Alabama Writers' Forum

Monroeville Literary Festival
2026-02-26 08:00 - 2026-02-28 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Monroe County Museum, 31 N. Alabama Ave., Monroeville, AL, 36460, United States
Part author’s festival, part family reunion, the Monroeville Literary Festival, held every year in the courtroom made famous by To Kill a Mockingbird, is a great excuse to enjoy “Monroeville’s famous brand of hospitality.” This long-running literary festival brings Alabama’s literary community together over a long weekend in Monroeville for “captivating readings, enlightening discussions, [and] amusing conversations.” This year’s lineup includes 2026 Harper Lee Award Winner Ace Atkins and Capote Prize Winner Patricia Foster.

Arsenic & Old Lace at Bean-Brown Theatre, Tuscaloosa
2026-02-27 19:30 - 22:00, 2026-02-28 19:30 - 22:00, 2026-03-01 14:00 - 16:30 | Bean- Brown Theatre, 600 Greensboro Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35405, United States
Even in the most eccentric of homes, family bonds and the familiar comforts of “home” take center stage. This classic comedy reminds us that home is where our quirks are celebrated and where even the most unexpected surprises await. In this case, they await our hero, Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, murderous family and local police in Brooklyn, New York, all while debating whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: 2027 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
2026-02-27 - 2027-02-12 | Online, NC
The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is the largest International awards program for indie authors and independent publishers.
Submissions accepted: Entries from independent publishers and authors worldwide who have a published book, unpublished manuscript, galley copy or Advanced Reader Copy written in English with a copyright/release date of 2025, 2026, or 2027.
Categories: 80+
Entry Fee: $80 for the first category entered and $65 for every additional category entered for the same title
Deadline: Friday, February 12, 2027.
Winners’ Prizes: Winners in each category are given $100 cash prizes, gold medals, complimentary stickers, social media coverage, website exposure, possible representation by a leading literary agent, and recognition as one of the top independently published books of the year. Three Grand Prize Winners will be selected from all entries received and will be awarded cash prizes of $1500, $750 and $500 based on their order of win. All Winners are invited to attend the Indie Book Awards gala ceremony.
Finalists’ Benefits: Winners in each category are given silver medals, complimentary stickers, social media coverage and website exposure. All Finalists are invited to attend the Indie Book Awards gala ceremony.
Enter at: www.indiebookawards.com

Book Launch Party, The Very Hungry Caterpillar's First Poems, by Charles Ghigna
2026-02-28 10:00 - 11:00 | Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, Alabama, 35209, United States
Join beloved children’s author and poet Charles Ghigna as we celebrate the launch of The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Poems, at Homewood Public Library!

Dennard Dayle talks about "How to Dodge a Cannonball"
2026-03-01 15:00 - 16:30 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
Join us for a talk by Dennard Dayle about his new novel, How to Dodge a Cannonball. A razor-sharp satire that dives into the heart of the Civil War, it questions the essence of the fight, not just for territory, but for the soul of America. The book is savagely funny and scarily smart — a critics’ pick. Full of absurdity and humanity in equal measure. Enjoy our talk by Dennard Dayle at The NewSouth Bookstore on Sunday, March 1 at 3pm.

One Hour/One Poem: Discover the verse of Paul Laurence Dunbar
2026-03-03 17:30 - 18:30 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
Make a date with a poem and Dr. Susie Paul. Off the success in 2025 of One Hour/One Poem, Paul returns to The NewSouth Bookstore to teach one great nineteenth- or early twentieth-century poem in each of four sessions of an hour or less. The program is a deep dive into the work of four significant American writers, all giants of the poetic form: Edgar Allan Poe, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Robert Frost, and Langston Hughes. Paul is a master educator with a deep love of poetry, who is thrilled to have the opportunity to teach these works. “Sympathy” by Paul Laurence Dunbar, written in 1899, is the subject of her second session, scheduled for Tuesday, March 3 at 5:30pm. Hope you can join us.

