Thursday, April 8, 2010

Books for NY Schools this Saturday at The Center for Fiction

The Center for Fiction is hosting Books for NYC Schools this Saturday, April 10! In an earlier post, I blogged about The Center for Fiction.



There are plenty of events for adults

11:30am
Reading and Q&A with Jamaica Kincaid
The revered novelist and journalist reads from her novel, Annie John, about a young girl growing up in Antigua, Kincaid’s home country. This beloved book has reached a vast audience of young people and adults over the fourteen years it has been in print, and Kincaid will answer questions about the creation and what the book means to her now.


12:30pm
The Futility of Interviewing Musicians with Craig Marks, Rob Sheffield, Touré, Jody Rosen and Rob Tannenbaum
Marks (editor in chief of Billboard magazine) leads Tannenbaum (fresh from his news-making Playboy interview with Jon Mayer), Sheffield (contributing editor to Rolling Stone and author of Love is a Mix Tape), Toure (journalist and television host of Fuse TV’s Hip Hop Shop) and Rosen (music critic for Slate) through the whys, why nots, and what-the-heck-just-happeneds of interviewing rock stars.


1:30pm
Sci-Fi: Intergalactic Adventures with Kurt Andersen, Rick Moody, and N.K. Jemisen
Literary giants Andersen and Moody might not be the first names that come to mind when ones thoughts turn to sci-fi, but as it turn out they are not just fans, but practitioners. Andersen reads from a short story to be included in a sci-fi collection edited by Neil Gaiman, and Moody reads from his upcoming Four Fingers of Death, while N.K. Jemisen, whose Hundred Thousand Kingdoms has been termed by Publishers’ Weekly in a starred review, “edge of your seat scary, with plenty of funny, scary and bittersweet twists.”

How to Get Published with Judy Hottensen, Ira Silverberg and Sara Nelson
The book publishing industry is reeling, print may or may not be dead, and aspiring authors are left to wonder whether it might be a better idea just to use that 900-page unpublished manuscript for kindling or tweet it every two minutes for the next 50 years. Hottensen, publisher of Weinstein Books and ReadThis board member, guides the discussion with Ira Silverberg, the influential literary agent from Sterling Lord Literistic; and Sara Nelson, books director of O magazine, former editor in chief of Publishers Weekly, and ReadThis board member on the tips of how to get your book in print.

Instant Writer Workshop with Darcey Steinke and Rene Steinke
Do you have 45 minutes? These acclaimed novelists (and ReadThis co-founders) will take you through an experiment with fiction writing. Darcey Steinke is the author of Suicide Blonde, Easter Everywhere, and Milk, and Rene Steinke is the National Book Award nominated writer of Holy Skirts.


2:30pm
Panel Discussion: Writing About Money: The Reporters -with Hugo Lingren, Michael Hudson, and Dean Starkman
The U.S. is just scrambling its way out from under the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression and we’re still trying to figure out what happened and who caused it. Lindgren, executive editor of
Businessweek, award-winning reporter Hudson, author of the upcoming The Monster: How a Gang of Predatory Lenders and Wall Street Bankers Fleeced America – and Spawned a Global Crisis, and Starkman, a longtime investigative reporter for the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal and the editor of Audit, take your questions and talk about how writing about money has educated them about human nature.


Instant Writer Workshop with Darcey Steinke and Rene Steinke
Do you have 45 minutes? These acclaimed novelists (and ReadThis co-founders) will take you through an experiment with fiction writing. Darcey Steinke is the author of Suicide Blonde, Easter Everywhere, and Milk and Rene Steinke is the National Book Award nominated writer of Holy Skirts.


3:00pm
Q&A with Elizabeth Gilbert
Special terms of entry–read the information in the blue panel to the right to find out more on how to reserve a seat. (This event repeats at 4:30pm)
Her Eat, Pray, Love is 163 weeks into its residency on the New York Times best-seller list. Her new work, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage, is keeping it company. For 45 minutes, Gilbert (a ReadThis board member) answers questions for an intimate audience of just over 100 people. Be one of them by clicking on the link and buying a few books for selected schools that need enough copies to teach the titles in the classroom. A good cause, a good chance to ask Elizabeth Gilbert: “What’s it like to have Julia Roberts play you in a movie?”


3:30pm
Panel Discussion: Writing About Money, the Novelists with Jonathan Dee, Adam Haslett, and Martha McPhee
Man Against Man, Man Against Nature…How about Man Against the Federal Reserve? These critically acclaimed writers have recently penned novels set in the world of financial privilege and power. Dee (The Privileges), Haslett (Union Atlantic), and McPhee (Dear Money) talk with Lindgren (executive editor of Businessweek) about what they learned about money while writing about human nature. They will be joined by the financial reporters from the 2:30 p.m. Money Panel.

Instant YA Writers Workshop with Natalie Standiford and Bennett Madison
Ever wonder if you have what it takes to write for teens? Or just want to understand your own teen better? Then attend this 45-minute session with Standiford (author of the popular How To Say Goodbye in Robot and co-founder of ReadThis) and Madison (author of The Blonde of the Joke) for a few hands-on tips of creating stories that get to the hearts of young readers.


4:30pm
Q&A with Elizabeth Gilbert
Special terms of entry – read the information in the blue panel to the right to find out more on how to reserve a seat. (For event details: see 3:00pm)


Reading and Q&A with Sam Lipsyte
Sam Lipsyte’s dark and hilarious new novel, The Ask, is splitting the sides of critics nationwide and accruing a huge—and deeply deserved-- fan base in just its first months on the shelves. A recent rave review in the New York Times’s Sunday Book Review, exclaimed, “Let’s read Lipsyte and rejoice.” Join Lipsyte, one of the best readers in America, for what promises to be a highlight of the day.

