Lesbian Author Event with Jane Vollbrecht & Julia Watts
Thursday, July 3, 7:30-9:00pm
Just in time for Atlanta's PRIDE celebration, Charis presents two of our customers' favorite lesbian fiction authors, Jane Vollbrecht and Julia Watts. Julia Watts, a native of southeastern Kentucky, is the author of eight novels which humorously explore the chaos and community of lesbian life in the Bible Belt. Her latest novel, The Kind of Girl I Am, was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in the women's fiction category. Jane Vollbrecht, who began her life as hog farmer's daughter in northern Minnesota and then spent more than 30 years in much too close proximity to the pork barrels of Washington, D.C., now makes her home in the foothills of the north Georgia mountains. She swears she will never willingly live near pigs or politicians again. Jane is the author of five novels and has contributed short stories to three anthologies. Come meet these two authors and spend a laugh-filled evening getting to know them and their works.
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Official Book Release Party: Fiona Zedde with Hungry for It
Saturday, July 5, 8:00-9:30pm
Join us at Charis for a much-awaited party to celebrate the release of Fiona Zedde's newest novel, Hungry For It. Come hear the acclaimed Atlanta-based lesbian author (and former Charis employee) read choice portions of her highly erotic work, then stick around afterwards for refreshments, festivities, mingling with the author and a book-signing!
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Faiths & Feminisms: An Interfaith Book Circle
Monday, July 7, 7:00-8:30pm
Meeting on the first Monday of each month, this open book group seeks to deepen the dialogue between different understandings of, and commitments to, living a life in which faiths and feminisms intersect and inform our work for justice and wholeness. We will discuss books that invite us to expand our hearts and minds. Facilitators will be group participants of many faiths who are committed to increasing mutual enrichment and understanding. All faiths and all definitions of feminism welcome! Join us in July to talk about The Tent of Abraham: Stories of Hope and Peace for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, by Joan Chittister, Murshid Saadi Shakur Chishti, & Rabbi Arthur Waskow. The book for August's discussion is God's Troublemakers: How Women of Faith are Changing the World, by Katharine Rhodes Henderson. For more information, contact linda@chariscircle.org.
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Exploring Genders Through Reading
Monday, July 7, 7:00-8:30pm
This facilitated book group meets on the second Wednesday of each month to discuss books that explore gender identity and representation. Join us in July to talk about Two Truths & A Lie by Scott Turner Schofield. In August we will meet to discuss First Person Queer by Richard LaBonte & Lawrence Schimel.
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Carrie Baker with The Women's Movement Against Sexual Harassment
Thursday, July 10, 7:30-9:00pm
Carrie Baker is a professor at Berry College in Georgia and Smith College in Massachusetts, as well as the author of The Women's Movement Against Sexual Harassment. Based on interviews and voluminous original research, this book is the first to show how the movement against sexual harassment fundamentally changed American life in ways that continue to advance women's opportunities today. Join us at Charis to hear Carrie talk about The Women's Movement. Following the book talk, she will take questions from the audience and autograph copies of her book.
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Book Proposal Boot Camp: How to Write a Book Proposal That Sells Without Selling Out
Saturday & Sunday, July 12 & 13 or August 2 & 3, at Agnes Scott College
Charis Circle is proud to co-sponsor this original workshop with Valerie Boyd, award-winning author of Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston. Sign up for the weekend-long workshop and let Valerie show you how to transform your dream of writing a book into a reality.
 The best-kept secret of the publishing world is the book proposal. Like many writers, you may not realize that you can write a 15- to 100-page book proposal, submit it to literary agents and publishers, and actually get paid to write the book of your dreams.
 A strong book proposal can secure a book deal and a monetary advance from a publisher, providing you with enough money to launch your research or to take time away from your job to focus on writing your book. With a few months of effort, any writer who has a strong nonfiction idea and some writing talent-even without a lot of experience-can research and write a robust book proposal that will turn publishers' heads. This Book Proposal Boot Camp will teach you how.
 For more information including fees and registration, email vjboyd@gmail.com or visit www.valerieboyd.com.

Co-sponsored by Moksha Unlimited and Charis Circle
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Young Women* Writers
Monday, July 14 & 28, 5:00-6:15pm
This group is open to all young women* writersyoung writers unite ages 14-19. Through faciliated writing prompts and supportive critique, participants are encouraged to raise their voices and express themselves through a variety of written mediums. Writers of all skill levels and genres are encouraged to stop in and see if the group works for them. This group meets the second and fourth Mondays of every month from 5-6:30pm. Please direct inquiries to chariswriters@gmail.com.
*trans inclusive
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Writing with Intent
Monday, July 14 & 28, 6:30-8:30pm
This facilitated group is open to all writers of fiction and creative non-fiction who want a serious group to provide constructive criticism, motivational exercises, and interpersonal accountability to keep their writing on track. We will do monthly exercises and critiques with an eye towards individual improvement and the eventual goal of publication. Writers are encouraged to bring copies of their work to share for critique. The group meets the second Monday of each month from 7:00-8:30pm. Please direct inquiries to chariswriters@gmail.com
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Intersection: Disability, Transgender, & Intersex Experiences
Wednesday, July 16, 7:00-8:30pm
Come join three leading activists - Caitlin Childs, Scott Turner Schofield and Anne DelBene for an evening of open, frank, indepth and sure-to-be-humourous discussion about how their individual everyday lives, interactions and experiences intersect. Caitlin, Scott, and Anne will talk to each other, fishbowl style, about commonalities among lives touched by disability, intersex, and  transgender experiences, then converse with the audience.  Join us for an informative and fun-filled evening of introspective community dialogue.
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Cliterati Open No-Mic Featuring Alice Teeter
Thursday, July 17, 7:30-9:00pm
Charis & Cliterati pair up to present an inviting and fierce, open mic & reading series on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Hosted by the anarchic spoken word team of Karen G and Theresa Davis, members of the Art Amok Slam Team, this series cultivates the voices of authors, novices and an assortment of poets, songstresses and story tellers. Cliterati is 7 years old and counting, open to all because ALL OPEN MOUTHS HAVE A VOICE.
This month we are proud to feature a performance by local poet Alice Teeter, whose chapbook "String Theory" won the 2008 Charles B. Dickson Memorial Chapbook Award from the Georgia Poetry Society.
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Akoma Book Club
Saturday, July 19, 10:30am-12:00pm
The Akoma Book Club (of Women Healing Women) meets at Charis Books & More on the third Saturday of each month. This book club is open to any woman seeking camaraderie with like-minded women for fun, self-empowerment and growth. Even if you haven't read the book... but are willing to talk about the principles in the book, you can join us for a lively discussion. The book for July's discussion is Write It Down & Make It Happen, by Henriette Klauser. Join us again in August to talk about Ask & It Is Given by Esther & Jerry Hicks. For more information about this group, contact imani@surviving2thriving.org.
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Queer Literary Fiction Book Group
Wednesday, July 23, 7:00-8:30pm
This facilitated book group meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at Charis to discuss books which feature queer characters/ storylines as well as a strong attention to literary craft and style. The book selection for July is The IHOP Papers by Ali Liebegott. Join us again in August to talk about the The Teahouse Fire by Ellis Avery.
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