♪
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>> Renee: THE 40TH ANNUAL
KENTUCKY BOOK FESTIVAL RETURNS
TO LEXINGTON THIS NOVEMBER WITH
EVENTS SCHEDULED THE FIRST WEEK
AND A SATURDAY EVENT THAT
FEATURES 140 AUTHORS.
WE HAVE GOT THREE OF THEM HERE
WITH US.
SILAS HOUSE, GWENDA BOND, JULIAN
THOMAS.
THAT'S NOW ON "CONNECTIONS"!
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR
"CONNECTIONS" TODAY.
I'M RENEE SHAW.
THE KENTUCKY BOOK FESTIVAL IS A
PROGRAM OF THE KENTUCKY
HUMANITIES THAT CELEBRATES
LITERARY LUMINARYS AND THEIR
WORK AND BRINGS IN TOP-TIER
WRITERS FROM ACROSS THE NATION
TO SECT REARS AND PROVIDE NEW
OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT
WRITING.
IT IS THE FIRST AND LARGEST BOOK
FESTIVAL THAT THIS YEAR, WILL
FEATURE A MIX OF VIRTUAL AND
IN-PERSON EVENTS OVER THE COURSE
OF THE WEEK BEGINNING NOVEMBER
1.
AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE WITH US,
THREE KENTUCKY LITERARY GIANT,
SILAS HOUSE, NATIONAL BEST
SELLING AUTHOR WITH SIX BOOKS.
FORMER COMMENTATOR FOR NPR ALL
THINGS CONSIDERED AND MEMBER OF
THE FICTION FACULTY AT THE
SPAULDING SCHOOL OF CREATIVE
WRITING.
GWENDA BOND, SHE WORKED FOR
STATE GOVERNMENT FOR 17 YEARS.
BY DAY, BUT BY NIGHT, SHE
DREAMED OF BECOMING A WRITER AND
AN AUTHOR AND TODAY, GWENDA BOND
IS A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR FROM
ROM-COM TO YOUNG ADULT FICTION
TO THE FIRST OFFICIAL STRANGER
THINGS NOVEL.
SHE WRITES WITH STRONG FEMALE
CHARACTERS AND ONE IS HERSELF.
AND JOINING US BY SKYPE IS
JULIAN THOMAS, AN AUTHOR WHOSE
SPECIALTY IS GRAPHIC NOVELS AND
RECENTLY CREATED HIS OWN
PUBLISHING HOUSE THIS TEACHER
AUTHOR AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR
FROM LEXINGTON GOT HIS START
PRINTING AND PASSING OUT PACKETS
OF POEMS HE AUTHORED TO HIS
FELLOW MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
THE FORMER RAPPER GAVE UP THAT
PURSUIT A FEW YEAR AGO TO CREATE
A GRAPHIC NOVEL AND WE'RE SO
GLAD TO HAVE ALL OF YOU WITH US.
SOME OF NEW PERSON AND EVEN
SKYPE.
WE USE THE TECHNOLOGY.
SO, SILAS, I WANT TO START WITH
YOU TALKING ABOUT THE BOOK
FESTIVAL.
WHY IS THIS SO SIGNIFICANT, CAN
IN THE WAY IT BRINGS ALL --
TOGETHER ALL OF THESE GREAT
LITERARY GIANTS?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE'RE
REALLY LUCKY IN KENTUCKY TO HAVE
SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY.
NOT ALL PLACES HAVE THAT.
WE REALLY ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER.
IT IS SUCH A GENEROUS COMMUNITY.
WE REALLY LIKE EACH OTHER, YOU
KNOW.
AND SO IT IS SORT OF LIKE A
FAMILY REUNION EVERY TO SEE EACH
OTHER AT THE BOOK FESTIVAL.
AND ALSO, I HAVE BEEN DOING IT
FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS AND THEY ARE
STILL NOT ONLY THE WRITERS BUT
THE PEOPLE -- THE READERS WHO
HAVE COME, THEY HAVE BEEN COMING
FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND SO YOU
KNOW, YOU GET TO KNOW THEM TOO.
SO I JUST LOVE THAT REUNION FEEL
TO IT.
IT FEELS REALLY DOWN HOME.
IT FEELS VERY KENTUCKY.
AND YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NOTHING
BETTER TO ME THAN BEING IN A
ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE WHO LOVE
BOOKS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> AND FOR THE READERS TO BE
ABLE TO MEET FOLKS LIKE YOU AND
GWENDA AND JULIAN.
PEOPLE THEY READ AND LEARN FROM
AND INSPIRED BY.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BIG TREAT FOR
THEM AS WELL.
>> WELL, ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT,
TWO YEARS, OF NOT REALLY BEING
ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER, READERS
AND WRITERS, AND I MEAN, MOST
WRITERS I KNOW ARE PRETTY INTRO
VERTED EXCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO
OUR READERS.
