• By GREG LANGLEY
• Advocate Books editor
• Published: Jan 3, 2010 - Page: 2E

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

The 24th Annual Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival will be March 24-28. The festival will feature master classes, panel discussions, celebrity interviews, theater and food and music events, a scholar’s conference, improv comedy, poetry slam, short fiction and one-act play competitions, breakfast book club, literary walking tours of the French Quarter, a book fair, a fundraising event and opening gala.

Most of the events take place in the French Quarter. Participants in this year’s festival include actor Lois Smith, writer/director John Patrick Shanley, actor Marian Seldes, author Dave Eggers, author Jill McCorkle, author Michael Lewis, author Winston Groom, author Jill Connor Brown, author John Duresne and author Joseph Boyden.

It’s not to early to buy tickets. A festival panel pass is $60 ($50 for students); a one-day pass is $25; theater/special events range from $10 to $50; master classes are $25; and walking tours are $25. Groups may qualify for special rates.

For more information, call (800) 990-3378 or visit http://www.tennesseewilliams.net.

Brandt program
Romance writer Nancy S. Brandt will present a program on the romance novel, sustaining creative writing and the art of getting published at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, at the Jones Creek Regional Branch of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, 6222 Jones Creek Road.

Brandt is the author of The Fabric of Faith and Attack of the Queen, written under her pen name, Honor Cummings. Brandt will sign books following her presentation.

For more information, call (225) 756-1150.

Writers’ group to meet
Adult Writer’s Circle will meet 6:30-7:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, at the Denham Springs- Walker Branch of the Livingston Parish Library, 8101 U.S. 190 in Denham Springs.

Teen book club
The first meeting of the Ascension Parish Library’s Teen Book Club is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, at the Galvez Branch of the Ascension Parish Library, 40300 La. 42 in Prairieville.

Readers can go to Ascension Parish Library’s Facebook page to find a list of recommended titles. Refreshments will be served. You can register in person or by contacting the Ascension Parish Library in Galvez at (225) 622-3339.

Signings
L.A. Lewis, author of Dirty Little Secrets, will sign copies of her book at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Scotlandville Branch of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, 7373 Scenic Highway.

Johnette Downing, author of Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud, will sign copies of her book noon-1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, at A Tisket A Tasket Book Shop, 1235 Decatur St. in New Orleans.

Items for Book Events were provided by the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, East Baton Rouge Parish Library, Livingston Parish Library and Ascension Parish Library.