Evenings with Authors: Carol Goodman

Coming up next is… The bestselling and critically acclaimed author of The Lake of Dead Languages, Carol Goodman. She will read from her latest novel, Arcadia Falls, at the Columbus School for Girls on Monday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Arcadia Falls is an enthralling work of literary suspense that follows a mother and daughter as they uncover the sinister secrets of an isolated boarding school, where in the wake of her husband’s death, Meg Rosenthal secures a job. It is a mesmerizing narrative of passion: for revenge, for art, for love. Carol Goodman is considered that rare combination of a writer who has both style and substance. Her books have been nominated for several awards including the Nero Wolfe Award, and in 2003 The Seduction of Water won the Hammett Prize. She lives on Long Island with her family.

You can order tickets online at http://www.thurberhouse.org, or call (614) 464-1032 ext. 11.

A special dinner with Goodman is available before the event at 6 p.m. at the Thurber Center. For more information, call Anne at (614) 464-1032 ext. 10.

Thurber House is a proud supporter of Feeding Body & Mind. For the Carol Goodman event, Thurber House will have a donation box available for you to donate your new or gently used books. For more information, please visit the Feeding Body & Mind website. Thank you for your support.

No such thing as a “typical writers’ group”

Finding subjects to fuel blog entries here at Thurber House is never difficult. One might think that an intern who works on mundane-sounding tasks such as making phone calls and stuffing envelopes wouldn’t have anything interesting to report, but that is never the case. This week’s adventure had me researching Ohio-based writing groups online in order to compile an updated ‘Writer’s Resource List’ for local writers looking to share their work.

Of course, most people probably don’t even understand the basic concept of what a writers’ group consists of these days. I’ll admit, when I began this project, I had the impression that all writers’ groups were composed of middle-aged women who needed a creative outlet. The type of women who enjoy romance novels that proudly display awkwardly muscular, shirtless Italian men with long, flowing tresses on the cover, and treat cats like people. Though writers’ groups like that certainly do exist, there actually is an astonishing variety of groups here in central Ohio. There are groups for horror writers, groups for comic book artists, groups for seasoned published writers looking for other intellectuals on their level and groups for students and novices. There are groups for solely poets, groups that meet at libraries and groups that meet at racetracks and airports, groups for song-writers and lyricists, groups for female writers only, groups that blend writing and meditation, groups that welcome anyone free of charge and elite groups with pricey fees. Basically, my cat lady theory was blown to smithereens after taking a gander at all of the options local authors have.

The great thing about composing this list wasn’t finding out that I had a massive misconception of the attendees of a writers’ group, though. It was seeing the superb amount of artistic minds that are sprinkled throughout our state. Now, we all know central Ohio is a hoppin’ place. Even though all the other states think we’re just farmers, once you continue driving past the cows and corn into the heart of Ohio, we’re absolutely oozing with creative energy. Our splendid plethora of writing groups certainly proves it. I would encourage any literary artist to check out Thurber House’s ‘Writer’s Resource List,’ not only to admire my extensively fabulous Microsoft Word handiwork, but to take a look at the many clusters of authors and readers that would love to see a new face at their next meeting. At least one of them is sure to suit your fancy.

Katie Biggs, Thurber House Intern

Join the Infamous Hare and Create Your Own Fables!

I was just supposed to be a little foot race between Tortoise and myself. Now I’m the laughing stock of the forest! How was I supposed to know I’d sleep for that long? Man, if I ever meet Mr. Aesop who covered the race, I’m going to give him a piece of my mind! Wait, I’ll write my own fables. Yeah, I’ll attend one of Thurber House’s fable writing workshops and show Aesop I’m smart too!

Learn about what makes a fable, hear some examples from Aesop and James Thurber, and then create your own. The awesome Thurber House teachers Kathy Matthews and Valerie Cumming teach this free 2-hour workshop for 4^th-6^th graders at a local library near you.  The best part is the celebration party at Thurber Center where we’re all invited to participate in arts and crafts, share at open mic, and receive a published copy of our fables.

Don’t be like me and fall asleep on this great opportunity! Check out the libraries below and register for a workshop that works for you. And don’t forget our celebration party!

It’s free but you do have to call ahead to register at the library site:

Saturday, Feb. 20: 2:00-4:00 p.m.: CML’s Southeast Branch, 3980 S. Hamilton Rd., (614) 645-2275

Saturday, Feb. 27: 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.: CML’s Whetstone Branch, 3909 N. High St., (614) 645-2275

Wednesday, March 3: 4:00-6:00 p.m.: CML’s Hilliard Branch, 4772 Cemetery Rd., (614) 645-2275

Saturday, March 6: 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.: Northwest Library, 2280 Hard Rd., (614) 807-2626

**All participants are invited to the celebration party Sunday, March 14 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Thurber Center, 91 Jefferson Ave., next door to Thurber House.**

Instructors: Kathy Matthews is a freelance writer and the former head scriptwriter for Kids Sundae, an original children’s radio variety show produced by WCBE 90.5 FM. Valerie Cumming is also a freelance writer and has taught at Thurber Summer Writing Camp and Thurber Writing Academy (now Writing Wizards).

The Fable Writing Workshop is a collaboration of Thurber House, the Columbus Metropolitan Library and Northwest Library.

Evenings with Authors: Adriana Trigiani

“Sex and the City meets Moonstruck… sly, sensual and dripping in style.” – People Magazine

What a combination: sex and romance and humor–all wrapped up in everything that bestselling author Adriana Trigiani writes. And she’s coming to Columbus as one of Thurber House’s Evenings with Authors event.

You won’t want to miss hearing and meeting Adriana on Wednesday, February 17 when she reads from her brand new novel, Brava, Valentine, the second in a trilogy that began with the huge New York Times bestseller, Very Valentine.

Brava, Valentine’s leading lady, Valentine Roncalli, is now president and designer of her grandmother’s Angelini Show Company. Though Valentine is a strong businesswoman, family and romantic relationships knock her off stride.  A trip from New York City to Buenos Aires unearths a family scandal, and places Valentine torn between a past love that nurtured her, and a new one that promises to sustain her.

Trigiani is the author of the bestselling Big Stone Gap series and New York Times bestselling novels Lucia, Lucia, The Queen of the Big Time, Rococo and Very Valentine. She has also written a young adult novel, Viola in Reel Life, the first in a series about a 14-year-old filmmaker, Viola Chesterton.

She will speak at the Columbus Performing Arts Center, Wednesday, February 17^th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are going fast so order yours today! You can order tickets online at www.thurberhouse.org, or call (614) 464-1032 ext. 11.

Adriana Trigiani is a proud supporter of Feeding Body & Mind. For her event on Wednesday, February 17th, Thurber House will have a donation box available for you to donate your new or gently used books. For more information, please visit the Feeding Body & Mind website. Thank you for your support.

Love Adriana Trigiani? Share your favorite book, story, or recipe below!