3/19 & 3/20/2024

Two author events at EMU

Jocelyn Nicole Johnson, author of My Monticello (2021), will read from her collection of short stories and field questions at EMU’s Writers Read program on Tuesday, March 19. & give a Chapel talk on March 20th. Both events are free and open to the public. Get more information here.

3/21/2024

Ampersand International Arts Festival

This free in person Author Talk will take place on in Williamsburg, Virginia at 5pm on the campus of William & Mary as part of seven days of special guests, live performances, films, author talks, workshops, receptions, and more!. Get more information here.

2/13/2024

Pen Parentis virtual Event

This free virtual event will include brief readings, lots of Q&A, and exploration of inheritance and more. Check out a recording of the event here.

1/21/2024

Honoring the Dream at Mt. Zion

The 39th Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration is excited to announce its annual event will be held at Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church on Sunday, January 21, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. at Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church, Charlottesville. This year’s keynote speaker will be award winning author, Jocelyn Nicole Johnson. For more info, look here. A recording of the entire event, music and all, can be found here.

11/2/2023

Living Writers Event at Colgate University, Hamilton, NY

Jocelyn Nicole Johnson will be at Colgate on Thursday, Nov. 2, at 4:30 p.m. EDT. Join us physically in the Persson Hall auditorium or register to join us virtually via Zoom. The in-person audience will be able to participate in a post-reading Q&A and book-signing. Everyone is welcome. Admission is free. Learn more here.

9/26/2023

Event at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland

Please Join Jocelyn and Marjorie for a conversation about writing across boundaries of difference, notions and themes of community, justice, and hopeful futures. More information here. Images for the Orange High school event here.  

8/25/2023

Event for Henry Hoke’s novel, Open Throat

Please Join us on Friday August 25 to discuss Henry Hoke’s novel, Open Throat, at New Dominion Bookshop in Charlottesville, VA from 7-8pm. Learn more here.  

7/15/2023

Kweli International Literary Festival

BIPOC writers: please join Jocelyn for a craft talk during the in-person Kweli International Literary Festival, on July 15, at Barnard University, in NYC. Other author presenters include Hanif Abdurraqib, Fatimah Asghar, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Kaitlyn Greenidge, Oscar Hokeah, Victor LaValle, Namwali Serpell and many others. Virtual events will run through Sept 15. To support Kweli or register for the festival, learn more here.  

6/15/2023

Event for Mecca Jamilah Sullivan’s novel, BIG GIRL

Please Join us on Thursday June 14, 7pm, to celebrate Sullivan’s paperback launch of BIG GIRL at Politics &Prose in Washington, DC, at Union Station. Learn more here.  

4/11/2023

Balcones Prize Winner Reading

Please join us for the Balcones Prize Reading on Tuesday, April 11 at 7 p.m, at Recital Hall, Rm. 2.2560, Highland campus at Austin Community College to celebrate the books of Jocelyn Nicole Johnson and Michael Kleber-Diggs. 

2/15/2023

Virginia State University Virtual Event

3:30 PM EST, a 2023 Lena Whitt Lecture, Reading and talk on My Monticello. Join using the QRL code below.

1/14/2023

Blaines Books & Coffee Book Release Party

3 PM GMT at Baines Books & Coffee | Jocelyn will be in conversation with Amber McBride to celebrate the release of her new novel, We Are All So Good At Smiling, Afterward, both Jocelyn and Amber will sign books. Learn more here.

Canceled

New Dominion Book in person launch Event

***We hope to reschedule this event, More to come*** 7pm EST, Join us as we celebrate the release of Taylor Harris’s debut memoir, THIS BOY WE MADE.

11/9/2022

Writers LIVE! at Enoch Pratt Free Library

7 PM, live and virtual | Jocelyn will speak at Enoch Pratt Free Library, in conversation with author Mecca Jamilah Sullivan. The event is free for the public. Click here to learn more about the event. You can watch a recording of the event here.

1/2/2022

Randolph MFA Visiting Writer Talk

8 PM ET live at the Virginian Hotel in Lynchburg, VA | Jocelyn will give a reading as part of her visit to Randolph College’s MFA program. She will be reading with Kaveh Akbar and Phillip B Williams. The event is open and free to the public, and masks are required.

10/27/2022

Eudora Welty Writers' Symposium

October 27 - 29th 2022, 9:40 AM, Rent Auditorium of Whitfield Hall in Mississippi University for Women and streamed virtually | Jocelyn will be part of Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium, along with a diverse and distinguished group of Southern writers and scholars. Her reading will happen in the 9 AM to noon slot, around approximately 9:40 AM. All events are free and open to the public, and a live stream will be available for those who cannot make it to campus. Learn more information here.

