15th annual Arkansas Literary Festival takes written word and runs with it

Talk of a "literary festival" may bring a certain image to mind: a gathering of the intelligentsia throwing around four-syllable words and pontificating on obscure texts.

Not quite, where the 15th annual Arkansas Literary Festival is concerned.

Try a pastry-making session with a baker. A kid-friendly program with an illustrator. Or a concert and storytelling session with a rockabilly legend.

Arkansas Literary Festival event director Brad Mooy explains, "[People] might think that it's stuffy and it really, really is far from it. They might think that it's only aimed at heady intellectuals. We, of course, want those folks but we also have some easy access entry points. There are things that a reluctant reader might really enjoy as well."

The only thing the festival doesn't have is a theme.

Mooy says, "If there's any theme, it's reading. If there's a way to do a festival that's themed to one genre, I don't think it's one that I'd probably love. Because the whole nature of a festival to me is there's something for everyone."

There are more than 75 authors this year and dozens of events aimed at every age group and interest. Mooy says that on Saturday alone, there are multiple events scattered all over town at any given time, giving people the chance to attend events all day and still not see the same ones as their friends or spouses.

According to Mooy, "The mission of the fest is to encourage the growth of a literate populace. I hope it is striving to do that. And hopefully maybe combat the image of Arkansas as an illiterate state."

Many of the participants have never been to Arkansas, or even to the South.

"I always like that part of it because they sometimes have misconceptions or conceived notions that we might eradicate, we hope -- if they're negative," Mooy says.

With so many activities, the schedule may seem a little overwhelming.

Participant Martin Philip, author of Breaking Bread: A Baker's Journey Home in 75 Recipes, is finding that himself.

"I look at the roster and I want to see everybody," he says. "I look forward to seeing what my days look like and how I can squeeze in as much as possible."

Since the offerings are so varied and so numerous, here's a run-down of a few event themes that might pique people's interests. A complete schedule can be found at arkansasliteraryfestival.org and, for events that have tickets or accept reservations, visit eventbrite.com.

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With all the food festivals around the state, it would seem food is pretty well covered. And, cookbooks aside, what does food have to do with literature?

A lot, according to Philip, a former investment banker and opera singer who is now head bread baker at King Arthur Flour in Vermont and a Northwest Arkansas native.

He didn't start out intending to write a book, but he had to write for baking competitions and friends and colleagues encouraged him to turn those essays and photos into something more concrete. The result is Breaking Bread, a book that is, he says, not just a simple cookbook. There are recipes. But it's also his story and a story about the craftsmanship and rewards of mindful baking.

"I think the more we evolve and the more we think about food, the more we realize we need to honor where food comes from," he says. "This book talks about where the inspiration for food comes from or where the soul of food is.

"Bringing yourself and your own narrative into what you do. Honoring the foods you grew up with. What were the foods you learned to make at your grandmother's hip? Those are food traditions which deserve respect and deserve maintaining."

Bakers looking for something they can really sink their hands into can attend one of the sessions led by Philip. During "Puff Pastry, Sweet and Savory," noon Friday at Eggshells Kitchen Co., 5501 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, he'll give tips and twists on making puff pastry and read from his book. Tickets are $15.

During "Breaking Bread," 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St., Little Rock, he'll share more tips and book excerpts. And maybe play a little banjo.

• Another toothsome treat is "Let Them Eat Pie," the fourth annual pie bake-off and recipe swap, at 4 p.m. April 29 at The Root Cafe, 1500 Main St., Little Rock.

• There's tasty testing of a more liquid kind in a tribute to the booming Arkansas craft beer scene. "Arkansas Beer" offers not only actual beer and a look at the variety of craft beers, but a lesson in Arkansas' history with the foamy beverage -- thanks to Brian Sorenson's book, Arkansas Beer: An Intoxicating History. The session, 1:30 p.m. April 29 at Flyway Brewing, 314 Maple St., North Little Rock, has a $5 admission fee that includes one beer or a flight.

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At this year's festival, words and music go together in many ways, with events centered around two music legends.

Wanda Jackson, the singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist known as "The Queen of Rockabilly," will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Ron Robinson Theater, 100 River Market Ave., Little Rock. Tickets are $20.

The next day, guests can hear even more about Jackson's colorful life, including her relationship with Elvis Presley, at "Wanda Jackson Uncensored," noon Friday at the Main Library's Darragh Center. Jackson will talk about her autobiography, Every Night Is Saturday Night: A Country Girl's Journey to The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with moderator and Rolling Stone contributing editor Anthony DeCurtis.

DeCurtis is taking part in two sessions honoring the late Lou Reed, the influential, nonconformist solo artist and leader of Velvet Underground. DeCurtis will discuss his biography, Lou Reed: A Life, at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Roberts Library, 401 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock.

Then, DeCurtis will join DOT, Isaac Alexander and Iron Tongue, in the Lou Reed Tribute, 10:15 p.m. Saturday at Four Quarter Bar, 415 Main St., North Little Rock. Cover charge is $5.

