NCSU Libraries Focus Online

Volume 24 number 2 - Winter 2004

By Laura Hudson, North Carolina Literary Festival

North Carolina, which boasts native-born writers such as O. Henry and Thomas Wolfe, has long been regarded as fertile soil for outstanding literary talent. It is no surprise, then, that three of the state's premiere academic institutions have joined forces to showcase contemporary southern writers through cosponsorship of the North Carolina Literary Festival. The 2004 event is scheduled from April 15 through 18 at NC State University. It was last held at UNC-Chapel Hill in April 2002, and the literary festival will be held at Duke University in 2006.

The writers who participate collectively represent the entire state as well as the southern region. The schedule is designed to appeal to a broad range of readers and age groups. To date, featured authors include Orson Scott Card (Robota), Karen Joy Fowler (Sister Noon), Silas House (A Parchment of Leaves), Jill McCorkle (The Cheerleader), Sharyn McCrumb (Ghost Riders), Robert Morgan (Gap Creek), Lee Smith (The Last Girls), Daniel Wallace (Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions), and Jay Wright (Transfigurations, Collected Poems).

Festivities begin Thursday, April 15, with an event featuring one of the foremost contemporary American writers, Alice Walker, who will kick off the festival with a special address. Walker, educated at Spelman College and Sarah Lawrence College and active in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, uses these and many other experiences to write her mesmerizing stories, poems, and essays, the most famous of which is The Color Purple.

On Friday evening, Dennis Lehane, author of Mystic River, will give the keynote address in Stewart Theater. His book, recently developed into a film by Clint Eastwood, won both the Anthony Award and the Barry Award for Best Novel as well as the Massachusetts Book Award in Fiction given by the Massachusetts Center for the Book.

Saturday and Sunday will offer opportunities to see and listen to favorite science fiction, poetry, mystery, short story, and children's books writers. Panels, discussions, interviews, readings, and book signings will satisfy the appetites of the most voracious readers. Several speakers are recipients of such literary honors as the Sir Walter Raleigh Award, the PEN Syndicated Fiction Award, the Academy of American Poets Lamont Prize, the Hugo and Nebula awards, Thomas Wolfe Literary Award, the World Storytelling Award, Guggenheim and Lyndhurst fellowships, and Notable Book awards from the New York Times.

As a land-grant institution, NC State is recognized for its extension service, community outreach, and partnerships. In fact, the festival underscores the breadth of partnerships necessary for a major festival to prosper. From intra-campus ventures to partnerships with literary-based agencies, writers, publishers, sponsors, bookstores, and volunteer groups, this unique event extends beyond academia into the literary community with the goal of inspiring and educating readers and writers alike. The festival's emphasis on literature is particularly timely given plans to unveil a Master of Fine Arts program by the Department of English in NC State's College of Humanities and Social Sciences in fall 2004. The festival offers a great opportunity for NC State to highlight the numerous accomplished writers who have graduated from the English department, many of whom will be reading at the festival.

Schedule highlights include many writers who are current faculty members at NC State. To date, the following faculty are participating in readings, panels, and discussions: Betty Adcock, John Balaban, Wilton Barnhardt, Gerald Barrax, Joseph Gomez, John Kessel, Lucinda Mackethan, Sheila Smith McKoy, Elaine Orr, and Thomas Regan.

Indeed, this is a delightful opportunity for writers to share their ideas and inspiration with readers. Rarely do so many prestigious writers convene in one place for the pure pleasure of discussing their latest works, character development, plot analysis, use of imagery, and the hurdles of publishing.

Most sessions will be held in auditoriums or classrooms around campus. However, many of the fun, outdoor activities will be centered on the Brickyard. These include performances, book signings and sales, children's activities, exhibitor stands, and food vendors.

The festival will introduce literature through a variety of formats. Best-selling authors Daniel Wallace (Big Fish) and Sarah Dessen (Someone Like You) will discuss their novels being adapted into screenplays. A special viewing of each of the movies will be shown in concert with Campus Cinemas.

Lee Smith (Fair and Tender Ladies) and Sharyn McCrumb (The Songcatcher) will showcase the successful marriage of music and literature, sharing excerpts from their writings with musical accompaniments. Clyde Edgerton will take center stage to read from his recently released novel Lunch at the Piccadilly. Audiences will be treated to his outrageous character readings, musical talents, and anecdotes from his writings.

The North Carolina Literary Festival is open to the public. There is no admission charge. Information is updated regularly on the official Web site at http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/nclitfest2004.