10/23/2022

Bushwick Book Club

6:30 to 9:30 PM EDT at the Bowery Pottery Club | Jocelyn will read at the Bushwick Book Club, and afterwards a selection of artists will perform works inspired by My Monticello. A recording of Jocelyn’s reading from the event may be viewed here.

10/20/2022

Cottage Chat at Hedgebrook

2 - 3 PM PDT, Virtual | Jocelyn and author Mira Jacobs will be in conversation with Amber Flame for Hedgebrook’s monthly “Cottage Chat” series. The event will be streamed on Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook. Learn more here and watch a recording of the event here.

10/17/2022

Northshire Bookstore

6 PM EDT, Virtual | Jocelyn will be in conversation with author Ricardo Wilson for a Northshire Bookstore event. The event will be virtual, but copies of My Monticello are available for purchase online and pick up in store. A recording of the event may be viewed here.

10/15/2022

Library of Virginia Literary Awards

6 - 9:30 PM EDT at the Library of Virginia | My Monticello was nominated for the Library of Virginia Literary Awards and for the People’s Choice Awards in fiction. Winners will be announced on October 15, at a celebratory event. Jocelyn will be in attendance at the event and will speak on a panel moderated by Brian Castleberry. She will be in conversation with the other fiction finalists, Joanna Pearson and Sheri Reynolds. Learn more here. A video of a panelist discussion between the fiction finalist may be viewed here.

10/14/2022

The Origin Project

Jocelyn will be leading a workshop for The Origin Project, an annual in-school writing program created by the author Adriana Trigiani that serves 2,500+ students in grades K-12. The project encourages students to write about their unique origins and seeks to celebrate the diversity of Appalachia voices and stories. Participating students present their works in an assembly and publish their writings in an anthology. Learn more here. 

10/13/2022

TomorrowTalks at Arizona State University

7 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. MDT / 9 p.m. CDT / 10 p.m. EDT virtual | Jocelyn will be speaking in conversation with Professor Kyle Jensen as part of the TomorrowTalks series at Arizona State University. The series invites thought leaders to speak about how they use their writing to address pressing societal issues. A recording of the event may be viewed here.

10/12/2022

Cafe con Libros

7 PM EDT, Livestreamed | Jocelyn will be in conversation with Dr. Akilah Cadet, the Founder and CEO of Change Cadet. The two will discuss My Monticello, from which Jocelyn will also read. A recording of the event may be viewed here, though registration may be required to view it.

10/11/2022

Books and Brews

7 EDT at Pale Fire Brewing Company in Harrisonburg, VA | Jocelyn will be discussing My Monticello as part of WMRA’s “Books and Brews” series. The event will also be available on WMRA’s Youtube and Facebook channel, later. Read more about the event here. A recording of the event may be viewed here.

10/6/2022

Sweet Briar College

7:30 PM - 9:30 PM EDT, Mills Chapel | Jocelyn will be visiting Sweet Briar College to speak with students about My Monticello. Earlier this year, My Monticello was chosen as Sweet Briar’s 2022-2023 Common Read and students were given copies in the spring and over the summer. You can learn more here.

9/28/2022

Lillian Smith Award Ceremony

7 PM ET, virtual | Jocelyn is the recipient of a Lillian Smith award for My Monticello. The award is given to authors who have created art “worthy of recognition because of their literary merit, moral vision, and honest representation of the South, its people, problems, and promises.” The Lillian Smith Award “honors those authors who, through their writing, carry on Smith's legacy of elucidating the condition of racial and social inequity and proposing a vision of justice and human understanding that represents the ideals of a racially just society.” Jocelyn and Mia Bay, another award recipient and the author of Traveling Black: A Story of Race and Resistance, were both honored during the event. Read more here and watch a recording of the event here.

9/27/2022

Library of Virginia Virtual Panel

7:30 PM ET, virtual | Jocelyn spoke on the virtual panel for the Library of Virginia fictional finalists, including: Joanna Pearson, author of Now You Know It All; and Sheri Reynolds, author of The Tender Grave. Winners will be announced on October 15th, and the virtual panel discussion recording is available here.

9/22/2022

Alameda High School

Jocelyn spoke to students at Alameda High School about My Monticello, which students read as their summer reading assignment. Jocelyn read from her novella and spoke to students about writing and her writing career. There was a Q&A afterwards, and she also visited a creative writing course later in the day. Read more about the event here.

