Chris Stein, Jane Smiley, Stephen Dobyns Headline Woodstock Writers Festival

Chris Stein

Chris Stein

(WOODSTOCK, N.Y.) – Chris Stein, a cofounder of New Wave group Blondie as well as a photographer, novelists Jane Smiley and Elisa Albert, poet and novelist Stephen Dobyns, memoirist and novelist Ann Hood, biographers Amanda Vaill, Sheila Weller, and James Grissom, authors Mark Matousek and Clark Strand, and memoirists Abigail Thomas, Christina Haag, Jillian Lauren, festival executive director Martha Frankel, and Suzan Saxman, will all take part in the sixth annual Woodstock Writers Festival, taking place from Thursday, March 19, through Sunday, March 22. Events are at the Kleinert/James Center for the Arts unless otherwise noted.

Chris Stein’s first area appearance since the release of his pictorial memoir of iconic and mostly unpublished photographs of Debbie Harry and the heroes of the 1970s and ‘80s New York rock scene in Chris Stein/Negative: Me, Blondie, and the Advent of Punk, of which the New York Times said “…captures the essence of a lost, romantic moment in New York history.” Stein will take his audience on a visual tour of his photos, in conversation with music and pop writer Will Hermes on Friday, March 20th, 8 p.m. at Bearsville Theater with signing to follow.

Longtime Woodstock resident and celebrated memoirist Abigail Thomas with WAMC’s Joe Donahue for “The Donahue Interview” on the eve of the publication of Thomas’ “What Comes Next and How to Like It,” which has been called “a beautifully felt, deeply moving memoir, the best work yet by a woman who has already done some of the best work in the field” by Stephen King. This annually sold-out event will be held on Saturday, March 21 at The Kleinert/James Center for the Arts, 8 p.m.

“The Critical Role of the Dark in Life and in Spiritual Writing” with powerful writers Mark Matousek and Clark Strand, moderated by empowerment guru Gail Straub – a panel for those who wish to explore faith, soul and awakening. Saturday, March 21, 9:30 a.m. at Kleinert/James

Elisa Albert

Elisa Albert

“From Iowa to Italy and Back Again,” the fiction panel moderated by Elisa Albert (whose brand new book, “After Birth,” continues to pile on the rave reviews) and features poet and novelist Stephen Dobyns, memoirist and novelist Ann Hood and Jane Smiley, called “one of the premier novelists of her generation” by the Washington Post. This panel will be held Saturday, March 21, 4 p.m., Kleinert/James.

“Examined Lives” biography panel with moderated by noted documentarian Tom Folsom, with National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Amanda Vaill New York Times bestseller Sheila Weller and James Grissom, whose just debuted his new Follies of God tome on Tennessee Williams. Sunday, March 22, at 11:30 a.m., Kleinert/James.

 

Memoirist and festival executive director Martha Frankel

Memoirist and festival executive director Martha Frankel

The signature panel of the Festival, moderated by Frankel herself, “Memoir A Go-Go,” with Christina Haag and Jillian Lauren, who have chronicled life in such unique locales as a harem, on stage and among the Kennedys, as well as local author Suzan Saxman, with her just released The Reluctant Psychic. This panel always manages to amaze and delight attendees and serves as bookend to weekend of riches. Sunday, March 22, 2:30 p.m. at Kleinert/James.

 

This year’s Festival also serves as sketch pad for John Cuneo, humorous illustrator whose work appears in many national publications including The New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly and Esquire Magazine.

 

In addition to overseeing the Festival, Martha debuted her wildly successful weekly companion show Woodstock Writers Radio on Radio Woodstock 100.1 last year, airing Sundays from 6 to 7 a.m. and available online.

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