I THINK MOST OF US REALLY WANT
TO SEE THEM.
AND SO I LOVE THAT ASPECT OF IT.
>> GWENDA, FOR YOU, I MENTIONED
THAT YOU HAD A LONG CAREER IN
STATE GOVERNMENT AND TO MAKE
THIS LEAP AND TO THE LITERARY
WORLD, BUT YOU SEEM OF BE DOING
REALLY WELL, LITERALLY REALLY
WELL.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> I GET TO DO MY DREAM JOB.
AND I LIKED MY JOB BEFORE.
SO I REALLY HAVE NO COMPLAINTS.
>> YOU WERE A COMMUNICATIONS
SPECIALIST SO THIS WAS KIND OF
YOUR JAM.
YOU RIGHT?
I MEAN, YOU COULD PAR LAY, EVEN
THOUGH YOU CAN'T DO FANTASY WHEN
IT IS WORKING STATE GOVERNMENT
AND COMMUNICATING FACTS.
>> SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> SO HOW LIKE FREE DO YOU FEEL
NOW, AND DOES THAT REALLY -- DO
YOU CHANNEL THAT INTO YOUR
WRITING?
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
AND I DO HAVE THE BLUE HAIR NOW
WHICH I SAY THIS REMINDS ME
EVERY MORNING WHEN I GET UP THAT
I GET TO DO WRITING FOR A LIVING
NOW.
DON'T HAVE TO HAVE LIKE, SERIOUS
STATE GOVERNMENT HAIR.
AND, I DO FEEL VERY FREE.
AND AS SILAS SAYS, WE HAVE THIS
GREAT COMMUNITY HERE AND I'VE
BEEN FREED UP TO HELP TO TRY TO
BUILD ON THAT LITERARY COMMUNITY
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.
SO, I WANT US ALL TO BE
SUCCESSFUL.
>> YEAH.
>> KENTUCKY IS WHERE IT IS AT.
>> ABSOLUTELY, NO DOUBT ABOUT
IT.
>> AND YOU TWO OFFER -- DO YOU
ALL TALK ABOUT LIKE, YOUR
PERSPECTIVES AND HOW YOU
APPROACH AND TRY TO PRESENT
SERVE CULTURE, AND, YOU KNOW,
ALL OF THAT KIND OF THING?
>> WE'RE FROM NEIGHBORING
COUNTIES.
>> AND COULDN'T WRITE MORE
DIFFERENT THINGS I THINK.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, YEAH.
>> WHICH IS WHAT IS COOL ABOUT
IT.
APPALACHIAN STORY TELLERS CAN
TELL WHATEVER KIND OF STORIES
THEY WANT.
>> WITHOUT THE JUDGMENT, AND I
LOVE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, COLLABORATION.
LIKE, SOMETIMES YOU THINK PEOPLE
WOULD BE COMPETITIVE, BUT, YOU
REALLY LOOK AT THEM AS JUST LIKE
YOUR KINDRED SPIRITS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THERE IS ONLY -- YOUR CAREER IS
THE ONLY CAREER THAT YOU GET TO
HAVE.
YOU DON'T GET TO HAVE SOMEONE
ELSE'S CAREER SO BEING
COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER WRITERS
IS REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE.
>> YEA JULIAN THOMAS I WANT TO G
YOU IN.
YOU HAVE THIS NOVEL CALLED
"BLACK HEART."
AND IT IS LIKE, BAM, IN YOUR
FACE!
I MEAN, IT IS SO COLORFUL AND SO
VIVID AND I'M JUST CURIOUS
ABOUT, I KNOW YOU USED TO BE
INTO, ALL CALL AT THIS TIME
PERFORMING ARTS OF RAPPING AND
THAT'S A LOT OF CREATIVITY THERE
TOO.
BUT, THIS IS WHAT YOU TRADED IT
IN ON.
TELL US ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHY
THIS WAS YOUR NEXT STEP, AND,
THE VALUE YOU SEE IN GRAPHIC
NOVELS AND HOW IT REACHES
ANOTHER AUDIENCE?
>> WELL, I HAVE A LONG HISTORY
IN WRITING IN GENERAL.
BUT BEFORE I START DOING THIS,
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT RAP MUSIC.
AND, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS MORE
LIKE RHYTHMIC, IT IS STILL -- IT
IS STILL WRITING.
SO AND BEFORE I DID THAT, I
WROTE SPECULATIVE FICTION AND
SHORT STORIES AND THINGS OF THAT
NATURE SO I WAS TRAVELING THE
COUNTRY AND SEEING THE IMPACT
FIRSTHAND THAT WORDS CAN HAVE ON
PEOPLE ON MY KIND OF REACHED THE
GLASS CEILING WHERE FELT THE
MESSAGE THAT I WANT TO LEAVE,
ONCE I LEFT THIS WORLD, I DID
NOT KNOW IF RAP MUSIC
NECESSARILY WAS THE PROPER
VESSEL FOR THAT MESSAGE.
