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.

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).

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

On April 1, Bill hosts the sixth 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 Audrey Dimola, James Gordon, Kathe Koja, Jackie Sherbow, and Paul Witcover. Admission is $7.

On March 4, Bill hosts the fifth 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 Keith R.A. DeCandido, Emily Alta Hockaday, Jonathan Sumpter, Andrew Willett, and Nebula Award nominee Barbara Krasnoff. Admission is $7.

On February 4, Bill hosts the fourth 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/Q line. Lineup will include Sarah Riccio and more. Admission is $7.

Bill will appear as part of the 100th episode of Tuesday Funk, Chicago's long-running eclectic reading series, at Hopleaf in Chicago. This special evening features all the past hosts and producers of the series, which is currently hosted by Andrew Huff and Eden Robins. Appearing with Bill will be Connor Coyne, Reinhardt Suarez, Hallie Palladino, and Sara Ross Witt.

Update: Watch video of Bill's reading below:

On November 5, Bill hosts the third edition of Line Break, the eclectic live literary magazine in Queens. The reading takes place at Q.E.D.: A Place to Show & Tell in Astoria, Queens, near the Ditmars stop on the N/Q line. Lineup will include Jeremy Blutstein, Barbara Lynn Cantone, Alex diFrancesco and Aida Zilelian. Admission is $5.

Bill will be part of the second Taboo Tales show in New York City on Monday, October 10th. Taboo Tales is the long-running show from Los Angeles where people tell stories about their fucked-up lives. The other brave storytellers will include Allison Guerra, Tony Carnevale, Kent Koren, Karen Fratti, and Bobby Hankinson. Your hosts are Vanessa Golenia and Kejal Macdonald.

It all happens at the People's Improv Theater (The PIT) in Manhattan's Flatiron District at 7:00 pm. Advance tickets are only $10. Admission goes up to $13 at the door. Check out the Facebook event listing for more info.

Update: Watch video of Bill's reading below:

As part of the first annual Queens Book Festival, Bill will discuss religious memoirs with Jayanti Tamm, author of Cartwheels in a Sari. From the panel description: "Religion. The establishment takes on a surrogate role in the lives of millions. It creates the foundation for moral, identity and formation. What happens when this pillar is stripped away and is the blow of the dagger even more piercing when it comes from you...?"

The Queens Book Festival takes place all day on the grounds of the historic Kaufman Astoria Studios. Admission is free. The "Journeys of the Self" panel takes place at 2:00 pm.

As part of the Queens Lit Fest, Bill will host a special edition of the Line Break Reading Series at LIC Landing in Long Island City, Queens. The lineup will include Kambri Crews, Sarah Riccio, and Bill himself. The festival is free, but it does require an RSVP.

On July 2, Bill hosts the second edition of Line Break, a new quarterly literary reading series in Queens. The reading takes place at Q.E.D.: A Place to Show & Tell in Astoria, Queens, near the Ditmars stop on the N/Q line. Lineup TBA. Admission is $5.

Bill will read an excerpt from a near-future science fiction story as part of the June edition of Boundless Tales at The Astoria Bookshop in Astoria, Queens. The full lineup for the evening is TBA.

Bill's literary reading series, Line Break, will be hosting the Creative Writing stage at the Queens Literary Crawl in Forest Hills. The crawl benefits the Queens Book Festival and will feature more than a hundred writers at six different venues in Forest Hills over the course of the night.

Line Break itself will present more than a dozen different writers over the course of the evening, between 7:00 and 10:30 pm at Aged Restaurant. Bill will emcee the stage, which features Jacob Appel, Marleen S. Barr, Carey Bernstein, Jeremy Blutstein, Malcolm Chang, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Alex DiFrancesco, Nancy Hightower, Robert J. Howe, Rajan Khanna, Barbara Krasnoff, Ilana C. Myer, Richard Taylor Pearson, and Sarah Riccio.

Tickets start at $9.99 and can be purchased in advance. The Queens Literary Crawl includes an afterparty that will run into the wee hours of the morning.

