February Literary Events at the Storyteller's Cottage

SIMSBURY, CT – There’s always something fun to do in Simsbury, CT especially in January. Come to the Storyteller’s Cottage and enjoy author nights, Valentine’s Day night outs and more!

Storyteller’s Society: Calling all authors with work underway! Join the NEW AND IMPROVED Storyteller's Society, a unique club for writers. Join an inspiring community of writers and enjoy support in an otherwise solitary activity. Meetings combine an exciting mix of writing improvement tips, crowd-sourced troubleshooting, and free writing time. Each week, the night begins with a mini class featuring a different practical writing tip. Then, writers share their struggles and frustrations with the group and receive immediate suggestions from their peers. The final hour of the night is spent working on manuscripts or projects, or participating in fun writing sprints and exercises. With a regularly scheduled writing time, there’s no excuse not to write! (with Heather Murray). Tuesdays February 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th from 7:00-8:30 pm. Cost: $120 for 6 months or $225 for 12 months. Pre-registration required

Author Night with Shawn Elizabeth George: Join local author, Shawn Elizabeth George, for an intimate reading and discussion of her book, "Our Struggles Have Purpose." A cancer survivor, Shawn will share her experience and provide inspiration for other survivors. Copies of her book will also be available for purchase. Enjoy a light reception after the reading. Thursday February 7th from 7:00-8:30 pm. Cost $5 Pre-registration is required

Valentine’s Day Live Storytelling with Motoko and Eshu- “Naked Hearts”: Humor, music, love and desire intertwine as these two award-winning storytellers weave tales that speak to the vulnerability of human hearts. Eshu's smooth, bluesy voice and Motoko's graceful movement will entice you to a journey of the ins and outs of romance. (16 and older please) Saturday February 9th from 8:00-9:00 pm. Cost: $20. Pre-registration required

Dumbledore’s Army: Calling all young witches & wizards! Join your peers on the second Sunday of each month in the secret Room of Requirement at Ilvermorny, the American outpost of Hogwarts, to learn all of the magical skills Professor Umbridge doesn't want you to know! This month features “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and classes include Arithmancy & Divination. Sunday February 10th from 2:30-4:00 pm or 4:30-6:00 pm. Cost: $15 per meeting. Pre-registration required

Writing Dialogue Workshop: Dialogue helps move your story along, depict character, enhance mood, and create tension. Using examples from contemporary fiction, author Steve Liskow will help writers refine their dialogue to make their characters distinct, even as they strengthen plot and establish a mood. The class includes exercises that apply to all fiction writing and will help train writer’s ears for what works. Saturday February 16th from 2:00-3:30 pm. Cost: $30. Pre-registration required

Valentine’s Date Night- Custom Chocolate Tasting with Nikki Woolfolk: Join a professional Chocolatier for a magical evening tasting handcrafted, artisan chocolates. Delight your taste buds with confections perfectly paired just for you. Spend the night out and get a taste of adventure! Bring your favorite sweetie and enjoy a night of custom sweets in our Steampunk Library! MEANWHILE... WHILE THE ADULTS ARE DOWNSTAIRS .... parents, bring your kids to our Valentine's Night Ice Cream Social upstairs! Just $15 per child, this fun concurrent event includes make-your-own sundaes and board games with a Storyteller's Cottage game master. Babysitting solved! Saturday February 16th from 8:00-10:00 pm. COST: $30 per adult guest, $15 per child. Pre-registration required

The Grand Tour Revisited: A Sunday Book Brunch: Travel to an exotic country without leaving Connecticut! This month, immerse yourself in Caribbean culture with a discussion of “An Embarrassment of Mangoes” by Ann Vanderhoof, followed by a potluck brunch of Caribbean-inspired treats. Sunday February 17th from 12:00-1:30 pm. Cost: $5 for those who can bring a treat, $10 for others. Pre-registration is required

