A decade ago, Nancy Klotz loved going to talks by authors like Geraldine Brooks and Margaret Atwood, organized by the nonprofit Rochester Arts & Lectures.
After those dried up, Klotz found herself missing the programming and the in-person connection.
“There is just a feeling that gathering with the community of people who share a love of books and authors and reading is tremendously energizing,” Klotz said.
So, she did some research. And 18 months later, she started up her own literary arts endeavor.
The nonprofit Rochester Speaker Series, announced this week, launches in October with a talk by writer David Grann at Asbury First United Methodist Church on East Avenue.
Grann, a journalist, penned the nonfiction book “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which served as the basis for director Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. His talk is scheduled for October 7.
Writer Brit Bennett has been praised for tackling religion and race in her novels “The Mothers” and “The Vanishing Half” and for her viral 2017 essay “I Don’t Know What to Do With Good White People.” She will visit for a Q&A in April 2026.
Klotz said the goal of the ticketed speaker series events is to widen the lens of author conversations in Rochester beyond local talent.
“Rochester is a well-educated community, and this is focused more on top-tier voices that are going to appeal to the mainstream,” she said.
Klotz and co-founder Laura Hamilton consulted with local groups like Writers & Books as well as Monroe County library patrons to help guide their mission. They looked to similar models in Buffalo and Syracuse for inspiration.
The pair also secured a grant from the Lewis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation to support the first two events. The group is looking to add more speakers after developing a subscriber base and sponsorships.
Klotz said feedback from surveys and focus groups revealed an interest in reaching diverse communities.
“My hope is that we’re connecting people from a wide range of backgrounds, so people from all over Monroe County and some of the other counties beyond that, [and] that we have people who are suburban and rural as well as urban,” she said. “Bringing together a wide age group range as well creates a certain energy and enthusiasm.”
More details on Rochester Speaker Series, including ticket information, can be found here.
Patrick Hosken is CITY’s arts reporter. He can be reached at patrick@rochester-citynews.com.
This article appears in Dec 1-31, 2024.