Bill will read from his memoir, The Accidental Terrorist, at the monk, a Belgian beer emporium in Ridgewood, Queens. Joining him will be poet Emily Alta Hockaday.

the monk says: "Please join us for the first of our regular summer reading nights at the monk! We are proud to host local authors and do our part to highlight the borough's talent. Come expand your palate with one of our 40+ exquisite beers and leave with a new reading list."

More info.

Bill is rather stunned (and terrified) to be invited to appear with actual professional comedians (including Bengt Washburn, Abigail Harrison, Christian Pieper, and Spence Roper) in "Caffeinated Confessions of Mormon Comics" at the Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, CA.

Tickets run from $21 to $36. Purchase here.

Bill appears on "Dave's World" on Montreal's CJAD 800 AM to discuss his memoir, The Accidental Terrorist, with host Dave Fisher. Listen live at 7:10 am Eastern.

UPDATE: Listen to the full interview here:

On March 5, Bill hosts the inaugural edition of Line Break, a new quarterly literary reading series in Queens. The confirmed lineup includes Carey Bernstein, Malcolm Chang, Sherese Francis, Sarah Riccio, and Bill himself. The reading takes place at Q.E.D.: A Place to Show & Tell in Astoria, Queens, near the Ditmars stop on the N/Q line. Admission is $5.

Bill appears on Episode 92 of the "Friendly Atheist Podcast" to discuss his new memoir, The Accidental Terrorist, with Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke.

UPDATE: Listen to the full episode below:

Two speculative fiction writers join forces at Bluestockings Bookstore for a very different kind of reading event. "Rebel Pilgrimages" will feature stories and poetry about the price of faith—and the cost of shedding it.

William Shunn will read from his new memoir, The Accidental Terrorist, which describes his harrowing and at times hilarious escape from Mormonism, a journey that led from the oil fields of Alberta through a Canadian jail and ultimately to freedom from authority.

Nancy Hightower will read from her poetry collection, The Acolyte, which rewrites biblical narratives from a haunted, feminist perspective, effectively wrenching them out of politicized right wing rhetoric. Think Anne Lamott meets Stephen King.

The reading begins at 7:00 pm. Visit www.bluestockings.com for directions and more details.

In his new memoir, The Accidental Terrorist, Hugo and Nebula Award-nominated science fiction writer William Shunn tackles his strangest project yet—the true story of his arrest and conviction for hijacking as a young Mormon missionary. In addition to reading excerpts, in his Talks at Google appearance he'll discuss the ways in which changing technologies shaped the long process of writing and publishing this book.

Update: Watch video of Bill's talk below:

Bill appears on Episode 328 of "The Stuph File Program" to discuss his new memoir, The Accidental Terrorist, with Canadian broadcaster Peter Anthony Holder.

UPDATE: Listen to the full episode, or to Bill's segment below:

Bill appears on "Atheists Talk" on Minnesota's AM 950 KTNF to discuss his new memoir, The Accidental Terrorist, with host Dave Pacheco. Listen live starting at 9:00 am Central.

UPDATE: Listen to the full interview on the "Atheists Talk" podcast:

Bill appears on Episode 176 of WIRED.com's "Geek's Guide to the Galaxy" podcast to discuss his new memoir, The Accidental Terrorist, with host David Barr Kirtley.

UPDATE: Listen to the full interview on WIRED.com's "Geek's Guide to the Galaxy" podcast:

Bill will be the guest of a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) in the r/mormon subreddit, where he'll field questions about his forthcoming memoir The Accidental Terrorist and more.

Please note that the posted time, 7:00 to 9:00 pm, is for the Mountain time zone, to accommodate that region's strong interest in the subject matter. But you can, of course, participate from anywhere!

UPDATE: Read the full content of the AMA here.

Bill will read from his forthcoming memoir, The Accidental Terrorist, as part of the November edition of Tuesday Funk at Hopleaf in Chicago. (He is a former co-host and co-producer of the series.) Stay tuned for news of the rest of the evening's lineup.

