The Golden Owl bookshop, 19 Golden Street, New London, invites writers and emerging writers on the last Saturdays of each month throughout 2024, from Jan. 27 to Dec. 28, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The co-founder of the group, Wendy Vincent, a writer and the bookstore owner, says the gatherings will be held amidst shelves teeming with literary masterpieces. “Inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s call to ‘write hard and clear about what hurts,’ The Golden Owl will be a place where writing transcends mere words on paper. Here, we will not just write; we will pour our very souls onto the pages,” she says.

She says she envisions an innovative writing group as a therapeutic oasis. “In a society where genuine self-expression is often obscured, blurred, or silenced, The Golden Owl will offer a rare opportunity for writers to be unabashedly true to themselves,” she says.

Salma Siddique, associate professor at Connecticut College, will be the co-facilitator of the Saturday reading and writing group. “Our stories will serve as mirrors, reflecting our deepest truths. At The Golden Owl, writing will become a journey into the core of our existence, “she says.

The group welcomes writers of all backgrounds to share their work, including but not limited to memoirs, speculative fiction, and poetry. The Golden Owl, located in the heart of New London’s Cultural District, features books, a plant bar, cozy gathering spots, herbs, teas, and other curiosities. For more information, email info@goldenowl.shop.