Joshilyn Jackson talk about "Missing Sister"
2026-03-04 17:30 - 19:00 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
We are thrilled to bring bestselling novelist Joshilyn Jackson to The NewSouth Bookstore with her latest work, Missing Sister. Jackson’s storytelling gifts shine in this new work, a chilling story of sisters and revenge — how fun, right? Wonderfully engaging and suspenseful, we thought her new book had a lot of appeal. But as one critic observes, “the real treasure is the family at the heart of the tale.” Come meet the author and discover how she does it. Wednesday, March 4 at 5:30pm at The NewSouth Bookstore.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: 2027 Next Generation Short Story Awards
2026-03-05 - 2027-02-25 | Online, NC
The Next Generation Short Story Awards is a not-for-profit international awards program for authors of short stories.
Submissions accepted: Unpublished short stories and poems (5,000 words or less)
Categories: 30+
Deadline: February 25, 2027
Entry Fees: $25 for the first category entered and $20 for every additional category entered for the same story
Winners’ Prizes: Winners in each category receive $75 cash prizes, gold medals, digital promotional stickers, social media coverage, literary exposure, story publication in an Anthology of Winners, and a complimentary copy of the Anthology of Winners. Three Grand Prize Winners will be selected from all entries and awarded $500 for 1st Prize, $300 for 2nd Prize and $200 for 3rd Prize and will be invited to attend the Next Generation Indie Book Awards gala ceremony.
Finalists’ Benefits: Finalists in each category are awarded digital promotional stickers, literary exposure, social media coverage and have their name and title of story mentioned in the Anthology of Winners. A copy of the Anthology of Winners is available to purchase at half price and silver medals are available to order.
Enter at: www.shortstoryawards.com

Mobile Literary Festival 2026
2026-03-07 09:00 - 17:00 | Ben May Main Library, 701 Government St., Mobile, AL, 36602, United States
The 2026 Mobile Literary Festival will be held at the Ben May Main Library (701 Government Street) in Mobile on March 7, 2026. This year will mark the tenth anniversary of this free festival and writers’ conference. The Mobile Literary Festival is currently accepting applications for volunteer faculty to share their knowledge of the craft of writing and tips on the publishing process. Follow “Mobile Literary Festival” on Facebook for more information: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MobileLiteraryFestival/

Jack Drake with his new memoir, Be Not Afraid
2026-03-08 15:00 - 16:30 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
Famed Alabama civil rights attorney Jack Drake is our special bookstore guest on Sunday, March 8 at 3pm. He will regale us with stories about his life and legal career spent battling for racial justice as described in his new book, Be Not Afraid: A Southern Journey Through Law, Liberty, and Civil Rights. Join us for what will be a most interesting event.

Kathryn Beasley talk about "The Proof Is in the Dough"
2026-03-10 17:30 - 19:00 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
For Women’s History Month, the perfect guest! Kathryn Beasley joins us with her new book The Proof Is in the Dough, which examines how rural Southern women, White and Black, used the extension system during the Progressive Era (1920s and ’30s) to make ends meet. This work is a fascinating slice of our Southern history celebrating the resiliency of women and their rural extension partners. Come learn about it on Tuesday, March 10 at 5:30pm.

An evening of folk music with guitarist Kray Van kirk
2026-03-12 17:30 - 19:00 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
Join us for an evening of folk Americana at The NewSouth Bookstore on Thursday, March 12 at 5:30pm. We are pleased to host Kray Van Kirk who comes to us all the way from Alaska. A fine finger-style guitarist with a sonorous baritone voice, Van Kirk will delight you with his soulful storytelling and music magic.

Peter Brannen with “The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything”
2026-03-17 17:30 - 19:00 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
We welcome Peter Brannen to The NewSouth Bookstore on Tuesday, March 17 at 5:30pm with his new book, The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything. A contributing writer at The Atlantic, Brannen is an esteemed scribe in the field of Earth Science. The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything describes how carbon dioxide made planet Earth, shaped our human history, and now holds our future in the balance. Ambitious and absorbing, it brings to life the story of CO2 and its importance to all life forms. Come meet the author of this fascinating new work.

Gin Phillips with her new novel, Ruby Falls
2026-03-19 17:30 - 19:00 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
Her new historical thriller brings the talented Gin Phillips to The NewSouth Bookstore on Thursday, March 19 at 5:30pm. Set in and around Chattanooga during the Great Depression, Phillips weaves a captivating tale of intrigue with a race for survival in a clever story that is hard to put down.

