Johnson has written 18 books, including Middle Passage which won the 1990 National Book Award for fiction. He has also worked as an editor, cartoonist and journalist, and until his 2009 retirement after 33 years of teaching, was a very popular professor at the University of Washington.

His work focuses on the most philosophical issues of our time, and he regularly challenges readers’ beliefs. His ultimate goal is articulating the broader view of the human experience that transcends race.

This year’s H. Louise & H.E. “Ed” Cobb Speaker Series will be held Nov. 5 in the OSU Library. The welcome reception begins at 6 p.m., with the dinner and lecture at 6:45 p.m. A book signing will follow at 8:30 p.m., where selections of Johnson’s work are available for purchase.

Individual tickets are $100; half is a tax-deductible gift to the Friends of the OSU Library. (That’s a good deal!) Sponsorship opportunities are also available. All proceeds from the event directly benefit the OSU Libraries.

For more information or to make reservation call 405-7901 or visit www.library.okstate.edu/friends/.

I’ve been to the Cobb Speaker Series before, and it was a nice, intimate evening with the guest author.

“Picher isn’t simply another boomtown gone bust. It’s emblematic of what happens when a modern city dies: A few people stay behind, trying to hold on to what they can. They are the new homesteaders, trying to civilize a wasteland at the end of the world.”  

2. Interested in Roger Clemens, here’s the facts from the 2008 congressional hearings, given me by our US Documents librarian.

Guilty or not guilty:  did Roger Clemens take steroids to help him improve his baseball game? These are the two congressional hearings that were held in 2008 when he plainly stated that he did not take steroids or any other performance-enhancing substances. But as we have heard these last two weeks he is now being indicted for taking just these substances. Here is what he said two years ago–  

The “Mitchell Report,” volume one–

The “Mitchell Report,” volume two–
Give them a minute to download.

3. Young Bill and I have already gotten tickets and hotel reservations for the September 24-25 Celebration of Books in Tulsa.   This is your get a move on reminder.

4. And to keep you chuckling until the long weekend, read Laurence Hughes’ Huffington Post post Books that Sell. What ad would you want to see in your favorite book?

A Poetry Evening to Benefit Skyline Food Pantry

November 2, 2010     7 pm

Village Methodist Church fellowship hall

2501 W. Britton Road, Oklahoma City 73120

Refreshments and a table for you to sell books will be furnished. Price of Admission, for poets and guests: a donation of nonperishable items for the food boxes at the door. Readers, please limit your selections to one or two poems on the subject of food, hunger, recipes, restaurants, feasts, and related topics. We will have a signup sheet at the door. Music, Poems, and the chance to help a worthy organization. This is a family-friendly event. Questions? Contact sandy soli at sandrasoli at sbcglobal.net.

The Celebration of Books, held by the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers is coming up September 24-25. I know Young Bill and I are anxiously looking forward to going.  Mark your calendars for this one. Teresa Miller, host of Writing Out Loud, is the mastermind behind this event, and I’ve never been disappointed.

Save the Date. Mildred Laughlin Festival of Books for Young People will be October 28th. This year it will be at the Tom Steed Center, Rose State College and the fee with lunch is $80.00. Here’s a peek at  the festival presenters, Stephen Krensky, Laura Vaccaro Seeger, and Tamora Pierce.

Need to get started on some great books for Teens, Take a look at Tamora Pierce’s 2010 best Science Fiction and Fantasy titles for Teens.

Look what I just got in my email from Teresa.

In addition to an all-star lineup of Oklahoma Writers, the Celebration of Books, September 24-25, will also be featuring three Pulitzer winners—Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours; Beth Henley, author of Crimes of the Heart; and Rita Dove, author of American Smooth.  Dove also served as Poet Laureate of the United States.  Other visiting writers and artists will include PBS anchor Jim Lehrer, best-selling author Sue Monk Kidd, New York Literary Agent Marly Rusoff, poet and performance artist Joy Harjo, Queen of Rock Wanda Jackson, and Carlotta Walls LaNier, the youngest of the Little Rock 9.