AND THAT'S NOT AN INDICTMENT OF
RAP MUSIC AT ALL.
IT IS WHERE I WAS WITH THE ART
FORM.
AND, SOMETHING I HAVE NOTICED IS
THERE IS THIS LARGE INTERSECTION
BETWEEN SEVERAL BLACK POP
INCLUDE COLOURS AND THIS GEEK
CULTURE THAT'S OVERLOOKED.
SO NOT ONLY DESTROY AN
INCLINATION TOWARD GRAPHIC
NOVELS AND AMIMAE AND MANGA, I
ALSO HAVE A BACKGROUND ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THINGS.
SO I REALLY WANTED TO SHOW THAT
INTERSECTION AND DRAW ATTENTION
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE
OUT THERE LIKE ME WHO GREW UP
LISTENING TO RAP MUSIC, AND,
DRESSING IN A PARTICULAR WAY,
STRAIGHT WEAR, THIS FASHION AND
THAT TYPE OF STUFF.
BUT WE DON'T OFTEN GET
OPPORTUNITIES TO EMBRACE OUR
BLACKNESS.
AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE
EMBRACING OUR GEEKNESS.
SO SINCE I HAVE THE ABILITY TO
WRITE LUCKILY, I DECIDED THAT I
WOULD TRY TO BRING?
ATTENTION THERE.
>> YEAH, AND, YOU ALSO TEACH A
COMIC BOOK CREATION WORKSHOP,
RIGHT?
>> I DO.
I DO.
SO, I TEACH AT A WORKSHOP WITH A
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CALLED
AMP, AND THE BEP WITH J CPS AT
EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL.
AND WITH SOUTHERN HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS OF LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY.
WHOLE THING IS ABOUT TEACHING TO
WORLD BUILD AND OUTLINE A PLOT,
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT.
REALLY PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH
THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
REACTIONS OF OUR OTHER THAN.
>> WHAT DO YOU SEE THE THEMES
THAT THEY ARE REALLY LASHING ON
TO THAT THEY WANT EXPLORE
THROUGH THIS TYPE OF MEDIUM?
>> I THINK THAT, WHAT THE
STUDENTS REACT THE BEST TO IS,
BEING IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE
THE THINGS THOUGH MAY HAVE
PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED HOBBIES OR
PAST TIMES ARE BEING TREATED AS
LEGITIMATE AVENUES TO SUCCESS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, OF
ALL AGES, REALLY REALLY LOVE
THESE MEDIUMS WITH AMIMAE, MANGA
BUT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL IT IS
SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY
GAIN A LEVEL OF STABLE TOY OR
PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY WITH.
SO, TALK TO THESE STUDENTS AND
TELL THEM ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE,
AND SOME OF MY BOOKS AND
TRAVELING THE COUNTRY AND
AWESOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT I
HAVE GOTTEN, MAKES THE KIDS BE
LIKE, WHOA, I CAN ACTUALLY DO
THIS?
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT DRAWS
THEM IN.
>> SILAS HOUSE WHAT KIND OF
ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO JULIAN
THOMAS?
>> LORD.
[ LAUGHTER ]
MY BEST ADVICE IS HE'S FAR AHEAD
OF THE ADVICE THAT I COULD GIVE
WHICH IS JUST TO TELL GOOD
STORIES AND CREATE CHARACTERS.
THINK THE CHARACTER IS THE
THING.
SO, IT MAKES ME REALLY WANT TO
READ HIS BOOK BECAUSE IT SEEMS
THAT IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF IT.
>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU THAT
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ASK
YOU, PROBABLY ALL THE TIME.
HOW DO THEY CHANNEL YOU, NOT
THAT.
BUT HOW DO THEY GET TO THE
ESSENCE OF WHAT IT IS THAT THEY
WANT TO SAY, AND TELL OR REVEAL?
>> WHAT I TELL EVERYBODY IS TO
READ VORACIOUSLY AND NOT WORRY
ABOUT PLOT AS MUCH US A WORRY
ABOUT CHARACTER.
MOST BEGINNING WRITERS WERE SO
MUCH ABOUT THE PLOT AND I
CERTAINLY DID THAT I FIGURED OUT
THAT I GREW OUT OF THE CHARACTER
REALLY RELEASED ME I THINK.
>> AND YOU WERE HAPPIER WITH
YOUR PRODUCT?
DID IT FLOW EASIER?
>> I'M NEVER HAPPY AND IT IS
NEVER EASY BUT I GUESS, YES, I
CAME DIFFERENTLY AND SEEMED TO
FLOW.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK AS HARD
FOR IT.
