The crew behind Saint Paul Almanac and Cracked Walnut have been busy since early October, hosting readings in venues all over the city – 16 in all – for the 2015 Saint Paul Almanac Literary Festival. The lit fest concludes this year with events on Thursday, Saturday and next Monday, at Common Good Books, Amsterdam Bar and Hall, and Dreamland Arts respectively. If you’re a book lover, you’ll want to catch at least one before this annual celebration of hometown literary talent wraps for the season. The festival’s featured readers are all contributors to the 2015 edition of the annual guide to St. Paul, copies of which are, of course, in ample supply and for sale at each event.

I’ve particularly got my eye on the line-up at Common Good Books. On the docket Thursday evening are offerings by shutterbug and Lowertown storyteller-at-large Mike Hazard; author and Minneapolis Star-Tribune books editor, Laurie Hertzel; 2013 National Book Award-finalist Matt Rasmussen; beloved St. Paul poet Margaret Hasse; as well as Rachel Mortiz, Jude Wiesner and Maryam Marne Zafar.

2015 Saint Paul Almanac cover art by Ricardo Levins Morales.

Find the full schedule of the 2015 Saint Paul Almanac Literary Festival participating poets and writers, event times and venues on the Cracked Walnut website, www.crackedwalnut.com.