Schedule By Topic

Poetry & Prose: Middle and High School Readings

Tue. March 17th, 2009 7:00 PM

Winners of the 2009 Poetry and Prose Competition for area Middle and High School students read aloud their compositions.

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Opening Ceremony: 15th Virginia Festival of the Book

Wed. March 18th, 2009 12:00 PM

Join us for a ceremonial start to the book festival, opening remarks by author Catherine Gourley, proclamations from the City and County, the announcement of The Hook contest winners, and readings from the state winners of the Letters About Literature contest.

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Romance: The Genres, the Writers

Wed. March 18th, 2009 4:00 PM

Historical romance writer Mary Blayney, contemporary romance author Elaine Fox, and paranormal romance author Patrice Michelle will discuss the secrets to Romance's longstanding success with readers.

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Why We Write, What We Write

Wed. March 18th, 2009 4:00 PM

Authors Jeffrey Hammond (Small Comforts: Essays at Middle Age, Frank MacHovec (Humor, What's Funny), Ruth Skrine (Parallel Journeys), Vincent Schilling (Native Men of Courage) discuss the whys and whats of their varied books.

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Short Stories: Men With A Mission

Wed. March 18th, 2009 6:00 PM

With short story writers Jeffery Renard Allen (Holding Pattern), David Taylor (Success: Stories) and James Mathews (Last Known Position).

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Let's Talk Books

Wed. March 18th, 2009 8:00 PM

Booksellers Kelly Justice (Richmond’s Fountain Books) and Sandi Cararo ( Barnes & Noble) join Cathy Maxwell (Richmond book radio show host) to talk about books. Come share your favorite titles, writers, and opinions.

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Measuring Time: A Novel of Nigeria

Wed. March 18th, 2009 8:00 PM

Virginia Literary Award Winner Helon Habila will read from and discuss his novel of contemporary Nigeria, Measuring Time.

Runk Green Room

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Blue Ridge Anthology: Celebrating Central Virginia Writers

Thu. March 19th, 2009 10:00 AM

Authors Sharon Leiter, Deborah Prum, Rick Britton, and Jack Trammell of the Blue Ridge Anthology 2009 will participate in a panel discussion with editor Gary Kessler.  They will discuss the anthology, their writing, and answer questions.

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Luncheon: Adriana Trigiani

Thu. March 19th, 2009 11:45 AM

Annual luncheon with guest speaker Adriana Trigiani (Very Valentine)who will discuss her books. Mood music in the Omni atrium by The Flashbacks. SOLD OUT, waitlist below. Ms. Trigiani's presentation will be broadcast on WVPT Virginia's Public Television on 3/29 at 7:30 pm and on 4/2 at 2:30 pm.

IMPORTANT - This is a ticketed event. You must purchase tickets in order to attend.

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Begin With a Period: Historical Fiction

Thu. March 19th, 2009 12:00 PM

Connie Lapallo (Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky) , Jim Jordan (Savannah Grey), Paul Salsini (The Cielo), and Jessica James (Shades of Gray) have pursued other careers prior to writing historical fiction.

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Extraordinary Journeys: A Fiction Panel

Thu. March 19th, 2009 2:00 PM

Rodes Fishburne (Going to See the Elephant), Susan Gregg Gilmore (Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen) and Domnica Radulescu (Train to Trieste) share their novels of personal journeys.

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Wine & Words with David Baldacci and Adriana Trigiani

Thu. March 19th, 2009 4:00 PM

It's la dolce vita with Adriana Trigiani (Very Valentine) and David Baldacci (Divine Justice). Enjoy an assortment of Italian meats, cheeses, grapes, olives, and a glass of Italian wine at this intimate engagement.

IMPORTANT - This is a ticketed event. You must purchase tickets in order to attend.

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Admissions and Alterations: Novels of Women in Change

Thu. March 19th, 2009 6:00 PM

Jean Hanff Korelitz (Admission) and Leslie Walker Williams (The Prudent Mariner) discuss their novels of great change and revelation in their women's lives.

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The Girl on the Fridge and Other Stories -- An Evening with Israeli author Etgar Keret

Thu. March 19th, 2009 6:00 PM

Etgar Keret, author of The Girl on the Fridge, is one of Israel's leading fiction writers. He will read from and discuss his work.

South Meeting Room

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The Art of Historical Fiction: A Conversation with Alan Cheuse and Mary Doria Russell

Thu. March 19th, 2009 8:00 PM

Novelists Alan Cheuse (To Catch the Lightning) and Maria Doria Russell (Dreamers of the Day) on their recent books and the art of creating historical fiction. Sarah McConnell of  "With Good Reason" will record this event for broadcast later--join the studio audience! Free tickets for this event will be distributed one hour beforehand on a first-come-first-served basis. Those who purchased a Headline Events pass ($15) will be assured a seat.

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The Late-Night Story Slam

Thu. March 19th, 2009 10:00 PM

Charlottesville's first Story Slam is a story competition featuring true tales told without notes by a host of talented raconteurs--including Stevie Jay, Paul Curreri, Mariflo Stephens, Browning Porter, David Huddle, Jenny Mikulski, Fran Smith and Ben Jones. You, the audience, will judge who wins the prize.

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Fateful Acts: A Fiction Panel

Fri. March 20th, 2009 10:00 AM

Valerie Laken (Dream House), Katharine Davis (East Hope), and Philipp Meyer (American Rust) discuss novels in which individual acts have lasting consequences.

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Men at Work...and Play: Fiction

Fri. March 20th, 2009 12:00 PM

Sarah Honenberger (Waltzing Cowboys), Inman Majors (The Millionaires), and Peter Skinner (The Bells of Moses Henry) discuss how men behave in their novels.