BUT, I ALSO -- THE REASON I SAY
THAT IS BECAUSE I WANT TO TELL
WRITERS ESPECIALLY BEGINNING
WRITER, IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE
DIFFICULT AND HARD AND NEVER
EASIER.
DON'T -- I NEVER THINKING OF
WRITING AS FUN.
I THINK OF IT AS, IF I DON'T DO
IT, I'M REALLY MISERABLE.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT THEN YOU'RE ALSO
MISERABLE AS YOU'RE TRYING TO
WRITE IT SORT OF.
>> OR IS IT THE DREAD OF THING
IS WORSE THAN THE DRINK YOU
DREAD?
GWENDA?
DO YOU GET CAUGHT UP IN THINKING
ABOUT HOW TO MAKE IT BE AS
PERFECT AS IT SHOULD BE THAT IT
IS ALMOST LIKE, --
>> I ACTUALLY DO HAVE ONE
WRITING.
[ LAUGHTER ]
ESPECIALLY IF I'M TELLING A FUN
STORY.
BUT, AND, HOW YOU WOULD DESCRIBE
WHAT YOU WRITE?
>> WELL SMART AND FUN REALLY
ACROSS DIFFERENT GENERAL AS WITH
STRONG WOMEN AT THE CENTER AS
YOU SAID.
I THINK THAT'S THE COMMONALTY IN
ALL OF MY WORK.
AND REALLY FOR ME, DRAFTING IS
PAINFUL SO I AGREE WITH YOU
THERE, I HATE DRAFTING, BUT I
REALLY LOVE REVISING.
>> I LOVE REVISING.
>> YEAH, AND SO TO ME, IT IS
THAT PAIN OF GETTING SOMETHING
OUT THERE THAT THEN YOU CAN FIX
AND SHAPE.
AND YOU JUST GET BETTER AT THAT
US A LEAN INTO YOUR PROCESS AND
TRUST IT.
AND, THE THING THAT I ALWAYS
TELL PEOPLE IS, TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU'RE PUTTING ALL OF THE
YOU IN YOUR STUFF THAT YOU CAN.
BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONE THING YOU
HAVE TO OFFER THE WORLD THAT NO
OTHER STORYTELLER HAS.
>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
ALL THE YOU THAT YOU CAN.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW,
2020 WAS A PRETTY TOUGH YEAR.
AND I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I
SEE WRITERS AS VERY
INTROSPECTIVE, THOUGHTFUL
DELIBERATE PEOPLE WHO IN THE
INTRO VERSION, THERE IS ALSO A
LOT OF CONTEMPLATION.
>> OVERTHINKING.
>> I'M TRYING TO BE NICE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I MEAN, SERIOUSLY SO WHAT DOES
THAT DO EITHER TO YOUR
CREATIVITY?
DOES IT ENHANCE IT BECAUSE THERE
IS SO MUCH TO BROOD OVER AND
COMMUNICATE OR, DO YOU GO EVEN
MORE INWARD.
WHAT'S THAT LIKE?
>> FOR ME THE PANDEMIC WAS
REALLY PRODUCTIVE BECAUSE, I
HAVE ALSO RESPONDED TO STRESSFUL
SITUATIONS BY WORKING
AND SO I WRITE THE BEST AT HOME.
A LOT OF PEOPLE GO ON RETREAT OR
GET A CABIN.
AND YOU KNOW, I WAS HOME ALL THE
TIME IN 2020.
SO I GOT A LOT DONE.
I FINISHED A NOVEL THAT I HAD
ALREADY STARTED AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE PANDEMIC AND WROTE
ANOTHER NOVEL DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
>> MY GOODNESS.
>> IT WAS A PRODUCTITY TIME AND
I WAS THANKFUL.
>> THE AT LEAST TIME YOU TALKED
I HAD AN ADVANCE COPY OF
SOUTHERN MOST SO THAT'S -- WAS
THAT --
>> THAT WAS 2018.
>> I CAN'T EVEN DO THE MATH ON
THAT.
I'M CURIOUS, JULIAN, FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE WHEN YOU THINK NOT
JUST ABOUT THE PANDEMIC, BUT
THERE WAS A LOT OF SOCIAL AND
RACIAL UNREST, IN 2020 AND HOW
THOSE EVENTS MAY HAVE SPARKED
SOME TYPE OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION
OF YOUR OWN.
THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY HAD NOT
TAPPED INTO.
>> I LOOK AT OUR ART IN GENERAL
NOT JUST WRITING.
BUT ALL ART AS A VESSEL.
THIS IS A VESSEL FOR
ENTERTAINMENT, IT COULD BE A
VESSEL FOR -- A MESSAGE OR
IDEOLOGY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT
SO, THAT'S THE WAY THAT I HAVE
VIEWED IT.
AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND
ESPECIALLY AFTER THE MURDER OF
BREONNA TAYLOR AND GEORGE FLOYD
AND THE OTHER THINGS GOING ON IN
THE COUNTRY, I SAW WITHIN MY
SELF AND A LOT OF MY FEARS
ARISING IN POLITICAL
CONSCIOUSNESS AND AWARENESS.
AND SO AS PEOPLE ARE STARTING
THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE JUST
SAYING ABOUT LOOKING INTO
YOURSELF AND LEAN INTO YOUR OWN
PROCESS, WRITING IS A REALLY
CATHARTIC THING THAT WE DO THE
MORE THAT YOU LEARN ABOUT
YOURSELF, I FEEL THE MORE THAT
YOU CAN ADVANCE FORWARD WITH THE
WRITING.
THE STUFF THAT I LEARN AND
STARTED READING ABOUT, THE
REALIZATIONS THAT I HAD ABOUT
THE FABRIC OF SOCIETY BROUGHT
KNOW A POINT WHERE I FELT, OKAY,
I CAN TRY TO GET OTHER PEOPLE TO
BE SAYING POINTS OF REALIZATION
THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT WHICH IS
THIS ART FORM THAT WE'RE ALL
PARTICIPATING IN.
>> IS THERE ANY TIME THAT YOU
CAN BE TOO OVERREVEALING OR TOO
SHARING OR HIDE BEHIND THE
CHARACTER AND HOPE PEOPLE DON'T
QUITE GET THAT IT IS YOU.
>>
>> MY CHARACTERS DON'T REALLY
COME FROM LIFE IN THAT WAY.
I THINK WE TEND TO PUT A LITTLE
OF OURSELVES BUT I SAY PUT
YOURSELF IN A BOOK, WHAT I MEAN
IS THE WAY THAT YOU SEE THE
WORLD.
AND THE QUIRKY IDIOSYNCRASIES
AND THE THING THAT YOU BRING
FROM THE ART THAT YOU HAVE
CONSUMED AND THE THINGS THAT YOU
LOVE AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT
YOU HAVE HAD, AND THOSE ARE THE
THINGS THAT YOU PUT IN YOUR
WORK, AND YOU USE THEM TO TELL A
FICTIONAL STORY.
BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE PEOPLE
WHO OVERSHARE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> AND NOT EVEN IN A LITERARY
WAY.
>> SOCIAL MEDIA ET CETERA.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHO WRITERS
LOOKS TO FOR THEIR INSPIRATION.
WHO DO YOU READ, SILAS AND WHO
DO YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A
GOOD WRITER RIGHT THERE.
>> WELL, THAT CHANGES ALL TIME
FOR ME.
>> THAT'S CERTAINLY THE FIRST
ONE.
MAMARLIN --
I THINK THE BOOK THAT TRANSFORM
MED THE MOST IS "THE COLOR
PURPLE" BY ALICE WALKER.
>> WHY IS THAT?
>> IT BLEW MY MIND WIDE OPEN TO
EVERYTHING.
NOT ONLY LIKE, RACE AND GENDER
AND ORIENTATION, AND CONCEPT OF
GOD BUT ALSO, WHAT YOU CAN DO
WITH THE NOVEL, EXPERIMENTALLY
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I JUST THINK THAT'S THE BOOK
THAT JUST CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR
ME AND I LOOKED BACK TO IT AGAIN
AND AGAIN.
>> GWENDA, HOW ABOUT YOU?
>> I HATE THIS KIND OF QUESTION.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SO MANY DIFFERENT BOOKS AND
AUTHORS.
I THINK THAT I LOOK TO MY
CONTEMPORARIES LIKE THE BOOKS
THAT I'M READING THAT ARE -- I'M
ON A JURY RIGHT NOW SO I'M
READING A LOT FOR THE RAY
BRADBURY BOOK PRIZE AND A LOT OF
THE SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY
PUBLISHED ACROSS LITERARY AND IN
THE GENRES AND, JUST THERE IS SO
MUCH AMAZING WORK GOING ON TODAY
AND SO MANY VOICES THAT WE
HAVEN'T HAD IN THE PAST AND
STORIES NEW AND BEING TOLD AND I
THINK IT IS A REALLY EXCITING
TIME TO BE WRITING.
>> JULIAN, HOW ABOUT YOU.
SAME QUESTION.
WHO IS A BIG INSPIRATION TO YOU
OR WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR
INSPIRATION IN YOUR CRAFT?
>>
>> WHEN I'M LOOKING FOR INSPA I
OFTEN LOOK TO OTHER MEDIUMS AND
THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING,
WHETHER THEY ARE PAINTERS OR
INDIVIDUAL JOYEDOGRAPHER.
I TRY FIND EXPRESSION IN OTHER
FOR THE PURPOSE.
A LOT OF TIMES STUFF MAY NOT
TRAPS LATE EXACTLY THE SAME BUT
CERTAIN TECHNIQUES OR APPROACHES
CAN BE APPLIED TO OTHER THINGS.