• A lighthearted, but informative session presents the illustrated book Bygone Badass Broads by author Mackenzi Lee and Petra Ericksson, who drew the 52 illustrations. The book refers to women through history who "dared to step outside the traditional gender roles of their time." The session starts at 6 p.m. Thursday at ESSE Purse Museum, 1510 Main St., Little Rock.

• People who wax romantic about fabrics, cuts and the ins and outs of design, are in luck.

"We've been wanting to do something on fashion for the last three years but haven't found the exact right fit," Mooy says. "This year we were lucky to find that one."

"That one" is American Runway: 75 Years of Fashion and the Front Row by The Hollywood Reporter fashion editor Booth Moore. Moore, who was born in Little Rock but grew up in New York, will talk about fashion shows at the Main Library's Darragh Center, 1 p.m. Saturday.

• Another one that's been a work in progress is Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries by Kory Stamper. According to Mooy, they invited Stamper last year but she said, "Maybe next year."

She was true to her word and she'll participate in "I [heart] Literature and Language." Stamper is a lexicographer with Merriam-Webster; her book is a humorous, informative look at the process of how and why words get in the dictionary.

She'll share the session with Paris-based teacher Michelle Kuo, whose memoir Reading With Patrick recalls the role literature played in transforming one of her students in Helena-West Helena.

The session starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Ron Robinson Theater.

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• Children have a schedule all their own at the literary festival, with dozens of activities. And some of the activities will come to them.

Many authors are participating in the Writers in the Schools initiative, in which authors will visit area schools to talk with students.

But there will also be a puppet show, animal yoga, performances by the casts of Arkansas Arts Center's Dorothy in Oz and Argenta Community Theater's To Kill a Mockingbird, "Find Your Own Toto" pet adoptions, a book fair and art projects.

Some children's events are very timely and topical, like the Fake News presentation of Darcy Pattison's nonpolitical, true story book, The Nantucket Sea Monster, 1 p.m. Saturday at the Main Library.

Mooy says, "It's really cute and it's a good introduction for kids who might be hearing that phrase a lot and not understanding really what it is."

According to Mooy, the busiest author at the festival is children's book illustrator Frank Morrison, promoting Let the Children March. It tells the story of a Civil Rights march in 1963 Birmingham, Ala., a topic Morrison sees as particularly appropriate, pointing to the recent school walk-outs and marches by students across the country.

"It [makes] a difference when a child takes that chance. Just standing up for what's right, standing up for what you believe. It takes sometimes children to have that courage because that innocence is still there."

Morrison will take part in the initiative at multiple schools and will also participate in "The Mayor's Day of Science & Reading" at the Clinton Presidential Center and The Museum of Discovery on Friday.

His mixed media fine art and illustrations will be on display at Hearne Fine Art, 1001 Wright Ave., Little Rock, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. At 10:30 a.m. Saturday, he and the book's author, Monica Clark-Robinson, who have never met in person, will share insight into their book with a young audience at the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children's Library, 4800 W. 10th St., Little Rock.

"I love working with children," Morrison says. "For some children, their first introduction to art is through illustration. I like to go out there and have a good time with those kids."

• Arkansas connections, some unexpected, abound. Some, as with Morrison, have never visited the Natural State. Mooy says that about 20 of the 75 have an Arkansas connection.

Former NBA all-star Joe Barry Carroll was born in Pine Bluff. His book, Black American Voices: Shared Culture, Values and Emotions, contains photographs, passages and African art and will be presented at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Darragh Center.

• It's not all new material. The festival presents the third in its Classic in Context series in which a speaker and film screening provide new insight and takes on a classic book voted on by the previous year's audience. This year, it's Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings with speaker Cherisse Jones-Branch, 5:30 p.m. April 29 at the Ron Robinson Theater. Reservations are accepted.

As for the film, Mooy says, "There's not a great classic version except for a TV version I'm not that fond of so we're showing a documentary on the life of Maya Angelou."

• There are several prestigious participants in this year's festival. Among them are National Book Award finalist and National Book Critics Circle Award winner Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other Parties; NBCCA winner Carina Chocano's You Play the Girl: On Playboy Bunnies, Stepford Wives, Train Wrecks & Other Mixed Messages; and NBA finalist Ibi Zoboi, who wrote American Street. All are scheduled to participate in panel discussions on Saturday.

Well-known journalist and documentary filmmaker Sebastian Junger will give the CALS J.N. Heiskell Distinguished Lecture for journalism, 7 p.m. Saturday at the Ron Robinson Theater. Reservations are requested.

• Guests can meet and visit with a larger number of participants in a more concentrated area at Author! Author!, the annual festival author party and reception with hors d'oeuvres and drinks, 7 p.m. Friday at the Main Library campus. Tickets are $25 in advance, $40 at the door.

Since most activities are free, it's possible to spend the entire weekend jumping from one event to another and not spend a penny.

When sorting through the list to pick and choose, Mooy has a suggestion.

"I always tell people to come to one they're definitely sure they want to see and at least take a chance on one more."

Style on 04/22/2018