Updated 10/23/24

There are many great literary events around Indiana. Looking for something to do?  Below are just a few ideas.

Many events are virtual. Please confirm with the venue for scheduled events listed here.

To be featured in our “Literary Events Around Indiana” monthly events blog, email the details to mail@ballballu.com.

Karen George at Poetry on Brick Street

Our October Guest Reader, Karen George, is the author of six chapbooks and four poetry collections: Swim Your Way Back (2014), A Map and One Year (2018), Where Wind Tastes Like Pears (2021), and Caught in the Trembling Net (2024). She won Slippery Elm’s 2022 Poetry Contest, The 2024 Kentucky Visions Short Story Contest, and her short story collection, How We Fracture, which won the Rosemary Daniell Fiction Prize, was released by Minerva Rising Press in January 2024. Join us for her reading at the SullivanMunce Cultural Center, 225 West Hawthorne, Zionsville, IN this Thursday! You can visit her website at Her website is http://karenlgeorge.blogspot.com/.

Butler MFA @Tomorrow Bookstore

Learn more and register

Etching Press Author Panel

Author’s Guild Discussion

Click here to learn more and register

Book Release

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Proof: A Midwest Literary Fest with Indiana Humanities

Click here for more information and to register

Butler University Vivian S. DelBrook Visiting Writers Series: Shane McCrae

Tomorrow Bookstore Author Talk: Olena Stiazhkina on “Ukraine, War, Love – A Donetsk Diary”

Click here for more information and to register

Speed City Sisters in Crime Monthly Speaker: Stephen Terrell

11:00 AM – Business Meeting
We are meeting in-person at the Carmel Clay Public Library Meeting Room B, located at: 425 E. Main St., Carmel, IN 46032  

For October, we’ll be welcoming our own Steve Terrell, who will talk about how he researched the material for his new book,  The Madness of John Terrell: Revenge and Insanity on Trial in the Heartland. His research, like the book that followed, focuses on Steve’s great uncle, John Terrell of Wells County, who shot and killed his daughter’s abusive husband in 1903 and then underwent one of Indiana’s most sensational murder trials.

Long-time Speed City Sisters in Crime member, Stephen Terrell is a retired Indiana attorney with a passion for writing. He has written three novels, numerous short stories and articles, and is a columnist for the American Bar Association’s Experience Magazine.His historical true crime book,  The Madness of John Terrell, Revenge and Insanity on Trial in the Heartland, will be published in October by Kent State University Press.

 
Join us for lunch afterwards!
Join us for lunch at Juniper on Main (110 E. Main Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032) at 1:30 pm. 

Indiana Author Awards Panel with Indiana Humanities

Sun, Oct 27  |  4 pm  |  In-person at the JCC  |   $10

Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts

Great writers come from all over the world. And that includes our home: Indiana.

Celebrating the works of local writers, the JCC Indianapolis and Indiana Humanities proudly partner together to curate a star-studded panel of finalists and award-winners from the 2024 Indiana Authors Awards. The panel includes:

Edward Fujawa, winner for Nonfiction, Janis Thorton, finalist in Nonfiction, and Ray Boomhower as moderator.

In partnership with Indiana Humanities.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets

Butler University Vivian S. DelBrook Visiting Writers Series: Eden Robinson

Coming up Next Month

MONTHLY EVENTS

VOCAB (Monthly)

Hosted by Cory Ewing & Januarie York with sounds by DJ Cleopatra

Door 8pm, Show 9pm General Admission *$10 at the door / advance tickets here

White Rabbit Cabaret, 1116 Prospect Street, Indianapolis, United States

Monthly: Drag Story Hour at Indy Reads

Click here for more information and to register

Monthly: Writing Workshop and Open Mic with IndyUntitled

Monthly: Poetry & More Open Mic Night at IndyReads

Click here for more information and to register

Monthly: Indy Actors Playground

Monthly: The IndyReads Book Club

Click here for more information and to register

Monthly: Spoken Word ELEVATED: Black Excellence

Rhythm & Poetry Open Mic at PHIRI Art Gallery (Weekly)

Come Experience the Ultimate Vibe with LIVE performances by some of your favorite artists! RHYTHM & POETRY THURSDAYS is also an awesome way to network with like-minded creatives and business professionals from around the city, so be ready to connect with other amazing individuals!

DO0RS OPEN AT 7PM***LIVE PERFORMANCES AT 8:00PM

**ALL ATTENDEES WILL RECEIVE:

* Discounts on Photoshoots*

*Discounts on venue rentals

* Discounts on Upcoming Events at Phiri

* Discounts on all services at PHIRI

INFO 404.759.0530 ** 120 East Market Street, Indianapolis

An Evening with the Authors (Monthly)

Every first Thursday of the month

*Fake Authors. Fake Books. Real Funny.

Where literary satire meets sketch comedy.

Comedians take the stage posing as accomplished authors reading from their most recent works.

Featuring: Sam Griswold, Pauline Shypula, Jonathan Pfendler, Stephen Vincent Giles, Gwen Sunkel, Eric Sablan, Mariah Davison and guests

White Rabbit Cabaret 1116 Prospect Street Indianapolis, IN 46203

Tea’s the Artist Youth Open Mic Night (Monthly)

Thurs Dec 16 (every third Friday)

Our 3rd Friday is BACCCKKKKK!!! You won’t want to miss the Open Mic night centered around youth & teens and very family centric!!

Calling all youth, teenagers and adults to the stage to share your talents with us. From singing to dancing. Poetry to Spoken Word. Piano to Saxophone. Whatever your talent is, AS LONG AS IT’S FAMILY appropriate, we want YOU!

Tea’s Me Cafe Indy (140 E. 22nd Street, Ste. B, Indianapolis, IN 46214)

Writers Helping Writers (Monthly)

Hancock County Public Library has a writing group that meets on the third Wednesday of each month. Join us!

Margarita Mondays Open Mic

Welcome to Margarita Mondays Open Mic Night where you too can be a star

ILLUSIONS 3661 W 86th st

We welcome all comedians rappers poets and singers. Doors open at 8pm

Admission is free. Hosted by Aisha the Comedian and Mic Shaw.

Irving Theater Weekly Poetry Open Mic

Every Thursday night
7:00p – 9:00 PM EST
LOCAL POETS * ORIGINAL POETRY * COME READ OR LISTEN]

A completely nonjudgmental and safe space to share poetry! Every Thursday on the deck at the Irving Theater in the Summer, inside all Winter. Performances are broadcast live on our Facebook page (link below). Come enjoy original poetry and readings from local and regional artists, or present your own poetry.

This event is free.

FACEBOOK LIVE LINK  
For more information, visit the Irving Theater’s website

Books & Brews Open Mic