Lois Leveen

Upcoming Events

Past Events

May 19

Stayton Public Library

Stanton, Oregon

May 14, 2016

Northwest Authors Talk

Cannon Beach Library

Cannon Beach, Oregon

April 5, 4 pm

Shakespeare 400

University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

March 31-April 3, 2016

Kitty Fisher Found It

American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies

Pittsburgh, PA

I'll be talking about Kitty Fisher, the subject of my not-yet-out novel
March 23, 7:30 pm

Town Hall Seattle

(Not the official City Hall government place, "Town Hall" puts on all sorts of fascinating events)

1119 8th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101

November 6-8, 2015

Gender and Commodification

PAMLA

Portland State University

November 5, 2015

Ledding Cultural Forum

The Pond House

Milwaukie, OR

October 17, 2 pm

Corvallis Author Talk

Corvallis-Benton Public Library

645 NW Monroe Ave.
Corvallis, OR 97330

October 13, 6:30 pm

Pageturners Book Group

Capitol Hill Library

10723 Sw Capitol Hwy,
Portland, OR 97219

I'm honored that Multnomah County Library has chosen Juliet's Nurse for their wonderful Pageturners program. I had a blast visiting libraries to discuss The Secrets of Mary Bowser.
October 1, 1:30 pm

Pageturners Book Group

Capitol Hill Library

10723 Sw Capitol Hwy,
Portland, OR 97219

I'm honored that Multnomah County Library has chosen Juliet's Nurse for their wonderful Pageturners program. I had a blast visiting libraries to discuss The Secrets of Mary Bowser.
Tuesday, August 25, high noon.

Celebrity Chocolate Cake Smackdown!!!

Oregon Historical Society

1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland OR

What do I love about Portland? 1. That authors count as celebrities. 2. That chocolate cake is considered an historical phenomenon.
Thursday, July 30, 6:30 pm

Sex in Shakespeare

Portland Shakespeare Project

Artists Repertory Theatre
1515 SW Morrison Street
Portland, Oregon 97205

Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Daniel Pollack-Pelzner is joined by Amy Greenstadt, Associate Professor of English at Portland State University, Lois Leveen, author of Juliet’s Nurse, and Erica Terpening-Romeo, Co-Artistic Director of Anon It Moves, for a lively discussion about Twelfth Night and the more general topic of sex in Shakespeare.
July 23-24

Civil War Weekend:  Fact, Film, and Fiction:  An Intriguing Look at How We Learn History

Josephine Community Library

Grants Pass, OR

What choices do historians, filmmakers, and creative writers make when they represent events like the Civil War? How do those choices shape our understanding of the past? Can you learn "good history" from a Hollywood film or a work of fiction? Join us to explore these questions in two workshops led by historian, former college professor, and award-winning author Lois Leveen.

Friday evening:
Glory, Story, and History: In this workshop, we'll discuss the Academy Award-winning film Glory, which stars Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick, and Morgan Freeman. How does the film represent the way different individuals experienced important historical events? How does it encourage the audience's interest in history? What more do you wish you knew about the Civil War, because of this film? Participants are urged to watch the full film prior to the workshop [WILL THERE BE A SCREENING OR TWO AT THE LIBRARY??? I hope so, and if so put it here].

Saturday morning:
Telling Secrets: Mary Bowser and the Fictions of History: In this workshop, we'll discuss the historical research behind Lois Leveen's novel The Secrets of Mary Bowser. How does a fiction writer use historical facts to create a compelling story? What happens when the historical record doesn't yield enough information to be certain about what happened in the life of a real historical figure? Is it ever okay to change the facts or make up events in order to write historical fiction? Participants are urged to read The Secrets of Mary Bowser prior to the workshop. Copies are available for check-out from the library; if you want your own copy, it can also be ordered from any online bookseller in print, audio, or ebook. [does the local bookstore have copies for sale? if so, put that info here]. You may also want to watch a C-SPAN program featuring Lois and two leading Civil War historians, which is available for free online at http://ow.ly/OESxU .
July 23, 7 pm