Update: Watch video of Bill's reading below:

With musical backing by Daniel Geoghegan on drums and Jon Pope on bass, Bill will perform a spoken-word set featuring poetry, short shorts, and excerpts from his forthcoming memoir, The Accidental Terrorist. It's all part of The Sunday Sessions at HiFi Bar in Manhattan's East Village. The evening will also feature Sunday Sessions house band #poorcolin.

Update: Watch video of the full performance below:

Bill will read a portion of his new short story "Sparkler" as part of the launch of Newtown Literary's Speculative Poetry & Prose Issue. The event takes place at Terraza 7 Train Café in Elmhurst, Queens. The lineup for the evening also includes Laura Grow-Nyberg, Jennifer Morell, Crystal Rivera, and Joan Willette. Terraza 7 can be reached via the 7 train to 82nd Street in Queens, or via the M train to Elmhurst Avenue.

Bill will read a personal essay as part of the November edition of Boundless Tales at The Astoria Bookshop in Astoria, Queens. The lineup for the evening also includes Jennifer Baker, Susana H. Case, Aida Zilelian, and Aaron Poochigian.

Bill will read a short story as part of the November edition of Tuesday Funk at Hopleaf in Chicago. (He is a former co-host and co-producer of the series.) The lineup for the evening also includes Keesha Beckford, Tom Haley, Maggie Jenkins, and Melinda McIntire.

Bill (along with many, many others) will tell a personal story at Fray Cafe 14 in Austin, TX, during SXSW Interactive. Kevin Smokler hosts the long-running storytelling series.

UPDATE: Listen below:

Bill will read a personal essay as part of the April edition of Boundless Tales at Waltz-Astoria in Astoria, Queens. The theme for the evening is I Was Dominated/I Dominated, and the lineup also includes Michelle Augello-Page, Sarah Bonifacio, Danny Herrera and Joan Willette.

Seminal speculative fiction magazine Electric Velocipede will cease publication with its 27th issue. Bill joins a legion of past and present EV contributors for an evening of readings that is part release party, part memorial service. Sam J. Miller and Nancy Hightower host at Bluestockings Bookstore, with a lineup that includes Robert J. Howe, K. Tempest Bradford, Matthew Kressel, Barbara Krasnoff, Richard Bowes, Mercurio D. Rivera, and Jonathan Wood. Also, there'll be raffles, snacks, and a chance to purchase an Electric Velocipede sampler featuring stories by all the participating authors.

On Wednesday, April 17th, Bill will be part of CHIRP Radio's THE FIRST TIME at Second City's new UP Comedy Club. This monthly series assembles seven or so writers to reminisce about an important "first" from their lives, backed with specially chosen songs by The First Time Three. For April the topic will be "First Crime." Tickets are $10, and buying in advance is strongly recommended. (And get preferred seating with a dinner reservation!)

Update: We don't have video of Bill's essay, but we do have video of his chosen song, The Dismemberment Plan's "Time Bomb," as performed by the First Time Three, both in live performance and in pre-show rehearsal on the Up Comedy Club stage:

Bill will be appearing at WRITE CLUB on Tuesday, April 16th, at The Hideout in Chicago. In this bare-knuckle series, three pairs of writers square off with essays on opposing topics. The audience decides who wins, with all proceeds going to charities of the winners' choice. Bill will be defending GOD over DEVIL, for the One Tail at a Time dog rescue organization. Tickets are $10 cash at the door. Arrive early!

Update: Watch video of Bill's essay below:

Bill will be reading his short story "Stand Up" on Tuesday, January 3, 2012, as part of Chicago's monthly Tuesday Funk reading series, of which he is also co-host and co-producer. The reading, which also features Stephen Markley, Lawrence Santoro, Holly McDowell, and Christopher Sweet, takes place at 7:30 pm in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf Bar and Restaurant, 5148 N. Clark St. (just south of Foster). The upstairs lounge opens at 7:00 pm and is cash only. You must be 21 or over to be admitted. For further details, please visit https://www.tuesdayfunk.org.

