SCHEDULED EVENT DETAIL
11:00 am | 12:30 pm | 2:00 pm | 3:30 pm | 5:00 pm
11:00 am
BOOKS CHANGE LIVES Panel – Michigan Room in the Michigan League
- Moderator - Charity Nebbe, WUOM Michigan Radio personality
- Sue Barber, Marketing Director at Budco and former teacher
- Judith Dewoskin, English teacher at Ann Arbor's Community High School
- Firoozeh Dumas, author Laughing in Farsi
- Danny Simmons, writer/poet/artist/graphic novelist
A perennial favorite of Book Festival attendees. Join a panel of distinguished Book Festival guests as they share the book that made the greatest impact on their lives. Although their professions vary greatly, all panelists are inextricably tied to the written word, and share an enduring love of books. Find out which books stay in panelists' memories and why.
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12:30 pm
Maureen Freely – Kalamazoo Stage in the Michigan League
Ms. Freely is a journalist, novelist, translator, and professor at the University of Warwick in Bath, England. Raised in Turkey, she is the celebrated translator of Ohran Pamuk's Nobel Prize-winning book Snow. Her own fourth novel Enlightenment, offers a startling vision of Turkey, its people, and one American girl trapped in the fray.
"Giraffes Can't Dance" – Gale Stage on N. University Ave.
The giraffes may not be able to dance, but we bet you can! The wonderful children's book by Giles Andreae is brought to life by Ann Arbor's own Civic Ballet who shows us that books are not just for quiet, sitting down time. Noted storyteller Laura Pershin Raynor will narrate alongside, and audience participation will be strongly encouraged! Fun for children of all ages.
Selecting the Best Children's Literature – Borders Stage on N. University Ave.
- Moderator - Ieva Bates, children's librarian
- Liz Elling – Ann Arbor resident expert on Beatrix Potter
- Liz Goodenough – UM Residential College lecture on Children's Literature
- Ruta Drummond – Longtime Children's Book buyer for Borders Group, Inc.
Whether parent or grandparent, extended family or occasional caregiver, it's important to know how to get just the right book to the kids in your life. Our distinguished panel of experts in children's literature will guide you on selecting books by age appropriateness, areas of interest, and educational value. In addition to general tips for picking good books, they may share a few of their own favorites as well.
Authors as Environmental Activists – State St. Area Association Stage on Ingalls Mall
- Moderator – John Knott
- Stephen Buchmann – The Forgotten Pollinators
- Janet Kauffman – Trespassing: Dirt Stories and Field Notes
- Diane Wilson – An Unreasonable Woman: A True Story of Shrimpers, Politicos and Polluters
- John Javna & Sophie Javna – 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Planet
Many talk about environmental activism, but few actually walk the talk. Join this panel of authors who made the decision to walk the talk when it came to their environmental concerns. Each has dedicated work to improving the planet and saving its creatures, be they bees, crustaceans or even humans! Come and learn about each author's dedication to the environment and how their books help spread the word about the work they do.
Stephen Buchmann is an amateur beekeeper, associate professor of entomology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, author of The Forgotten Pollinators, and founder of The Bee Works, an environmental company. He is also the author of the children's book, The Bee Tree, a magical story about giant bees. This story is a gateway into the pollination crisis in North America and brings attention to how changes in the bee world have an impact on the human world.
Janet Kauffman lives in Hudson, Michigan, where she has restored wetlands on her farm and works with Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan for sustainable agriculture. Her book Trespassing; Dirt Stories & Field Notes focuses on the livestock factories recently built in Michigan and their impact on air, water, people, communities.
Diane Wilson is the author of An Unreasonable Woman: A True Story of Shrimpers, Politicos, Polluters and the Fight for Seadrift, Texas. With comparisons to Cormac McCarthy and Annie Proulx, it is a remarkable book, telling the story of Wilson's life as female shrimp boat captain and an environmental activist fighting devastating toxic pollution from chemical and plastics manufacturers on the Texas Gulf Coast.
John Javna is founder and director of the EarthWorks group, and published the phenomenally popular 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth (over 3.5 million copies in print), and many other books on how to help the environment . The new release of 50 Simple Things includes updates by the Javna children, including 15-year-old Sophie Javna who joins today's panel.
