The keynote speaker was Michael Ondaatje who read from several of his novels and answered questions. Such a thrill to hear him.
In the morning I did a panel on fiction with Kaui Hart Hemmings author of THE DESCENDANTS and HOUSE OF THIEVES.
The photo is evidence that moderator Michael Egan was successfully able to wrest the microphone from me and allow fellow writer Kaui a chance to speak. We had great fun and Kaui blogged about it too.
The panel and audience discussed the author's intent, how books ought to have major themes of important truth and what makes a "good" or "bad" book. Of course I got the immediate picture of two mysteries and a thriller stealing the cash from your purse, taking the keys to your car and sneaking out for a night of revelry on a school night...
Hey! There are no bad books...only bad readers LOL...
Seriously? Literature is so subjective and if I've learned anything over this past year is that you can't please everyone -- I can't think of a book out there that doesn't have both fans and pans. What do you think?
In the morning I got a chance to reconnect with MIA KING - she has a new book coming out in September SWEET LIFE. We had breakfast and lunch together. Her panel was about romance and women's fiction. Jane Porter, Jill Marie Landis and Mia King all read from their novels and answered questions. It was great to meet so many different writers and both Jill and Jane are every bit as nice as they look!
Today there are more readings and talks -- both Jane Porter and I have presentations in the air-conditioned auditorium. This is a wonderful thing as Pele has been sending over more vog from the Big Island. It's hot and muggy but with a good book anything is tolerable...
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10 comments:
Good book / bad book? That sort of discussion could occupy an entire conference!
P.S. Thanks for sending those bookplates. They got to Greece fine.
Yeah!! I'm glad!
I think that good versus bad argument is never ending...
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
It's wonderful reading about you having so much fun! Your pictures are always gorgeous too.
The photos look dreamy!!
Sun, books, authors, smiles..... Ahhh.... Puts a spring in one's step, it does!!
:-)
It was a lot of fun and as always great to see Mia again! Your talk was fascinating and I loved the reading. The air conditioning was a HUGE plus too. Great day.
Thanks for sharing some of the Hawaii Book Festival with us. I'd have liked to have heard the talk on author's intent. It would be intriguing to hear how writers communicate more than the story, how they get to their heart with words.
~Joanne
WOW. Looks like you had a fabulous time.
That was really interesting joanne.
Both Kaui and I first admitted that we intend to tell a good story- we are both story tellers.
It is later during revision after revision that we see threads and strands of themes that we enhance --in this manner our intent is clarified and distilled.
There is a negotiation that takes place between reader and author. My intent has to be extrapolated and given meaning by the reader- part of themselves become inserted - and we have an agreement of meaning...
I love following Pat's great adventures and
all the exciting things you do in conjunction
with your great works!! And to think authors
"just" wrote books...........
there are book clubs,
New York,
literary prizes,
etc etc etc....
the gift that keeps on GIVING
thanks to YOU. Msry
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