Literary Salon & Open Mic

"...a thoughtful and multidimensional examination of love, power, and self that doesn’t shy away from asking difficult questions. A nuanced and open account of an unconventional relationship.” — Kirkus Reviews

Join us to learn more about the brave and candid memoir,
An Old Man's Darling, and meet the author.
Find out more about Deborah K. Shepherd HERE.

And as usual, bring your own writing to share for 5 minutes at open mic, if your name is pulled from the hat.

Join us for a warm, welcoming literary community right in downtown Brunswick, Maine.

What's a salon, anyway?

Literary Salons & Open Mic:
Where the Literary Community Comes Alive

We are excited to partner with Walter's Café for our monthly Literary Salon & Open Mic.

The concept of the salon is to foster community around our shared love of words, stories, and creativity.

Together we will enjoy stimulating conversations, listen to each other as we share our work at the open mic, and mingle with Mid-Coast area fellow writers. We will invite Maine authors to join us to talk about their books and craft, and to answer questions about their process and creative journeys.

The best part: you will have a chance to do a 5-minute reading of your work at the Open Mic.

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What is a salon anyway?

A salon is an intentional gathering of friends and friends of friends, but mostly, a salon is good times with humans coming together for conversation and to eat, drink, talk, and listen. "Salons are a little sexy," says Susan MacTavish Best, founder of The Salon Host.

When we come together in the same space, magic happens. Barriers break down. We listen to one another, ask each other questions, and marvel at the unlikely answers. Our goal is that we finish the evening feeling sated and happy, soaked in serotonin, a collective of humans, a community that is connected.

But salons are unpredictable, just like life. So it's important to show up with a sense of humor, loads of goodwill, and willingness to participate and engage with other participants.

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Open Mic Pointers

Want to read at OPNE MIC?

When you arrive at salon, drop your name in the hat for a chance to read. We usually have time for about 10 readers.

Here are some practical pointers and friendly suggestions:

Practice at home in front of a mirror.
Slow down, and practice more.
Think about where you can pause and make eye-contact.
Time yourself before you go live.
Reading from your iPhone often doesn't give the smoothest reading (No printer at home? You can print at the library for much less than at Staples).