Lit Chat Book Club Happy Hour
The Lit Chat Book Club Happy Hour is a special private event for book clubs. During this one-hour virtual literary happy hour, Lynn Rosen provides an entertaining and interactive book club update and refresh. It’s a fun way for your book club to convene, stay connected virtually during this time of quarantine, have a new experience, and discover new books! The event includes: General literary news of interest to book clubs:A presentation of 10 forthcoming titles specifically chosen for your book club;General tips for successful book clubs, as well as (if needed) suggestions for ways to refresh your group and how to ask good questions that generate a stimulating discussion;A literary trivia contest, complete with prizes!Follow up after the event with a tailored list of titles recommended specifically for your book club. This event is led by author/teacher/bookseller Lynn Rosen, a long-time book publishing industry professional. For more about Lynn see HERE. The cost for the event is $10 per person, with a minimum of $100. For more information and to schedule the event for your book club, contact Lynn Rosen:...
Women’s Words
A series of programs featuring literature by women. The Women’s Words series kicks off with a lecture by Lynn Rosen: “Women’s Words: Feminist Literary Highlights from the 18th Century to Today.” This talk will start with a look at our very first women authors and novelists and move through important works over the centuries. You’ll find familiar names as well as hopefully some news ones, from Mary Wollstonecraft to Virginia Woolf to Gloria Steinem to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. After the kick-off lecture, there will be three separate book discussion classes, each examining an important work of feminist fiction. For these classes, participants will be asked to read the work ahead of time to participate in class discussion. Womens’ Words LectureDATE: Tuesday, June 9thTIME: 7pm – 8:30pmWho are our feminist literary foremothers? You may be surprised to know that their work dates back as far as the 11th century, and that even in eras dominated by male writers, they were busily “scribbling” out important works of literature. This lecture is an overview of some significant feminist literature over the past centuries. Sign up HERE CLASS #1DATE: Wednesday, May 27TIME: 7pm – 8:30pmKate Chopin’s The Awakening centers on Edna Pontellier and her struggle between her increasingly unorthodox views on femininity and motherhood and the prevailing social attitudes of the turn-of-the-century American South. We’ll examine this imporant work and also look at several other contemporary 19th century American women writers: Margaret Fuller, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and E.D.E.N. Southworth.Participants will need to read The Awakening for this class. Sign up HERE CLASS #2DATE: Monday, June 15TIME: 7pm – 8:30pmEdith Wharton’s The House of Mirth was published in 1905 and tells the story of Lily Bart, a well-born but impoverished woman belonging to New York City’s high society. Lily’s plight still rings fresh today, and we’ll discuss this classic novel, and also examine new evidence that sheds light on the author’s intentions for Lily. Sign up HERE CLASS #3DATE: Tuesday, July 7TIME: 7pm – 8:30pmVirginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, published in 1925, is a great book to return to as a reader of Woolf, and a perfect way to begin if you haven’t yet read Woolf. Either way, the story and the beauty of the language have not lessened in impact in the nearly 100 years since the book’s publication. Sign up HERE COST: Per class: $30Sign up for the series: $110 Sign up...
Kids Write!
A new session in our popular online writing program for kids begins in late May! We want to encourage young writers, especially during these days when schools are closed, by giving them some new concrete skills that will help them become better writers and feel good about what they are accomplishing as young writers. Our classes combine instruction about craft and writing exercises, all at an age appropriate level. Classes are led by Lynn Rosen, owner of Open Book Productions and English, writing, and publishing instructor. (For more about Lynn see HERE.) What people are saying about Kids Write: Praise from a former student:“I really liked this writing class. I’m still enjoying writing the rest of the story I started during the class. We were given time and help to be creative and write what we wanted.” Praise from the parents of previous students: “We want to thank you for your fine work in teaching creative writing. We appreciate your careful preparation for each lesson, your clear way of explaining things, and above all your warm encouragement of all the students. This has been a very positive experience for our daughter and we thank you! “My kids had an excellent experience in the class.” “Very positive, fun, educational.” “He looked forward to the classes and enjoyed the assignments.” “The different exercises were fun. He liked the writing challenges. It helped her think about writing in new ways.” “My daughter, who is in 7th grade, took a class with Lynn in the fall. It was a great experience on so many levels. I knew my daughter was a talented writer but didnt know how to foster this talent without nagging! Lynn got the middle schoolers comfortable with her and each other right away so they could give each other feedback. The fiction piece my daughter ended up writing blew me away. The characters had serious depth and I wanted to read more! I know she is a better writer from this class! I highly recommend Kids Write for teens and tweens!” Class Details Class will meet virtually; details are below. The class is 4 weeks long, includes 4 meetings, and each meeting is an hour and 15 minutes.Cost per class is $85 Register HERE. KIDS WRITE! Storyboarding DATE: Thursday, May 28, June 4, 11, 18TIME: 11AM – 12:15PM LOCATION: via ZoomThis class takes a storytelling approach with a focus on plot development. In each class, we will create new plots and stories and then map them out fully, storyboard style. We’ll explore a variety of genres including realistic fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, graphic novels, and playwriting....
