Great Lakes Commonwealth of Letters wants you to: Read. Write. Live.

A new literary nonprofit in Grand Rapids encourages, promotes, and celebrates the literary endeavors of writers within the Great Lakes region, thanks to three enthusiastic literati who used to work together at a small, independent bookstore. Roni Devlin, a full-time infectious disease physician; bookseller Josh Weston; and bookseller and poet Zachary Tomaszewski breathed life into the Great Lakes Commonwealth of Letters (GLCL) on January 1, 2013.

 

In the last year, Grand Rapids has lost two of its urban independent bookstores: Literary Life Bookstore & More (LitLife) closed its brick-and-mortar storefront on Wealthy Street in June 2012, and the downtown branch of Schuler Books shuttered its doors this past February.

 

"We recognized the need for ongoing literary services in the community," says Devlin, owner of LitLife. "The idea for the nonprofit actually began while the bookstore was still open."

 

Devlin says that a great idea for an author event, book launch, or literary festival was occasionally put on hold because LitLife didn't have enough cash flow or access to resources. "So, as the bookstore closed, the subsequent development of a literary nonprofit made perfect sense," she says. "With GLCL, the link to the literary community is not contingent on book sales or profit margins."

 

The three founders have lofty goals for GLCL: author events, writing contests and workshops, book clubs, and poetry readings. Eventually, GLCL hopes to establish a writing retreat, a community literary festival on Wealthy Street, and an independent literary press.

 

GLCL will work with independent bookstores that continue to thrive in West Michigan. "Our policy clearly states that bookstores have the priority when it comes to author events and book signings," says Devlin. "We will partner with locally owned stores for book sales when appropriate."

 

April is National Poetry Month, and GLCL will celebrate with free poetry readings: Chris Dombrowski (Sunday, April 7), Traci Brimhall (Wednesday, April 10), and Patricia Clark and Alison Swan (Wednesday, April 24). Two poetry workshops will be offered, with Chris Dombrowski (Sunday, April 7) and Robert Fanning (Sunday, April14). Each workshop is limited to 12 people and costs $40 to attend. To inquire, email [email protected].

Get involved:

- Visit GLCL online for more information
- Donate to GLCL
- Like GLCL on Facebook

 

Source: Dr. Roni Devlin, GLCL

Writer: Victoria Mullen, Do Good Editor