Roving Story Hour
Hi. Welcome. Thanks for visiting.
I’m using this space to communicate—and to archive—this project.
What project?
Such a good question. I’m reading a novel (-in-progress, but hopefully as done as I can possibly make it). From beginning to end, over many months, in many community spaces.
In moments of actual honesty I realize that I desperately want to share this work, that I love to read it out to folks I care about. And yeah, part of that is a bottomless ego pit of ‘tell me I did a good job,’ but part of it is that I am fiercely committed to making things as a way to say ‘hey, did you see that?!’
As I have explained it in the past, via terrible theatrical pantomimes with student volunteers: Imagine we are hiking and suddenly this extraordinary vista opens in front of me. My first impulse, zero thought involved, is to give you a friendly swat and say LOOK AT THAT! I think that is why I make music and stories, that same impulse to share. It’s a bit weird to be convinced that this tale of death and family and magic and so much Italian food is in some way similar to seeing an unforgettable sunset or whatnot. Not exactly what I mean. More that this idea has captured me for years and so maybe you’d be willing to live in it for a few minutes here and there. Even just to humor me. I would accept those terms.
Thank you, sincerely, to all of our community institutions that have signed on to this effort thus far. So many places! I am in your debt and will try to make this fun and to bring good snacks until I run out of money for that line-item.
Announcements will follow, soon, on the initial flight path. So check back. And for sure #1 [and this just in, another! [and another!] are] set, so come, per the details below that are also printed on a snappy postcard I might have handed you:
snacks +
words I wrote +
music I didn’t
no. 1 (!)
@Raven’s Nest Cafe (5th&division, nfld)
April 2, 2026
7PM-8PM
and another…
@Northfield Public Library
May 12, 2026
6PM-7PM
and yet another…
@Contented Cow
May 28, 2026
9PM-10PM
FAQ
What is this?
The Minnesota State Arts Board is helping me finish my novel. I thought it would be nice to share (all of) it with my community, in community spaces, at a series of arguably fun gatherings. Come! There will be food that the arts board will have purchased for you. I will read for maybe 20 minutes after you mingle and then sit down with a dainty plate. At the end I will play some fun music. Probably at the beginning, too. In my dream we dance to the end-music.
Andrea Mazzariello is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