Lisa Tucker – Reading and Signing – ProQuest-CSA Stage on N. University Stage
The Cure for Modern Life, tells of Matthew Connelly and his former wife Amelia. Once in love and planning to raise a family together, they have now become professional enemies. To medical ethicist Amelia, Matthew's job as a high-powered pharmaceutical executive has turned him into a heartless person who only cares about money. Now they're kept in balance only by Matthew's best and oldest friend, Ben, a rising science superstar -- and Amelia's new boyfriend. That balance begins to crumble one night when, coming home to his upscale Philadelphia loft, Matthew finds himself on a desolate bridge face-to-face with a boy screaming for help. Homeless for most of his life, ten-year-old Danny is as streetwise as he is world-weary, and his desperation to save his three-year- old sister means he will do whatever it takes to get Matthew's help. What follows is an escalating game of one-upmanship between Matthew, Amelia, and Danny, as all three players struggle to defend what is most important to them -- and are ultimately forced to reconsider what they truly want. Publisher's Weekly called the book “an excellent choice for book clubs”, and called Tucker a writer with “a profound sense of compassion.” Lisa Tucker is the author of three novels: The Song Reader, Shout Down the Moon, and Once Upon a Day. Her short work has appeared in Seventeen, Pages, The Oxford American and the anthologies Cold Feet and Lit Riffs.
Children's Writing Presentations – WEMU Stage on N. University Ave.
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2:00 pm
Firoozeh Dumas -Reading and Signing – Hussey Stage in the Michigan League
Author of Funny in Farsi, A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America, Firoozeh Dumas is the first American writer of Middle Eastern heritage ever to be nominated for the James Thurber Prize for American Humor. Dumas was born in Abadan, Iran and moved to Whittier, California at the age of seven. By the age of twelve she had relocated to Iran and America twice more. Growing up, Dumas struggled to mix with her American classmates, who knew nothing about Iran. In her writing, she retells firsthand experiences of prejudice and racism from being Iranian in America during the Iranian revolution. However, throughout hardships, she emphasizes the significance of family strength and love in her life. Her new book, Laughing Without an Accent, is a series of autobiographical essays from her experiences as an Iranian-American both here and abroad.
Faith and Politics Panel – Michigan Stage in the Michigan League
The AA News insert of the Festival schedule shows this panel at 12:30. Please note the CORRECT time of 2:00. This was an error on our part and we regret any confusion.
- Moderator: Don Gonyea, NPR Political Correspondent
- Randall Balmer – God in the White House
- Robert S. McElvaine – Grand Theft Jesus: The Hijacking of Religion on America
- Daniel Radosh – Rapture Ready!
- Christine Wicker – The Fall of the Evangelical Church
How did we go from John F. Kennedy declaring that religion should play no role in the elections to Bush saying, "I believe that God wants me to be president"? What is the appropriate involvement of one's faith into their politics? Is it simply one more factor that informs decisions of which candidates to support or whether to agree or disagree with certain legislation? How involved should U.S. churches be in the American political scene? From John Kennedy's faith, to Barack Obama's minister, politics seems irrevocably woven into American politics. Our vibrant and informed panel will take a look at this issue, where it's headed in this year's election and beyond, and what it all means for America.
Randall Balmer is professor of American religious history at Barnard College, Columbia University, and visiting professor at Yale University Divinity School. He is editor-at-large for Christianity Today, and his commentaries on religion in America have appeared in Sojourners, The Nation, the New York Times, and in newspapers across the country. He regularly appears on television and radio to discuss contemporary religious issues in America. God in the White House explores the paradox of Americans' expectation that presidents should simultaneously trumpet their religious views and relationship to God while supporting the separation of church and state. Balmer tells the story of the politicization of religion in the last half of the twentieth century, as well as the "religionization" of our politics.
