Bloom Readings is proud to present Zoe Ryder White, Sarah Stern and Katrina Moore to the Lounge at Hudson View Gardens (entrance near the intersection of 183rd St. & Pinehurst Ave.)
They will each be reading from their most recently published books, which will also be on sale afterwards. They will be happy to sign any copies.
Wine and cheese will be served. Questions? email us at NloomReadings80@gmail.com.
A special evening with acclaimed Dominican writer, musician, and artist Rita Indiana in celebration of her new novel, Admodeus, a hallucinatory thriller about a failing demon’s search for a new host in post-dictatorship Santo Domingo.
On this evening, Rita joins us for her first literary event in the neighborhood she calls home. She will be in conversation with Alex V. Cruz to discuss her return to fiction, and the intersections of literature, music, memory, Santo Domingo, identity, and place that have shaped her singular body of work.
The evening will include an intimate conversation, reading, audience Q&A, and book signing, bringing our community together to celebrate one of the Dominican Republic’s most distinctive contemporary literary voices.
Copies of Asmodeus will be available for purchase through Word Up Community Bookshop, including English and Spanish editions.
A maximum of 80 attendees. Please register in advance. The event space is located on the second floor, which is accessible by elevator from the first floor elevators.
Asmodeus, a millennia-old demon, has inhabited Rudy, a once-legendary Dominican rock star, for decades. But in 1992, the demon’s powers begin to fade. What follows is a desperate weeklong odyssey as Asmodeus ricochets through the bodies of the inhabitants of Santo Domingo’s underworld: from Guinea, a young metalhead plotting a warehouse heist, to Mireya, the daughter of a former torturer, to other souls caught in his chaotic orbit. Each possession reveals another layer of a city still reeling from the Balaguer dictatorship. And each new host engenders a surprising tenderness in the demon.
From acclaimed musical artist and author Rita Indiana, Asmodeus is written in urgent prose punctuated by original décimas, ten-line rhyming poems drawing from Latin American musical and oral tradition. Indiana weaves together Dominican heavy metal, black magic, and political trauma. Asmodeus is a supernatural noir, riotous thriller, and searing portrait of a nation grappling with its complicated past.
Rita Indiana is a writer, composer, and Global Distinguished Professor at New York University. She has written six novels including Tentacle, winner of the Grand Prize of the Association of Caribbean Writers. She lives in New York City.
Two Authors, Poet Constantine Contogenis and Spoken Word Artist Tracy Jones will share an evening of their work and of each other’s work. Contongenis will read from his recently published translations of the great Greek poet, Constantine Cavafy. Jones will perform work that made his name in Spoken Work circles. And IT’S FREE!
Word Up welcomes Ayendy Bonifacio for his new coming-of-age tale, Bless Me, Papi, about a young Dominican American boy facing a grave loss and a feathered phantom.
“Humanity shines through in this work that is notable for its cast of memorable, well-wrought characters. The pages sing with fresh, lyrical prose; a must-read.” —Kirkus, starred review
ABOUT THE BOOK
Between the looming buildings of Brooklyn, a young Dominican American boy only ever called mijo by his family has just lost his father to brain cancer. In the wake of his grief, he begins to see his deceased father take the form of a pigeon and ghost, acting as protector and advisor in moments of duress and confusion. Determined to find out the truth behind his father’s appearances, he sets out on the streets of Brooklyn with his outspoken friend Naño, and in the hills of the Dominican Republic with his cousin Matias, in search of answers, only to discover more ghostly apparitions and inexplicable occurrences. In a world of lost things and in-betweens, the grief-stricken son must choose whether he can bear to let go of his father or accept the consequences of what we let haunt us.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ayendy Bonifacio (he/him/his) is a Dominican American writer, poet, and scholar whose work explores memory, migration, race, and the legacies of colonialism in the Americas. He is the author of Dique Dominican; To the River, We Are Migrants: Poems/Poemas; and Bless Me, Papi. His second collection of poems, Ríos Are for Chivos and Eternity will be released in August 2027. Bonifacio’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, Slate, The Los Angeles Review of Books, among other outlets. He is an associate professor of English at the University of Toledo in Ohio where he lives with his partner and daughter.
Please register in advance.
Meet SHEBA THE ALLEY CAT—a plucky feline heroine with a nose for adventure at the launch party of her story! Teacher and author Lauren Fornoles will read this spooky—but not scary—Halloween story, perfect for kids ages 3 and up. Lauren will also read from her other new Halloween-themed book, Monster’s Day at School!
Following the story time, kids will get to color and create costume masks and learn about black cats with The Cat Collective NYC.
“Sheba the Alley Cat is an absolutely charming seasonal read that captures the spirit of Halloween without being spooky or overwhelming for young readers. The illustrations are precious and full of warm, festive detail, striking a perfect balance between playful and cozy.” —Laura J., Educator
Please register in advance.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Sheba dreams of a world beyond her alley. When a mysterious note appears in the newspaper, Sheba knows she’s just the cat for the job. But is she brave enough to journey to the spooky old house? Fans of Gustavo and Room on the Broom will love cheering Sheba on her adventures in this sweet Halloween “tail”!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lauren Fornoles (a.k.a. Early Bird) is a certified teacher and literacy specialist who is passionate about helping children and their families reach their literacy goals through her stories and videos. She has over a decade of classroom teaching experience and holds dual masters degrees in the Teaching of Reading and the Teaching of English.Lauren’s stories and videos draw on her professional training in language and vocabulary development to build essential literacy skills. It is her hope that her work helps others discover or re-discover the magic of reading together.
