Booked Through F I
f you’re a book lover and a reader, there’s a sense of life beginning anew in September. Like all the students who come home with fresh textbooks to cover, you crave new books. If you’re a reader, it’s in your genes. And with the crisp fall air, which will be along in, say, October, you get the yen to learn something new. There are opportunities everywhere this fall. Check off what appeals and jump in. The literary scene is alive, well — and welcoming. FESTIVALS
Gambit > bestofneworleans.com > september 4 > 2012
One Book One New Orleans: The selection for this fall is The World That Made New Orleans: From Spanish Silver to Congo Square, by Ned Sublette. Start reading. Reason to participate: Having the whole city read a book is a great thing. For info: www.ylcnola.org
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Rising Tide 7: A New Media Conference on the Future of New Orleans takes place Saturday, Sept. 22, at Xavier University. Keynote speakers are Lawrence N. Powell (The Accidental City: Improvising New Orleans) and Lolis Eric Elie (Treme, Smokestack Lightning: Adventures in the Heart of Barbecue City), who will set the tone for this gathering of bloggers and activists. Reason to go: We all have a stake in it. More info: www.risingtidenola.com The Third Annual New Orleans Children’s Book Festival is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Latter Library (5120 St. Charles Ave.). The event is sponsored by New Orleans’ first lady Cheryl Landrieu and the Ruby Bridges Foundation. There will be book activities, food, authors, storytellers and book giveaways. Reason to go: Show the kids how much fun they can have at a library. For info: www.nolabookfest.org The Louisiana Book Festival is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, on the grounds of the state Capitol in Baton Rouge. Don’t miss this free event. The highlight is the presentation of the Louisiana Writer Award to New Orleanian John Biguenet. There also will be a special appearance by
National Children’s Literature Ambassador Walter Dean Myers. Among authors scheduled to appear are Constance Adler, Arthe Anthony, Darrell Bourque, Rick Bragg, Wiley Cash, Rich Cohen, Moira Crone, Tim Gautreaux, Julie Kane, Alice Kessler-Harris, Ron Rash, George and Wendy Rodrigue, Ben Sandmel, Olympia Vernon and John Corey Whaley. Reasons to make the drive: The fun of taking a seat in the Louisiana Legislature and spending a gorgeous day with food, music and books all across the grounds of the Capitol. For info: www.louisianabookfestival.org Contraflow is a rapidly growing conference for fans of science fiction, fantasy and comics. It takes place Oct. 5-7 at the Double Tree New Orleans Airport (2150 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Kenner). Special guests this year include five-time Hugo Award-winning author Vernor Vinge, Marvel comics author Arthur Suydam and fan Janice Liang. Other special guests include Northshore novelist Diana Rowland and “Goth librarian” Kimberly Richardson. There are writing workshops, panels, autographing sessions and a 48-hour film festival. Reasons to go: Celebrate your life as a fan of science fiction and comics. Dress up. Go to a lot of parties. Buy some rare comic books or sci-fi merchandise in the dealers’ room. (Maybe a velvet painting of Captain Kirk?) For info: www.contraflowscifi.org The Tennessee Williams Festival Writers Workshop is a one-day writer’s workshop and manuscript critiquing session at the Hotel Monteleone (214 Royal St.) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 3. Register by Oct. 1. Led by industry professionals, the workshops offer practical advice and feedback to help writers at all stages of development. Facilitators are editor Catherine Frank (young adult and children’s literature), novelist and memoirist Zachary Lazar (literary fiction), novelist Bev Marshall (contemporary fiction) and novelist/
biographer Chris Wiltz (fiction and creative nonfiction). Classes are limited to 10 people, each of whom will provide a writing sample. Reason to go: Get that writing project to the next level. For info: www.tennesseewilliams.net or call 504-581-1144. The Jewish Book Festival features Jewish authors and books with Jewish-centric content. It takes place Nov. 4-10, primarily at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) Uptown (5342 St. Charles Ave.). Marc Tyler Nobleman appears at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, at the Goldring-Woldenberg JCC (3747 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie) for “Super Sunday with Superheroes.” Novelist Amy Ephron appears at noon Thursday, Nov. 8, for the Booklover’s Luncheon, and author/ humorist Dan Zevin provides comic relief at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at the JCC Uptown. Octavia Books will hold a weeklong book fair that is open to the public. Reason to go: L’chaim to Jewish writing. For info and tickets: www.nojcc.org Words and Music: A Literary Feast in New Orleans is set for Nov. 28-Dec. 2. The guest of honor this year is Ernest Gaines, author of A Lesson Before Dying, the book for The Big Read event sponsored by Words and Music and Xavier University. Others on the program include Lawrence N. Powell, Freddi Williams Evans, John Shelton Reed, Rich Cohen, Lori Carlson, Oscar Hijuelos, Moira Crone, Sanem Ozdural, Jonathan Yardley and Marie Arana, Justin Torres, Carole DeSanti, Patty Friedmann, Ernest Hill, T.R. Pearson, Hal Clark, Rosary O‘Neill, John Biguenet, Michael Malon and Lucy Ferriss. Reasons to go: Great writers with sophisticated topics (“time travel to the past and future” is the theme), wonderful music and good contacts in the New York marketplace. Events are scheduled at various venues around the city. For info: www.wordsandmusic.org
SPECIAL EVENTS AND VISITORS The Dickens Fellowship of New Orleans gets underway from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at Metairie Park Country Day School’s Bright Library (300 Park Road, Metairie). Start with Great Expectations chapters one through six. The Fellowship intersperses lectures, book discussion and film screenings. Reasons to go: See how the classic
measures up for modern readers. You’ll be surprised. Have a cup of tea. For info: email dickensfellowship@mpcds.com Happy Birthday, Mr. Faulkner! celebrates William Faulkner’s special day at 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at 624 Pirate’s Alley, the house where he wrote his first novel, Soldiers’ Pay, in 1925. The event will feature John Shelton Reed, who wrote Dixie Bohemia: A French Quarter Circle in the 1920s; and Luna Press, a collaboration between husband-and-wife team Dalt Wonk and Josephine Sacabo, and Luna Press’ first book Nocturnes. The event is free, but make reservations now. Reason to go: Fun in one of the French Quarter’s greatest literary landmarks For info: email Faulkhouse@aol.com Award-winning poet Sharon Olds is the Florie Gale Arons poet at Tulane University. Olds will read from her new book Stag’s Leap at 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Freeman Auditorium at the Woldenberg Art Center (Tulane University, Willow Street entrance). Reason to go: Olds has mercilessly, unflinchingly plumbed her personal life in this revelatory collection of poems about the dissolution of her marriage. For info: www.tulane.edu/newcomb The Women’s National Book Association of New Orleans sponsors an appearance by mystery novelist Attica Locke at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Newcomb College Center for Research on Women (62 Newcomb Place). Locke’s new book, The Cutting Season, is set in Louisiana. Reasons to go: Get info about starting reading groups and reading group suggestions. Meet the book women of our city, hear a wonderful mystery writer, jumpstart your reading group. For info: Check out the association’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Womens-National-BookAssociation-of-New-Orleans. Humorist David Sedaris (Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Naked, When You Are Engulfed in Flames and Squirrel Meets Chipmunk) appears Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the McAlister Auditorium at Tulane University (6823 St. Charles Ave.). His new book, Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls, won’t be out until spring 2013, but he’ll discuss new material and will sign books after. Reason to go: David Sedaris. All new. For tickets: www.ticketmaster.com