Bill will be one of several writers reading in the Essay Fiesta series at The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square on Monday, December 19. Essay Fiesta features writers reading humorous personal essays, and is hosted by Keith Ecker and Alyson Lyon. The event itself is free, but raffle proceeds go to benefit various charities.

The reading starts at 7:00 pm, but since seating is limited please arrive by 6:30. Besides its great selection of books (including a small but smart SF section), The Book Cellar offers coffee, wine, beer, cheese, sandwiches, and other goodies. They're also great about special-ordering anything you can't find in the store. The Book Cellar is near the Western stop on the Brown Line.

Bill will be reading his short story "The Visitors at Wriggly Field" on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, as part of Chicago's monthly Tuesday Funk reading series, of which he is also co-host and co-producer. The reading, which also features C.P. Chang, Erin Shea Smith, Matthew Darst, and Liz Baudler, takes place at 7:30 pm in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf Bar and Restaurant, 5148 N. Clark St. (just south of Foster). The upstairs lounge opens at 7:00 pm and is cash only. You must be 21 or over to be admitted. For further details, please visit https://www.tuesdayfunk.org.

Bill will be reading a short poem about the tenth anniversary 9/11 on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, as part of Chicago's monthly Tuesday Funk reading series, of which he is also co-host and co-producer. The reading, which features as headliners Edison Blake, Carissa DiGiovanni, AD Jameson, Noreen Natale, and Naomi Buck Palagi, takes place at 7:30 pm in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf Bar and Restaurant, 5148 N. Clark St. (just south of Foster). The upstairs lounge opens at 7:00 pm and is cash only. You must be 21 or over to be admitted. For further details, please visit https://www.tuesdayfunk.org.

Bill will be reading a short poem on Tuesday, August 2, 2011, as part of Chicago's monthly Tuesday Funk reading series, of which he is also co-host and co-producer. The reading, which features as headliners Tegan Jones, Sondra Morin, Eden M. Robins, Julie Rosenthal, Jerry Schwartz and Karen Skalitzky, takes place at 7:30 pm in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf Bar and Restaurant, 5148 N. Clark St. (just south of Foster). The upstairs lounge opens at 7:00 pm and is cash only. You must be 21 or over to be admitted. For further details, please visit https://www.tuesdayfunk.org.

Bill will be reading a short poem on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, as part of Chicago's monthly Tuesday Funk reading series, of which he is also co-host and co-producer. The reading, which features as headliners Brenda Cooper, Sarah K. Castle, Holly McDowell, Vincent Jorgensen, Gregory A. Wilson, and Kelly Swails, takes place at 7:30 pm in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf Bar and Restaurant, 5148 N. Clark St. (just south of Foster). The upstairs lounge opens at 7:00 pm and is cash only. You must be 21 or over to be admitted. For further details, please visit https://www.tuesdayfunk.org.

Bill will be reading an excerpt from his memoir on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, as part of Chicago's monthly Tuesday Funk reading series, of which he is also co-producer. The reading, which additionally will feature Robert K. Elder, Ian Belknap, Jessica Palmer, and Lisa Chalem, takes place at 7:30 pm in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf Bar and Restaurant, 5148 N. Clark St. (just south of Foster). The upstairs lounge opens at 7:00 pm and is cash only. You must be 21 or over to be admitted. For further details, please visit https://www.tuesdayfunk.org.

Bill will be reading from his short fiction on Tuesday, October 5, 2010, as part of Chicago's Tuesday Funk reading series. The reading, which will also feature Jackie Adamski and Connor Coyne, takes place at 7:30 pm in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf Bar and Restaurant, 5148 N. Clark St. (just south of Foster). The upstairs bar opens at 7:00 pm and is cash only.

On Thursday, June 24, Bill will participate in a panel discussion on the interactions between science fiction and actual science. Titled "Science + Fantasy = Science Fiction," the panel at The Wine Loft in Flagstaff, Arizona, brings together scientists and writers together to talk about how science inspires science fiction and vice versa. Other participants include geologist and writer Sarah K. Castle, writer Bradley P. Beaulieu, writer and futurist Brenda Cooper, biologist and computer scientist Dan Greenspan, biologist and physiologist Stan "Bud" Lindstedt, and science historian David S.F. Portree. The discussion begins promptly at 5:30 pm. Admission is free.