9/22/2022

Green Apple Books

7 PM PDT | Jocelyn will be reading from My Monticello and discussing it with author, Carolina De Robertis. The event will be in person and streamed online. You can learn more here.

9/13/2022

University of Virginia

Community-invite event at 6:30 PM ET in Old Cabell Hall | Jocelyn spoke to first years at the University of Virginia about My Monticello, which was chosen as their common read. She will be in conversation with Professor of English Lisa Woolfork and New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie. Learn more here.

7/2022

New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church

Jocelyn spoke about My Monticello at New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Lexington, SC, in early July, followed by a book signing.  Limited copies of My Monticello were available for purchase. You can watch the video here.

5/21/22

Gaithersburg Book Festival

1:15 PM to 2:05 PM ET | Jocelyn will be participating in the Gaithersburg Book Festival in Maryland, which seeks to celebrate a variety of authors and literary excellence. She will be interviewed by Bethanne Patrick, and more information about her event will be forthcoming. You can learn about the festival here.

5/15/22

American Writers Festival

11:30 AM CST at Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center | Jocelyn will be participating in the inaugural American Writers Festival at the American Writers Museum in Chicago with more than 75 other writers, all of whom will engage with and share perspectives on timely and important topics about literature in today’s culture. Jocelyn will be in conversation with author Rebecca Makkai. Afterwards, Jocelyn will sign books. Attendance is free. Learn more here.

4/23/22

LA Festival of the Book Event | Fiction: The Art & Craft of the Short Story Panel

12:30 PM to 1:30 PM PT, Taper Hall Room 101 | Jocelyn will be speaking on a panel about short story craft during the LA Festival of the Book. Jocelyn will be in conversation with: Said Sayrafiezadeh, Mariana Enriquez, and Meron Hadero. The festival will take place on USC’s campus, and this panel will hosted in Taper Hall, Room 101. More information about the festival may be found here.

3/19/22

Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival Conversation Series

7 PM ET, virtual | Jocelyn will be in conversation with C. Morgan Babst as they talk about writing life, their new works, the craft, and publishing, as part of this conversation series hosted on YouTube Videos will remain online and available for viewing any time. Click here for more information and click here to watch a recording of this event.

3/19/22

Virginia Festival of the Book Headliner Event | Southern Landscapes: Real and Imagined

7 PM ET "| Join us for the headliner event, Southern Landscapes: Real and Imagined, at the Virginia Festival of the Book. Jocelyn Nicole Johnson will be in conversation with authors Ralph Eubanks and Imani Perry to discuss the stories of the American South. The event will be hosted at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville. Click here to learn more.

3/18/22

Virginia Festival of the Book | My Monticello Book Discussion

4 PM EST | Join us in person at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center in Charlottesville for a book discussion with Jocelyn Nicole Johnson, moderated by Lisa Woolfork. Click here for more information and click here to watch a recording of the event.

2/26/22

Diverse Spines “Spine of the Month” Instagram Live

3 PM EST | Join us on Instagram Live for a book chat with Jocelyn Nicole Johnson, hosted by Diverse Spines. Click here to view the Diverse Spines Instagram page, and click here to see an archive of previous “Spine of the Month” recordings.

2/15/22

James Madison University Fireside Chat

6 PM EST | Join us at Wilson Auditorium at James Madison University for a reading and book discussion with Jocelyn Nicole Johnson. Click here for more information.

2/10/22

Downer’s Grove Public Library Virtual Event

7-8:30 pm EST | Join us for a virtual book discussion with Jocelyn Nicole Johnson. You do not need to be a library member to attend the event. The general public is welcome.

12/12/21

Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) Event with Virtual Access

3-5pm EST | Live event for CBI community with virtual access to public, in conversations with Adam Nemett. Please click here to view a recording of the event.

12/08/21

Castle Hill Virtual Event

7pm EST | Join us for a one-hour event with host Karen Dukess discussing My Monticello and more. Please click here to view a recording of the event.

12/02/21

Narrative Storytelling Craft Discussion at Hugo House

8pm EST | Join is for a one-hour virtual event with Sonora Jha’s Narrative Storytelling class. Please click here for more information about this past event.

11/17/21

Literary Wine down, Virtual Event

6pm ET | Please click here to view a recording of the event.

11/16/21

Odyssey Bookshop, Virtual Event

7pm ET | First Edition Club, in conversation with Dr. Emily Bernard. Please click here for information about this past event. Books available for sale here. Support Indie Booksellers.

11/15/21

Robin Reads Bookclub, Virtual Event

7pm ET | Please click here for more information about this past event.