Alabama State Poetry Society Online Open Mic
2026-03-23 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom
Join us for online poetry open mics the 4th Monday of each month!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85693609367
Meeting ID: 856 9360 9367

Beronda Montgomery with When Trees Testify
2026-03-24 17:30 - 19:00 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
We’re excited to announce a bookstore talk by Beronda L. Montgomery in connection with her new book, When Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America’s Black Botanical Legacy. This stunning cultural and personal reclamation of Black history and Black botanical mastery offers up lessons from the natural world shared through the stories of long-lived trees. Montgomery is an award-winning plant biologist, her book a journey through science and the sacred. Don’t miss this special event on Tuesday, March 24 at 5:30pm.

Dennis McCarthy, author and literary executor for Cormac McCarthy
2026-03-26 17:30 - 19:00 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
Join us for an evening with Dennis McCarthy, author of The Gospel According to Billy the Kid, winner of the 2021 New Mexico-Arizona Book Award for Historical Fiction. Steward of his late brother Cormac McCarthy’s literary estate, Dennis brings a rare and intimate understanding of Cormac’s body of work and native talents to his own remarkable writing debut. Our bookstore evening will give you an introduction to both. Mark your calendars to join us on Thursday, March 26 at 5:30pm at The NewSouth Bookstore.

2026 Alabama Writing Workshop
2026-03-27 09:30 - 17:00 | Embassy Suites Birmingham, 2300 Woodcrest Place, Birmingham, AL, 35206, United States
Pitch Agents and Learn from Published Authors at the 2026 Alabama Writing Workshop
ALL WRITERS WELECOME
This is our 7th Annual Alabama Writing Workshop in Birmingham, presented by Writing Day Workshops. We have many, many success stories of attendees who have found their agent or editor at our events. You could be next – so come join us!
WHEN: 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2026
WHERE: Embassy Suites Birmingham, 2300 Woodcrest Place, Birmingham, AL 35206.
REGISTRATION COST: $169
https://alabamawritingworkshop.com
Attending Agents Include:
• literary agent Danielle Marshall (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
• literary agent Vicky Weber (Creative Media Agency)
• literary agent Trinica Sampson-Vera (New Leaf Literary & Media)
• literary agent Elizabeth Guthrie (P.S. Literary)
Class Schedule:
9:30 – 10:30: Understanding the Publishing Industry in 2026.
10:30 – 11:45: 15 Tips on How to Write Like the Pros.
(11:45 – 1:15: Lunch on your own)
1:15 – 2:30: “Writers’ Got Talent: A First Page Critique-Fest.”
2:45 – 3:45: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Authors.
4:00 – 5:00: Marketing Without the Meltdown: A Practical, Pick-Your-Path Guide for Authors

Fragments Observed Launch Party with Author Carrie Dalby
2026-03-28 15:00 - 17:00 | The Haunted Book Shop, 9 S JOACHIM ST, MOBILE, AL, 36602-2707, United States
Join us for a launch party at The Haunted Book Shop on March 28, celebrating Fragments Observed: Lessons Learned on Patrol by Carrie Dalby. The party will feature an in-conversation with MPD’s CPT Billie Rowland, a signing line, and photo op.
In Fragments Observed, Carrie Dalby reveals her transformation from a nonconfrontational introvert to a keen observer of police work in Mobile, Alabama. Through her extensive 150-hour experience riding along with the MPD, Carrie not only aimed to craft believable characters for her novels set in Mobile but also uncovered the complexities of law enforcement and community dynamics. Her book details the touching human stories and the critical social interactions that occur beyond the public eye, offering readers a rare glimpse into the day-to-day challenges and victories encountered by those on the front lines of public safety. Get ready to be inspired by a literary journey that bridges the gap between fiction and the very real stories unfolding on the streets of Mobile every day.
To enter the signing line, attendees must purchase a copy of Fragments Observed from The Haunted Book Shop. Due to limited space, reservations are highly recommended.

Michael Brownstein with Somebody Should Do Something
2026-03-29 15:00 - 16:30 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
In his new book, Somebody Should Do Something, Michael Brownstein delivers a novel and scientific approach to creating transformative social change—and the surprising ways that each of us can help make a real difference. His is a book for these times! Follow the critics to The NewSouth Bookstore for an empowering discussion about social change that will inspire us all: Sunday, March 29 at 3pm.