Study Hall: Literary Lectures for Thoughtful Readers
Later in Life: Women Aging into AbundanceDATE: Tuesday, June 2, 2020TIME: 7pm – 8:30pmNote: This class will meet virtually via Zoom. As several new books reinforce, women become more authentic as they age. There is less concern about saying or doing the right thing, and women feel freer to do and think as they please. As Mary Pipher says in Women Rowing North, “If we can keep our wits about us, think clearly, and manage our emotions skillfully, we will experience a joyous time of our lives.” In this talk we will explore the positive side of growing older and into our power by taking a close look at new books the explore the topic of women aging in the past, present, and future, including: In Our Prime by Susan J. Douglas Women Rowing North by Mary Pipher No Stopping Us Now by Gail Collins REGISTRATION COST: $40To sign up, click HERE.Note: cost does not include books. Books are available at a discount with class registration; please inquire to lynn@lynnrosen.com THE STUDY HALL LECTURE SERIES Open Book Productions launched this new series of literary lectures in early 2020. Each lecture, given by Lynn Rosen, addresses a different writer, theme, or group of books. Past topics included: Louisa May Alcott, Philadelphia Writers, Self-Help books, and the Literary Canon. These standalone talks don’t require preparation or reading ahead of time. They simply require you to come with an expectation of learning something about the particular writer or topic of the month. You’ll be able to ask questions, participate in discussion, and talk with other like-minded passionate readers. ABOUT LYNN: Lynn Rosen runs Open Book Productions, an extensive program of classes, workshops, and events for readers, writers and thinkers. Lynn is a long-time book publishing industry professional with many years of experience as an editor, literary agent, teacher, and author. For the past five years, she has been co-owner of Open Book Bookstore. She has served as Editorial Director of Book Business magazine, and Director of Graduate Publishing Programs at Rosemont College. Prior to that, she was Editorial Director at Peter Pauper Press, a Senior Editor at Running Press and, earlier in her career, an Editor in the Trade Division of Ballantine Books (Penguin Random House). In 1991, Lynn launched Leap First, an independent literary agency, which she ran until 1999. She is the author of Elements of the Table: A Simple Guide for Hosts and Guests (Clarkson Potter). Lynn graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with an Honors degree in English, and holds a Masters in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University. She teaches writing and publishing classes at Open Book, and has been a...
Literary Mindfulness
Writing is an activity that we pursue because, theoretically, we enjoy it and find it rewarding and fulfilling. It’s also extraordinarily challenging. Sometimes we are good at creating habits that have us regularly sitting in our chairs and working on our writing, and sometimes we let whatever distractions or concerns we may be feeling keep us from making the commitment to our creative work. Literary Mindfulness is about making a commitment to writing and being mindful about it. This is a commitment that means that we will do this writing for ourselves, acknowledging that it is something that is important to us and that nourishes us as much as it may challenge us. Literary Mindfulness is about honoring ourselves and the creative instinct that resides inside us. Practically, it’s about creating space for yourself to do your creative work. Sometimes, this is just about carving out a few hours, or even minutes, in your busy day. In these trying times, it’s more important than ever to make sure your creative soul has the chance to be expressed. Hence Open Book Productions is happy to provide some virtual opportunities for regular guided writing. Each Literary Mindfulness session will begin with focus exercises and goal setting. It will then include structured time that mixes writing exercises and group work with periods of quiet writing time. In addition to general structured writing exercises, it offers the opportunity to focus on writing your own project as well. Ongoing sessions will be offered.If you’d like to try a class, email lynn@lynnrosen.com. Sessions are scheduled as soon as a group is assembled at a time that is convenient for all. Each session is an hour and a half.COST: $25 PER SESSIONSign...
Hot Off the Press Spring 2020
In this lively monthly book discussion class led by Lynn Rosen, participants read and discuss new literary fiction. Class conversations include a thorough and thoughtful analysis of the book as well as background information provided by Lynn about the author and the book’s path to publication. We talk serious book talk, but have a lot of laughs too! Class meets on Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 8:30pm. CLASS DATES:February 26March 25April 22May 20June 17LOCATION: Elkins Park, PA 19027COST: $160Sign up HERE.Books are not included and can be purchased by class members at a discount from Open Book Bookstore. CLASS READING SCHEDULE: February 26American Dirt by Jeanine CumminsTells of the ordeal of a Mexican woman who had to leave behind her life and escape as an undocumented immigrant to the United States with her son. This book has created a great literary controversy about cultural appropriation, which will also be part of our discussion. March 25Amnesty by Aravind AdigaA riveting, suspenseful, and exuberant novel from the bestselling, Man Booker Prize–winning author of The White Tiger and Selection Day about a young illegal immigrant who must decide whether to report crucial information about a murder—and thereby risk deportation. April 22Days of Distraction by Alexandra Chang“Startlingly original and deeply moving…. Chang here establishes herself as one of the most important of the new generation of American writers.” — George SaundersEqual parts tender and humorous, and told in spare but powerful prose, Days of Distraction is an offbeat coming-of-adulthood tale, a touching family story, and a razor-sharp appraisal of our times. May 20Afterlife by Julia AlvarezThe first adult novel in almost fifteen years by the internationally bestselling author of How the García Girls Lost Their Accents. Antonia Vega, the immigrant writer at the center of Afterlife, has just retired from the college where she taught English when her beloved husband, Sam, suddenly dies. And then more jolts happen. Antonia has always sought direction in the literature she loves, but she finds that the world demands more of her than words. June 17The Book of V by Anna SolomonA bold, kaleidoscopic novel intertwining the lives of three women across three centuries as their stories of sex, power, and desire finally converge in the present...