Robert S. McElvaine is Elizabeth Chisholm Professor of Arts and Letters and Chair of the Department of History at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, where he has taught for thirty years. He is the author of ten books. McElvaine's articles and opinion pieces appear frequently in such publications as the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek and The Nation. He has been a guest on NBC's Today, ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, NBC Nightly News, National Public Radio's All Things Considered and Morning Edition, BBC television and radio, and the Studs Terkel Show. McElvaine's latest book, Grand Theft Jesus: The Hijacking of Religion in America, is a humorous frontal assault on those he considers to be Jesus Thieves: people who call themselves “Christians” and say they take the Bible literally, but pay no attention to anything Jesus said, such as loving your enemies, turning the other cheek, and helping the poor.
Daniel Radosh is a contributing editor at The Week and writes regularly for The New Yorker. His writing has also appeared Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, GQ, Mademoiselle, McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, Might, New York Magazine, The New York Times, Playboy, Radar, Salon, Slate, and other publications. His first book, Rapture Ready! Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture, is an insightful, entertaining, and deeply weird journey through the often hidden world of Christian pop culture. This vast and influential subculture -- a $7 billion industry and growing -- can no longer be ignored by those who want to understand the social, spiritual, and political aspirations of evangelical Christians. In eighteen cities and towns throughout thirteen states -- from the Bible Belt to the outskirts of Hollywood -- Radosh encounters a fascinating cast of characters, including Bibleman, the Caped Christian; Rob Adonis, the founder and star of Ultimate Christian Wrestling; Ken Ham, the nation's leading prophet of creationism; and Jay Bakker, the son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, and pastor of his own liberal, punk rock church.
Christine Wicker was raised in Oklahoma, Texas, and other parts of the South. Her mother's grandfather was an itinerant Baptist preacher, and her dad's father was a Kentucky coal miner. During her seventeen years at the Dallas Morning News, she was a feature writer, columnist, and religion reporter. She is the author of several books, including the highly acclaimed New York Times bestseller Lily Dale: The True Story of the Town That Talks to the Dead. Her new book, entitled The Fall of the Evangelical Nation: The Surprising Crisis Inside the Church, is a critical look at the great evangelical movements of today and their impact on politics.
Raymond McDaniel - Reading and Signing – Gale Stage on N. University Ave.
Raymond McDaniel is the author of the National Poetry Series award-winning collection Murder (a violet). A native of Florida, McDaniel now lives in Ann Arbor, writes for The Constant Critic, teaches at the University of Michigan, and hosts the reading series at Shaman Drum Bookshop.
Introduced by poet Christine Rhein, author of Wild Flight, 2008.
Teen Writing Contest, featuring YA author, Deb Caletti State St. Area Assoc. Stage on Ingalls Mall
Deb Caletti is a National Book Award finalist, as well as the recipient of other numerous awards including PEN USA finalist award, the Washington State Book Award, and SLJ Best Book award. Her works for young adult readers include The Queen of Everything, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, and The Nature of Jade, which was a summer 2007 Booksense pick, and was nominated for the American Library Association's Best Books of 2007. Her new book is entitled The Fortunes of Indigo Skye.
Future of the Book Panel - Michigan Humanities Council Stage on N. University Ave.
- Moderator: Paul Courant, Director, UM Libraries
- David Kipen – National Endowment for the Arts
- Sunil Iyengar – National Endowment for the Arts
- Naomi Silver – University of Michigan
- Buzzy Nielsen – University of Michigan
David Kipen is the Literature Director of the National Endowment for the Arts. He was the book critic for the San Francisco Chronicle where he reviewed six to eight books each month. He was also a book critic and essayist for National Public Radio's Day to Day. He is the author of The Schreiber Theory which touts the role of the screenwriter in a movie's ultimate quality. His newest work is a Cervantes translation novella published by Melville House Publishers.
