Kings of B&rsquo\;more Book Releas
e with R. Eric Thomas
In conversation with Versatile
Poetiq
Thursday\, June 9th 2022: 6-7:30pm
Hartford Public Library\, Atrium
500 Main Street Hartford\,
CT
Join bestselling author R. Eric Thomas in-person\, in con
versation with poet Versatile Poetiq\, for the release of his new book\, K
ings of B&rsquo\;more\, which tells the story of two Black queer best frie
nds who face their last day together with an epic journey through Baltimor
e in this magnetic YA debut. This event is supported by Hartford Foundation&rsquo\;s The Equality Fund for LGBTQ
+\, Kamora&rsquo\;s Cultural
Corner\, the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Hea
lth Collective\, and Hartford Public
Library. R. Eric Thomas&rsquo\; books will be for sale by Barnes and
Noble UConn Hartford. Masks are optional and vaccination is not required a
t Hartford Public Library.
R. Eric Thomas is the bestselling au
thor of Here for It\, or How to Save Your Soul in America\, a Read with Je
nna book club pick featured on Today and a Lambda Literary Award finalist.
He is the co-author of Reclaiming Her Time\, a biography of Rep. Maxine W
aters. He is also a television writer (AppleTV+&rsquo\;s Dickinson\, FX&rs
quo\;s Better Things)\, a playwright\, and the long-running host of The Mo
th in Philadelphia and D.C. For four years\, he was a senior staff writer
at Elle.com where he wrote &ldquo\;Eric Reads the News.&rdquo\; Kings of B
&rsquo\;more is his YA debut. Learn more at rericthomas.com.
Brittana &ldquo\;VersatilePoetiq&rdquo\; Tatum was born at Hartford Hospital. She was raised for nine years in Sim sbury\, CT and ten years in Avon\, CT. She played basketball throughout hi gh school with aspirations of playing in college. She graduated from Avon High School in 2005. In the fall of 2005 she attended University of Hartfo rd as a marketing major. She put away her basketball sneakers and picked u p a pen to become a Poet. She graduated from UHart with a Business Adminis tration degree in May of 2009. She has been performing Spoken Word for 10 years and teaching Spoken Word for 8 years. She works for Charter Oak Cult ural Center and Arts for Learning Connecticut. She taught Civic Engagement at Two Rivers Middle School to 35 (6th\, 7th\, and 8th graders) for her f irst teaching experience. She has also taught at Covenant Prep\, Montessor i Magnet School\, Trinity Academy\, YMCA\, Boys &\; Girls Club\, Milner Elementary\, SANDS School\, and Albert E. Burr School in Hartford\, CT. S he has taught Spoken Word throughout CT (New Haven\, Windham\, East Hartfo rd\, and Norwich to name a few towns). She performed in front of 20\,000 p eople at The Greater Hartford Jazz Festival in 2019. She hosted the Trinit y International Hip Hop Festival in 2019. Her stage name is VersatilePoeti q due to her universal appeal and unique mix of Spoken Word and Rap. She h as all her students call her Ms. Versatile. @versatilepoetiq
\nIf yo u require special accommodations to take part in this program\, please cal l 860-695-6377 at least two weeks in advance
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