Authors, Panels, Silverblatt Imitations
The LA Times has released its list of panels and authors for the upcoming Book Festival, to be held April 29th & 30th. I am sad to note that Christopher Hitchens is not attending, which means for the 2nd year in a row, I'll not have the opportunity to speak to him about something odd. Last year, it was to be sporks, but he canceled at the last minute, perhaps due to the foreknowledge that I was waiting for him in the green room with a bunch of spork talk. In years previous, I was able to engage the man in cheese talk, which I think both of us enjoyed, and my hope had been to take it to the next level by getting him to speak to me about odd cutlery, but, well, best laid plans, mice and men, all that.
The full list of panels looks pretty interesting (my panels & signings are all listed over on the sidebar under appearances) -- I even got a sample transcript of one panel:
Saturday 4:00 PM - Joyce Carol Oates in Conversation with Michael Silverblatt
Ackerman Grand Ballroom PANEL 1124
Interviewer Mr. Michael Silverblatt
Ms. Joyce Carol Oates
Michael: Joyce, in your uncompromising new novel you take a long look at what it means to be a woman, and by a woman, I mean not the opposite of man, but like a sister to man, a relative so innately close that it feels like, in some ways, we are nearly one, in that, I am reminded of a poem by Auden that says "shall I ever forget at the Grand Opera, when music poured out of each wonderful star," which, to me, says that man and woman are not unlike time, which, as a river, flows in a course not predicated on a system, but on a motion, and an emotion. Yes?
Joyce: Get me off of this fucking stage.
After the jump are a few other notables.
Saturday:
10:00 AM - Mystery: Straight Shooters
Dodd 147 PANEL 1011
Moderator Mr. Leslie Klinger
Mr. Rob Roberge
Ms. Barbara Seranella
Mr. John Morgan Wilson
I've seen Rob at 10am before and let me just say, odds are good he might call someone a fucking moron.
10:00 AM - Writers: Born or Bred?
Ackerman Grand Ballroom PANEL 1121
Moderator Ms. Barbara Isenberg
Mr. Greg Iles
Ms. Amy Tan
Mr. Scott Turow
I sort of love Scott Turow.
11:00 AM - Frank McCourt in Conversation with Mitch Albom
Royce Hall PANEL 1051
Interviewer Mr. Mitch Albom
Mr. Frank McCourt
"So, what part did you make up?" "And what part did you make up?"
11:30 AM - Mystery, Mayhem, & Murder
Dodd 147 PANEL 1012
Moderator Ms. Denise Hamilton
Mr. James Crumley
Mr. Thomas Perry
Ms. Paula Woods
You don't get much better than Thomas Perry in my book and seeing him with Crumley sounds very exciting...except that I'll be sitting in a booth signing books during that panel.
11:30 AM - Until It Hurts: Satirical Fiction
Moore 100 PANEL 1102
Moderator Ms. Patt Morrison
Mr. Seth Greenland
Mr. Colson Whitehead
Mr. Alan Zweibel
I'm a huge fan of Seth's and am a fairly large fan of Colson Whitehead, too...and I love Patt Morrison's hats...
1:00 PM - Joan Didion in Conversation with David Ulin
Royce Hall PANEL 1052
Interviewer Mr. David L. Ulin
Ms. Joan Didion
So, let's see: this is at the same time as the panel I'm on for short stories...so, yeah, Didion will be speaking to the crickets...
4:00 PM - Fiction: The Unknown Territory
Korn Convocation Hall PANEL 1074
Moderator Mr. Zachary Karabell
Mr. Bruce Bauman
Ms. Lisa See
Ms. Susan Straight
Ms. Amy Wilentz
A great and interesting group of fiction writers here, including the wonderful Susan Straight.
Sunday:
10:00 AM - First Fiction: Finding A Voice
Moore 100 PANEL 2101
Moderator Mr. Mark Rozzo
Ms. Lisa Fugard
Mr. Marlon James
Ms. Laila Lalami
Ms. Adrienne Sharp
Everyone's favorite Moorish Girl, Laila Lalami, along with nominees for the first fiction award.
11:30 AM - The Los Angeles Times 125th Anniversary Presents: The Sunday Funnies
Schoenberg Hall PANEL 2032
Moderator Ms. Elayne Boosler
Mr. Lalo Alcaraz
Mr. Berkeley Breathed
Ms. Cathy Guisewite
Mr. Jerry Scott
I might geek out a bit if I meet Brethed, the creator of Bloom County.
11:30 AM - To the Point: Short Stories
Korn Convocation Hall PANEL 2072
Moderator Mr. Scott Timberg
Mr. Gary Amdahl
Ms. Aimee Bender
Ms. Dana Johnson
Mr. Eric Puchner
I just finished Amdahl collection, Visigoth, and of course Aimee is always an engaging and intuitive panelist on the genre.
1:00 PM - Fiction: Heroic Storytelling
Korn Convocation Hall PANEL 2073
Moderator Ms. Fran Halpern
Ms. Julia Alvarez
Mr. Ben Ehrenreich
Ms. Yxta Maya Murray
Ben Ehrenreich gave me one of the very worst book reviews I've ever had, but, that said, I've heard good things about his debut, The Suitors, and have typically enjoyed his nonfiction in the LA Weekly...all of which sort of pisses me off.
3:00 PM - Fiction: L.A. Lit
Fowler Museum Lenart Auditorium PANEL 2064
Moderator Ms. Janet Fitch
Mr. Chris Abani
Mr. Steve Erickson
Ms. Michelle Huneven
Mr. Jim Krusoe
Not to be missed...unless, yeah, you're watching me at the same time, in which case it;'s okay.
Oh my God... I was drinking coffee when I read your Silverblatt transcript, and I think some came out my nose.
I'll be there, though probably working the whole time... see you at The Mystery Bookstore tent!
Posted by: Clair Lamb | March 28, 2006 at 06:04 AM
Christopher Hitchens conversational tips:
He HATES the name of Reagan airport.
He HATES soccer--bores him to tears
He LOVES Thomas Paine--look for his book this summer on Paine's "Rights of Man."
Forget sporks and cheese, that's the rock hard stuff from the contrarian's mouth. Trust me-- xxoo, tHB
Posted by: the happy booker | March 28, 2006 at 07:01 PM
I'd love to see JCO run off the stage. I wish you and Steve Erikson were speaking on the same topic. And Tod, is it the gay kind of man love you have for Scott Turow??? Thanks for making me laugh this morning. After a crappy start here at work, I needed it.:)
Posted by: Angela | March 29, 2006 at 11:26 AM