Bloomsbury Books

Ashland, Oregon . . . .Home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival

July 7, 2015, 6:30 pm

Olympia Timberland Library

313 8th Ave SE
Olympia, WA

June 18, 2015, 7 pm

Annie Bloom’s Books

Delighted to read at this wonderful Portland independent bookstore, to celebrate the paperback release of JULIET'S NURSE

7834 SW Capitol Hwy
Portland, OR 97219

June 11, 2015

Capulet Gynecologist, Montague Onanist:  Medieval Sex, Renaissance Death, and Romeo and Juliet

Morbid Anatomy Museum

424-A 3rd Avenue
Brooklyn, NY

I'll be presenting some of the more bizarre and fascinating things I learned while researching JULIET'S NURSE.

This should up Angelica's cache among the hipsters!
Thursday, May 28 9 pm

Harvard Author Party

Harvard University

Cambridge MA

A private event for Harvard alumni, featuring authors from the Class of 1990.
May 15, 2015

The Fact of Fiction: Negotiating the Place of Historical Novels in Igniting Interest in Women’s Hist

Western Association of Women Historians
47th Annual Conference

Sacramento CA

Sunday, April 19, 2 pm

Calyx Fundraiser

Dessert and cocktail fundraiser for Calyx Press

2524 SW Sheffield Ave.,
Portland, OR

RSVP to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
I'm delighted to support Oregon's stalwart feminist press, and to be reading with my dear friends and fellow writers Paulann Petersen, Willa Schneberg, Kate Gray, and Kerry Cohen.
April 10

HomeWord Bound

Community Partners for Affordable Housing

I'm delighted to speak at this fundraiser for a wonderful organization serving hard-working families.
April 1-4, 2015

Shakespeare Association of America

"Appropriation, Adaptation, or What You Will"

Vancouver, BC

March 25, 6 pm - 8 pm

Civil War Sesquicentennial—the Final Year

University of Alabama

Gorgas Library, Room 205

I'm delighted to be speaking about Mary Bowser at the culmination of the sesquicentennial remembrance of the Civil War. My talk is entitled, "Fighting Memory: What We're Still Learning About Race, Gender, and the Civil War."
Tuesday, March 17

Canby Public Library

Canby Public Library Author Talk

March 12

Three Creeks Community Library

Fort Vancouver Regional Library

800-C NE Tenney Rd.
Vancouver, WA

February 22, 2 pm

Portland Actors Conservatory—Audience Talk Back

Portland Actors Conservatory

1436 SW Montgomery St
Portland OR

Come see the Portland Actors Conservatory production of Romeo and Juliet, then join the audience discussion with the director, cast, and me about how we've each interpreted the characters and events in Shakespeare's most famous play.
February 19, 7 pm

Art & Architecture of Italy

"Community Reads" event

Atkinson Church, Oregon City

February 13, 7 pm MT

Dialogue with Marcia Franklin

Idaho Public Television

February 12, 7 pm

Community Wide Read

Oregon City

Atkinson Church

I'm delighted that Oregon City has chosen JULIET'S NURSE for its 2015 Community-Wide Read.

The wonderful library director Maureen Cole and I have cooked up a series of great programs, including my author talk this evening. See their website for all the events.
February 11, noon

Shakespeare Enamorata

Clackamas Community College

This guest talk is hosted by Professor Taylor Donnelly and the Clackamas Community College's winter Shakespeare course, and it's open to all members of the CCC community.
January 31, 2015

Write to Publish

Portland State University
Smith Memorial Union

I'm delighted to be speaking about writing and publishing at this fundraiser for Ooligan Press
January 20, 9 am

AM Northwest, KATU-TV

Helen's Book Club Pick

Juliet's Nurse is this month's on-air book club selection. Tune in Tuesday morning to watch Lois interviewed and hear what the audience says about the novel.
January 17, 2015

