Writers and Their Friends

Anyone who missed The Lit's "Writers & Their Friends: A Literary Showcase" last Saturday missed a lot. The event, which moved from the Cleveland Playhouse where it was held in previous years to the ritz and glitz of The Ohio Theatre, demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that Cleveland's literary community cleans up pretty well. Beginning at 7:00 pm with a book fair and cocktails in the lobby of the theatre, the event got off to a nice start.

From my biased perspective as a bookseller, I always look forward to Writers & Their Friends, because it brings out a crowd that that looks at our books with fresh eyes, and that's always good. So score one for drinks and poetry.

The Show portion of the event -- written with high style by Katie Daley, produced and directed in perfect harmony by Christopher Johnston, and emceed in wild reverence by Ray McNiece -- came off very well. The segment opened with a performance by Q-Nice ChiefRocka that got the house pumpin', then 10 local actors threw their talents into reading the work of the evening's honorees: Cinda Williams Chima, Shurice Gross and Paula McLain in the fiction category; Kazim Ali, Michael Dumanis, Ted Lardner and Philip Metres in the poetry category; and David Giffels, James Renner and Frank Vazzano in the nonfiction category.

The work of these fine writers was read with authority, tenderness and expression. So score one for representing their words in fine fashion. After another performance by Q-Nice, there was a book signing, more drinks and more bookselling in the theatre lobby. Score one for a brilliant night. Were you there? What did you think of the event? How did it compare to previous events? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Writers and Their Friends

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for friends, even in writing. This small press publishing can be an intimate affair at time because we work together, cooperate, share the load and support each other. Some can be suspicious of this, but for me it's a sign of an alternate and independent system...the other option is to let the big boys in publishing and bookstores and grants programs make the decisions for us. So, I have always supported the Literary Center's Writers and Their Friends event where regional writers are honored for their work. Submissions are made, nominations really, and some kind of a committee makes the selections. Then actors/performers present the work in a night of celebrating work by regional writers and publishers. I'll be there with Bottom Dog Press/ Bird Dog Publishing books to reach their nearest audience.

But what surprised me this year was the narrow range of those being honored. Only 10 writers, while in the past it was more like 20. Okay, but then when I looked at the kind of publishers being for their books, they are almost all University or big press titles.

THE HONORED WRITERS AND THEIR WORKS

Kazim Ali The Fortieth Day Published by BOA Editions, 2008

Michael Dumanis My Soviet Union Published byUniversity of Massachusetts Press, 2007
Ted Lardner Tornado Published by Kent State University Press, 2008
Philip Metres To See the Earth Published by the Cleveland State University Poetry Center, 2008

Cinda Williams Chima The Wizard Heir Published by Hyperion, 2007
Shurice Gross Parable of the Rain Dance Published in Barn Owl Review, 2008
Paula McLain Ticket To Ride Published by Harper Collins, 2008
David Giffels All The Way Home Published by Harper Collins, 2008
James Renner Amy: My Search for her Killer Published by Gray & Co. Publishers

Okay, I salute these folks for their good work, but I wonder at times if working locally in the small presses that to my mind really get the regional writing to the people of this area isn't a strike against one among our peers or those who judge us. There should have been some regional small presses represented.

2008 Writers and Their Friends Biennial Literary Showcase
Saturday September 6, 2008 7pm at The Ohio Theater,
Playhouse Square
Book Browse, Showcase, and Reception