Celebrate the launch of Lisa Olstein's new book at this excellent (and joyously welcomed!) bookstore that's taken over from what used to be Malvern Books. There'll be food and drinks to enjoy and prizes to win. Note: For every book purchased at this event, Olstein will donate $5 to the Lilith Fund.

Lisa Olstein: Dream Apartment

This is an eerie evening of local writers sharing their favorite winter ghost stories, accompanied by murder ballads by Creekbed Carter Hogan and a screening of a 1970s adaptation of a classic M.R. James tale.

Ghost Stories For A Winter Evening

Tiny Sounds and Read Write Austin present n-person readings from Roger Reeves, Greg Marshall, and Stephanie Yue Duhem – with live music, too.

Words in Motion: Winter Edition

Words in Motion w/ A.L. West, Virginia Creeper, Wake Up Spaceboy

Here's an evening of comedy in one fine-ass bookstore, featuring Melissa Diaz, Eric Snader, Ke'Juan Moses, and Alex Olinger, hosted by Austin's own Mary Matthews.

The Whiplash: A Comedy Showcase

Sean T. Collins wrote about the movie Road House (1989) every day for a year. The pop-culture literati at Alienated Majesty honor that obsession tonight – with readings (by local writers and film programmers) from Collins' book, followed by a viewing of the film that started it all.

Pain Don't Hurt

Lyrics as Poetry Live w/ Sara Noelle, Chris Acker, hemlock, Squirrel Flower (solo), Sarah Matthes, Living Hour, Little Mazarn, Nichole Hale, Creekbed Carter Hogan

Between 60 and 80% of incarcerated people in America are functionally illiterate, researchers say. That’s heartbreaking because reading is one of the best ways for incarcerated people to relieve the boredom of prison life. For 70 years, advocates have encouraged literacy and self-growth by getting books to inmates. Join Austin’s Inside Books Project to celebrate a new history of the outreach, Books Through Bars: Stories From the Prison Books Movement. – Brant Bingamon

Books Through Bars: Stories From the Prison Books Movement

Returning after a long winter’s rest is local reading series Downpour ATX, whose mission is to build a community for writers and readers from marginalized communities. “Beckoning to our own fondness for place-based writing,” they say, “we take inspiration from the sudden deluges of rainfall in Texas – which can both serve as balms after a drought and formidable events of nature – and celebrate the newness, abundance, and energy that a downpour ushers in.” This week they’ll host three talented wordsmiths: poet KB Brookins (Freedom House), novelist Lilas Taha (Lost and Found in Thyme series), and attorney/writer Wajiha Rizvi. – James Scott