Salem Book Club Day

Salem Public Library

December 7, 12-4 pm

Celebration of Oregon Authors

Oregon Historical Society

1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland OR

Buy local! Read local!
Support the Oregon Historical Society, a wonderful archive and museum serving our state.
Support local authors.
And stock up on great reads and great gifts.
November 26-30

Writer’s Voice

Broadcasting throughout the US and Canada

November 20, 6 pm

Rediscovered Books

180 N. 8th St, Boise, Idaho

Thursday, November 20

Borah High School

Boise, ID

Thursday, November 20

Bishop Kelly High School

Boise, ID

Wed. November 19, 6 pm

Juliet’s Nurse: Writing Premodern Desire

Boise State University
Interactive Learning Center, room 313

November 9, 2014, 2 pm

Second Sunday Author Series

Deschutes Public Library

601 N.W. Wall Street
Bend, OR

Saturday, November 8, 6 pm

Paulina Springs Books

252 W Hood Ave
Sisters OR 97759

October 30, 7 pm

Winged: New Writing on Bees

Literary Arts

925 SW Washington St
Portland OR

October 28, 7 pm

Broadway Books

Broadway Books

1714 NE Broadway St
Portland, OR

October 26, 11 am

International Festival of Authors

Lakeside Terrace, Harbourfront Centre

October 24, 2 pm

Juliet’s Nurse:  Riffing on Romeo and Juliet to Share Research on Medieval and Renaissance Women’s

University of Toronto

October 24, 7 pm

IFOA - Creemore

Creemore, Canada

October 22, 7 pm

IFOA - Woodstock

IFOA at Knox Presbyterian Church

September 26-28

Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association

Tacoma, WA

I love indie bookstores, and that's why I cherish the chance to meet NW booksellers in person.
September 26, 12 pm

Celebration of Authors

Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association

Tacoma, Washington

September 25

Eagle Harbor Books

Eagle Harbor Books

157 Winslow Way E
Bainbridge Island, WA

Reading and book signing.
September 24

Third Place Books

Third Place Books

17171 Bothell Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA
(Seattle)

September 23

JULIET’S NURSE book release / reading

Powell's City of Books

1005 W Burnside
Portland OR

Happy birthday to my new book! Please come celebrate and hear me read at Powell's Books, Inc. on Burnside. We sold out the store for the kickoff reading of THE SECRETS OF MARY BOWSER, let's see whether you love William Shakespeare as much as you love the Civil War.
September 9, 2 pm

Author2Author

Blog Talk Radio

Want a sneak-peek, or rather, sneak-listen, about JULIET'S NURSE?
Tune in for this live interview, or listen online anytime after 2pm.
Thanks to the Pacific Northwest Writers Association for inviting me!
June 21, 2014

Oregon Historical Society

Join me for this discussion of Abraham Lincoln, Mary Bowser, and historical fiction, presented in conjunction with OHS' Lincoln exhibit.

May 9, 2014

Faking It

The 49th International Congress on Medieval Studies

Western Michigan University

I'm thrilled to be joining a roundtable of medievalists (HRH Medieval King Arthur did come up with the whole roundtable idea, didn't he?) to discuss how novel writing allows me "fake" (i.e. sneak in without anyone notice) some lessons introducing 21st-century readers to medieval life.
May 10, 2014

“An I should live a thousand years”:  JULIET’S NURSE and Medieval Women’s Lives

International Congress on Medieval Studies

Western Michigan University

A presentation detailing some of the medieval and Renaissance history behind my new novel, JULIET'S NURSE.
April 21-27

Putting the “Where” into “Wherefore Art Thou”

Shakespeare 450

The Société Française Shakespeare
Paris, France

April 3, 2014

What Happens Between the Covers: Writing Premodern Desire

Framing Premodern Desires: Between Sexuality, Sin and Crime

Turku Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies
Finland

I've been invited to do a kickoff talk for this amazing conference. I'll be speaking about sexual and maternal desire in my forthcoming novel JULIET'S NURSE. Should be hot as a Finnish sauna!
February 25, 2014

