6-9 PM
Join us for an evening seminar about the process of writing and publishing memoirs, moderated by Dave Eggers (author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and founder of 826 Valencia). Panelists include:
Michelle Tea, author of The Chelsea Whistle and Valencia. Tea is also a published poet and collaborated on the graphic novel Rent Girl. Her work has appeared in both local and national publications. As a spoken-word performer, she tours with the all-female road show Sister Spit and is one of the group's founding members. Her current projects include curating the Radar Reading Series at the San Francisco Public Library and working on a second graphic novel with Laurenn McCubbin. Her first novel, Rose of No Man's Land, will be published next month.
Joe Loya, author of The Man Who Outgrew His Prison Cell. After a fourteen-month career as a bank robber in the late 80s, Loya is now a writer and contributing editor for the Pacific News Service. He has also written a monologue version of his memoir, first performed at the Thick Description Playhouse here in San Francisco. He is currently working on a new memoir, The Parole of Buddha Lobo.
Julia Scheeres, author of the recently released Jesus Land. She has been nominated for several journalism awards, including an Investigative Reporters and Editor's Award, and her work has appeared in many newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle. Scheeres is currently writing a novel.
Rachel Howard, author of The Lost Night. Howard writes book reviews for the San Francisco Chronicle and also works as a feelance dance critic. Her work has appeared in the Village Voice and Dance Magazine, among other publications. She is currently at work on a novel and a collection of short stories.
Katie Boyle, of Veritas Literary Agency. A Bay Area native, Katie Boyle worked at several local literary agencies and small presses before establishing independent agency Veritas in 1995. She is a member of the AAR and currently represents literary fiction and all types of nonfiction. Representative titles include Hedwig and Berti by Frieda Arkin, Sickened by Julie Gregory, Sometimes the Soul by Gioia Timpanelli, and American Sideshow by Marc Hartzman.
In addition to reflecting on the writing process, the panelists will address issues related to the publishing aspects of writing, such as contacting agents and working with publishing houses. Each panelist comes to 826 with a unique experience and approach to memoir writing. No details will be spared, all pertinent secrets will be revealed.