Jan 4, 2008

"IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO TRY"

As promised, I have an announcement. (Ahem)

I think that wonderful things happen when you bring people together that have common interests. Or, slightly compatible interests. Since my first novel came out, I've traveled a lot and gone to many places and met a lot of people. I have gone to Atlanta and enjoyed meeting and talking and brainstorming with writers and publishers at Darren Wang's Decatur Book Festival. Then, I went to Omaha and enjoyed meeting and talking and brainstorming with writers and publishers at Timothy Schaffert's (Downtown) Omaha Lit Fest (Something is going on with that usually-beautiful site, but I'm sure it'll be back up shortly). Then, I went to New Orleans, and did the same at Paul J. Willis' Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. Then, I went back to Omaha and did it all again.

Somewhere, during all of that, I realized that these three festivals were more than something I enjoyed attending. There was something about the execution of these three festivals that I wanted to bring to Chicago. And, as I had this stuff all in my head in New Orleans last spring, I was standing outside watching a "Stellaaaa!"-shouting contest with Paul Willis and he turned to me suddenly and said, "Do you have any interest in curating a festival? You should. You'd be great." Two months later, I was sitting having fancy cocktails with Timothy Schaffert and I started to pick his brain, and, well...

Introducing Pilcrow Lit Fest. Brought to you by me.

There is a whole sea of things to say about it all coming together, filled with really helpful people that I brought in to help like Mommas Boy Design (to make things look beautiful as they come into being), like online/social/media shaker Leah Jones (to do all that stuff I just said), like Adam Deutsch of Ninth Letter (to organize his head off) and A Moveable Bit (to document the crap out of everything and then some). Just for starters.

It's going to be held May 22nd-25th all around the intersection of Belmont and Sheffield here in Chicago. You know, near where The Fixx is, where I host those readings every month. It all starts with the regularly scheduled Fixx reading on May 22nd, with very special guests Jami Attenberg and Katie Schwartz. And possibly another special guest, too. The rest of the weekend is a series of panel discussions, readings, lots of authors (local and from far away), a cocktail party or three, workshops, and ends on Sunday morning with an author brunch.

And, it's going to be really fun.

There is a blog, too.

You can be friends with us on Facebook.

So, that is the first of the big seven announcements of 2008. The Big Seven. Six to go.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Gutypoo. It's going to be RAD.

Strizz said...

Wow congrats! Is it bad I didn't even know you were an author?

Anonymous said...

AWESOME Amy! Maybe you should talk to Anne over at Bookbuds and creator of the Cybils.

http://dadtalk.typepad.com/book_buds_kidlit_reviews/

http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/

She's in Chicago and has previously expressed ideas regarding Chicago book festival.

Sizzle said...

that's so amazing! i wish i lived in chicago. you rock.

Anonymous said...

How exciting! I may even make a trip to Chicago for the event. Congratulations, Amy.

Anonymous said...

Well this is just super exciting! You are the hostess with the mostess.

Anonymous said...

Whooo Hoooo!! I am so excited for you and proud of you!! Yeah! Me and lil' Neptune will be there to soak up the literary greatness!

Katie Schwartz said...

Guthy, I am so EXCITED and so PROUD OF YOU! Pilcrow is going to be the greatest literary festival evah. I can't believe that I have the privilege of being a part of it. WOW. WOW. WOW.

PS: I hope this enthusiasm won't toss me into the #18 category on "HOW I LOVE ALL OF THE VERY SIMPLE THINGS OF LIFE"

Ha.

Mazel Tov, Bubbie.

EditorJDC said...

Gratz Amy!

I'm tagging you with my own personal meme - 5 things you regret and 5 things you don't

Just to learn more about you.

JDC

Joe said...

This is absolutely fabulous news. My youngest is eager to be your gopher. We can't wait!

J Rock said...

Sounds like fun!!!