 For a complete listing of all sixty authors, visit poetsandwriters.okstate.edu, where you’ll find a Celebration schedule and registration forms.  Or call Teresa Miller at 918-594-8215.  You can also receive weekly updates by becoming a fan of the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers on Facebook.

 Note that all teachers and students may attend the event for free but still need to register. 

We hope you can join us!

Thanks Teresa for the update and very timely for the blog. 

The Chisholm Trail Book Festival held September 18 in Duncan Oklahoma invites all published authors and illustrators to participate.  Please visit www.chisholmtrailbookfestival.com  for details and registration options. 

Hurry!  The deadline to reserve your spot is July 1! 

So authors get your tables, and the rest of us can save September 18th to enjoy the event.

Chisholm Trail Statue in Duncan, OK

For more about the Gaylord Prize and Thomas Friedman

Articles and clips of interviews with Friedman at the New York Times.

Norman seems to be the reading  capital of Oklahoma this season having both Sarah Palin and Thomas L. Friedman and showing some interesting diversity in their selection of author visits.

.   
Join us for Oklahoma Landscapes:  A Literary Tableau, featuring readings by Rilla Askew, S. E. Hinton, Billie Letts, N. Scott Momaday, and Michael Wallis, 7 p.m., in the OSU-Tulsa auditorium. The readings are part of the Oklahoma Landscapes project. Authors will also be autographing books.  Tickets are $10.  For more information, contact Teresa Miller at (918) 594-8215.

And to go along with this literary feast, start reading from their Oklahoma Landscapes Book Club.  All the titles listed are a must read for any self respecting Okie.

Billie Letts graciously signed books so I have one Christmas present taken care of. She also did a talk on Saturday and all my work chores were done so I got to see her as well as attend book talks by three librarians. I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed the booktalks. Judy Day and Jenny Stenis, Pioneer Library System and Lisa Wood, Metropolitan Library System did two “Reading Red Dirt” booktalks. They were very inspirational to me in recognizing  the power of reviews (booktalks) to get people to read and experience new titles. 

I’m so glad I attended this book festival, I wish more people would come out and see what this kind of event is all about. The Pioneer Library System does an excellent job in acquainting us with the literary community in Oklahoma. They combine free events, lunches, panels, seminars, booktalks and book sales to get us involved.

A BIG Thank YOU

to all the people that made this event possible.

The fourth biennial Red Dirt Book Festival will be held in Shawnee November 6 -7, 2009, at the Expo Center and on the campuses of Oklahoma Baptist University and St. Gregory’s University. The Festival’s web site,  is now accepting registrations to attend the free festival and a number of ticketed events included in the activities.

Great Programs with Oklahoma authors.

Authors galore to meet, get autographs, hear stories and thank for being part of the Oklahoma literary landscape.

Shawnee is a fine host.

I don’t know about everyone else but I’m in desperate need of a fun book event. See you there.

DAVID DENBY                       

Film Critic for The New Yorker

Thursday, October 1, 7:00 p.m.

Presented by the Oklahoma Humanities Council 
Conversation & Book Signing • Free/Open to the Public

All Souls Unitarian Church

2952 S. Peoria Avenue, Tulsa, OK

Information: 405/235-0280

www.okhumanitiescouncil.org    
Join us for a stimulating conversation on the subject of film, including a book signing and Q&A with the audience. David Denby will discuss film criticism, his role as critic, what criteria he uses to judge a film, the history of film criticism, and whether film criticism is an art form in and of itself. For more on David Denby,

click here. 

Funding is provided in part by KOSU–The State’s Public Radio; KWGS—Public Radio Tulsa; and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Opinions expressed by the speaker do not necessarily reflect the views of NEH, the Oklahoma Humanities Council, its Board of Trustees, or staff. Arrangements for the appearance of David Denby by Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau, 437 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10016.