No Sleep ’til Brooklyn
Check this out. From February 27-March 3 the Association of Writers and Writing Programs are having their annual meeting in Atlanta for the first time. (For reasons known only to them, they’ve decided to go with the acronym AWP).
The guys at Wordsmith’s are planning a literary shindig to coincide with the conference. The pahr-tay begins with “a collection of some of Brooklyn’s most groundbreaking independent publishers, as they bring their cutting-edge authors to Decatur to discuss books, writing, the ins-and-outs of small press, and to party with the locals.” The authors reading at the event will include, Kwame Dawes, Jillian Weise, Aaron Petrovich, Alex Lemon, and Keith Lee Morriss. The reading/discussion will take place at the Decatur Library at 7PM on March 1. Afterwards, party with the Brooklyn-ese at a nearby watering hole whose location is being finalized. There is some discussion that a beer or two will be complimentary. But wait, there’s more…To help promote the event, Wordsmith’s is giving us a collection of books by selected authors who will be reading at the event. So here’s what we’re talking about:
- Free event.
- Free beer.
- Free books.
- And you can get your book signed by the author over a cold beer.
That’s a grand slam. I hate reading about cool literary events in other cities and wondering why we hardly ever have anything worthwhile happening in Atlanta. This is an actual event with actual bleeding-edge authors. Come on out and support the scene to encourage the organizers to put more things like this together.
Here’s the totally arbitrary way we’ll go about handing out our free books. To enter our contest for a free (no pay) book by one of the authors reading on March 1, tell us about your favorite novel set in Brooklyn and/or favorite Brooklyn author in the comments section. We’ll pick three names at random using our NIST-Certified random number generator. To make sure that we can contact you, please fill in the e-mail blank on the comment form (your e-mail will not be displayed on the site). Winners can pick up their books at the event. If you can’t make it or live out of town, I’ll get it signed for you and ship it along. I will also drink your beer.
Books, Happenings | Tim | 
February 20, 2007 7:00 am
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By Frank, February 20, 2007 @ 8:56 am
I have to go with “Motherless Brooklyn” by Jonathan Lethem. The detective-with-Tourette’s conceit is clever enough, but it’s also a great story and gorgeously written. “Fortress of Solitude” may be an even better Brooklyn book, but dammit, I haven’t found the time to read it yet. (Yes, I’m that many years behind.) Appropriately enough, I likely will be in New Jersey on March 1, so help yourself to my beer.
By Russ, February 20, 2007 @ 11:07 am
I have to second “Fortress of Solitude”-it leaves me wordless at “gorgeous”. And since the books for the giveaway are actually in a box right by the coffee maker here in the Wordsmiths Books office, I guess I’m effectively ineligible for my own giveaway.:)
By Dr J, February 20, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
I knew it. This “contest” was a transparent attempt to get people talking about The Fortress of Dorkitude again.
By Shaft, February 20, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Best Brooklyn novel? Four words for you: Gary. Benchley. Rock. Star.
By DJ Cayenne, February 20, 2007 @ 9:09 pm
Dr J: even you had to admit that the descriptions of Brooklyn in Fortress were fantastic. So I am counting your comment as an entry.
Shaft: How did I forget Gary Benchley: Rock Star? I fully expect you to turn up for free beer, free book or no.
By Beth (The Decatur One), February 20, 2007 @ 9:57 pm
Damn Frank and his beating me to it again! First Tilbrook, now Lethem. I’ll be at the library that night. Free beer? Impressive authors? And I can stumble home.
By Carla, February 22, 2007 @ 8:28 pm
I’m now reading a very old but no less great book by Betty Smith, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”. I realize its not cutting edge but its definitely a timeless tale with a detailed picture of a life in Brooklyn in the early 1900s. I love Francie.