden, resident artist at the Purple Rose Theatre Co.; local poet Lonnie Hull DuPont, accompanied by singer, songwriter, and composer Doug Howell; poet and novelist Jack Driscoll, winner of PEN and Pushcart Prizes and a Michigan Notable Book author; poet and nature writer Michael Delp, and Ojibwe poet and Native American linguistics expert Margaret Noori.
Internationally known Detroit poet, educator and arts activist ML Liebler will emcee the event for the fifth year. One of the Literary Walk’s founders, Liebler will be joined during the final reading by the Coyote Monk Poetry Band.
Local poets and authors are invited to read their own work at the Open Mic. Readers are limited to three minutes and can sign up the day of the event.
The Midwest Literary Walk is a joint venture of the Downtown Development Authority, the Chelsea District Library, the River Gallery, and Chelsea Writers’ Workshop, with support from Nicola’s Books. The featured authors’ books, provided by Nicola’s, will be available for purchase at the River Gallery throughout the day.