Author Talk and Book Signing

University of Oregon

February 5, 2014

Visible and Invisible Meanings of Blackness: Mary Bowser as Slave, Spy, and Subject of History

Universidad de Costa Rica

January 17, 2014

MLK Day Keynote Talk

Roosevelt High School

December 5, 2013

Visiting Writers

Hamilton College

October 9, 7:30 pm

Portland State University Civil War Roundtable

Cramer Hall Rm 494
PSU

October 3

Linfield College

Visiting Writers Program

September 9, 2013 through October 22, 2013

Pageturners at Multnomah County Library

Guest speaker at 10 Multnomah County Branch Libraries

Monday, September 09, 6:30 pm at St. Johns Meeting Room

Wednesday, September 11, 6:30 pm at Belmont Meeting Room

Tuesday, September 17, 6:30 pm at North Portland Meeting Room

Thursday, September 19, 6:30 pm at Hollywood Meeting Room

Tuesday, October 08, 2013, 6:45 pm at Capitol Hill Meeting Room

Thursday, October 10, 2:00 pm at Gresham Library

Monday, October 14, 6:30 pm at Troutdale Meeting Room

Tuesday, October 15, 6:30 pm at Kenton Meeting Room

Wednesday, October 16, 1:00 pm at Midland Library

Tuesday, October 22, 6:30 pm at Fairview-Columbia Meeting Room

July 12-14, 2013

American History Weekend

Josephine Community Library

June 5

Nook Farm Author Talk and Book Club

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

77 Forest Street, Hartford, CT

May 23, 6 pm

Meet the Author

Newberry Library

Chicago

May 15, 6:30 pm

Learning from History: a conversation with Lois Leveen, educator and author

Allen Temple CME Church (co-sponsored by City Club of Portland, the Urban League, and First Unitarian Church of Portland)

4236 NE 8th Ave, Portland, OR

The Secrets of Mary Bowser is based on the true story of a woman born into slavery, freed and educated in the North, who returned to the South and became a Union spy in the Confederate White House. Named one of the top 10 books of 2012 by The Oregonian, the novel is introducing readers across the country to little known aspects of American history, and to a real-life African American heroine. In this conversation, author and education expert Lois Leveen will discuss how the history behind the novel offers important lessons for the twenty-first century, particularly how Mary Bowser's journey from slavery to freedom can serve as a model as we work to achieve educational equity for all young people in Portland.

There is no need to read the book before the program, although copies are available at area bookstores and will be on sale at the event. The event is appropriate for middle school and high school students as well as for adults. Advanced RSVPs are appreciated but not required --Call City Club's Reservation Line 503-228-7231, Ext. 110
April 20, 2013

Kalama Word Catcher

Featured author

Kalama, Washington

I'm delighted to participate in this benefit for the Kalama Public Library
April 12, 2013

June Key Delta Community Center

Fundraiser for a wonderful Portland group.

April 8, 5:00 pm

Telling Secrets: Mary Bowser, Race, Gender, and American History at VSU

Virginia State University

April 8, 11:30 am

Telling Secrets: Mary Bowser, Race, Gender, and American History

Randolph-Macon College

April 6, 2013

The Future of Richmond’s Past

The Museum of the Confederacy

I'll be joining President of the University of Richmond Ed Ayers and Elizabeth Varon, author of *Southern Lady, Yankee Spy* the definitive biography of Bet Van Lew, for a discussion at the former White House of the Confederacy (aka the Gray House).
April 4, 11, 18, and 25

Do You See What I’m Saying? Carrie Mae Weems and Her Literary Sisters

Portland Art Museum

I'm delighted to be leading this program in conjunction with a major retrospective of Carrie Mae Weems. Born and raised in the heart of Portland’s African American community, Carrie Mae Weems is one of the most significant artists working today. In this four session series, participants will explore themes of race, family, and history in Weems’ art, and in work by contemporary black women writers.
April 3, 7 pm

Whose Civil War?  Black History, Women’s History, and the Becker Collection Drawings

