The third annual Bay Area Book Festival was this past June 3rd and 4th. This Monday, as I am getting going on my book projects, I’m still reveling in the experience of seeing so many talented and engaging writers. I’m also mourning the lost opportunity to see others. FOMO was in full effect. That’s how good it was.
SATURDAY:
Walter Mosley: Walking the Wild Side
OR
Paul Hawken: Drawdown, Real Solutions for Climate Change
***
Young Adult Fantasy Writers on Creating Alternate Realities and Memorable Characters
OR
Cleve Jones: Rising Up
***
How to Speak Up: A Story of Courage (the story of Fred Korematsu)
OR
Michael Krasny: Let There Be Laughter
SUNDAY:
Charlie Jane Anders Hosts: When Reality Meets Science Fiction (Panel: Ellen Klages, John Scalzi, Gregory Benford, and Nisi Shawl )
OR
New Irish Fiction (Featuring: Colin Barrett, Paul Murray, and John Toomey)
***
Ellen Klages Hosts: Using Fantasy to Build Empathy
OR
Jack Kornfield in Conversation with Wes Nisker
***
Science Fiction and the Resistance (Featuring: Charlie Jane Anders, John Scalzi, Cory Doctorow, and Annalee Newitz)
OR
Beyond Travel Writing (Featuring: Geoff Dyer, Joshua Jelly-Schapiro, Tom Lutz, and Leah Garchik)
I went with the former of each pair, yet secretly yearned to known what was happening at the latter–what wisdom and secrets had been shared, what juicy tidbits I’d missed.
LR: Charlie Jane Anders, Ellen Klages, John Scalzi, Gregory Benford, Nisi Shawl
For my last taste of the Bay Area Book Festival, there was no conflicted moment. I had to see Super Short Writing (Sponsered by LitCamp and featuring fellow Castro Writers’ Cooperative members Lee Daniel Kravetz, Scott James, and Janis Cooke-Newman).
A dozen presenters had 3 minutes to tell a story or face a drenching from on-stage time-keeper and her
LR: Scott James, Lee Daniel Kravetz, and Janis Cooke-Newman
menacing Super Soaker. Three of these literary figures braved the dousing but valiantly persevered with their tales to the boisterous applause of everyone at Cornerstone Brewery. It was a worthy end to a fabulous weekend of literary highlights (including, for me, speaking with Charlie Jane Anders, this year’s Nebula Prize winner for her book ALL THE BIRDS IN THE SKY).