Bill will be one of several writers reading in the new Essay Fiesta series at The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square. Essay Fiesta features writers reading humorous personal essays, and is hosted by Keith Ecker and Alyson Lyon. The event itself is free, but proceeds from a raffle afterward go to benefit the Howard Brown Health Center.

The reading starts at 7:00 pm, but since seating is limited please arrive by 6:30. Besides its great selection of books (including a small but smart SF section), The Book Cellar offers coffee, wine, beer, cheese, sandwiches, and other goodies. They're also great about special-ordering anything you can't find in the store. The Book Cellar is near the Western stop on the Brown Line.

Bill will be reading from his collaboration with Derryl Murphy, Cast a Cold Eye, on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, as part of Chicago's Tuesday Funk Reading Series. The reading, which will also feature Lisa Chalem, Reinhardt Suarez and Marianna "Etiquette Bitch" Swallow, takes place at 7:30 pm in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf Bar and Restaurant, 5148 N. Clark St. (just south of Foster). The upstairs bar opens at 7:00 pm and is cash-only. For further details, please visit http://www.gothicfunk.org.

The problem isn't that Luke sees dead people. The problem is that dead people see Luke.

CAST A COLD EYE BOOK RELEASE PARTY
w/William Shunn
Friday, January 8, 2010
7:00 to 9:00 pm

Time and Again
1239 W. Cortland St.
Chicago, IL 60614
site | map

Come out to Time and Again in Chicago to celebrate the hardcover release of Derryl Murphy & William Shunn's new novella Cast a Cold Eye! Mingle with fellow book lovers, browse unique treasures from the era of the story in an elegant setting, and sit back with a glass of wine while William Shunn reads chilling selections from the book. (Readings begin at 7:30 pm.)

Cast a Cold Eye is the story of Luke Bryant, a troubled Nebraska orphan who lost his parents in the Spanish flu, and his apprenticeship to itinerant spirit photographer Annabelle Tupper. Fright.com says it's "well written, solidly characterized and imaginative ... works largely because of its richness and unpredictability." And World Fantasy Award winner Charles de Lint urges in the book's introduction, "It's past time for you to discover its treasures for yourself."

This event is free. Copies of Cast a Cold Eye will be available for purchase for $20, along with a few $40 limited editions signed by Derryl Murphy, William Shunn, and Charles de Lint. Please bring a friend, please forward this email, and please RSVP to feedback AT shunn DOT net.

Time and Again is a new, unique shop featuring something for everyone. Selections include fine Victorian antiques, vintage jewelry, clothing and collectibles, watercolor art and more, all housed in a funky, reclaimed space in the Clybourn Corridor.

Time And Again is located on Cortland Street, just west of Clybourn. Take the Brown or Purple Line to Armitage, or the Armitage bus (#73) to Cortland & Kingsbury.

Or take the Metra (Union Pacific/North or Union Pacific/Northwest line) to Clybourn, walk south to Cortland, then east across the river to Time And Again.

Hi, NYC friends! Yes, it's a last-minute surprise to me too, but I'll be reading with the excellent Paul Witcover this coming Tuesday evening, January 5th, as part of the New York Review of Science Fiction Reading Series at the South Street Seaport Museum. Doors open 6:30 pm, readings begin 7:00 pm. Suggested donation is $5. Click here for all the details.

Bill will be one of several writers reading in the new Essay Fiesta series at The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square.

Essay Fiesta features writers reading humorous personal essays, and is hosted by Keith Ecker and Alyson Lyon. The event itself is free, but proceeds from a raffle afterward go to benefit the Howard Brown Health Center. Besides me, tonight's readers include Cameron Esposito, Mike O'Connell, John Loos, and John Newton.