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Poe and the Imagination

Fri. March 20th, 2009 12:00 PM

Edgar Allan Poe challenged his contemporary world to greater exertions of imagination that would allow Americans to develop their own literature, creating the mystery story, science fiction, and the Big Bang theory along the way. A discussion of Edgar Allan Poe: An Illustrated Companion to His Tell-Tale Stories by author and Poe relative Harry Poe.

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UVa Fiction Reading

Fri. March 20th, 2009 12:00 PM

With alumni authors John Bullock (Making Faces), Karen McElmurray (Motel of the Stars), R.A. Riekki (U.P.), and Tara Yellen (After Hours at the Almost Home).

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Jack Kerouac's America

Fri. March 20th, 2009 2:00 PM

Hilary Holladay (co-editor, What's Your Road, Man? Critical Essays on Jack Kerouac's On the Road), Matt Theado (Understanding Jack Kerouac), and Gordon Ball (66 Frames) discuss the relevance of Kerouac and other Beat authors to contemporary American society.

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Book Review Superstars

Fri. March 20th, 2009 4:00 PM

Book reviewers Michael Dirda (Washington Post), Alan Cheuse (NPR), Louis Bayard (freelance), and Bethanne Kelly Patrick (WETA.org), discuss the present and future of literary criticism.

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Coming of Age in the South: Novels

Fri. March 20th, 2009 4:00 PM

Cary Holladay (A Fight in the Doctor's Office), Jayne Pupek (Tomato Girl), and Susan White (Bound South) discuss their novels of young Southern women.

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Science Fiction and Fantasy

Fri. March 20th, 2009 6:00 PM

Katherine Kurtz (Deryni Rising), Edward Lerner (Fools' Experiments), Robert V.S. Redick (The Red Wolf Conspiracy), and illustrator Stephen Hickman discuss their universes.

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A Night of Crime: S.J. Rozan, Dan Fesperman, Charles Todd and Denise Hamilton

Fri. March 20th, 2009 8:00 PM

Authors Dan Fesperman, Denise Hamilton, S.J. Rozan, and Charles Todd discuss the varieties of crime and thriller writing. Free tickets for this event will be distributed one hour beforehand on a first-come-first-served basis. Those who purchased a Headline Events pass ($15) will be assured a seat.

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Hospitality Suite, sponsored by Virginia Romance Writers

Sat. March 21st, 2009 8:30 AM

On Saturday, March 21, stop by the Virginia Romance Writers Hospitality Suite for light refreshments and good conversation, open from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. in the Madison Room of the Omni Charlottesville Hotel. Organized by Annette Couch-Jareb

Madison Room

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Annual Book Fair: Join Us 9AM-4PM

Sat. March 21st, 2009 9:00 AM

If you're strolling downtown on Saturday, stop by the book fair that takes place in the Omni Atrium. Dozens of publishers, publishing companies, and authors at tables amidst the Crime Wave and Publishing Day programs. Complimentary coffee in the AM. Enter a raffle to win a 15th anniversary bookbag.

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Crime Wave: Historical Mysteries

Sat. March 21st, 2009 10:00 AM

Solve crimes from the past with writers Tasha Alexander, Louis Bayard, Cordelia Biddle, and Katherine Neville.

Ballroom A

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Crime Wave: Thrills and Chills

Sat. March 21st, 2009 10:00 AM

Meredith Cole, Bill Floyd, Tim Wendel, and Paula Tutman discuss their very different kinds of thrillers.

Ash Lawn-Highland Room

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African American Voices

Sat. March 21st, 2009 12:00 PM

Randall Kenan (The Fire This Time), Adam Bradley (Book Rhymes: The Poetics of Hip Hop), and Lise Funderburg (Pig Candy: Taking My Father South, Taking My Father Home--A Memoir).

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Crime Wave: The Scenes of the Crimes

Sat. March 21st, 2009 2:00 PM

Writers Martha Egan, Dan Fesperman, Denise Hamilton, G.M. Malliet, and Charles Todd discuss how they capture place or places in their novels.

James Monroe Room

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The Quick and the Undead: Vampires

Sat. March 21st, 2009 2:00 PM

Sink your teeth into stories by Kim Harrison (White Witch, Black Curse), Mario Acevedo (Jailbait Zombie), and Eric Nuzum (The Dead Travel Fast).

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Authors' Reception

Sat. March 21st, 2009 6:00 PM

A wine and hors d'oeuvres reception for Festival authors and the public, hosted by John Cole, Director of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, Katherine Neville (The Fire) and Daphne and Tim Reid (Tim and Tom: An American Comedy in Black and White). Tickets $35.

IMPORTANT - This is a ticketed event. You must purchase tickets in order to attend.

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Truth, Justice, and the American Way: An Evening with John Grisham and Stephen L. Carter

Sat. March 21st, 2009 8:00 PM

Join legal bestsellers John Grisham (The Associate) and Stephen L. Carter (Palace Council, The Emperor of Ocean Park). Free tickets for this event will be distributed one hour beforehand on a first-come-first-served basis. Those who purchased a Headline Events pass ($15) will be assured a seat.

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Sixth Annual Links Celebration Brunch

Sun. March 22nd, 2009 11:45 AM

The Charlottesville Chapter of The Links, Inc. presents a tribute to the African-American Literary Tradition, featuring guest authors from the Virginia Festival of the Book. Advanced Tickets Only, $45. Call 434-979-2786 or email tturner@pvcc.edu.

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