At this long-running series, original short stories are read by professional actors. Bill’s new short story “Harper’s Guitar” (a self-contained chapter from his crime novel in progress) will get the Liars’ League treatment. Also featured are stories by Rachel Lyon, Katherine Shaw, and Arthur Longworth. Join us in the East Village.

Update: Hear audio of Mark Woollett reading Bill’s story live below.

tags | fiction | new york city | readings

At the “Back to School” edition of this new creative nonfiction series in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, Bill will read “Words and Phrases You Must Never Use in Utah,” a personal essay about his time as a novice cusser at the Clarion Workshop. Also appearing are David Lawson, Rhonda Hansome, and David Rothman (a couple of whom you might have caught at Line Break).

tags | new york city | non-fiction | readings

Bill will be one of more than half a dozen artists appearing at the upcoming edition of the Lyrics, Lit & Liquor perfomance series, at 2A Bar in Manhattan's East Village. He will read an excerpt from a new short story, "This One's Easy."

Also appearing are Colin Dodds, Stacy LeVine, Christie Grotheim, Ron Kolm, Cassandra Nemzer, and Becca Bernard & Ian Goldstein. Admission is free.

Lyrics, Lit & Liquor is a bimonthly literary/music/performance series with original trivia which exists to celebrate artists, build community, and lift spirits. Hosted by Amanda Miller. Trivia by Amy Dupcak.

tags | fiction | new york city | readings

Bill will be one of more than 150 scheduled performers at the 25th Annual Alternative New Year's Day Spoken Word/​Performance Extravaganza, which takes place on January 1, 2019, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Greenwich Village. This year's theme is "Before the Dawn."

(Note: Bill's 3-minute slot on the program will take place at some point between 7 and 9 pm.)

The Alternative, which is free to the public, features poets, prose writers, monologists, musicians, dancers and other performers in an eight-hour showcase that ranges from some of New York's most seasoned talents to emerging stars. The lineup evolves each year to keep the event fresh and democratic. The audience is encouraged to donate paperback books to Books Through Bars, for people incarcerated in prison, and canned or boxed food or drink for City Harvest, which provides for the hungry in New York.

The Alternative began on New Year's Day in 1995, and quickly became one of the most popular events on the city's poetry and literary scene. Founder Bruce Weber is ably assisted by a staff of writers, designers and curators. Each year a fresh group of performers are plucked from all corners of the Tri-State area to enliven and transform the Alternative in unexpected ways. Adding to the mix for the sixth consecutive year will be an anthology comprised of featured writers, published by Rogue Scholars Press under the guidance of C. D. Johnson.

"We're very excited to hold the event at St. John's on the 25th anniversary of the Alternative, and look forward to continuing to bring some light into our dark times," said Mr. Weber of this year's event.

Among poets scheduled to read on January 1 are Joel Allegretti, Jennifer Blowdryer, Steve Cannon, Michele Carlo, Steve Dalachinsky, Cornelius Eady, Bob Holman, Jesús Papoleto Meléndez, Nancy Mercado, Tracie Morris, and Bill Zavatsky.

In keeping with its spirit, there will be intervals within the day's program for audience members (who are not on the featured list) to sign up and perform on the open mic. The Alternative draws an overflow crowd every year.

tags | new york city | poetry | readings

A limerick of Bill's was read on the December 28 edition of the CBC Radio public-affairs program "As It Happens." The occasion was the passing of science fiction writer and prolific limerickist Larry Eisenberg. Host Jeff Douglas read Bill's memorial limerick, which was originally posted in the comments section of Mr. Eisenberg's New York Times obituary.

Listen to the segment below:

tags | limericks | poetry

Bill will appear as part of the 120th episode of Tuesday Funk, Chicago's long-running eclectic reading series, at Hopleaf in Chicago. This special 10th-year celebration is hosted by Andrew Huff and Eden Robins. Also appearing are Juan Martinez, JH Palmer, C. Russell Price, and Mare Swallow.

tags | chicago | poetry | readings

On June 6, Bill will appear with Josef Kaplan at the Poets of Queens Reading Series at Vintage in Astoria, Queens. Poets of Queens was founded to celebrate the poets of Queens and to create a community around poetry in Queens.

On June 3, Bill hosts the eighth edition of Line Break, the eclectic live Queens literary magazine. The reading takes place at Q.E.D.: A Place to Show & Tell in Astoria, Queens, near the Ditmars stop on the N/W line. Lineup will include Daniel Braum, Vanessa Golenia, David Mills, Sarah Riccio, and special guest Bengt Washburn. Admission is $7.

On May 6, Bill hosts the seventh edition of Line Break, the eclectic live Queens literary magazine. The reading takes place at Q.E.D.: A Place to Show & Tell in Astoria, Queens, near the Ditmars stop on the N/W line. Lineup will include Marleen S. Barr, Malcolm Chang, John C. Foster, Dina Laura, and Richard Taylor Pearson. Admission is $7.

As part of the Queens Lit Fest, Bill will read a new short story at 7:00 pm sharp on Sunday, April 30. The festival itself runs for two full days, April 29 and 30, at LIC Landing in Queens. Admission for both days is free but does require an RSVP.