“Young King Authur: ‘What is the best thing to do when you’re down?’ Merlin: ‘The best thing of all is to learn something new’.” Camelot…
The Eighth Annual Newburyport Literary Festival will attract visitors from all over New England that appreciate the best of nonfiction, novels. poetry and the tight knit community of writers both published and aspiring. Friday night will highlight the opening ceremony and fundraising dinner with the authors.
Published authors will reach out to promote their works and guide hopeful writers in the best direction to find an agent or self publish. Get behind the scene insight into your favorite authors and how they birth and develop a story from start to finish.
See what a “Poetry Slam” is about. Young artists showcase the art of performance poetry to a panel of impromptu judges.
“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” — Victor Hugo
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” — Stephen King
“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive.” — James Baldwin
“When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young.” — Maya Angelou
“I cannot live without books.” — Thomas Jefferson
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Notes~
This was a very successful event with many segments filled to capacity. Junot Diaz could have been in an auditorium twice the size of the Firehouse. Perhaps a bigger venue for next year’s rock stars. Matthew Quick was both poignant and funny Friday night, showing why he was one of the most popular high school teachers at his school before finding the right story to bring him into the small group of today’s elite writers. Andre Dubus has really polished his performance skills and gave an excellent Q&A where he talked about being near the Boston Marathon this year. Read his article about it at Boston Magazine. See you all next year.
If you were not able to get in to see Matthew Quick or Junot Diaz this year take a look at their presentations below:
Matthew Quick Drexel interview on Silver Linings Playbook
WBGH Forum on immigration with Junot Diaz
Friday, April 26,
Opening ceremonies and Dinner with the authors. Matthew Quick the Massachusetts author of Oscsar winning Silver Linings Playbook will be honored.
Saturday, April 27,
Toby Lester, author of the nonfiction work Da Vinci’s Ghost will speak about his book that explores the life and work of Leonardo one of history’s most complex and fascinating figures.
Nichole Bernier reads from her debut novel The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D, a finalist for the 2012 New England Independent Booksellers Association fiction award. She has written for publications including Psychology Today, Salon, Health, Elle, Self, Redbook, Men’s Journal and Boston Magazine.
Christpher Bonanos speaks about his Book, Instant: The Story of Polaroid. Instant explores the company’s remarkable history from its first camera in 1948, its rise in popularity and adoption by artists such as Ansel Adams and Andy Warhol, its decline in the late 90s and the unlikely resurrection of the firm in the digital age.
Pulitzer prize winner Junot Diaz reads from his new collection of stories about love and longing, This is how you lose her.
Defending Jacob author William Landay speaks about his novel called one of the best books of 2012 by The Boston Globe, The Kansas City Star and Entertainment Weekly.
Be one of the first to hear Andre Dubus read from his upcoming book Dirty Love, a collection of linked novellas.
In Memoirs of a Rugby-Playing Man, best selling author Jay Atkinson describes his thirty five year career in the sport. From his rowdy days at the University of Florida to his current stint with the Vandals Rugby Club out of Los Angeles.
Holly Hughes delves into the current fascination with cooking in her Introduction to the Best Food Writing 2012.
Experience the fast paced competition of the Youth Poetry Slam, an annual tradition drawn straight from the heart of Chicago’s Green Mill. Defined as the art of competitive performance poetry, this modern oral tradition gives poets a limited amount of time to impress judges selected from the audience. This is a spontaneous and unedited art form.
Sunday, April 28,
Community Poetry Readings at the Firehouse 3pm-430
See the full list of events here !