Archive for the ‘Theme’ Category
Michigan Daily says BookFest showcases local entrepreneurs
Saturday, September 10th, 2011
The Michigan Daily in the Friday, September 9 issue gave some kudos to the annual Kerrytown BookFest event which is in its 9th year. Read more here.
Kerrytown panelist D.E. Johnson hits the road again
Sunday, September 4th, 2011
Kalamazoo mystery author D. E. Johnson will showcase his second book, “Motor City Shakedown”, at the Kerrytown BookFest Sunday September 11. The book features Will Anderson and his ex-fiancee Elizabeth Hume as they delve into a murder that shakes up the nascent auto industry in 1906 Detroit. Johnson’ first historical thriller, “The Detroit Electric Scheme”, was named a Michigan Notable Book and was featured on a segment of the Jay Leno Car Show.
The author will moderate a distinguished panel of writers who use Michigan as an important element in their writing helping to create a unique sense of place. Other authors on the panel are University of Michigan professor and author and poet Laura Kasishcke (“Eden Springs”); Bonnie Jo Campbell, National Book Award Finalist for “American Salvage” and author of the blockbuster “Once Upon a River; Michigan Court of Appeals Judge William C. Whitbeck (“To Account for Murder” and Michael Federspeil (“Picturing Hemingway’s Michigan”). All the authors have won Michigan Notable Book Awards.
Johnson also will be appearing at the Old Car Festival at Greenfield Village in Dearborn on Saturday September 10.
Michigan Notable Book Award Winners highlighted at Kerrytown
Friday, September 2nd, 2011
Jaimy Gordon
Michigan Notable Book Authors will be in abundance for the 9th Annual Kerrytown BookFest September 11 at the Ann Arbors Farmers Market in downtown Ann Arbor. Two Michigan Notable Book Award winners Doug Stanton, who is the founder of the National Writers Series in Traverse City, and National Book Award Winner will be featured in a main tent presentation with Stanton interviewing Gordon.
One panel discussion, “Michigan Voices”, is made up exclusively of Michigan Notable Book Award Winners. The panel of four writers, moderated by historical fiction writer and Notable winner D.E. Johnson of Kalamazoo Michigan author of the “Detroit Electric Scheme”, will discuss how Michigan and its unique locales, peoples and places contribute to the richness of their novels.
Other panelists will discuss how their work is dramatically influenced by Michigan. University of Michigan author and poet Laura Kasishcke brings both the voice of prose and poetry to her award winning historical novella “Eden Springs” centered in Benton Harbor; Bonnie Jo Campbell, National Book Award Finalist for “American Salvage” and author of the blockbuster “Once Upon a River”, set on Michigan waterways, will explain what attracts her to Michigan-centric settings and; Michael Federspeil will talk about how Hemingway was profoundly influenced by the summers he spent in Michigan. Federspiel won a 2011 Michigan Notable Book Award for “Picturing Hemingway’s Michigan”.
Finally, William C. Whitbeck and D.E. Johnson will add to the mix with their extensive knowledge of Michigan history which is showcased in their books. Whitbeck’s “To Account for Murder” is set in postwar Michigan and is a legal thriller based on the actual assassination of a Michigan Senator by the infamous Purple Gang. Johnson sets his novels in Detroit during the heyday of the early automotive history weaving real characters into an atmospheric murder mystery.
Other Michigan Notable Book Award Winners at Kerrytown this year are the National Book Award Winner Jaimy Gordon (“Lord of Misrule”) of Western Michigan University; M.L. Liebler (“Working Words”); Doug Stanton author of “Horse Soldiers” (about a unique group of soldiers who rode horses to victory in Afghanistan following 9-11) and “In Harm’s Way”; John Gallagher, a Detroit Free Press writer who wrote “Reimaging Detroit” which looks at what it will take to create a smaller, but more vibrant city.
Michigan Humanities Council a major sponsor of the 2011 BookFest
Thursday, September 1st, 2011
Kerrytown Ann Arbor
Kerrytown BookFest will host its 9th annual festival on Sunday, Sept. 11 at the farmer’s market in downtown Ann Arbor, featuring a National Book Award winner, Caldecott winner and an Edgar Award winner. This event is made possible in part by a $4,000 Michigan Humanities Council major grant.
“The Kerrytown BookFest has established a great track record for attracting amazing talent that you don’t want to miss, especially if you are trying to find that next great page-turner to read,” said Katie Wolf, executive director of the Michigan Humanities Council.
“We look forward to supporting this event and the enthusiasm it generates for all things that have to do with great books and Michigan — the authors, the publishers and the readers. Michigan is emerging as the home to world-class authors, publishers and a growing number of ‘must attend’ literary events like Kerrytown, drawing readers from nearby and afar. The Michigan Humanities Council is committed to making that reputation even stronger by supporting programs and events like Kerrytown BookFest.”
This year’s theme of “Michigan Voices” will highlight various individuals and groups, past and present, which make Michigan history, literature and publishing unique. Various activities will kick-off at 11 a.m. and continue throughout the early evening.
Kerrytown BookFest 2010
This BookFest will provide activities for all ages and genre readers, with visits from Mother Goose, an author-led sing-along, discussions on marketing for book artists, and facilitated conversations with award-winning authors. Some of the planned discussions include:
“Michigan Voices: A Sense of Place:” A diverse group of authors who write about Michigan in numerous ways will come together to discuss their books and knowledge of Michigan. The discussion will be led by a writer of historical fiction, D.E. Johnson. (2 p.m. in the Main Tent).
“Science Fiction Voices:” Moderator David Arnsdorf will lead a discussion with a variety of science fiction writers, including Jim C. Hines, Steve Pizik, David Erik Nelson and Carrie Harris. (3 p.m. in the Main Tent).
“Working Voices:” This discussion will feature a diverse group of authors who write about the world of the working men and women. M.L. Liebler, a poet and author, will be joined by writer Jeff Vande and poet Ken Meisel. This discussion will be led by author Lolita Hernandez. (Noon at the Concert House).
The market is located at 410 N. Fourth Avenue in Ann Arbor and admission to this event is free. For a complete event schedule, please visit www.kerrytownbookfest.org. For more information, call (734) 669-0451.
About the Michigan Humanities Council
The Michigan Humanities Council is a private, nonprofit organization created to foster a better understanding of each other and our state through local cultural, historical and literary experiences for all. The Council was founded in 1974 and is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities and individual donors. For more information on future programs, upcoming grant opportunities or how you can support these efforts, please visit www.michiganhumanities.org or call (517) 372-7770.