Chapter Members Present Entertaining Prose at The New York Society Library

It’s exciting to see WNBA-NYC members showcased at literary events, especially ones organized by the oldest cultural institution in Manhattan. This month at the New York Society Library on the Upper East Side—a haven for writers and literary buffs—three WNBA-NYC chapter members were part of the November event lineup, featuring poetry, fiction and the history of Hollywood.
On Tuesday, November 8, the New York Society Library hosted their seasonal Open Mic Night. About 40 patrons gathered to hear 17 members read original fiction, poetry, memoir and short story excerpts. Included in the lineup were chapter members Phoebe Hoss and Yuliana Kim-Grant. Phoebe Hoss is a former scholarly book editor, as well as an award-winning writer of poetry, children’s fiction, and memoir. Her Open Mic reading featured original poetry. Yuliana Kim-Grant is a writer of fiction and award-winning creative non-fiction. Her Open Mic reading featured an excerpt from her novel A Shred of Hope, a novel involving tragedy between a young Korean-American woman and her African-American husband.
On Wednesday, November 9, Diana Altman gave a presentation about the Hollywood studio system, the subject of her successful book Hollywood East: Louis B. Mayer and the Origins of the Studio System. Diana, the former President of the WNBA Boston Chapter, is a film historian and award-winning novelist. Ms. Altman described the growth and fall of the Hollywood studio system and the role her father, an MGM talent agent, played within it. The event included screen tests from 16mm footage, shot at a New York City newsreel studio, which included Joan Crawford, Bob Hope, Henry Fonda and other stars from yesteryear.

New York Society Library features an impressive book and periodical collection, as well as spacious rooms for members to write, study, and research in. They host several writing groups and present over 50 art, literary and music events a year.

This post is by Rachel Weiss-Feldman, membership co-chair and Social Media Coordinator for the WNBA-NYC chapter. Rachel is currently interviewing for positions in marketing, advertising and corporate communications.