Arts Agenda: Book events and festivals

March 27

Journalist Amanda Knox, who spent nearly four years in prison and eight years on trial for a murder she did not commit, shares her remarkable story in her deeply personal new memoir Free: My Search for Meaning — presented at 7:30 p.m. March 27 by the Book Festival of the MJCCA at the Marcus Jewish Community Center in Dunwoody. Tickets at the MJCCA event page.

Join the folks at Bookish, a queer-owned, woman-led independent book shop, for the Booklover’s Spring Social, an after-hours gathering which will offer mocktails, snacks, shopping, friends and some limited-edition merch. Celebrate books and make new friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 27.

March 31

Legendary producer Joe Boyd’s career spans decades, working with a long list of luminaries including Nick Drake, R.E.M., Fairport Convention, Pink Floyd, Nico, Billy Bragg, Toots and the Maytals and Robyn Hitchcock. Boyd will discuss his latest book, And the Roots of Rhythm Remain: A Journey Through Global Music,” with Lance Ledbetter, founder of Dust-to-Digital, an Atlanta-based record label dedicated to preserving rare and historically significant recordings. The free event happens at 7:30 p.m. on March 31 at Manuel’s Tavern.

April 4-5

The Carrollton BookFest offers something both for writers and readers. On Friday, three workshops are available: Bren McClain’s Master Writing Class, Lola Schaefer’s workshop on children’s literature and George Weinstein and Kim Conroy’s practical Pathways to Publication. Saturday will feature conversations with authors, including bestselling author and Atlanta resident Karen White.

April 6

A Cappella Books welcomes musician Neko Case to Atlanta’s Tara Theatre to celebrate her powerful new memoir, The Harder I Fight the More I Love You. The author will appear in conversation with Virginia Prescott, president of School of Humans Audio and former host of GPB’s On Second Thought, at 7 p.m. April 6. The $30 ticket price includes a signed hardcover edition of the book.

April 8

Artist Lonnie Holley will be in conversation with Virginia Prescott at The Carter Center to discuss his new book, Lonnie Holley: Sculptures, Paintings, Sandstones, Film, Works on Paper & Music, published by Rizzoli Electa, at 7 p.m. April 8. General admission tickets are $10, but a $70 ticket includes admission and a signed copy of the book.

April 10

Meet Me There is a monthly intergenerational poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction experience curated by trans/genderqueer poet and sound artist Samuel Ace. This month, they’ll feature Atlanta poet W.J. Lofton and his new book, boy maybe. This event takes place in person at Charis and on Crowdcast, Charis’ virtual event platform. This 7:30 p.m. event is free, but registration is required for virtual attendance. Click here to register to attend virtually.

April 24

Spend An Evening with Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and journalist, who offers an examination of the rise of global autocracy in her latest book, Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World. In conversation with Greg Bluestein, political reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Applebaum will discuss how modern autocracies operate, collaborate and threaten democracy worldwide. The discussion begins at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. on April 24, but it’s preceded by a VIP reception at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20-$25 for the main event, with the tickets for the VIP reception at $144.

April 26

The last Saturday in April is Independent Bookstore Day, and six Black women-owned Atlanta area bookstores are celebrating with the Black Girl Book Fair from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on April 26. Check it out at Brave + Kind Bookshop, The Book Worm, For Keeps Books, 44th & 3rd Bookseller, A Small Place Bookshop and Good Books.

April 29

Katie Williams’ Prose to the People is a visual homage to Black bookstores and includes photos alongside essays, poems and interviews by authors Kiese Laymon, Rio Cortez, Pearl Cleage and many more, offering perspectives on these bookstores’ role throughout the diaspora. The book also includes a foreword by Nikki Giovanni. Join Williams and moderator Shaundra Walker at the Snellville Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library at 7 p.m. on April 29.

May 4

A Cappella Books welcomes entrepreneur, author and King of Pops founder Steve Carse for a special afternoon talk and book signing at A Cappella Books in honor of his book, Work Is Fun: Seven Ways a Successful Ice Pop Company Makes Work Meaningful and How You Can Too. This 3 p.m. event is free and open to the public; copies of the book will be available for purchase.

May 9

Join acclaimed author Nancy Johnson at the Lawrenceville Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library for a discussion of her newest novel, People of Means, about a mother and daughter each seeking justice and following their dreams in 1960s Nashville and 1990s Chicago. The event takes place from noon to 1 p.m. May 9.