It’s not every day that a packed university audience gets to hear what award-winning actor Sarah Jessica Parker’s favorite books were as a child—or to have a unique poem typed out just for them, or to learn how a neuroscientist became a bestselling author, or even why an investigative reporter was drawn to a 50-year-old serial killer case.
But for the book fans who attended the second annual Adelphi Writers & Readers Festival featuring Alice Hoffman ’73, ’02 (Hon.), on April 4 and 5, the Garden City campus was where they got an exclusive read on all those stories and more. The two-day event included panels and keynotes with bestselling authors; professional development workshops with literary agents, book editors, writing coaches and Adelphi professors; and conversations with writers and publishing insiders about the art and business of publishing.
The festival drew approximately 400 to Adelphi during the two-day event, including 70 high school students, Adelphi students, community members, professors and high school teachers.
A Shared Love of Reading
In his opening remarks before Friday’s keynote in the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center (Adelphi PAC), Thomas Kline, EdD, vice president of University advancement and external relations, acknowledged Hoffman “as the visionary behind the Writers & Readers Festival and acclaimed author, devoted alumna and passionate advocate for storytelling.”
Then Hoffman, who is the author of more than 40 works of fiction, shared that she became a reader—and a writer—in part because her mother had bookshelves in their house filled with novels. “I’m very interested in today’s talk because I’m interested in the way in which mothers can pass down their love of reading to change children’s lives and how librarians keep the world open even in the darkest times,” she said. “We need people like our panelists, who are dedicated to books.”
It was the perfect segue to a lively discussion between Parker, her mother, Barbara Forste, and moderator and author Adriana Trigiani in a session billed “The Books That Built Our Souls.” Forste shared the thrill of getting her first library card as a child. Parker spoke about the ways in which Forste made sure she and her seven siblings had exposure to books and the arts. She also talked about the documentary she produced, The Librarians, which highlights librarians across the country who have been fighting against book bans.
From YA to Memoirs
But the keynote wasn’t the only attraction that morning. Students and educators were drawn to a panel about how censorship is impacting the work of young adult writers, which was moderated by Robert Linné, PhD, senior adjunct faculty in education and cultural studies at Adelphi. There was also a discussion “On Reaching Young Adult Readers,” for which the high schoolers filled the room to capacity. The “Public Poetry Project” with Raisa Tolchinsky had a line to the door with attendees of all ages who were eager to have her write a personalized poem on her typewriter.
In “From Short Stories and Memoir to First Novels,” moderated by Louise Geddes, PhD, associate dean for student success and an English professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, authors Matthew Klam and Joseph Earl Thomas, PhD, shared their work and their methods. Other panels that day included the “The Editor-Author Relationship,” “I’ll Have What She’s Having” and “Lines of Connection: What Poetry Provides.”
Inspirational Sessions
On Saturday, René Steinke, director of the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing program, first introduced author Scott James ’84, who was there to interview Lisa Genova, PhD. In “The Power of Storytelling” Dr. Genova, a neuroscientist, shared that her bestselling novel Still Alice was rejected by several agents who said no one would want to read about a character with Alzheimer’s.
A poignant conversation between author Alvin Hall and Ed Mabrey, a student in Adelphi’s MFA program, followed. Hall spoke about the stories he learned from Black Americans who had been impacted by the Green Book used for safe travel across the country.
“The Scientist and the Serial Killer” discussion between Chee Gates, also a student in the MFA program, and investigative reporter Lise Olsen, revealed the determination of both the reporter and a forensic scientist to restore the identities of teenaged victims murdered in the early 1970s by a serial killer.
Movie Nights
A film festival capped both nights with screen time examples of the discussion “Book to Film: Behind the Scenes With Alice Hoffman, Ann Leary and Lisa Genova.” The Friday movie was The Good House, based on Leary’s novel, and Saturday’s double feature was based on Hoffman’s book Practical Magic and Nelson DeMille’s The General’s Daughter. There was also a tribute to DeMille, featuring personal recollections from his son, Alex DeMille, author Susan Isaacs, and personal friends Mary Jane Poole ’62 and Dave Westermann. It was moderated by Blyth Daylong, executive director of the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center.
Afra Masud, a first-year sociology major, said she enjoyed learning in the “Book to Film” session that “the film is no longer the author’s work.” Masud said, “It was so great to see three amazing women who have changed the world in many great ways on stage together sharing their wonderful memories and stories that bring us, the reader, closer to them.”
It’s that type of student feedback that means the event is fulfilling its mission, said Amy Harrison, MA ’93, festival coordinator and assistant vice president of University advancement. “Many authors remarked that the ‘vibe’ of our festival is one that will make them want to return in the future,” she said. “And we had dozens of inquiries about our new low-residency MFA program. Alice’s vision for Adelphi becoming a literary center on Long Island is taking shape.”