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Big moment nears: 'Tale' author has first talk Thursday
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
By Ben Beagle bbeagle@batavianews.com
For readers, the most exciting part of the "A Tale for Three Counties"
community reading project arrives Thursday. That's when Garth Stein,
author of "The Art of Racing in the Rain" makes the first
of four public appearances in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
Meeting his readers is also the favorite part of Stein's work.
"I find it an energizing and exciting experience," he said. "Writing is a dialogue, not a monologue. Half the fun is the discussion."
Readers are encouraged to bring plenty of questions to the talks, which begin at 1 p.m. Thursday in Room T102of the Conable Technology Building at Genesee Community College, 1 College Rd., Batavia; and continue at 7 p.m. in the Reading Room at Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross St., Batavia. Similar programs are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, 620 West Ave., Medina; and 2 p.m. Saturday in the auditorium at Perry Elementary/Middle School, 50 Olin Ave., Perry. The latter program is hosted by the Perry Public Library with assistance from other Wyoming County libraries. Admission to each program is free. Also, on Friday, Stein will meet six winners of a Tale writing contest for a lunch-time discussion.
"The Art of Racing in the Rain" is a memoir-like story told
by Enzo, a dying dog with a nearly human soul, who reflects on triumphs,
tragedies and lessons of life he's learned with Denny Swift.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase at each of the public program.
Readers can expect a talk of about 30 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer period and a book signing.
Stein said he works from a general presentation that gets tweaked from time to time. He's expected to begin with "The Art of Racing in the Rain" and read some of his favorite passages. If time, he might share a recent short story and talk about some of his other books.
"And a lot will be off the cuff," he said. "It depends how much of the audience repeats."
Stein said he is looking forward to a "spirited and lively discussion" about the book and assorted other topics such as communities, relationships and personal responsibility.
Those who have heard Stein talk note his quick wit in finding humor in the mundane and every day. They describe him as down to earth and a personable, regular guy.
Last October, Stein made two appearances in Spokane, Wash., after "Spokane is Reading" featured "The Art of Racing in the Rain." He shared anecdotes about his life and family and how they participated in experiences that led him to create Enzo and his stories, said Eva Silverstone, communications manager for Spokane Public Library, one of the organizers of Spokane is Reading.
"During the question-and-answer period, Mr. Stein seemed particularly good at making people feel he was really connecting with them about their questions," Silverstone said. "The audience did not feel like a random audience on tour; it seemed that Mr. Stein was talking to a group of individuals instead of a mass. His enthusiasm for his stories really shows as well as his delight in people's reactions to his work."
Stein, Silverstone said, "was very personable and many of our Spokane is Reading committee members thought, 'that's the kind of guy we want to be friends with.' "
More recently, Stein read an original short story as part of a special event at Richard Hugo House, a literary arts center near his home in Seattle, Wash.
"The audience loved Garth's reading," said Brian McGuigan, marketing and program manager for Hugo House. "He has a knack for humor, and the piece he read ... caused many chuckles and chortles throughout the audience, yet he didn't just rely on humor. His writing is thoughtful and tends toward the universal, and by that, I mean he finds the nugget of truth in his piece and drives home the importance of it through humor.
"I think the literary community of Batavia will be impressed with Garth," McGuigan said. "I'm sure he'll introduce new insights and, of course, earn some laughs through his talks there."
Courtesy of Batavia Newspapers Corporation