The reading starts at 7:00 pm, but since seating is limited please arrive by 6:30. Besides its great selection of books (including a small but smart SF section), The Book Cellar offers coffee, wine, beer, cheese, sandwiches, and other goodies. They're also great about special-ordering anything you can't find in the store.

The Book Cellar is near the Western stop on the Brown Line.

Bill will be reading a third installment from his memoir The Accidental Terrorist on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, as part of Chicago's Tuesday Funk Reading Series. The reading, which will also feature Robert Duffer, Lynn Suh and Chris Sweet, takes place at 7:00 pm sharp in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf Bar and Restaurant, 5148 N. Clark St. (just south of Foster). For further details, please visit https://tuesdayfunk.blogspot.com.

Writers WorkSpace is pleased to host a free evening of fiction and dance in the spirit of October, featuring sound-and-movement duo Microgig and science-fiction writer William Shunn. On a mission to bring dance to places it's not normally found, Microgig members Asimina Chremos (dance) and Fred Lonberg-Holm (sound) will stage their haunting improvisations in this unusually close and intimate setting. Bookended by chilling short stories read live by the Hugo and Nebula Award-nominated Shunn, the evening will be one you won't want to miss. Space is limited, so arrive early. Light refreshments will be offered. For more information, please visit shunn.net/medicine.

Bill will be reading from his memoir The Accidental Terrorist on Tuesday, September 1, 2009, as part of Chicago's Tuesday Funk Reading Series. The reading, which will also feature Robyn Detterline, Billy Lombardo, and Dancing Girl Press poets Stephanie Anderson, Kristen Orser, and Susan Slavier, takes place at 7:00 pm sharp at the Flourish Bakery Cafe, 1138 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. (east of Broadway, west of the Bryn Mawr red line stop). Copies of Bill's chapbook An Alternate History of the 21st Century will be available for purchase. For further details, please visit https://tuesdayfunk.blogspot.com.

Bill will appear as a guest on "Doing Time with Ron Kuby" on the Air America radio network this coming Tuesday, April 14th, to discuss podcasting his memoir The Accidental Terrorist. The segment will run live in the 5:00 pm Eastern hour. To find a station where Air America airs near you, or to listen to a live stream online, visit AirAmerica.com.

Bill will be reading from his memoir The Accidental Terrorist on Tuesday, April 7, 2009, as part of Chicago's Tuesday Funk Reading Series in Chicago. The reading, which will also feature Elisabeth Blair and Gina DiPonio, takes place at 7:00 pm sharp at the Flourish Bakery Cafe, 1138 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. (east of Broadway, west of the Bryn Mawr red line stop). Copies of Bill's chapbook An Alternate History of the 21st Century will be available for purchase.

Bill and his intrepid wife Laura Chavoen will be attending the 66th World Science Fiction Convention this summer in Denver, Colorado.

Bill and his lovely wife Laura Chavoen will be attending the 65th World Science Fiction Convention late this summer in Yokohama, Japan. Worldcon is where the annual Hugo Awards are presented, among many other activities. The convention's guests of honor Sakyo Komatsu, David Brin, Takumi Shibano, Yoshitaka Amano, and Michael Whelan.

Bill will be attending Balticon 41 in Baltimore over the Memorial Day weekend. He'll be participating in the podcasting track, among other activities. Stay tuned for more details.

Bill will be participating the 2007 Nebula Awards Weekend in New York City. His novella "Inclination" is nominated for the Nebula Award. The awards ceremony will be held the evening of Saturday, May 12, and the public are invited to purchase tickets for that or for the entire weekends' activities.

As part of the New York Review of Science Fiction Reading Series, Bill will guest-curate an evening of readings from writers who come to written SF from the worlds of visual media. Our readers will be novelist Lauren McLaughlin (Cycler) and recent Writer of the Future winner Andrea Kail. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the reading starts at 7:00 pm. Suggested donation is $5.

