From there, guests embarked on a variety of activities, allowing them to “choose their own adventure” across Lansing’s literary landscape.

Some locations, like Schuler Books Okemos, hosted activities designed for children to engage with books and foster a love for literature. Others catered to more mature audiences, such as The Robin Books, which held a poetry publication workshop for aspiring poets, providing guidance on advancing their careers, said The Robin Books owner Dylan Rogers.

The Robin Books is a quaint, hole-in-the-wall bookstore run by Rogers, who envisioned the space during the pandemic. Originally, the plan was to create a performance venue for local artists. However, the idea evolved into a hybrid space: a bookstore offering a collection of new, used and local books, while still providing a stage for performances.

Rogers, both owner and performer, was one of the creators of Lansing Lit. 

The origins of Lansing Lit trace back to 2021 when Rogers, founder of The Poetry Room Masaki Takahashi and other local bookstores used poetry events and author readings to raise funds for local libraries to expand their poetry collections.

Last year, Hooked and other community shops joined forces, and what began as a small, localized event expanded across Lansing, providing a platform for the hidden literary community to truly shine, Rogers explained.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the partners we’ve worked with on this,” Rogers said. “I think I speak for everyone when I say this has been something really special.”

One exciting element that set this year’s Lansing Lit apart from past literary events was the introduction of the Lansing Book Crawl. 

For each transaction made at one of the 13 participating locations, attendees received a stamp on their Book Crawl Passport. After collecting stamps from all locations, they could redeem their passport at Hooked or Wayfaring Booksellers for a special Lansing Lit book tote.

“As if I needed more of an incentive to support my local bookstores,” Eliot Sanbaugh, 42-year-old self-proclaimed bookworm, said. “Now, I get rewarded for my spending habits.”

Sanbaugh came out of her cozy home for an adventure-filled weekend. She likened herself to a squirrel gathering food for winter, except instead of food, she was collecting books, tote bags and quirky trinkets.

Sanbaugh began her book crawl at the Dart Auditorium on Friday for a poetry performance, went to Curious Book Shop and Wayfaring Booksellers on Saturday and planned to end her night at A Novel Concept. As for Sunday, she said she’d let the wind guide her, but she intended to finish filling out her passport.

“For me, Lansing Lit is bringing awareness to all the literary talent and literary pride there is in the community,” Poet Sarah Carson said. “You don’t think about this community until these sorts of days come up and then you’re just astonished with what you see.”

Carson, who still feels relatively new to the area after living in Lansing for three years, was pleasantly surprised by the size and depth of the poetry scene. After co-leading a workshop at The Robin Books with fellow poet Dennis Hinrichsen, she stayed to answer questions and connect with attendees.

Hinrichsen, a longtime poet, was there to offer advice while promoting his upcoming book of selected poems. Having been involved in the literary community for decades, he shared wisdom with aspiring poets, emphasizing the importance of building a support system.

“With literature, we’re constantly trying to explain our lives to one another, and that’s a beautiful thing,” Hinrichsen said. “Find people to warm your feet by the fire with, chase the poem, chase the form, and make sure to have coffee with friends.”

Events like Lansing Lit provide a platform for people to grow and connect, Rogers said. It isn’t about just raising money for these shops, it’s about raising awareness for local talent. Lansing Lit bridges the gap between what writers and readers want to be and what they can become.

Rogers said he and all the other stores hope to grow this annual event into something bigger and better with each year.

“Lansing Lit means everything to me,” Sanbaugh said. “It makes me feel like I did when I was a little girl reading Nancy Drew books on the porch. It makes me feel alive to be so seen by my own city.”