Seasoned sailor and author Linda Petrat will discuss her three-month solo sailing trip from Kittery, Maine to Sarasota on her “Good Little Boat,” a 22-foot Pearson Ensign racing sloop on Wednesday, July 9, 7 to 8 p.m., Dunedin Public Library, 223 Douglas Ave. Petrat sign copies of her book A Great Big Adventure on a Good Little Boat following the presentation.
Tampa Writers Alliance’s Critique Group meets on Wednesday, July 9, 7 p.m., at Barnes & Noble Carrollwood, 11802 N. Dale Mabry. About 20 TWA members gather and review hard copies of manuscripts previously submitted and scheduled for review. Visitors are welcome to attend, but only members’ work will be discussed, generally five pieces per session.
Safety Harbor Writers and Poets hosts its monthly Open Mic Wednesday, July 9, 7 p.m., at Tapping the Vine, 737 Main St. Spoken word artists, storytellers, fiction writers, comedians and musicians are welcome. Each reader/performer gets five minutes.
Let out your inner vintage nerd. Inkwood Books, 216 S. Armenia Ave., Tampa hosts its Summer Postcard Typewriter Party on Thursday, July 10, 7 to 9 p.m. Write letters or postcards on real vintage typewriters set up throughout the shop.
Sacred Sounds’ competitive open mic series convenes on Ybor City Saturday, July 12, 8:45 p.m. In a first-come-first-serve poetry slam, up to 12 open micers showcasing original works will compete. There are three rounds, elimination style, so slammers should prepare three pieces for the evening. The winners will be given further opportunity to represent Sacred Sounds via Sacred Sounds TV on YouTube or through other local, regional and national competitions. Go here for more information. This event takes place at CL’s event space, 1911 N. 13th St., Suite W200.
On Saturday, July 12, 4 to 7 p.m., Inkwood celebrates the launch of Lorin Oberweger and Veronica Rossi’s collaborative novel Boomerang. It’s part book signing, part fundraiser for Bess the Book Bus, which travels around the country bringing free books to kids in need. Two dollars will be donated to the cause for every book sold through this event and Generation Give will match those funds raised.
Celebrate zines, independent media and D.I.Y. publishing at this year’s Tampa Zine Fest. Organized in conjunction with Tampa Free Skool, this second annual festival takes place on Saturday, July 12, 6 to 9 p.m., at The Underground, 1925 E. 2nd Ave. Zinesters and zine fans will have the chance to share, trade, buy and sell their creations and collections. There will also be workshops on the zine-making process, work stations where attendees can start their own zines and live music from MeteorEYES and Kill All Humans. For more information, go here.
The following day, Sunday, July 13, 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m., in conjunction with the Boomerang release, Dig Deeper Writing Workshop will be held at the Tampa Tribune Building, 202 S. Parker St., Tampa. This donation-based, pay-what-you-want workshop also benefits Bess the Book Bus. Angela Hunt presents “The Plot Skeleton”; Roman White will discuss “Film Structure for Novelists”; Oberweger tackles “The Emotional Query”; Brenda Windberg presents “4-D Fiction — Worlds Within the Written Word”; and Christina Crall-Reed will teach attendees to “Say Something Funny.” Pre-registration is required.
