It鈥檚 not every day that a packed university audience gets to hear what award-winning actor Sarah Jessica Parker鈥檚 favorite books were as a child鈥攐r to have a unique poem typed out just for them, or to learn how a neuroscientist became a bestselling author, or even why an investigative reporter was drawn to a 50-year-old serial killer case.
But for the book fans who attended the second annual 天美传媒 Writers & Readers Festival featuring Alice Hoffman 鈥�73, 鈥�02 (Hon.), on April 4 and 5, the Garden City campus was where they got an exclusive read on all those stories and more. The two-day event included panels and keynotes with bestselling authors; professional development workshops with literary agents, book editors, writing coaches and Adelphi professors; and conversations with writers and publishing insiders about the art and business of publishing.
The festival drew approximately 400 to Adelphi during the two-day event, including 70 high school students, Adelphi students, community members, professors and high school teachers.
A Shared Love of Reading
In his opening remarks before Friday鈥檚 keynote in the 天美传媒 Performing Arts Center (Adelphi PAC), Thomas Kline, EdD, vice president of University advancement and external relations, acknowledged Hoffman 鈥渁s the visionary behind the Writers & Readers Festival and acclaimed author, devoted alumna and passionate advocate for storytelling.鈥�
Then Hoffman, who is the author of more than 40 works of fiction, shared that she became a reader鈥攁nd a writer鈥攊n part because her mother had bookshelves in their house filled with novels. 鈥淚鈥檓 very interested in today鈥檚 talk because I’m interested in the way in which mothers can pass down their love of reading to change children鈥檚 lives and how librarians keep the world open even in the darkest times,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e need people like our panelists, who are dedicated to books.鈥�
It was the perfect segue to a lively discussion between Parker, her mother, Barbara Forste, and moderator and author Adriana Trigiani in a session billed 鈥淭he Books That Built Our Souls.鈥� Forste shared the thrill of getting her first library card as a child. Parker spoke about the ways in which Forste made sure she and her seven siblings had exposure to books and the arts. She also talked about the documentary she produced, The Librarians, which highlights librarians across the country who have been fighting against book bans.
From YA to Memoirs
But the keynote wasn鈥檛 the only attraction that morning. Students and educators were drawn to a panel about how censorship is impacting the work of young adult writers, which was moderated by Robert Linn茅, PhD, senior adjunct faculty in education and cultural studies at Adelphi. There was also a discussion 鈥淥n Reaching Young Adult Readers,鈥� for which the high schoolers filled the room to capacity. The 鈥淧ublic Poetry Project鈥� with Raisa Tolchinsky had a line to the door with attendees of all ages who were eager to have her write a personalized poem on her typewriter.
In 鈥淔rom Short Stories and Memoir to First Novels,鈥� moderated by Louise Geddes, PhD, associate dean for student success and an English professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, authors Matthew Klam and Joseph Earl Thomas, PhD, shared their work and their methods. Other panels that day included the 鈥淭he Editor-Author Relationship,鈥� 鈥淚鈥檒l Have What She鈥檚 Having鈥� and 鈥淟ines of Connection: What Poetry Provides.鈥�
Inspirational Sessions
On Saturday, Ren茅 Steinke, director of the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing program, first introduced author Scott James 鈥�84, who was there to interview Lisa Genova, PhD. In 鈥淭he Power of Storytelling鈥� Dr. Genova, a neuroscientist, shared that her bestselling novel Still Alice was rejected by several agents who said no one would want to read about a character with Alzheimer鈥檚.
A poignant conversation between author Alvin Hall and Ed Mabrey, a student in Adelphi鈥檚 MFA program, followed. Hall spoke about the stories he learned from Black Americans who had been impacted by the Green Book used for safe travel across the country.
鈥淭he Scientist and the Serial Killer鈥� discussion between Chee Gates, also a student in the MFA program, and investigative reporter Lise Olsen, revealed the determination of both the reporter and a forensic scientist to restore the identities of teenaged victims murdered in the early 1970s by a serial killer.
Movie Nights
A film festival capped both nights with screen time examples of the discussion 鈥淏ook to Film: Behind the Scenes With Alice Hoffman, Ann Leary and Lisa Genova.鈥� The Friday movie was The Good House, based on Leary鈥檚 novel, and Saturday鈥檚 double feature was based on Hoffman鈥檚 book Practical Magic and Nelson DeMille鈥檚 The General鈥檚 Daughter. There was also a tribute to DeMille, featuring personal recollections from his son, Alex DeMille, author Susan Isaacs, and personal friends Mary Jane Poole ’62 and Dave Westermann. It was moderated by Blyth Daylong, executive director of the 天美传媒 Performing Arts Center.
Afra Masud, a first-year sociology major, said she enjoyed learning in the 鈥淏ook to Film鈥� session that 鈥渢he film is no longer the author鈥檚 work.鈥� Masud said, 鈥淚t was so great to see three amazing women who have changed the world in many great ways on stage together sharing their wonderful memories and stories that bring us, the reader, closer to them.鈥�
It鈥檚 that type of student feedback that means the event is fulfilling its mission, said Amy Harrison, MA 鈥�93, festival coordinator and assistant vice president of University advancement. 鈥淢any authors remarked that the ‘vibe鈥� of our festival is one that will make them want to return in the future,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd we had dozens of inquiries about our new low-residency MFA program. Alice鈥檚 vision for Adelphi becoming a literary center on Long Island is taking shape.鈥