SO I TAKE IT FROM THERE.
AUTHORS SPECIFICALLY THAT HAVE
WON ME INSPIRATION OVER THE
YEAR, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TO
SAY TOLKIEN, NOT NECESSARILY
BECAUSE OF HIS PROSE, NOT
AGAINST HIS PROSE BUT IT WAS
ABOUT THE LEVEL OF WORLD
BUILDING.
WHAT I'M DOING WITH "BLACK
HEART" I WANTED TO CREATE A
WORLD, ESSENTIALLY HOW SILAS WAS
SAYING EL EARLIER ABOUT
CHARACTER, YOU KNOW, FOCUS ON
THAT MORE SO THAN PLOT.
PLOT IS PROBABLY THE LAST THING
THAT I CAME UP WITH WHEN I FIRST
HAD THIS IDEA.
I SPENT TWO YEARS WORLD BUI
BUILDING, AND A LOT OF CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT AND I GOT THAT
SPECIFICALLY FROM TOLKIEN.
AS FAR AS SOMEONE LIVING AN
AUTHOR THAT I'M A FAN OF AS FAR
AS THE SCALE OF THE STUFF THEY
WRITE AND THEIR CHOICE OF WORDS
IS AUTHOR NAME PIERCE BROWN.
HE WROTE A SCIENCE FICTION
SERIES, I KNOW WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT OUR OWN STUFF.
[ LAUGHTER ]
BUT TOLKIEN AND PIERCE BROWN MY
BIGGEST AUTHORS AND INFLUENCES.
>> WHEN WE WRAP IT, AND IT IS
NEVER ENOUGH TIME.
YOU CAN MAKE YOUR BIG PEST PITCH
FOR THE VALUE OF THE KENTUCKY
BOOK FESTIVAL, AND KENTUCKY AND
WHAT IT DOES EVEN FOR WRITERS AS
FAR AS EDIFICATION OF YOUR OWN
SPIRIT.
SILAS?
>> I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT WE
CAN UNDERSELL THE WAY IT
VALIDATES AS A WRITER TO BE A
PART OF KENTUCKY WRITING
COMMUNITY, AND, HAVE THE
KENTUCKY HUMANITIES AS DOING SO
MUCH, THE BOOK FESTIVAL IS
ALWAYS JUST CELEBRATES WRITING.
YOU KNOW, AND IN A WAY THAT
LITERATURE DOESN'T OFTEN GET
CELEBRATED THAT WAY, AND AGAIN,
I WANT TO STRESS HOW LUCKY THAT
WE ARE IN KENTUCKY TO HAVE THAT.
BECAUSE, A LOT OF PLACES DON'T
HAVE IT AND PLACES LOOK AT
KENTUCKY AND JUST, SO
ILLITERATE.
WE'RE SO RICH IN OUR LITERATURE.
>> AND I'M GLAD YOU MADE THAT
POINT THAT WE REALLY HAVE A RICH
LITERARY LANDSCAPE HERE AND IT
DEFIES ALL OF THE NEGATIVE
STEREOTYPES AND I LOVE HAVING
YOU HERE REPRESENTING APPALACHIA
AND WE HAVE OUR YOUNG
AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO SHOW THIS
IS KENTUCKY.
YOU KNOW.
WE ARE KENTUCKY.
SO, THANK YOU BOTH IN THE
STUDIO.
JULIAN, JOINING US BY SKYPE CAN.
APPRECIATE IT AND BEST OF LUCK
TO YOU ALL.
AND COMING UP WE'LL GIVE YOU
MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE KENTUCKY
BOOK FESTIVAL COMING UP THE
FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER WITH THE
STATE DIRECTOR OF THAT PROGRAM,
WITH THE KENTUCKY HUMANITIES.
STAY WITH US.
SARA, I CAN'T GET THE KENTUCKY
BOOK VEST.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US WITH
KENTUCKY HUMANITIES.
THE A PLEASURE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
AND, THE FAIR FESTIVAL THING, IT
IS OKAY.
IT WAS 38 YEARS AS THE FAIR.
SO, IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE.
>> YES, AND WE ALL ARE TWO YEARS
BEHIND ANYWAY IN EVERYTHING.
SO --
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> RIGHT.
>> WE'LL GET GET IT RIGHT NEXT
YEAR RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME AND TO
HAVE THIS BACK IN LEXINGTON, AT
JOSEPH BECK BOOK SELLERS.
140 AUTHORS.
TELL US ABOUT WHAT READERS ARE
IN FOR.
>>
>> YEAH, WE'RE SO EXCITED TO
BRING THE BOOK FESTIVAL TO
JOSEPH BETH.