As part of the New York Review of Science Fiction Reading Series, Bill will host and guest-curate a second evening of readings from members of the 8th of February Group, a private writers' workshop of which he is co-founder. Readers will include Barbara Krasnoff, Ian Randal Strock, and Bill himself. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the reading starts at 7:00 pm. Suggested donation is $5.

As part of the New York Review of Science Fiction Reading Series, Bill will host and guest-curate an evening of readings from members of the 8th of February Group, a private writers' workshop of which he is co-founder. Readers will include Richard Bowes, Jae Brim, David Barr Kirtley, and Robert J. Howe. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the reading starts at 7:00 pm. Admission is $5.

Bill appears for the third time on Jim Freund's extremely long-running radio program "Hour of the Wolf" on Saturday, December 4th, 2004. "Hour of the Wolf" has brought the world of science fiction to listeners in the New York metro area for over 30 years. It runs on WBAI 99.5 FM from 5:00 to 7:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings. Tune in if you're close enough, or listen to the live stream on the Internet.

Bill will deliver a tribute to the class of '84 at his 20-year high school reunion.

Bill will appear as keynote speaker at the awards ceremony for the New York City region of the Scholastic Writing Awards.

Bill will participate in the World Fantasy Convention in Washington, DC, fantasy capital of the world. See the World Fantasy site for more details.

Bill appears for the second time on Jim Freund's extremely long-running radio program "Hour of the Wolf" on Saturday, August 9th, 2003. "Hour of the Wolf" has brought the world of science fiction to listeners in the New York metro area for 30 years. It runs on WBAI 99.5 FM from 5:00 to 7:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings. Tune in if you're close enough, or listen to the live stream on the Internet.

Bill participates in Readercon 15 in Burlington, Massachusetts. See Readercon site for more details.

Bill teaches workshops in "Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing: Steps to Becoming a Professional" to winning students from the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

Bill participates in Balticon 37 in Baltimore, Maryland, over the Memorial Day weekend, which includes teaching a two-hour workshop in memoir writing. See Balticon site for more details.

It's Science Fiction month for the Echo Read-Only reading series, sponsored by EchoNYC.com, the virtual salon of New York City. Bill joins writers Barbara Krasnoff, Sue Young Wilson, and Nebula Award nominee Richard Bowes for an evening of readings from the fantastic. Bill will read from his novel-in-progress, Silvertide. KGB is located at 85 East 4th Street in Manhattan, between Bowery and Second Avenue. Admission is free, but do please buy a drink.

Bill will read a pair of new short stories as part of the New York Review of Science Fiction Reading Series. This monthly reading series has featured top science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers for more than a decade. Also reading will be Jack Womack. The evening is curated by Constance Ash and hosted by Jim Freund. Doors open at 7:00 pm, and the reading starts at 7:30 pm. Admission is $5.

Bill appears on Jim Freund's extremely long-running radio program "Hour of the Wolf" on Saturday, August 10th, 2002. "Hour of the Wolf" has brought the world of science fiction to listeners in the New York metro area for 30 years. It runs on WBAI 99.5 FM from 5:00 to 7:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings. Tune in if you're close enough, or listen to the live stream on the Internet.

Bill Shunn, creator of the first online 9/11 check-in registry, is among those interviewed for "Attack on the Wires," a BBC Television documentary about the effects of the terrorist attacks on global communications networks.

Bill reads from his memoir Missionary Man at KGB in Manhattan's East Village on July 17, 2002, at 7:00 p.m. The event is part of the KGB Science Fiction Reading Series, curated by Terry Bisson and Ellen Datlow. China Miéville, author of the Hugo-nominated novel Perdido Street Station, headlines the dual bill. KGB is located at 85 East 4th Street in Manhattan, between Bowery and Second Avenue.

photos | press release

Bill hosts an hour-long kaffeeklatsch at Readercon in Burlington, Massachusetts.

Bill reads his short story "The Diagnostic Feast," from the upcoming anthology Beyond the Last Star (edited by Sherwood Smith), at Readercon in Burlington, Massachusetts.

Bill participates in the "Meet-the-Pros(e)" party at Readercon in Burlington, Massachusetts.