Head to Chelsea Tomorrow for The Midwest Literary Walk

The Midwest Literary Walk is the annual Spring afternoon event in downtown Chelsea, MI celebrating the power of books, authors, literature and poetry in everyday life. This year's event will be held on Saturday, April 30, from 1:00 - 5:00 pm in Chelsea, MI.

This year's event is sponsored by Detroit Public TV and our nationally distributed PBS book channel, Book View Now. The Midwest Literary Walk is completely free to the public.

For book lovers throughout the region, the Midwest Literary Walk offers a full day of literary tourism, blending an incredible roster of renowned writing voices with Chelsea's quaint downtown, home to the iconic Purple Rose Theater and Common Grill.

The amazing lineup of writers appearing at the event includes:

- Christopher Sorrentino, National Book Award finalist and author of THE FUGITIVES, a Michigan-based novel about a writer who retreats from his hectic Brooklyn life to a quiet Michigan town where he hopes to finish his long-overdue novel. There, he becomes fascinated by a native Ojibwe storyteller who regularly appears at the local library - but who, readers soon learn, is not all he appears to be.

- Claire Vaye Watkins is a recent National Book Award "5 Under 35" honoree and the author of GOLD FAME CITRUS, named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, NPR, Vanity Fair, LA Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Huffington Post,and several other publications. Watkins is on the faculty of the Hell Zell Writers' Program at the University of Michigan.

- Robin Coste Lewis, the 2015 winner of the National Book Award for Poetry for her electrifying debut collection of poetry, VOYAGE OF THE SABLE VENUS. Coste Lewis's poems are an eye-opening meditation on the cultural depiction of the black female figure, and her work is being celebrated worldwide.

- Jamaal May, born and still living in Detroit, is one of America's most powerful new voices in poetry. His latest collection, THE BIG BOOK OF EXIT STRATEGIES, was just released this month to huge acclaim. May will be appearing together in conversation with Robin Coste Lewis.

- Paula McLain is one of the most popular writers in America, delighting book clubs with her huge New York Times bestsellers, THE PARIS WIFE (2011) and her latest novel, CIRCLING THE SUN (2015), named one of NPR's best books of the year. As fellow writer Ann Patchett says, "Paula McLain is considered the new star of historical fiction-for good reason."

Detroit Public TV is proud to partner with the Midwest Literary Walk. Come out to Chelsea for a free day of great conversation, inspiration and fun.

Learn more about tomorrow's April 30 Midwest Literary Walk, including times, directions and other details, at midwestliterarywalk.org.

PBS Book View Now is a national, multi-platform, public media-driven presentation of books, authors, storytelling and the power of literacy. In partnership with major book festivals, libraries, and literary organizations, Book View Now showcases the books, authors and ideas that drive national conversations and shape global perspectives. And no one understands this as well as PBS. Books are a vital part of the lives of public television viewers. It's precisely this type of smart, thought provoking content that people turn to PBS to discover. Books expand worldview, open doors to new cultures and ideas, and inspire self-fulfillment. PBS Book View Now provides booklovers in Michigan and all across the country access to important thinkers and storytellers all year long.

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