Pen/Faulkner Gala

Friends, you may know that I began this writing thing as a writer with some "literary" credentials. I rather liked that. It might not have translated into massive book sales, but it did have its perks: book tours, special events, an occasional gourmet meal and unfettered access to some posh hotel's mini-bar, getting paid for visits to Universities, being reviewed by the NY Times, that sort of stuff. Has my transition to "genre" meant that I've lost all that? Well, not according to the folks at the Pen/Faulkner Foundation. Seems they still think of me as one of the gang.

The proof? I've recently been invited to read at their yearly Gala Ceremony! This is the big, expensive, beginning of their event season fund-raising event. They get a bunch of pretty prestigious writers together and ask us to compose and read short essays on a one word prompt. This year it's... Revelation. It's a black tie event, attended by... well, people fortunate, prosperous and enlightened enough to attend such events. (And who can aren't daunted by the $400 ticket price.) Here's a brief bit of how the Pen/Faulkner folks describe it:

"Geraldine Brooks, David Anthony Durham, Debra Magpie Earling, Nam Le, Alice Mcdermott, Jay McInerney, Francine Prose, Amy Tan, and others lend their imagination to the theme "Revelation" at a benefit evening of readings followed by a black-tie dinner. The proceeds from this festive evening support the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and Writers in Schools."

Now, I did this event once before, a few years back. I've also read in their reading series and been a judge for the Pen/Faulkner Awards. So they know me, and I know them. But, still, I'm very pleased to continue to be included, and to walk onto the stage at the Folger Shakespeare Library in a tuxedo, proudly a writer of literary and historical and fantasy fiction. (!)

HERE'S the info on the reading series.