2019 Schedule of Events
The principal inn for 2019 is Hotel Peter and Paul, a hot new boutique hotel complex of the 19th-century the de-commissioned and repurposed Catholic Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. Peter and Paul is a long walk or short pedicab or Lyft ride to Jackson Square and The Cabildo, our venue for registration and opening keynote sessions of the festival and is next to Faulkner House Books. Just a block from there is the Bourbon Orleans Hotel with its historic Quadroon Ballroom, where the festival luncheons will be held on September 25th and 27th.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
THE BIG READ
10:00 a. m. – New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Riverside, 2800 Chartres St.
The Faulkner Society’s Free Master Class for Students and Teachers, starring Tayari Jones, author of the novel Silver Sparrow, the focus book for the Society’s 2019 BIG READ. Ms. Jones gained overnight literary celebrity status with her new novel, An American Marriage, when it was selected by Oprah Winfrey for her Oprah’s Book Club.
1:00 p. m. – 4:45 p. m. — The Cabildo, Louisiana State Museum, at Jackson Square, Second Floor Note: The opening sessions are free and open to the public…but…advance RSVPs are mandatory.
Send RSVPs to faulkhouse@aol.com and to receive your pass admitting you to the museum without paying for museum admittance. Guests who have registered for the festival will receive an electronic pass to exchange for their permanent passes at the registration desk. Opening keynote sessions will be an introduction to three aspects of the humanities theme for 2019:
The American Experience in Literature & Life.
The sub-themes to be address on opening day will be:
The Immigrant Experience in Literature & Life
This session will feature New Orleans Performance Poet and Latino activist, Jose Torres-Tama.
The Afro-American Experience in Literature & Life
This session will feature Tayari Jones, whose new novel, An American Marriage, revolves
around the injustices of the American justice system. She will appear with Maurice Carlos Ruffin, whose 2019 debut novel, We Cast a Shadow, is about the lengths a black father will go to protect his son from falling victim to the same kind of injustices. They will be interviewed by Megan Holt, Director of One Book One New Orleans, a non-profit devoted to adult literacy.
The American Experience in Literature & Life As Faulkner Saw It
This session will feature Jay Parini, noted biographer and author of the most accessible and entertaining of the biographies about William Faulkner, One Matchless Life. He will be
introduced by author Joyce Blaylock, author of Adelicia, a historical novel about a feminist heroine who refused to be victimized by the Civil War.
Following these sessions, there will be a welcome party for registered writers, literary presenters, sponsors, and Faulkner Society board members.
5:30 to 7:30 p. m. — Faulkner House, 624 Pirate’s Alley
Welcome to New Orleans, the City that inspired William Faulkner To Write Good Fiction. Your hosts, Rosemary James & Joseph J. DeSalvo, who own Faulkner House, and with others
Co-Founded the Faulkner Society in 1990.
Evening Free to Enjoy New Orleans
Book Mart Sales
Books of festival presenters will be Available for Sale, Signing
Books for all presenters will be on Sale continuously September 24 through September 27 at Faulkner House Books, located in the room where William Faulkner wrote his first novel Soldiers’ Pay in 1925. The store is open 10 a. m. to 5:30 p.m. Festival guests presenting their passes will receive a 10 percent discount on all books by presenters and other new literature.
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Advice & Critiques
8:00 a. m. – Peter & Paul, the Church
Complimentary Continental Breakfast Available for Registered Guests of the Festival
8:45 a.m. – 9:45 —Peter & Paul, the Church
Advice Session for Writers and Readers: Getting the Place Right, Setting the Scene
Shari Stauch, well known literary marketing consultant and owner of Where Writers Win, will introduce one of the Faulkner Society’s long time friend in the publishing industry, noted literary agent Jeff Kleinman of Folio Lit, who will introduce his agent and editor colleagues in a discussion of the importance of place and scene-setting in creating successful literature of all genres. Joining him will be agents: Katherine Fausset, Kiele Raymond, and Cullen Stanley; and editors: Celina “Cindy” Speigel, Katie Raissian, and Ellie Davis. (For information about all of these literary professionals, CLICK HERE!)
10:15 a. m – Noon, Peter & Paul, Studio Lounge, Third Floor, the School Building
Manuscript critiques by agents and editors begin.
12:30 p. m. — Historic Quadroon Ballroom, Mezzanine, Bourbon Orleans Hotel
Happy Birthday, Mr. Faulkner Luncheon
The luncheon will feature our BIG READ star Tayari Jones. Ms. Jones will be introduced by former New Orleans First Lady Sybil Morial, author of the important non-fiction work, Witness to Change, a first person account of growing up in Jim Crow days. Prior to their appearances, the Faulkner Society will introduce the judges of the 2019 William Faulkner – William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition, who will present their winners.