There are activities for kids as well:

11:30am
Children’s Book Reading with Veronica Chambers and Miriam Cohen Chambers, author of Double Dutch: A Celebration of Jump Rope, Rhyme and Sisterhood, among other titles, reads from her picture book, Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa, about the rise of the salsa star from the streets of Havana.
Cohen, an avid champion of the rights of children, will read from a few of her picture books that showcase young people whose positive spirits turn adversity into something constructive. Collaborating with illustrator Lillian Hoban, Cohen has penned the "First-Grade Friends" picture-book series, among dozens of other titles.

Make Your Own Book with Ruth Root, Rebecca Odes, and Cameron Martin
Sure, your kid has done craft projects before, but how many times have they worked side by side with an artist whose work has hung in the Whitney? These distinguished artists have devised the project and provide hands-on guidance for your young artist to create a book or bookmark.

Children’s Writing Workshop with Sam Swope (ages 7-13)
The author of The Araboolies of Liberty Street and I Am Pencil takes children through the story-writing paces. This is a hands-on, pencils-up, 45-minute session which will take your child a little further toward becoming a writer.

Screening of the short children's film, Lost and Found
“Nothing short of stunning”–The Times in London calls this film adaptation of Oliver Jeffers' children's story of the same name. Narrated by Jim Broadbent, the animated film trails the tested friendship of a boy and the loyal penguin who appeared one day on his doorstep.


12:30pm
Children’s Book Reading with Tad Hills and Fran Manushkin
Tad Hills, the author and illustrator of the popular Duck and Goose series, and Fran Manushkin, the author of 17 books for children, including Baby, Come Out! and the Katie Woo series, read from their work and answer questions from curious little readers.

Make Your Own Book with Ruth Root, Rebecca Odes, and Cameron Martin
Sure, your kid has done craft projects, but how many times have they worked side by side with an artist whose work has hung in the Whitney? Distinguished artists Ruth Root, Rebecca Odes, and Cameron Martin provide hands-on guidance for your young artist to create a book or bookmark.

Young Adult Spectacular: Cecily Von Ziegesar (Gossip Girl), Scott Westerfeld (Uglies, Leviathan), Bennett Madison (The Blonde of the Joke) and Justine Larbalestier (Liar)
What is it like to watch your bestselling book series become a hit TV show? How do you create an alternate universe? With work ranging in subject matter from steampunk to rich kids to compulsive liars to shoplifting, this is said to be the Golden Age of Teen Fiction. Hear four fascinating YA stars read from their books and ask them what you really want to know.


1:30pm
Children’s Book Reading with Bob Morris and Elise Broach
You may know Morris best from his long-running New York Times etiquette column or his hilarious memoir about overseeing his geriatric father’s dating life, Assisted Loving, but he is also the ukulele-playing author of the children’s book, Crispin the Terrible. He plays and reads for kids, along with Elise Broach, the author of the popular book Wet Dog, as well as Time magazine’s #1 children’s book of 2007, When Dinosaurs Came With Everything.

Make Your Own Book with Ruth Root, Rebecca Odes, Roe Etheridge, and Pilita Garcia
Sure, your kid has done craft projects, but how many times have they worked side by side with an artist whose work is shown at Gagosian and Kreps? Distinguished artists Root, Odes, Ethridge and Garcia provide hands-on guidance for your young artist to create a book or bookmark.


2:30pm
Children's Book Reading and Signing with Sam Swope
The author of The Araboolies of Liberty Street and I Am Pencil reads to children from his books and answers their questions about his characters and how he writes such riveting tales.

Make Your Own Book with Ruth Root, Rebecca Odes, Roe Etheridge, and Pilita Garcia
Sure, your kid has done craft projects, but how many times have they worked side by side with an artist whose work is shown at Gagosian and Kreps? Distinguished artists Root, Odes, Ethridge and Garcia provide hands-on guidance for your young artist to create a book or bookmark.


3:30pm
Children’s Book Reading With Brian Floca: To the Moon!
Michael Collins, the Command Module Pilot for Apollo 11 has said of Floca’s book, “Reading Moonshot gave me the feeling I was back up in space.” And now, without suffering the ill effects of zero gravity, your little ones can get the feeling too. Floca reads from his books and answers every out-of-this-world question for your kids.

Make Your Own Book With Ruth Root, Rebecca Odes, Chris Doyle and Jeff Quinn

Sure, your kid has done craft projects, but how many times have they worked side by side with an artist whose work has been projected on the whole side of a building at Columbus Circle? Distinguished artists Root, Odes, Doyle and Quinn provide hands-on guidance for your young artist to create a book or bookmark.


4:30pm
Make Your Own Book With Ruth Root, Rebecca Odes, Chris Doyle and Jeff Quinn
Sure, your kid has done craft projects, but how many times have they worked side by side with an artist whose work has been projected on the whole side of a building at Columbus Circle? Distinguished artists Root, Odes, Doyle and Quinn provide hands-on guidance for your young artist to create a book or bookmark.


For the complete schedule or to learn more, call 212-755-6710 or visit The Center for Fiction's website at http://centerforfiction.org/booksfornyckids Or visit The Center for Fiction to see for yourself!

Interested? Sign up!

The price of entry is a donation of at least 2 new or gently used books (grades K-12). For the list of recipient organizations or to learn more about donating, visit the Center for Fiction's Books for NYC Schools page.

The Mercantile Library Center for Fiction
17 East 47th Street, b/w 5th & Madison Aves
New York, NY 10017

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