Adventure to Narnia: Kids! On your day off from school, step through an enchanted wardrobe and find yourself in the fantastic world of Narnia! During this fun afternoon inspired by The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, you'll start in the 1940's era bedroom of the Pevensie siblings and learn to play classic games like marbles, then travel to a winter wonderland. Enter a battle of wits with the White Witch, make magical Narnia snow globes, hunt for Lucy's lost arrows, have tea with Tumnus (enjoy Fire Flower Cordial and Turkish Delight - but not too much) and more. Tuesday February 19th from 1:00-4:00 pm. COST: $30. Pre-registration required

All Access Authors: Affairs of the Heart Enjoy unprecedented personal access to three talented local authors at one charming author night. This month, meet Connie Bombaci (Hogan’s Hope), Diana Perkins (Singing Her Alive) and Marian Lanouette (All The Pretty Brides). Hear them read excerpts from their books, discuss their writing process, and enjoy a light reception with all the authors after the presentation. Thursday February 28th from 7:00-8:30 pm. Cost: $5 Pre-registration is required

“Get Published” Writing Retreat: Spend one intensive day at the Storyteller’s Cottage and participate in three practical classes to help you get that novel published. Led by published local authors, the classes include: Submitting Work Using Submittable & Duotrope with Pegi Deitz Shea, Editing for Publication with C. Flanagan Flynn and Writing Eye-Catching Query Letters & Finding an Agent with Lisa Acerbo. Saturday March 2nd from 10:00 am-4:30 pm. Cost: $225. Pre-registration is required

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
Mysterious Pendragon Society: Kids aged 8 - 14 are invited to stop in to the Storyteller’s Cottage on Friday afternoons to enjoy playing fantasy board games, card games and strategy games in a secret castle room hidden behind a bookcase wall. Immerse yourself in your favorite books! Every Friday our 'Guardians' teach a different game, like Magic the Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, YuGiOh, Pokemon, Chess & more. Parents are welcome to stay and relax in our Fairytale Tea Room. Friday February 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd from 4:00-6:00 pm. Cost: Free for members; $15 for others
Dungeons & Dragons: Join the team every other Friday and Sunday for an ongoing campaign. Bring your own character, or stop by one of our "How to Play D&D" classes on select Fridays at 4pm. Ages 8 - 11 meet Fridays at 6:30pm, ages 12 - 16 meet Sundays at 4:30 pm. Call 860-877-6099 to register -- Limit 6 players. Friday February 1st & February 15th from 6:30-8:30 pm and Sunday February 3rd & February 17th from 4:30-6:30 pm. Cost: $15 per game. Pre-registration required

Fairytales in the Forest: Join Princess Heather for a magical afternoon in the fairy forest at the Storyteller’s Cottage. Enjoy a classic storytime, make a fun craft related to the story in the secret castle room, then participate in a fancy tea party afterward. February’s book is "Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch" by Eileen Spinelli. Sunday February 3rd from 12:00 pm-1:00 pm. Pre-registration required

Book Riot “It’s Lit”: Calling all teens! Do you love to read and write? Join the Book Riot club on the first Tuesday of every month from 7:00-8:00pm. Chat about the monthly book then enjoy fun writing prompts led by Suzanne Hayes, a local writer and teacher. Bring your favorite journal or laptop, and come ready to let all of the stuff that's clouding your brain out of your head, and onto paper. February's book: "Changing Ways" by local author Julia Tannenbaum. **Julia will be our special guest at this meeting to answer questions about her book and her writing.** Tuesday February 5th from 7:00-8:00 pm. Cost: $10 per meeting. Pre-registration required

The Storyteller’s Cottage is located at 750 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, and features all manner of literary events and adventures, from author nights, to book-themed social hours, to challenging mystery room games. Parking for The Storyteller’s Cottage is free, and is available on the street in front of the building, and in the Fiddler’s Green parking lot on Wilcox Street (behind the house). For more information, please call 860-877-6099 or visit www.StorytellersCottage.com.