Tennessee Williams came to Key West to work on a re-write of Battle of Angels but he also came "because I like to swim". And because Key West was the southernmost point in America. In 1949 he bought the house at 1431 Duncan that he called home for the rest of his life. The studio where he wrote was called "The Mad House." When he would finish writing in the morning he would swim in his pool, "allowing my mind to go all black while I listened to the beguiling song of the Australian pines."

NEW VOICES: Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?

The 26th Annual Seminar

Speakers

Workshop Program

2nd Session: January 17 - 20

(For a printable version please click here.)

Each session will begin with a keynote on Thursday evening (January 10 and January 17) at 7:30 p.m. and conclude with a conch chowder luncheon around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon (January 13 and January 20). There will be an optional "free and open" to the public event on each Sunday from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., but this is not included in the registration fee, and admission to this free session requires a long wait in line.

Registration for each session will be at the San Carlos Institute, 516 Duval Street from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 - 7:30 p.m. on each Thursday.

(Please Note: Schedule and participants are subject to change. All events take place at the San Carlos Institute, 516 Duval Street, Key West, or within walking distance, as noted.)

Thursday, January 17

7:30 -8:00 Introductions

Lynn Kaufelt, President, Key West Literary Seminar
Introducing Rafael Penalver, President, San Carlos Institute

8:00 - 9:00 John Hersey Memorial Address

Lee Smith: “In the Beginning”

9:15 – 11:00 Reception at Audubon House & Gardens

Friday, January 18

8:45 – 9:30 Coffee, tea, pastries

9:30 – 9:50 Welcome Notes: Robert Richardson

9:50 – 10:05 Manuel Munoz, Reading of Lindo y Querido from his collection, Faith Healer of Olive Avenue

10:05 – 10:45 Daniel Menaker

What Are the Hallmarks of a New Voice?
How do we hear it? How do we know it? What are our obligations?

10:45 – 11:05 Break

11:05 – 11:30 Annie Dillard with Jake Silverstein

11:30 – 12:30 Junot Diaz

WHISPERS FROM THE NEW WORLD, WRITING THE NEW AMERICA

12:30 – 2:00 LUNCH

2:00 – 2:30 Reading and Commentary: The Virgin of Esmeraldas

Where does a writer find her voice?
Nell Freudenberger

2:30 – 3:15 James Gleick with Janna Levin: Lying Toward Truth

3:15 – 3:35 Break

3:35 – 3:50 Silas House, Reading

3:50 – 4:45 It’s a YA World: the past, present, and future of honest books for teens

Would Catcher in the Rye be published as a YA today?

A conversation with Judy Blume, Gigi Amateau, and Carolyn Mackler

7:00 – 10:00 Dinner at the Lighthouse Gardens

Saturday, January 19

8:45 – 9:30 Coffee, tea, pastries

9:30 – 9:45 Gigi Amateau, Reading from Georgia Tate

9:45 – 10:05 Tayari Jones, Reading

10:05 – 10:50 Billy Collins with Meghan O’Rourke and Kevin Young: Voice in Poetry

10:50 – 11:10 Break

11:10 – 11:30 Janna Levin, reading from A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines

11:30 – 12:30 Lee Smith with Silas House and Tayari Jones

Crossing the Line: The Role and Voice of the Southern Writer Today

12:30 – 2:00 Lunch

2:00 – 2:15 Carolyn Mackler, reading

2:15 – 3:00 Elisabeth Scharlatt and Manuel Munoz

How does a publisher hear a new voice?

3:00 – 3:20 Break

3:20 – 4:15 Is there an American Voice? What does it sound like? Where does it come from? How does it get to be heard?

Junot Diaz, Nell Freudenberger, Carolyn Mackler, Manuel Munoz, Kevin Young

7:30 – 8:00 Connie Regan-Blake, Performance

8:00 – 9:00 Poetry Reading:

Billy Collins, Meghan O’Rourke, Kevin Young

9:15 – 11:00 Champagne Reception, Custom House

Sunday, January 20

8:45 – 9:30 Coffee, Tea, Pastries

9:30 – 9:45 Jake Silverstein, Reading

9:45 – 10:05 Junot Diaz, Reading

10:05 – 10:55 Bob Richardson, Introduction of New Voices, Readings

10:55 – 11:15 Break

11:15 – 11:30 Daniel Menaker, Reading from “Headlock”

11:30 – 12:30 New Voices: Where Are We Going? A discussion

Gigi Amateau, Silas House, Janna Levin, Jake Silverstein

12:30 – 2:00 Conch Chowder Library Lunch

FREE SESSION

Note: The afternoon session is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-served. This session is not included in registration fee

2:00 – 2:15 Junot Diaz, Reading

2:15 – 2:30 Kevin Young, Reading

2:30 – 3:00 Billy Collins, Adventures in Poetry, Reading and Commentary

3:00 – 4:00 New Voices

Discussion: There is nothing new under the sun, or is there?

Nell Freudenberger, Meghan O’Rourke, Silas House, Tayari Jones

Moderated by Daniel Menaker