Reed College

Vollum Lecture Hall
Portland, Oregon

March 28, 2013, 6:30 pm

Women Hold Up Half the Sky

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

50 East Freedom Way
Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati celebrates Women's History Month with a tribute to Mary Bowser.
As the country marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (NURFC) invites members of the public to a fascinating Women's History Month program about Mary Bowser, a Union spy who posed as a slave in the Confederate White House during the Civil War. Lois Leveen, author of THE SECRETS OF MARY BOWSER (HarperCollins/William Morrow) will share this little known history as part of NURFC's "Women Hold Up Half the Sky" exhibition, which tells stories of women from around the globe who have changed their lives through education, economics, and self-determination.
March 21, 2013

University of Portland

Departments of English and History

March 20, 7 pm

Sigma Tau Delta International Convention

International English Honor Society

I'm honored to be the kick-off speaker welcoming 900 faculty and student members of the international English honor society to their annual convention.
March 7

First Novel Panel

Pacific University

February 26, 4 pm
March 12, 4 pm
April 2, 6:30 pm
April 16, 6:30 pm

Civil War 150:  A Community Comes Together to Understand a Nation Torn Apart

Canby Public Library

I'll be leading a series of community discussions about the Civil War and its legacy.
February 26, 2013

Luncheon Lecture

Oregon Area Jewish Committee

$15/person includes lunch and drinks
$5/person includes drinks only
The Law Offices of Miller Nash, LLP
111 SW Fifth Ave, 34th Floor, Portland, OR 97204
Parking Validation Provided
February 23, 2013, 3:00 pm

Orca Books

Olympia, Washington

February 21 1pm-3pm

Bonneville Power Administration

Learning from Mary Bowser: Workplace Diversity Talk

February 18, 2013

Giving Voice to Black History

Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies

Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana

February 12, 7 pm

University of Detroit-Mercy

Black History Month event

January 28, 4 pm

Telling Secrets: Mary Bowser, Race, Gender, and American History

DePaul University

Rosati Room 300, Richardson Library 2350, North Kenmore Ave., Chicago IL

January 23, 2013

Loyola University

Departments of English and Women's Studies

Chicago, IL

January 18, 2013

Pritzker Military Library

Pritzker Military Library

Chicago, IL

Lunchtime talk on Mary Bowser and Civil War espionage
Wednesday, January 16, 2013, 7:30 pm

What Difference Does Difference Make?  Race, Social Justice, and Jewish American Literature

Temple Beth Israel

Skokie, Illinois

This talk is part of Temple Beth Israel's yearlong exploration of the theme "Making a difference, one day at a time, one act at a time."
December 18, 4-7 pm

Oregon Humanities

The Cleaners/Ace Hotel

1022 SW Stark Street

Friday, November 30, 2012

Historical Fiction in the Pacific Northwest

Salem Public Library

November 17, 2012

LiveWire!

Featured guest on LiveWire! radio program.

Attend the live taping of LiveWire! http://www.livewireradio.org/attend_a_live_show
November 9, 2012

From Academia to the End-Cap at Target:  Putting Your Ph.D. to Work by Bringing Humanities Research

George Washington University

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Lost and Found Stories: African Americans in Northern Virginia

George Mason University

Keynote speaker at the annual symposium on black history in Northern Virginia. This event is open to the public as well as the campus community.
November 1, 2012

Jewish Book Month Speaker

Three Creeks Community Library

800-C NE Tenney Road
Vancouver, WA

Thursday, October 25, 2012, 7 pm

Northwest Voices

Longview Public Library

Library talk open to the public, 7:00
October 25, 2012, 3:30-5:00

Writing So Good You Can Taste It

Lower Columbia College

Thursday, October 18, 2012, 7 pm

Seaside Library

Seaside, Oregon

October 13

Wordstock

Wordstock is the Pacific Northwest’s premier venue for writers, books, and storytellers

Panel, There's Nothing Like Your First, 11:00 AM on the Faceout Studios Stage
Reading, 2:00 PM on the Work for Art Stage
Panel, Lives of Others, 4:00 PM on the McMenamins

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