11/09/21

Kweli Journal Virtual Event

7pm EST | The Art of the Short Story with Laura Pegram! Please click here for more information about this past event.

11/03/21

Center for Fiction Virtual Event

7pm ET | The Art of the Short Story, in conversation with Deesha Philyaw. Please click here to view a recording of the event. Donate to the Center for Fiction here.

10/28/21

Blue Stoop Virtual Event with Harriet’s Books

7pm ET | In conversation with Asali Solomon. Please click here to view a recording of the event. Books available for sale here. Support Indie Bookstores.

10/28/21

Kirkus Prize Ceremony

6pm ET | My Monticello is among 6 Fiction Finalists. The virtual announcement ceremony recording can be viewed here.

10/27/21

Virtual Panel at JMRL: Finding your Writing Community

7pm ET | Want to engage with other writers to support your writing life? From critique partners to writing groups to conferences and more, we will discuss a variety of venues, both virtual and face to face, that can enhance your writerly life. Watch a recording of this this free, public event, hosted by the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, here.

10/26/21

Loyalty Books Virtual Event

8pm ET | In conversation with Carolyn Ferrell. Please click here to view a recording of the event. Books available for sale here and donations to Loyalty Books can be made here. Support Indie Bookstores.

10/25/21

In Person Reading at PVCC

12pm ET | In person reading at Piedmont Virginia Community College, sponsored by the Creative Writing Club. Free and Open to the public. Event took place outside on North Mall Portico, or—in case of inclement weather— inside, masked, in M229.

10/20/21

Warwicks Virtual Event

7pm ET | In conversation with Lisa Deaderick. Please click here to view a recording of this event. Books available for sale here. Support Indie Bookstores.

10/18/21

Politics & Prose Virtual Event

7pm ET | In conversation with Venita Blackburn. Please click here to view a recording of the event. Books available for sale here. Support Indie Bookstores.

10/15/21

Charis Bookstore Virtual Event

7:30 ET | In conversation with Morgan Babst. Please click here to view a recording of the event. Books available for sale here. Support Indie Bookstores.

10/13/21

Monticello In Person Event

5:30 ET | In conversation with descendant Andrew Davenport. Watch recording of event here. Books available for sale here.

10/14/21

Center for Black Literature Conference, Virtual Event

6:30 ET | The Art of the Short Story, In conversation with Danielle Evans. Free and open to the public. Click here to view a recording of the event.

10/12/21

Fountain Bookstore Virtual Event

6pm ET | Searing Short Stories with Jocelyn Johnson and Dantiel W. Moniz. Click here to view a recording of the event. Books available for sale here. Support Indie Bookstores.

Screen Shot 2021-09-29 at 2.30.51 PM.png

10/08/21

New Dominion Bookshop In Person Event

7pm ET (doors open at 6:45) | Co-sponsored by WriterHouse: Masked Event will take place at The Haven, in Charlottesville, VA. Books available for sale here. Support Indie Bookstores.

10/07/21

Reading with Robin Instagram Event

3pm ET @RobinKallInk on IG! | Join in for fun conversation in Robin’s segment, “Tell Me About Your Book!”

10/06/21

Left Bank Books Virtual Event

8pm ET | Johnson will be in conversation with Walter Mosley. Please click here to view a recording of this event. Order a copy of My Monticello from Left Bank Books to support authors and independent bookstores!

10/05/21

Adriana Ink’s World's Biggest Book Club

5pm ET on FaceBook Live @Adriana Trigiani | Join us!

7/07/21

Jefferson-Madison Regional Library Presents: Pathways to Finding a Literary Agent

Free Virtual Event | Conversation and Q&A

6/16/21

Macmillan Library Marketing and Library Journal present: Lounging in the Library

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET | Outcasts and outlaws. Secrets and skeletons. Dancers, dangers, and divorce. Found families and fear. Follow along as our authors take on the big issues... in their loungewear. Click here to view a recording of the event.

6/8/21

American Bookseller Association announces Indies Introduce

12:00 PM EST | My Monticello was highlighted for Adult Fiction at Bookfest.

3/23/21

Virginia Book Festival: Little Dreamers Event

Moderator for talk with author/artist Vashti Harrison.

9/22/20

Live Arts First Friday Sneak Peek

Reading and talk with Darryl Nelson Smith for Live Arts, Charlottesville VA. Please click here for a recording of the event.

9/21/20

Phoebe Journal Fall of the Book Event

7:30 PM ET | Live Zoom reading to celebrate 50 years of Phoebe journal.

PhobeReadingFeature.png