Story Week f'ing Festival of Writers!
I am SO SO SO excited for next week, like, three SO's worth! Story Week is one of my favorite times of the year--the Fiction Department at Columbia College brings in writers, agents and editors from all over for a week of readings, conversations and panel discussions (all free and open to the public) which culminates with Literary Rock and Roll at the Metro, which, in my opinion, is consistently the best reading I've ever attended, fun and shocking and thought-provoking and did I say FUN? Readings should be FUN! (Dear Dorothy Allison: that reading you did a few years ago at Literary Rock and Roll made me wet myself. It was, like, HOT. You made a READING sexy. I rushed home after that reading to have sex which is usually not what literature inspires but, by God, you'll change all that, won't you? You are my total idol). This year it features Junot Diaz (drool), ZZ Packer (drool drool), Aimee Bender (I want to BE her) and Hillary Carlip, a writer/performer who publishes Fresh Yarn (LOVE me some Fresh Yarn. Best personal narrative stuff I've read).
This year, I'm going to throw Caleb in the ergobaby and we're going to check some of this stuff out (Dear Caleb please be good and let your mom stay through Aimee Bender's whole reading), except he'll probably stay home and play video games with dad while mom goes to the Metro. I've gone to this show every year and all sorts of shenanigans not befitting a baby go down there, which I know 'cause I've taken part in some.
AND this year, and Ohmygosh this is so awesome I can't even deal, 2nd Story is opening Story Week with a free ALL AGES show THIS SUNDAY at Martyr's. I'll be reading along with Jeff Oaks, Sheree Grier and Bobby Biedrzycki, with music by dj white russian. This will be my first show and FIRST NIGHT OUT since Caleb, which means I will probably read, have half a drink and go home before I leak milk all over myself.
(was that too much? That leaking milk thing? Did I push it too far there?)
I'd love love love to see you all (three loves worth of love!)!
More information including schedules, location, bios, etc. is here.
Comments
Does this mean I'll actually see you this coming week? Yippee!
I'll be reading on Monday a the part time faculty reading.
I'll probably be bringing my kids on Thursday night, too. So, we can pack off the baby with Grace (a well-trained babysitter) and make them go sit across the street and have some hot dogs and you can have a half-hours worth of shenanigans.
Oh, like you'd let him out of your sight. Nevermind! ;)
Posted by: Viki | March 14, 2008 2:33 PM
holy crap. i'm leaving for japan on thursday a.m. and i am going to miss all this awesomeness!!!!!!!!!!!
i mean: yay japan! boo timing!
have an awesome time, dude! and write it up afterward so i can "hear" those readers vicariously!!!
Posted by: carolyn | March 17, 2008 8:30 AM
I'm sad that I missed you at story week! I only had time to go to a couple events, the one Wednesday night at Columbia and the one at the Metro on Thursday, but they were awesome.
Also, after the Metro show I went up to ZZ Packer and asked for an interview and she said YES and then the following morning I had a one-on-one interview with her! And I didn't forget to ask about her writing process. ;)
Posted by: Dana | March 25, 2008 10:47 PM