Welcome to the Mississippi Writers Page Newsletter for May 16-22, 2003

In this issue:

• This week in Mississippi Literary History
• New books by Mississippi writers
• Author events: readings, book signings, and appearances
• On the horizon: events coming up in the weeks and months ahead

The following events all happened during this week in Mississippi history.

Year:
1884: Historian J. F. H. Claiborne, “the father of Mississippi history” died, less than two months after a fire at his home in Natchez, Mississippi, destroyed the manuscript of what would have been volume two of his history of Mississippi. (May 17)

1899: Economist Earl Hamilton was born in Houlka, Mississippi. (May 17)

1909: Anne Clark, a former ambassador’s wife and author of several books, was born in Metcalfe, Mississippi. (May 19)

1919: Science writer William C. Harrison was born in Corinth, Mississippi. (May 19)

1919: Novelist and short story writer Berry Morgan was born in Port Gibson, Mississippi. (May 20)

1922: Journalist Bill Minor was born. (May 17)

1925: William Faulkner published “Chance” in the New Orleans Times-Picayune. (May 17)

1925: English professor William Edward Walker was born in Meridian, Mississippi. (May 20)

1936: Poet Glen R. Swetman was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. (May 20)

1937: “A Piece of News” by Eudora Welty was accepted for publication by Southern Review. It appeared later heavily revised in A Curtain of Green. (May 17)

1952: William Faulkner left Mississippi for a one-month trip to France, England, and Norway. (May 16)

1979: Eudora Welty’s Ida M’Toy was published by the University of Illinois Press in Urbana. (May 20)

1990: Filmmaker and puppeteer Jim Henson, renowned as the creator of the popular Muppets characters, died of pneumonia in New York City. (May 16)

The Granta Book of the American Long Story

Edited by Richard Ford

Granta Books (Paperback, $16.95, ISBN: 1862072779)

Publication date: February 2003

Description:

In this collection, Pulitzer prize-winning author Richard Ford brings together 11 of the finest examples of American long stories or novellas. Selecting at least one story from each decade since the 1940s, this anthology includes “June Recital” by Eudora Welty; “The Long March” by William Styron; “Goodbye, Columbus” by Philip Roth; “A Long Day in November” by Ernest J. Gaines; “The Old Forest” by Peter Taylor; “The Age of Grief” by Jane Smiley; “I Lock My Door Upon Myself” by Joyce Carol Oates; and “Hey, Have You Got a Cig, the Time, the News, My Face?” by Barry Hannah.

June 19-22: Ford Center for the Performing Arts, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi

“Oxford Film Festival.” Oxford’s first community-sponsored film festival consists of 4 days of screenings, along with workshops on film-making, screen-writing, etc., for adults and children, juried professional independent and amateur films, presentations and awards. Ticket prices & details TBA. 10 a.m.-midnight daily. For more information, visit the festival web site, www.oxfordfilmfest.com.

June 26-29: The University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi

The “Yoknapatawpha Summer Writers’ Workshop” is designed to give poets and fiction writers experience in the art of writing. The workshop features writing practice and critiques, as well as readings and craft presentations. By the end of the four days, participants should emerge with improved writing skills, as well as a greater appreciation for the process from thought to printed page. Open to anyone interested in writing. Pre-registration is required. Tuition for the workshop is $395 per person and includes workshops, lectures, panel discussions, readings, and one evening reception. The registration deadline is Friday, June 6, 2003. For more information, visit the workshop web site, www.outreach.olemiss.edu/summer/yokna_writers/.

If you know of upcoming literary events by or about Mississippi writers, please let us know by writing us at mwp@olemiss.edu. 

The following events are planned for the coming weeks and months. You may wish to begin planning now to attend or participate.

July 20-24, 2003

30th Annual Faulkner & Yoknapatawpha Conference, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi. Information and registration forms available at www.outreach.olemiss.edu/events/faulkner/.

October 16, 2003

Elmore Leonard, author of more than 30 novels (including Bandits, Get Shorty, and Tishomingo Blues), numerous film and television productions, essays and commentaries, will read and talk about his career. For more information on Leonard, visit www.elmoreleonard.com/. Elmore Leonard’s new book, When the Women Come Out to Dance, is to be published in November 2003. Johnson Commons Ballroom, The University of Mississippi, 7 p.m. Sponsored by the John and Renee Grisham Visiting Writers Series and the Department of English at the University of Mississippi.

If you know of additional news items for this newsletter or if you have suggestions, please write us at mwp@olemiss.edu.

For more information about events in the Oxford and University of Mississippi community, see the Ole Miss Community Calendar:
www.olemiss.edu/calendar/

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