Readers
love to meet book authors. In this region, a nearby appearance frequently provides
the opportunity to buy an autographed book and exchange a few words with
favorite authors. Novelists David Mitchell and Joe Hill (author-son of Stephen
King) stopped in at Porter Square Books during September. Colm Toibin appears
Oct. 16 at Brookline Booksmith and John Connolly will be at Jabberwocky in
Newburyport on Nov. 5. Garth Stein comes to Porter Square Books Nov. 15. You'll
have to get friendly with the MBTA, but there are plenty of literary events to
attend in this area.
Next
month, I'll list new and noted authors from New England who say they'll gladly
Skype or otherwise meet with book clubs. This month, however, two big regional
events offer multiple opportunities to indulge in author meetings.
First
is Boston's own verrry biiggg book
show, the Boston Book Fest, Oct. 23-25.
Literally
scores of authors in many subject areas and genres will read, debate, teach and
speak during the festival—most of which remains free to the public around
Copley Square. Included are journalists, illustrators, and such well-known
writers and personalities as: WBUR's Tom Ashbrook; Boston Globe columnist Alex
Beam; Dan Chiasson; gaming author Ethan Gilsdorf; romance-mystery writer Marian
Lanouette; Christopher Lydon; "Wicked" author Gregory Maguire;
"You Are Not Special" author David McCullough Jr.; author and AGNI
fiction editor William Giraldi; children's author Laura Godwin; authors Steve
Almond, Claire Messud, Sue Miller, Kate Flora, Jennifer Haigh, Susan Minot,
E.B. Moore, ZZ Packer, Chris Raschka, Meg Wolitzer and many, many more. For a complete listing, go to its website.
The
festival is held in churches, small auditoriums and the Boston Public Library,
all of them around Copley. A book fair occupies the square, with many displays
and offerings from publishers, printers, schools, etc. There are also musical
and reading activities for children.
Special
guests include historian/biographer Doris Kearns Goodwin (also from Concord),
who is keynote speaker. Young Adult adventure writer Rick Riordan will be
speaking, as well as novelist/short story writer Susan Minot, world-class
architect Normal Foster and internationally famed jazz pianist Herbie Hancock
(newly, a memoirist).
"One
City One Story," the festival's group short story selection, is
"Sublimation" this year, written by Jennifer Haigh. She will be on
hand for the discussion of her story, now being distributed free at coffee
shops and other locations throughout the Boston area (including the library).
Follow
the festival website for details (www.bostonbookfest.org). Volunteers are
welcome, by the way, and contributions are appreciated.
The Concord Festival of Authors lasts between Oct. 16 and Nov. 2.
Activities
begin with the first Festival Forum—"Countdown: Our Last Best Hope for a
Future on Earth?"—featuring Alan Weisman, author of "The World
Without Us," at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 16 in the Harvey Wheeler Center, Concord. ;
MIT Professor Emeritus Noam Chomsky ("On Western Terrorism") is the
last of three forum speakers. Second is Walden Woods Project hosting Marc
Dunkelman, author of "The Vanishing Neighbor"—about the disappearance
of American community.
As
there are many different events and locations, please refer to the festival
website, www.concordfestivalofauthors.com.
Events
include a panel on "true crime" writing; an award presentation to best-selling
author Nathaniel Philbrick ("Mayflower," "Bunker Hill,"
"The Last Stand" and "In the Heart of the Sea"); a panel of
new authors; David McCullough Jr. (son of noted historian David McCullough),
author of "You Are Not Special: And Other Encouragements"; a panel
about how to publish your first book; fiction and nonfiction author Ann Hood
("An Italian Wife," "The Knitting Circle," "Comfort: A
Journey Through Grief"). There are numerous events, most of them free.
Finally,
paranormal pleasures: There is an unusual event planned for Nov. 5 in Hartford,
Conn. Novelist Anne Rice ("Interview with a Vampire") and her son,
paranormal thriller writer Christopher Rice ("A Density of Souls,"
"The Heavens Rise") will appear at the Hartford Stage, 50 Church St.,
at 7 p.m., sponsored by the Mark Twain House & Museum. Anne Rice has
returned to gothic writing and has a new novel, "Prince Lestat." Cost
is $35 to the public. Go to HartfordStage.org for details.
