Literary Lotus

The Power of Reading

2012-05-14T04:00:00.000-10:00

It was a great day at the Hawai‘i Book & Music Festival last weekend.

I had so much fun talking myth and writing with Don't Look Back contributors Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, Marion Lyman-Mersereau and Robert Barclay. I also finally got to meet contributor Maxine Hong Kingston in person, as well as meet with fellow book people in one sunny, airy place, and experience the treat of hearing stories read aloud--what a treat.

There were a lot of children at the festival, enjoying games but also animated story times, which got me thinking about telling you about this great literacy campaign by Denver, Co-based non-profit Burning Through Pages, which I learned about on Mediabistro's GalleyCat.

Focused on advocacy for youth reading and writing, Burning Through Pages has set out one momentous and worthy goal: "To inspire a love of reading in today's youth by recommending, donating and discussing books."

Their new and infectious campaign of black and white posters is aimed at parents to inspire them to read to their kids, and designed by Mike Anderick. It has also gone viral, making BTP suddenly popular on the web and facebook.

What's your favorite time machine?

First the Festival, and then the Gala

2012-05-07T04:30:00.000-10:00

2012 Ka Palapala Po‘okela Book Awards

excellent or exemplary manuscripts

Friday May 11, 5:30-9pm at Bishop Museum

Now that you've amped up excitement about local books at the Hawaii Book and Music Festival, you've got another fun chance to support local book publishers, authors and Bishop Museum by attending the 2012 Book Awards. The awards ceremony begins Friday May 11 at 6pm in the Bishop Museum Atherton Halau, followed by a reception in the Hawaiian Hall Atrium and Courtyard.

The awards are given by the Hawai‘i Book Publishers Association and recognize the finest books published in the state during the previous year (in this case, in 2011), and honor authors, designers, photographers, illustrators and publishers who create them.

A $25 tickets means you can enjoy heavy pupu, cocktails and gourmet chocolate truffles while you browse nominated books and get them signed by attending authors. Proceeds benefit Bishop Museum. (Available at the door or in advance at Native Books in Ward Warehouse.)

I will be there to see what books are honored and if, perchance, Don't Look Back: Hawaiian Myths Made New, is one of them. Hopefully, I'll see you there.

Don't Look Back, but it's time for the Hawai‘i Book & Music Festival

2012-04-21T04:00:00.000-10:00

I've just put together a panel for short readings and discussion of the enduring power and importance of myth, for this year's Hawai‘i Book and Music Festival.

Come down Sunday May 6 at 1pm to listen to me and Don't Look Back contributors Robert Barclay (Melal), Ku‘ualoha Ho‘omanawanui ('Ōiwi), Marion Lyman-Mersereau (Eddie Wen Go), and Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl (Murder Leaves Its Mark), read from our retellings of Hawaiian myths and discuss the project and myth in modern times.

See below from Watermark Publishing for a discount on book purchases at their booth during the festival, where copies of Don't Look Back will be available.

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Join us at the 7th Annual Hawaii Book & Music Festival

Frances Kakugawa (Kapoho, Wordsworth the Poet) and Christine Thomas (Don’t Look Back: Hawaiian Myths Made New) will be among the panelists featured at the 7th Annual Hawaii Book & Music Festival.

Frances joins authors Janny Scott, Julia Flynn Siler and Sydney Iaukea in the Authors Pavilion at 4PM on Saturday, May 5, to discuss “Agendas in Biography & Memoir.”

Christine will be joined by fellow contributors to Don’t Look Back, Robert Barclay, Marion Lyman-Mersereau, Ku‘ualoha Ho‘omanawanaui and Victoria Kneubuhl, in the OHA Alana Pavilion at 1PM on Sunday, May 6, to read selected myths from the collection and talk about the enduring power and importance of myth.

Visit us at our booth to the right of the Main Stage for great deals on new books and deep discount bargains on gently used bookstore returns. All books are priced 20-80% off!
See below for a coupon good for $10 off your $25 purchase.
For more information and a full event schedule, visit the Hawaii Book & Music Festival website.