David Fuller Author Talk a Great Success
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Last night, almost a hundred students, parents and staff members came out for an Author Talk event by David Fuller: author of the recent novel “Sweetsmoke.” A huge thank you goes out to 8th Grade English teacher Susan Stivers and the eleven students who read the novel as part of Ms Stiver’s bookclub this year. Last night’s event included a reading by the author and an extremely engaging question and answer session between the author and the audience. David Fuller is a Lincoln parent and especially impressive were the caliber of questions (as well as the sheer number of them) being asked by our students, those from the original book club as well as from student attendees who hadn’t read the book. The event was both enjoyable and extremely engaging. In the past two years we have been able to host several author talks and we are hopeful that we can do so in the coming school year…

I am preternaturally incapable of judging the size of crowds.  Were there fifty?  Sixty?  One hundred people in the auditorium of Lincoln Middle School last night?  They were there for SWEETSMOKE, although some were there only for the extra credit, as one young man approached Susan Stivers before the event began and asked her to sign his slip so he could leave.  I was amused.  I told my tale, perhaps a touch rusty as demand has decreased in this quiet time awaiting the release of the paperback.  But once I read aloud the passage on page 270, when the battle of Antietam begins, things went smoothly.  The talk turned to Historical Fiction versus Nonfiction (a very inclusive term indeed) using the research I had done about the battle as a leaping off point.  Then to Q & A.  I happen to enjoy question and answer, as that format allows this writer to escape the fascism of monologue.  The writer (that third person fellow) is there to discuss his or her book, but also there to entertain.  Hopefully, both things were accomplished. 

It ran a touch longer than anticipated, but the Lakers were accommodating, tied after one quarter, tied at halftime, and tied again after three.  Everyone was home for the fourth quarter when the home team took control.  Hopefully no one in the audience got caught in Obama traffic on the way home. 

Let me apologize again to Aliza Abarbanel and Alex Sepulveda, as I mispronounced one name and was accidentally given incorrect information on the other.  I will do better next time. 

I will be speaking this evening at Lincoln Middle School, where the 8th Graders are able to get extra credit by reading SWEETSMOKE.  I had originally thought the novel was perhaps a bit too intense for readers of that age, but I met with a small group of them and found their questions thoughtful, probing and just as mature as the questions put to me by adults.  My sister-in-law, Lauri Crane, started the ball rolling on this event, by recommending the book to an 8th Grade teacher at Lincoln, Susan Stivers.  Ms. Stivers read the book and thought it would be appropriate for at least a select group of sophisticated readers, and a group of ten was brought together:  Matilda Mead, Caitlin Kerwin, Alex Maldague, Aliza Abarbanel, Chloe Abarbanel, Tiana Kadkhoda, Jamie Rosenberg, Jane Khalameizer, Hilary Dubin and Nicolas (Nick) Sesma. 

This event may be my favorite of all the events I have done.  The enthusiasm of the students is palpable.  I feel that, with them, SWEETSMOKE is in good hands.  Thank you to all, and I look forward to this evening with great pleasure. 

Aaand we didn’t win.  It was a very fun night at the Grand Hyatt in New York, I had a very enjoyable time with Leslie Wells, Will Balliett and Deborah Schneider, as well as my lovely wife Liz, I got to meet and hang with my fellow nominees, and five hours later…

I felt like Schroedinger’s Cat, in the box, not knowing if I was dead or alive, and then they read the name and it wasn’t mine.  I was sad, of course, but SWEETSMOKE will always be an Edgar nominee, and that is some kind of good thing.  

Back to California Saturday, ready to dive headlong into the next book.