IT WILL BE THE ONLY EVENT OF ITS
KIND HOSTED AT A BOOK STORE SO
WHEN YOU GO INTO A BOOK STORE
AND YOU VISIT, AND YOU SEE BOOKS
THAT YOU WANT TO READ, MAYBE YOU
HAVE BURNING QUESTIONS THAT YOU
WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO ASK THE
AUTHOR.
OR YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET THE
BOOK SIGNED, WELL, AT THE BOOK
FESTIVAL CAN DO BOTH OF THOSE
THINGS.
WE'LL HAVE 140 AUTHORS.
MANY OF THEM FROM KENTUCKY, THAT
ALSO WILL HAVE AUTHORS FLY IN
FROM ACCESS CALIFORNIA DO TO
TALK ABOUT TEAR BOOK ON STAGE.
WE'LL HAVE TWO DIFFERENT AREAS
FOR PROGRAMS IN THE STORE.
AND, A LOT OF MINGLING AND TIME
FOR GETTING BOOKS SIGNED SO IT
WILL BE A REALLY FUN EVENT.
>> WELL, WE HAD THREE OF THE
AUTHORS WHO I THINK WILL BE
THERE ON THAT SATURDAY, NOVEMBER
6.
SILAS HOUSE, GWENDA BOND WHO
TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK AND
PASSION AND APPRECIATION FOR
THIS BOOK FESTIVAL THAT'S LIKE
NONE OTHER ANYWHERE ELSE, AND
YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, A LOT
OF KENTUCKY LITERARY LUMINARYS
WILL BE THERE.
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER NAMES THAT
WE MIGHT SEE EVEN OUTSIDE OF
STATE.
>> SURE.
FROM STATING SILAS, BOBBY ANNE
MASON, FRANK WALKER, KRISTA
WILKINSON WILL BE THERE.
WE'LL HAVE HW BRANDS WHO IS AN
HISTORIAN WHO LIVES IN TEXAS.
HE HAS BEEN TO THE EVENT BEFORE
AND HE'S A BIG FAVORITE SO HE
HAS TWO NEW BOOK OUT AND WE HAVE
THE EXCLUSIVE PERMISSION FROM
THE PUBLISHER TO SELL HIS BOOK
EARLY FOR A ONE DAY ONLY AT
JOSEPH BETH.
AND HE'LL BE TALKING WITH PETER
WHO IS JOURNALIST FROM POLITICO
AND WILL HAVE MAR WHO LIVES HERE
IN LEXINGTON AS WELL.
WE'LL HAVE ONE VIRTUAL PROGRAM
WITH AN AUTHOR ILLUSTRATOR
ORIGINALLY FROM VIRGINIA AND NOW
SHE LIVES IN BROOKLYN.
AND, WE'LL HAVE BOOKS FOR
EVERYONE -- EVERYONE FROM LITTLE
KIDS TO ADULTS.
SO, BRUCE CAMERON IS COMING AND
HE WRITE THESE REALLY CUTE
BOOKS, A DOG'S PURPOSE IS ONE OF
THEM, AND THEY HAVE BEEN.
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WRITING FROM
THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE ON THE
GROUND AND HOW TO PULL THAT OFF.
>>
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> IT IS GREAT THAT YOU HAVE
SUCH WELL-KNOWN NAMES AND THOSE
RISING AS WELL.
AND I WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE
FACT THAT EVEN THOUGH IT IS AT
JOSEPH BETH BOOK SELLER, THERE
IS A VIRTUAL COMPONENT SO YOU'RE
IN THIS HYBRID FORMAT.
TELL US HOW THAT WORKS.
>> YES.
IN ORDERS TO MAKE EVERYONE AS
COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE IF THEY
WANT TO PARTICIPATE, YOU CAN
CERTAINLY COME THE STORE AND BE
PART OF THE AUDIENCE.
IF YOU WOULD RATHER WATCH AT
HOME, WE'LL LIVE STREAM THE
SESSION FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER
TO T, THE WEBSITE ON THE DAY OF
THE EVENT, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO
CLICK ON WEBSITE AND SEE THESE
WATCH NOW BUTTONS FROM THE
EVENTS PAGE.
AND CLICK ON THOSE AND WATCH THE
EVENTS STREAM LIVE.
SO, THERE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT
OF A LAG TIME JUST BECAUSE
TECHNOLOGY IS NOT PERFECT.
BUT, WE'LL ARCHIVE THOSE VIDEOS
ON OUR WEBSITE AFTER THE FACT.
AND ONE AUTHOR THAT WE'RE REALLY
EXCITED TO BRING IN IS ELLEN
HELD BRANDT WHOSE BOOK GOLDEN
GIRL WAS REALLY POPULAR, AND
STILL IS.
BUT, SHE HAS THREE NEW BOOKS
COMING OUT BETWEEN NOW AND
CHRISTMAS.
