Program Reminder: Jordan Christy on The Today Show

Remember to tune in Thursday, August 13 during the Kathie Lee & Hoda hour, as Jordan will be promoting her book, How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World: The Art of Living with Style, Class & Grace. Jordan will also be having a signing/release party at Davis-Kidd (Green Hills location) on August 27. And of course she'll be here for a couple of sessions on September 11. Set your DVRs!

What Drives Authors? You Do!

(submitted by Honors Director Devon Boan): As you've probably noticed, the Southern Festival of Books is just around the corner again and so I'm beginning to organize volunteers again who might be willing to provide rides to and from the airport for authors. This seems like a great opportunity for our English majors who might want to spend 30-45 minutes with an author picking his or her brain about writing and publishing (not to mention the chance to network a little with someone already established).

I had a great time last year talking with Billie Letts about Tracy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play and the challenges of being a writer from Oklahoma, as well as with David Wroblewski and his interesting story about getting Edgar Sawtelle published, his MFA experience, and the Oprah conversations.

The festival is scheduled this year for the weekend of Oct. 9-11, and authors might start coming in as early as a day or two before that. I imagine they'll be staying at the Sheraton again this year, so it’s quite easy to drop them off or pick them up. If you would be willing to help, email me your available days and times and I'll put you with an author or two for the weekend. If you have any questions, call me at 460-6397 or email me at devon.boan@belmont.edu.

Poetry Stand at the Tomato Arts Festival

Please plan to come visit the Poetry Stand, which will be set up near the Art and Invention Gallery in East Nashville's Five Points district from 10 to 4 on Saturday, August 8, as part of the Nashville Tomato Art Festival! The festival itself promises to be just as much fun as always, with food, contests, music, art, and more. With all this plus the poetry stand, how can you resist?

Special note: **Volunteers** are also needed for the Poetry Stand on Saturday. If you can come provide your poetic talent for a 30-minute or 1-hour slot, please let Dr. Danielle Alexander know (danielle.alexander@belmont.edu). Otherwise, drop by, say hi, and get a special souvenir tomato-festival poem!

Special special note: Be sure to be at the main stage at Five Points at 2:00 when the winners of the Haiku Contest will be announced by Eileen Fickes!

Humanities Symposium Program Finalized

Thanks to the hard work of Professors Annette Sisson and Andrea Stover, the finalized program for the 8th Annual Humanities Symposium is available here. Participants include Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver and memoirist and environmental activist Janisse Ray. Set aside the dates now!

Rock Operatically!

Jennifer Harwell, BU M.A. alum and Artistic Director of Nashville In Motion in collaboration with the Peter Moon Band, invites you to an ENCORE performance of FIX/what's your monkey at the Belcourt Theater August 15th, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. This performance is brought back by audience demand to see a longer, extended version of the rock opera.

Jennifer choreographed this event as well as co-developed the story, and hopes the attention the rock opera is getting will enable them to take it on the road. Get your tickets early!

Haiku Contest Deadline Fast Approaching!

The Haiku Contest
Deadline approaches quickly;
Submit ripe verse now!

BU English Call for Writers

BU English is seeking writers for articles to be posted on the blog (like this one). If you are an alum, write up what you're doing and send it to me at david.curtis@belmont.edu. If you are a current grad or undergrad and would like to add to your published writing portfolio, there are several events about which we'll need write-ups, from visiting speakers to the Humanities Symposium and the Southern Festival of Books and more. Or if you're doing something for your internship that you'd like to write about or promote, we can do that, too. Email me, call me at 460-6307, or come by my office (Wheeler 200-E) to talk to me in person.