3 p. m. to 4:30 p. m — Studio Lounge, Hotel Peter and Paul.
Manuscript Critique sessions will continue
5:30 p. m. — 9:30 p. m., Hotel Peter and Paul, the Church
Faulkner for All: The Wild Palms
5:30 p. m. – 6:15 p. m.
The 29th gala black tie annual meeting of the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society will begin with cocktails, including the signature Wild Palms Cocktail created especially for this evening, after our namesake’s New Orleans-inspired book conceived when he lived and worked at 624 Pirate’s Alley.
6:15 p. m. to 6:30 p. m.
Presentation of the Faulkner Society’s 2019 winners, parade of gold medalists, escorted by the judges.
6:30 p. m.
Presentation of the 2019 winners of the Society’s 2019 ALIHOT (A Legend In His/Her Own Time)
7:00 p. m.
Concert by Quinn Peeper and Michael Harold, members of the Society’s board and Co-Chairs of The Wild Palms celebration, performing music Faulkner would have heard when he was living and working in the Vieux Carre in the 1920s. And a tango performance like those seen in New Orleans when Faulkner lived here by Nell Nolan, the well-known Society columnist and former Carnival Queen.
7:30 p. m. — Buffet Dinner.
8:15 p. m. — “Faulkner in New Orleans,” a lighthearted monologue by Jay Parino, author of the marvelous Faulkner biography, One Matchless Life. Music for dancing by the New Orleans Ragtime Band led by Lars Edegran will begin at 8:30 p.m.
9:30 p. m. — Adjournment of Annual Meeting
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Advise and Critique
8:00 a. m. — Hotel Peter and Paul, The Church
Café au Lait & Croissants, Etc.
8:45 to 9:45 a. m. — Hotel Peter and Paul, The Church
Having Fun Solving Literary Mysteries and Getting Your Literary Research Right
Shari Stauch will introduce Jessie Morgan-Owens, scholar, educator, photographer, and author of the highly acclaimed new non-fiction book, Girl in Black and White, which examines hypocracy in the abolition movement of the Civil War era and Diane McPhail, artist, minister, and author of the compelling history, The Abolitionist’s Daughter, which approaches the movement from a different angle. They will explain how literary research can be a fun game, instead of drudgery, as it always involves solving intriguing mysteries. Following their presentations, participating agents will join in with comments on how important it is for writers to be diligent in their research.
10: 00 a. m. – 12:00 p. m. Hotel Peter and Paul, The Studio Lounge, Third Floor School House
Manuscript Critiques Continue
12:00 p. m. to 2:00 p. m.
Free Time to Enjoy the Restaurants of New Orleans!
2: 00 p.m — 3:15 p. m
Manuscript Critiques Continue
3:30 p. m. – Peter and Paul, The Church
The role of the Poet in American Life & Literature
Jessica Faust will discuss the role of the poet in American Life & Literature. Ms. Faust, Co-Editor and Poetry Editor of The Southern Review, will use examples of work published in the Southern Reveiw to demonstrate why these pieces are successful.
3:45 p. m. – 5:15 p. m. Peter and Paul, the Church
The role of the Poet in American Life & Literature continue with John Biguenet and Mark Yakich
taking up the subject as they present their new book about the work that has appeard in
The New Orleans Review. They will read from their work and ask others to read from theirs,
including former Louisiana Poet Laureate, Brenda Marie Osbey.
5:30 p. m. _ 8:00 p.m. Peter and Paul
The Road to Damascus
Cocktail Reception honoring and featuring Jay Parini.
8:00 p. m.
Free Evening to enjoy the restaurants and music of New Orleans
Friday, September 27, 2019
Advice & Critiques
8:00 a. m. – Peter & Paul, the Church
Complimentary Continental Breakfast Available for Registered Guests of the Festival
8:45 a.m. – 9:45 —Peter & Paul, the Church
Advice Session for Writers and Readers:
Selling Your Books to Publishers
Jeff Kleinman, literary agent, will lead participating editors Katie Raissian, Ellie Davis, and Cindy Speigel in a discussion of what it takes, once you have written your book, to get it published.
10:00 to Noon —Peter and Paul, Studio Lounge
Final Manuscript Critique
1:00 p. m. — Quadroon Ballroom, Bourbon Orleans Hotel
Thinking of Home Luncheon Lawrence Wells, whose late wife Dean Faulkner Wells was William Faulkner’s niece and adopted daughter, will introduce the new documentary on William Faulkner’s mother, Maud, other members of the Faulkner family and their homes in Oxford, MS. After the short film, Larry will introduce the new edition of The Cofield Collection, William Faulkner’s life
in photographs. Copies of this collector’s item, published by Larry’s Yoknapatawpha Press, will be available at the luncheon for sale.
3:00 p. m.
Festival Adjourns until 2020 and the 30th annual meeting of the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society.