Sunil Iyengar directs the Office of Research and Analysis at the National Endowment for the Arts. In November 2007, Mr. Iyengar's office released To Read or Not To Read: A Question of National Consequence, a new and comprehensive analysis of reading patterns in the United States. The study continues the investigation of the NEA's landmark 2004 report, Reading at Risk. He also manages a national evaluation project for the Big Read. Prior to joining the NEA in June 2006, he worked successively as a reporter, managing editor, and senior editor for a series of news publications covering the biomedical research, medical device and pharmaceutical industries. His book reviews have appeared in The Washington Post, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The American Scholar, The New Criterion, and Contemporary Poetry Review. He was a board member of the American Poetry & Literacy Project, co-founded by Andrew Carroll and the late Joseph Brodsky. Mr. Iyengar earned his B.A. in English from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Naomi Silver is Associate Director and Lecturer in the University of Michigan's Sweetland Writing Center. She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from UC Irvine, and has taught writing and literature since 1990. In Writing Workshop, Sweetland's one-on-one writing instructional service, and in the classroom, she regularly encounters freshman students grappling with their writing and reading.
Buzzy Nielsen is a Special Projects Assistant to the University of Michigan Librarian and will graduate this spring from the University of Michigan with two Master's Degrees, one in Information and one in Public Policy.
Graphic Novel – Danny Simmons – WEMU Stage on N. University Ave.
Danny Simmons, a renowned painter of abstract-expressionist oil works, owns the Rush Arts Gallery in Manhattan and Corridor Gallery in Brooklyn. A poet and cofounder of the Def Poetry Jam performance series, he heads the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation with his brother, Russell Simmons. He lives in Brooklyn. His new book, 85, was inspired by Simmons' widely praised novel Three Days as the Crow Flies. Danny Simmons and Floyd Hughes present a richly illustrated graphic novel set in the gritty underworld of New York City circa 1985 -- a time and place when street culture and the fine arts scene came together in strange and often predatory ways
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3:30 pm
Paul Hornschemeier – Graphic Novelist - Kalamazoo Stage in the Michigan League
Paul Hornschemeier was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1977 and raised in nearby Georgetown, Ohio. As a child he liked to draw, dreaming that he might publish his own comic books one day. While majoring in philosophy and psychology at Ohio State, Hornschemeier was introduced to the graphic novel Ghost World by Daniel Clowes and saw that comics could be a venue for exploring issues that are far from superficial. Following graduation he began publishing his own black and white comics, progressive in nature, that have now been compiled by AdHouse Books under the title The Collected Sequential. He gradually began using colors in his comics, and in 2003 he published his first graphic novel titled Mother, Come Home. Recent works include Let Us Be Perfectly Clear and The Three Paradoxes.
Hornschemeier will be interviewed by Dave Carter, a local blogger on comics & graphic novels.
Nick Delbanco - Reading and Signing – Michigan Stage in the Michigan League
Nick Delbanco is a British-born American who received his B.A. from Harvard and his M.A. from Columbia University. He currently directs the Hopwood Awards Program and is the Robert Frost Distinguished University Professor of English at the University of Michigan. An editor and author of more than twenty books, Delbanco has received numerous awards—among them a Guggenheim Fellowship and two Writing Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts. Based on countless historical documents, including letters and essays by Thompson himself, The Count of Concord brings to life the remarkable career of Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford.
Election Year Issues Panel – Gale Stage on N. University Ave.
- Moderator: Don Gonyea, NPR Political Correspondent
- Daniel Radosh – Rapture Ready!
- John Javna – 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Planet
- Michael Lewis-Beck – The American Voter Revisted
As candidates cross the country in search of votes, they detail their plans for addressing major issues facing the American people. Join a spirited panel of authors as they weigh in on the issues they believe will affect the messages of the candidates, as well as the presidency of the person ultimately elected. Issues to be discussed include the polarization of political parties and how it affects voter sentiment, religion, and the environment.
Michael Lewis-Beck is the F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of Iowa. He has studied and written extensively on voter behavior around the world. He is editor of the newly released book The American Voter Revisited, which recreates the outstanding classic from 1960, The American Voter—following the same format, theory, and mode of analysis as the original—and uses that in an attempt to understand the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004, two of the most contentious and polarizing political events in American history. In a fascinating account, the contemporary American voter is found to behave politically in a fashion surprisingly similar to voters of the 1950s. Yet some things have changed. For instance, the recent intense polarization of the two leading political parties has heightened the ideological tenor of American politics.
