Walker Percy
2004
Oxford Conference for the Book

Notable authors, editors, publishers, and others in the trade as well as educators, literacy advocates, readers, and book lovers will gather for the 11th Oxford Conference for the Book, set for April 1-4, 2004. The program will begin on Thursday afternoon with a panel, readings, and a special conference edition of Thacker Mountain Radio and continue through Saturday afternoon with addresses, panels, and readings. Special sessions on Sunday morning, led by faculty and students in the University’s Master of Arts program in creative writing, will provide opportunities for new writers to read selections from their work and talk about publication opportunities.

The 2004 conference will be dedicated to author Walker Percy (1916-1990) in recognition of his contributions to American letters. Two sessions will examine Percy’s life and work through discussions and comments by friends and literary associates. Among those scheduled to speak are Patricia Sullivan, English professor at the University of Colorado, poet Jonathan Galassi, president and publisher of Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, Percy’s publisher.

Galassi, author of the poetry volumes Morning Run and North Street, will also participate in the annual session celebrating National Poetry Month. William Jay Smith, poetry consultant to the Library of Congress (the position now known as the U.S. Poet Laureate) and author of ten collections of poetry, is also scheduled for the session, to be moderated by University of Mississippi English professor Ann Fisher-Wirth, author of a book of poems (Blue Window) and a prize-winning chapbook (The Trinket Poems).

Several notable fiction writers have been invited to the conference. Among those committed are Kaye Gibbons, whose seven novels include A Virtuous Woman and The Method of Life (forthcoming), and Margaret McMullan, who has two new books, the adult novel In My Mother’s House and How I Found the Strong, a book for young readers.

Leading the list of nonfiction authors scheduled to appear is Janisse Ray, the University’s John and Renée Grisham Visiting Southern Writer in Residence for 2003-2004. She is the author of the award-winning memoir Ecology of a Cracker Childhood and the newly published Wild Card Quilt: Taking a Chance on Home. Ray is the first nonfiction author to serve as Grisham Writer.

Greenville native Julia Reed, a senior writer for Vogue Magazine, corresponding editor at Newsweek, and contributing writer for the London Telegraph and the New York Times, will come home to Mississippi to celebrate the publication of her first book, Queen of the Turtle Derby and Other Southern Phenomena. Another native of the state, University alumnus Ralph Eubanks, will return to discuss his memoir Ever Is a Long Time: A Journey into Mississippi’s Dark Past and to talk about his book career, first as director of publishing at the American Psychological Association now as director of publishing at the Library of Congress.

The hour-long live Thacker Mountain Radio Show will feature a program of music by the house band and visiting musicians as well as readings by visiting authors. Another program of literature and music will be presented by Reckon Crew, who will perform selections from William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, Lee Smith’s Fair and Tender Ladies, Connie May Fowler’s Remembering Blue, and other works of fiction they have translated to the musical stage. Reckon Crew members are Tommy Goldsmith, an editor at the Raleigh News and Observer; poet and folk singer Tom House, author of a new poetry collection, The World according to Whiskey; and Karren Pell, a country music songwriter, producer, performer, and author of Alabama Troubadour.

Barry Hannah, writer in residence at the University, will moderate his annual panels “Submitting Manuscripts/Working One's Way into Print” and “Finding a Voice/Reaching an Audience.” There will also be panels on reading, the book business, and other topics. A new panel will bring together officers of foundations and other funding agencies to discuss fellowship opportunties available to authors.

Once again, an author of children’s books will speak at the conference and, under sponsorship of the Junior Auxiliary of Oxford, visit local schools and take part in the Young Authors Fair at the Oxford-Lafayette County Library.

Also on the agenda for the 2004 conference are the traditional book signing with conference authors at Off Square Books and various unscheduled parties and gatherings.

The conference is open to the public without charge. To assure seating space, those interested in attending should preregister by contacting the Center for the Study of Southern Culture. Reservations and advance payment are required for three optional events honoring conference speakers: a cocktail buffet at Isom Place ($50), a cocktail party at Off Square Books ($25), and a country dinner at Taylor Catfish ($25).