AND SO SHE'LL TALK ABOUT GOLDEN
GIRL AND TALK ABOUT HER NEW
BOOK.
I THINK SHE'S WRITTEN 28 BOOKS
NOW WHICH IS MIND BLOWING.
>> YEAH.
AND THAT'S AMAZING.
AND SO, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF
WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS AT THE
LAST BOOK FAIR, BOOK FESTIVAL,
SCOTT PELLEY WAS THERE AND I GOT
A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW HIM ABOUT
TRUTH WORTH TELLING WHICH IS A
FANTASTIC BOOK WHETHER OR NOT
YOU'RE IN THE JOURNALISM
INDUSTRY OR NOT.
IT IS REALLY GOOD READ AND WE
SHARED A FEW MINUTES ON STAGE
AND REALLY GOT TO SEE A
DIFFERENT SIDE OF THIS NEWS MAN
IN THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT.
IT WAS AN INTIMATE SETTING AND I
KNOW YOU'RE DOING EVENTS LEADING
UP TO THE BIG BOOK FESTIVAL,
CONVERSATIONS AND COCKTAILS IS
WHAT IT IS CALLED.
YOU'VE GOT SEVERAL THINGS THAT
ARE KIND OF PRECURSORS OR MAYBE
EVEN COME AFTERWARDS.
>> RIGHT.
YES.
SO NOVEMBER 1 WE'RE KICKING
THINGS OFF WITH JAYSON REYNOLDS.
HE'S THE NATIONAL AMBASSADOR FOR
CHILDREN LITERATURE AND HE IS
SERVING A VERY RARE THIRD TERM.
I THINK THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED
BEFORE.
BUT, JAYSON HAS A NEW BOOK
COMING OUT CALLED "STUNT BOY IN
THE MEANTIME "AND HE'LL BE
TALKING ABOUT THAT IT IS A
GRAPHIC NOVEL, GREAT FOR
RELUCTANT READERS.
MAYBE KIDS HAVE TROUBLE FINDING
BOOK THOSE HOLD THEIR ATTENTION
AND GRAPHIC NOVELS ARE A GOOD
STEP INTO FALLING IN LOVE WITH
READING.
AND, JAYSON IS ALSO A VERY
INSTIRRATIONAL GUY.
HE IS JUST WONDERFUL, SO, WE'LL
KICK THINGS OFF NOVEMBER 1 WITH
HIM.
WE'LL HAVE A LITERARY LUNCHEON
WITH GWEDA MIKE A SHE'S
WONDERFUL.
>> SHE HAS A BOOK.
IT IS GREAT.
>> YES.
>> SO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE KIND
OF A BOXED LUNCH PICNIC STYLE.
DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, WE'VE HAD
TO BE PRETTY CREATIVE WITH HOW
WE'RE HOSTING IN-PERSON EVENTS
ESPECIALLY RELATED TO FOOD.
SO, WE HAVE FOUND A WAY TO DO IT
ALL SAFELY.
AND, ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WE'RE
GOING HAVE ANOTHER EVENT AT
JOSEPH BETH WITH MARGARET TO
CELEBRATE HER BOOK THAT JUST
CAME OUT OCTOBER 12.
WE'LL HAVE TRIVIA AT GOOD WOOD
OF LEXINGTON WHICH I BELIEVE
OPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC BUT
IT IS ALSO REALLY CLOSE TO
JOSEPH BETH SO THAT'S FUN.
AND THURSDAY NIGHT AND THAT'S
FREE.
AND RALLY YOUR FRIENDS WHO LOVE
BOOKS TO COME OUT FOR BOOK
THEMED TRIVIA.
AND THEN WITH COMMERCE
LEXINGTON, WE'LL HAVE A
SPOTLIGHT BREAKFAST ON FRIDAY
MORNING WITH JAMES HARDYMAN AND
TERRY BIRDWHISTLE DISCUSSING THE
MEMOIR ABOUT BECOMING A
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN AND,
SATURDAY, OF COURSE, IT IS THE
BIG BOOK FESTIVAL AT JOSEPH
BETH.
>> WELL, IT IS A GREAT LINEUP
AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL
AND MY FORMER COLLEAGUE, BILL
GOODMAN WHO RUNS THE KENTUCKY
HUMANITYS.
SARA WORDS, THANK YOU.
I KNOW YOU PUT A LOT OF EFFORT
INTO THIS BOOK FESTIVAL AND
THANK YOU FOR MAKING SO IT
SUCCESSFUL AS WE KNOW IT WILL BE
THE FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH
US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
FOR THIS EDITION OF
"CONNECTIONS."
YOU CAN LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE TO
SEE PROGRAMS FROM THE PAST, AT
KET.ORG/CONNECTIONS.
LISTEN TO PODCASTS AND FOLLOW ME
ON TWITTER AND OTHER SPACES AND
I'M THERE.