John Javna is founder and director of the EarthWorks group, and published the phenomenally popular 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth (over 3.5 million copies in print), and many other books on how to help the environment. The new release of 50 Simple Things includes updates by the Javna children. Mr. Javna will discuss the role environmentalism and global warming will play in this year's election.
Daniel Radosh is a contributing editor at The Week and writes regularly for The New Yorker. His writing has also appeared Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, GQ, Mademoiselle, McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, Might, New York Magazine, The New York Times, Playboy, Radar, Salon, Slate, and other publications. His first book, Rapture Ready! Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture, is an insightful, entertaining, and deeply weird journey through the often hidden world of Christian pop culture. This vast and influential subculture -- a $7 billion industry and growing -- can no longer be ignored by those who want to understand the social, spiritual, and political aspirations of evangelical Christians. In eighteen cities and towns throughout thirteen states -- from the Bible Belt to the outskirts of Hollywood -- Radosh encounters a fascinating cast of characters, including Bibleman, the Caped Christian; Rob Adonis, the founder and star of Ultimate Christian Wrestling; Ken Ham, the nation's leading prophet of creationism; and Jay Bakker, the son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, and pastor of his own liberal, punk rock church.
New Children's Titles – Borders Stage on N. University Ave.
Charity Nebbe spent her childhood wandering the prairies and woodlands of Iowa. Now she explores the woods near Dexter, Michigan where she lives with her family. They share their small home with three wonderful mutts, five lazy housecats, and two dogs. Charity also hosts public radio programs on Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor. This is her first book for children.
The anchor of Detroit Channel 7 Action News, Robbie Timmons has carved out a distinguished niche for herself in the world of broadcast journalism. A graduate of Ohio State University, she now lives in Detroit, Michigan with her husband, sportscaster Jim Brandstatter. A spring 2008 Mitten Press release, Twoey & the Goat is Robbie's first children's book.
Moderated by William Gosling, Librarian and children's book collector
Books in Translation – Michigan Humanities Council Stage on N. University Ave.
- Moderator: Karl Pohrt, founder of Shaman Drum Bookshop
- Maureen Freely – translator, Snow
- David Kipen – translator
As the world becomes smaller, the importance of sharing varied experiences through literature becomes ever more important. One way of doing this is by reading works originally published in other countries, now translated into English. This panel will look at the importance of works in translation, both contemporary and classic, and what the future holds for sharing literary experiences across lands and languages.
Maureen Freely, is the celebrated translator of Ohran Pamuk's Nobel Prize-winning Snow. She is a writer, translator, and professor at the University of Warwick in Bath, England. She works very closely with Mr. Pamuk on translations as they are often the basis for translations of his work into other languages. She will discuss working with a living novelist to translate his or her work.
David Kipen is the Literature Director of the National Endowment for the Arts. He was the book critic for the San Francisco Chronicle where he reviewed six to eight books each month. He was also a book critic and essayist for National Public Radio's Day to Day. He is the author of The Schreiber Theory which touts the role of the screenwriter in a movie's ultimate quality. His newest work is a Cervantes translation novella published by Melville House Publishers.
The Power of Mom – Authors Discuss the Influence of Motherhood - ProQuest Stage on N. University Ave.
- Moderator: Lisa Garrigues – Writing Motherhood
- Julie Halpert – Making Up with Mom
- Jane Bernstein – Rachel in the World
- Judy Davids – Rock Star Mommy
There may be no other relationship explored as much in literature as that of mothers and daughters. From fairy tales to memoir, numerous books have looked at the ways in which mothers and daughters interact—in loving ways and otherwise. Join a panel of women who are both mothers and daughters, and who have written extensively about the dynamics of these bonds, from the tensions caused by special needs, to the desire to keep one's own identity while taking on the role of mother. This is certain to be a conversation with depth, heartfelt insight and much laughter.
Lisa Garrigues is an award-winning writer and experienced educator. In addition to teaching Writing Motherhood, she leads a variety of courses and workshops in writing memoir. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and earned a master's degree in education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey, with her husband and two children. Lisa will moderate this panel.