Gregory O'Malley with The Escapes of David George
2026-03-31 15:00 - 16:30 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
From a prize-winning historian comes a dramatic story about a Black man’s relentless search for freedom in Revolutionary-era America. Piecing together archival records and David George’s own brief account of his life―the earliest written testimony by a fugitive enslaved person in North America―Gregory O’Malley presents a thrilling narrative and unique perspective on our nation’s origins, principles, and contradictions.

W. Caleb McDaniel with Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America
2026-03-31 17:30 - 19:00 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
We are proud to have as our special guest W. Caleb McDaniel for a talk about his book, Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America. An epic tale of a Black woman who survived bondage twice and won reparations against impossible odds, it’s breathtaking work, beautifully written, which won the Pulitzer Prize for History. Join us at The NewSouth Bookstore on Tuesday, March 31 at 5:30pm.

Novella-length Fiction and Nonfiction
2026-03-31 - 2026-04-30 | Online, NC
For a limited time, Sunspot Lit is calling for single works of novella-length fiction or nonfiction in any category, including memoir, literary, genre, and historical. Open April 1 through April 30. See guidelines and submission form, along with the journal’s other open calls (including art), here: https://sunspotlit.submittable.com/submit.

Kate Brown with Tiny Gardens Everywhere: The Past, Present, and the Future of the Self-Provisioning City
2026-04-07 17:30 - 19:00 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
From distinguished MIT professor of the history of science Kate Brown comes a new book, Tiny Gardens Everywhere: The Past, the Present, and the Future of the Self-Provisioning City. Join us for her talk about it at The NewSouth Bookstore on Tuesday, April 7 at 5:30pm. Tiny Gardens Everywhere is a tribute to small-scale gardens that is something more — an inspiring vision of the transformative potential of gardening and urban life from the eighteenth century to the twenty-first. As fellow author/gardener Novella Carpenter describes it, “this vibrant secret history validates our work and guides future gardeners toward better composting, radical use of common spaces, and plenty of zucchini.” Green thumbs and brown thumbs, this will be a program you won’t want to miss.

Regina Harbour stars in Norman McMillan's "FIREBALL"
2026-04-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Trinity Episcopal Church, 401 N Main Ave, Demopolis, AL, 36732, United States
Norman McMillan’s FIREBALL is a one-woman show based on a memoir by Hazel Lindsey and Julia Walker titled Fireball: The True Story of a Tenessee Plow Girl Who Survived Poverty, Abuse, and Eleven Husbands with Wit, Wisdom, and Tenacity. The play will be staged Friday, April 10th at Trinity Episcopal Church in Demopolis. Show starts at 6pm.

Regina Harbour stars in Norman McMillan's FIREBALL
2026-04-12 15:00 - 17:00 | Greensboro Opera House, 1217 Main St, Greensboro, AL, 36744, United States
Norman McMillan’s FIREBALL is a one-woman show based on a memoir by Hazel Lindsey and Julia Walker titled Fireball: The True Story of a Tennessee Plow Girl Who Survived Poverty, Abuse, and Eleven Husbands with Wit, Wisdom, and Tenacity. The play will be staged on Sunday, April 12th at The Greensboro Opera House. Show starts at 3pm.

One Hour/One Poem: Discover the verse of Robert Frost
2026-04-14 17:30 - 18:30 | The NewSouth Bookstore, 105 S. Court St, Montgomery, 36104, United States
Make a date with a poem and Dr. Susie Paul. Off the success in 2025 of One Hour/One Poem, Paul returns to The NewSouth Bookstore to teach one great nineteenth- or early twentieth-century poem in each of four sessions of an hour or less. The program is a deep dive into the work of four significant American writers, all giants of the poetic form: Edgar Allan Poe, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Robert Frost, and Langston Hughes. Paul is a master educator with a deep love of poetry, who is thrilled to have the opportunity to teach these works. “Birches” by Robert Frost, written in 1915, is the subject of her third session, scheduled for Tuesday, April 14 at 5:30pm. Hope you can join us.

Open Call: Short stories and CNF
2026-04-14 - 2026-05-31 | Online, NC
Sunspot Lit’s current open call accepts all types of fiction and nonfiction up to 3,500 words. No restrictions on category, theme or genre. See guidelines, along with the journal’s other open calls (including art), here: https://sunspotlit.submittable.com/submit.
