Michael Colford, Conference Co-Chair for this week's events, with a look at tomorrow's kick-off day of the 2009 MLA Conference, "Renew, Refresh, Sustain." After an inspiring pre-conference on Advocacy, we're expecting an eager crowd, raring to go early tomorrow morning. But with the likes of David Lee King, Patricia A. McKillip, Laurie R. King, Maureen Sullivan, Thrity Umrigar, Bill Harley, Sarah Beth Durst, Lynda Barry, Bill Harley, and Elizabeth Thomsen among the many competing interests, what should you make sure you see?
Well, I can't really help you with that one. Fortunately we've got things nicely arranged in tracks, so if you're interested in Books & Reading, you'll want to catch The Publisher Round-Up and Book Buzz, Author Panel 1: Conference Co-Chair's Favorites (which I highly recommend), Author Panel 2: Different Ways of Storytelling, and Writers Live! Libraries Bringing Authors and Readers Together. Similarly, if your library is starting to think of (or in the midst of) a building project, you'll want to spend the day immersed in the Library Construction: What You Need to Know track. Of course, how can you go wrong when Massachusetts Experts (Ten of them!) Share Top Technology Trends or Becoming a Resonant Leader with Maureen Sullivan? You're just lucky this blog is here, because if you have to miss a program, some diligent blogger will be sure to report in right here with all the salient points of the program you have to miss.
Of course, if you're really lucky, you have a ticket to tomorrow night's sold out dinner at the D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, and conversation with Pulitzer-Prize winning novelist Michael Cunningham. The bus leaves at 5:30 in front of the Convention Center. If you're not lucky, you can at least join the fun after dinner at the President's Reception and the Youth Services Section's Annual Gaming Night. See you tomorrow!
Showing posts with label authors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label authors. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Book Buzz
Nancy Pearl moderated a lively discussion with 3 talented authors. The session was formated around the questions we all want to ask our favorite authors.
Q: What are you reading?
Various answers include: Hold Tight by Harlen Coben, Without a Map by Meredith Hall, Red Breast by Jo Nesbo, One Drop by Bliss Boyard, The Nine by Jeffery Toobin,as well as various works by Peter Gomes, and Denise Mina. There seemed to be a major concentration for nonfiction.
Q: Who is your ideal reader?
A giggle was elicited by the comment: a reader who buys the book! In actuality the best readers are involved, informed, and active in learning more about the story and characters.
Q: What is your writing process like?
The authors mentioned that the story comes as a surprise even to them as it unfolds. Some mentioned listening to the voices (inside their heads)of the story. Medwed told the audience about becoming a master eavesdropper in order to add to the voices of her characters.
Q: If you could change one thing about the publishing world what would it be?
Medwed: That the book is what matters, not author looks, not marketability
Page: Publishers are not giving enough chances to new authors
Barnes: Eliminate franchising
Q: If a reader asked for books like yours, who would you recommend?
Medwed: Elinor Lipman, Steve McCauley, Tom Parotta,
Barnes: Michael Connolly Laurie King
Page: Valerie Wilson, Margaret Maron, Robert Barnard, Craig Rice
Q: Why is humorous fiction not taken seriously?
They are considered “light”
People think without serious issues the book is not worthwhile
Q: How do you feel about having your books categorized into specific genres?
Like being sent to the children's table at dinner. It was a general consensus that in order to open up the library's collection to all patrons,we should not house books by genre. Watch out I think there might be a wave of change. Nancy Pearl even mentioned eliminating the Dewey system from libraries.
Q: What are you reading?
Various answers include: Hold Tight by Harlen Coben, Without a Map by Meredith Hall, Red Breast by Jo Nesbo, One Drop by Bliss Boyard, The Nine by Jeffery Toobin,as well as various works by Peter Gomes, and Denise Mina. There seemed to be a major concentration for nonfiction.
Q: Who is your ideal reader?
A giggle was elicited by the comment: a reader who buys the book! In actuality the best readers are involved, informed, and active in learning more about the story and characters.
Q: What is your writing process like?
The authors mentioned that the story comes as a surprise even to them as it unfolds. Some mentioned listening to the voices (inside their heads)of the story. Medwed told the audience about becoming a master eavesdropper in order to add to the voices of her characters.
Q: If you could change one thing about the publishing world what would it be?
Medwed: That the book is what matters, not author looks, not marketability
Page: Publishers are not giving enough chances to new authors
Barnes: Eliminate franchising
Q: If a reader asked for books like yours, who would you recommend?
Medwed: Elinor Lipman, Steve McCauley, Tom Parotta,
Barnes: Michael Connolly Laurie King
Page: Valerie Wilson, Margaret Maron, Robert Barnard, Craig Rice
Q: Why is humorous fiction not taken seriously?
They are considered “light”
People think without serious issues the book is not worthwhile
Q: How do you feel about having your books categorized into specific genres?
Like being sent to the children's table at dinner. It was a general consensus that in order to open up the library's collection to all patrons,we should not house books by genre. Watch out I think there might be a wave of change. Nancy Pearl even mentioned eliminating the Dewey system from libraries.
Nancy Pearl: Book Buzz 2008
Katherine Hall Page, Linda Barnes and Mameve Medwed. For more information you might want to visit the author's website linked to her name.
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