Jane Bernstein was born in Brooklyn, NY, and educated at New York University and Columbia University. She is the author of five books, most recently Rachel in the World. Her film work includes the screenplay for the Warner Brothers movie Seven Minutes in Heaven. Her essays and articles have appeared widely in such places as The New York Times Magazine, Ms., Creative Nonfiction, The Massachusetts Review, and Glamour. Among her fellowships and awards are two Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowships, one in creative writing and one in media arts, and two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships in Creative Writing. Jane is a professor of English and creative writing at Carnegie Mellon University and lives in Pittsburgh, PA.
Judy Davids is a music fan, mother, and leader of one of the first "mommy" rock bands in the country—The Mydols. Davids' memoir, Rock Star Mommy, is a rallying cry for every woman who fondly recalls when she spent more time in mosh pits than "Mommy and Me" classes to adopt a rock 'n roll attitude toward life.
Julie Halpert is a journalist with over two decades of experience writing for national publications, including The New York Times, Newsweek, The Washington Post, Family Fun and Parents. She is a regular on-air contributor to various public radio programs. Her new book is Making Up With Mom: Why Mothers and Daughters Disagree About Kids, Careers and Casseroles (and What to do About It).
VOLUME Poetry Presentations – WEMU Stage on N. University Ave.
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5:00 pm
826michigan Presentations of Hemingway One Act Plays - Hussey Stage in the Michigan League
Pitch Panel – Michigan Stage in the Michigan League
Think you have the next bestseller? Pitch your idea to our panel of experts. You'll never get such great advice in such a short time! Participants much pre-register for a 2 minute presentation at a fee of $10. Details are available on the website.
Kevin Smokler is the editor of Bookmark Now: Writing in Unreaderly Times (Basic Books) which was a San Francisco Chronicle Noteable Book of 2005 and the co-founder of BookTour.com. An Ann Arbor native, he now lives in San Francisco.
Lisa Garrigues is an award-winning writer and experienced educator. In addition to teaching Writing Motherhood, she leads a variety of courses and workshops in writing memoir. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and earned a master's degree in education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey, with her husband and two children. Lisa will moderate this panel.
Jane Bernstein was born in Brooklyn, NY, and educated at New York University and Columbia University. She is the author of five books, most recently Rachel in the World. Her film work includes the screenplay for the Warner Brothers movie Seven Minutes in Heaven. Her essays and articles have appeared widely in such places as The New York Times Magazine, Ms., Creative Nonfiction, The Massachusetts Review, and Glamour. Among her fellowships and awards are two Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowships, one in creative writing and one in media arts, and two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships in Creative Writing. Jane is a professor of English and creative writing at Carnegie Mellon University and lives in Pittsburgh, PA.
Going to the Dogs - Reading and Signing – Gale Stage on N. University Ave.
Ken Foster lives in New Orleans with his three dogs, Brando, Zephyr and Sula. His work has appeared in Salon, The Believer, McSweeney's, Bomb, The New York Times Book Review, Time Out New York, The Village Voice and other publications. A collection of his short stories, titled The Kind I'm Likely to Get, was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. His memoir, The Dogs Who Found Me, was featured on NPR's "Fresh Air" and was followed by a collection of essays, Dogs I Have Met (2007). Foster received his MFA from Columbia University and has been awarded fellowships to Yaddo, the Sewanee Writers Conference, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and the Wesleyan Writers Conference.
Geri Taeckens is the author of Walking along with my Dog and a new memoir, Blind Man's Bluff, which tells the story of her gradual loss of sight as an adult.
Celebrity Spelling Bee – State St. Area Assoc. Stage on Ingalls Mall
Participants match wits to see how their spelling stands up against other community notables.
The Mydols – ProQuest Stage on N. University Ave.
Regie Gibson - Performance Poet – WEMU Stage on N. University Ave.
Poet, songwriter, author, and educator Regie Gibson has performed, taught, and lectured at schools, universities, theaters and other venues on two continents and in seven countries, most recently in Havana, Cuba. Regie and his work appear in the New Line Cinema film Love Jones, based largely on events in his life. The poem entitled "Brother to the Night (A Blues for Nina)" appears on the movie soundtrack and is performed by the film's star, Larenz Tate. Regie performed "Hey Nappyhead" in the film with world-renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El Zabar.
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