Friends of the Key West Library 2022 Speaker Series--It's a Wrap!

 

LUCY BURDETTE: I have spent a ton of time and energy this winter working on programs and more for the Friends of the Key West Library. It's been so much fun and so much work, and we are so proud of what we've been able to donate to our library:

photo by Bill Carito

You may recognize some familiar faces, as I was able to wrangle a few New England pals into the group (Pat Kennedy and Barbara Ross.) I wanted to write a blog about the successful speaker series we completed last month, but then realized Pat had already written a wonderful article on the same subject...so I share it here!

It's a Wrap! by Pat Kennedy

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our resourceful Speakers Series team, eight popular presenters ‘visited’ Key West in 2022. Also, our attendees raved about our first-ever fund-raising event, featuring New York Times Cooking founding editor, Sam Sifton. If you missed any of these delightful presentations, good news: Just click here to view them on our YouTube channel.

Tom Perrotta

Tom Perrotta

Tom Perrotta, novelist and screenwriter best known for his novels Election and Little Children, read from his latest novel Mrs. Fletcher and answered questions about character development (“Is a character fully formed in your mind when you begin a novel?”) and writing (while a man) about a woman’s discoveries about pornography (“Is this a morally fraught act?”). Both Tom and his wife Mary commented on our charming Palm Garden venue, with sparkling café lights and the warm “winter” evening.  The Perrottas had just arrived in Key West directly from Boston where the temperature was 10 degrees, so no surprise they both agreed: “We’ll be back.”

Watch the presentation here: Tom Perrotta youtube

George Cooper

George Cooper

Next up, George Cooper illustrated Key West’s allure for writers and artists in a talk about his recently published Guide to The Key West Literary Pantheon. Cooper cleverly took a quote from many of the litterateurs’ work to illustrate a particular Key West charm. According to James Leo Herlihy, “The place was mysterious, funky, indescribably exotic. It had much of the charm of a foreign country, but you had the post office and the A&P and the phone worked, so life was easy.” With an eye-twinkle, Cooper updated Herlihy’s quote to mention that the A&P is now Fausto’s and the phones work even better due to cell-towers. 

Watch the presentation here: George Cooper youtube

S. A. Cosby

S. A. Cosby

S.A. Cosby’s turn at “the podium” via Zoom presented a real challenge when he lost power (and Internet access) in his southeastern Virginia neighborhood. Board member and interviewer Barbara Ross nimbly filled in for nine long minutes until Mr. Cosby’s Internet connection was restored. He was worth the wait! Mr. Cosby discussed his novels including his latest, Razorblade Tears, which debuted number 10 on the New York Times bestseller list and is nominated for a prestigious Edgar award for best mystery. His previous novel Blacktop Wasteland also garnered a landslide of awards. Both novels have been optioned for films. An engaging speaker, Mr. Cosby commented that even though his novels are traditionally described as Southern-noir, they are also social commentaries which address issues of being poor, Black and southern in America today.

Watch the presentation here: S.A. Cosby youtube

Sam Sifton

Ellen T. White and Sam Sifton

Our audience had a special treat when board member Ellen T. White interviewed Sam Sifton, assistant managing editor of The New York Times and founding editor of New York Times Cooking. A gifted raconteur, Sifton charmed all when he answered questions about personal disasters in the kitchen, cooking Thanksgiving dinner for 25, and whether he enjoys cooking or entertaining the best.  He had everyone laughing when he answered which three condiments he would choose to take if stranded on a desert island: “Chili crisps, Old Bay seasoning, and maple syrup,” he replied.

Following the conversation, guests moved to Williams Hall across the street from the library for a gala reception.

Watch the presentation here: Sam Sifton youtube

Pam Jenoff

Pam Jenoff

Board member Emily Berg interviewed Jenoff, the author of several historical fiction novels including the New York Times bestseller The Orphan’s Tale.  Jenoff warmed hearts when she declared that “I am passionate about libraries and am so thrilled to be doing this event tonight.”  She discussed her WW II novel The Winter Guest, the story of twin girls living in the countryside near Krakow, Poland.

Watch the presentation here: Pam Jenoff youtube

Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot, Key West’s own, introduced The Princess Diaries, a movie which was based on her young adult novel of the same name. She told us about her wonderment that Julie Andrews was not only involved producing the movie but playing a starring role and that a very young actress Anne Hathaway would star as the princess-to-be.  A first for our speaker’s series, this movie was shown at The Tropic Cinema. 

Charlaine Harris

Charlaine Harris

Board President Roberta Isleib interviewed the talented and prolific author Charlaine Harris, best known for her book series The Southern Vampire Mysteries, which was adapted as the TV series True Blood.  We learned that she has always been a fan of mysteries and wrote an entertaining series about librarian Aurora Teagarten—combining both libraries and mysteries.  “Very clever, I thought.” One fun fact she shared: “I love to drop in on my characters to let them tell me what they’re up to since I last visited with them.” And “outlining a novel” is like “painting by numbers.”

Watch the presentation here: Charlaine Harris youtube

Les Standiford

Les Standiford, our very last speaker, took us back to the library’s Palm Garden for a talk detailing his latest book Battle for the Big Top about the rise and eventual demise of the American Circus. Standiford is a prolific writer applauded throughout the Keys for his book Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad that Crossed an Ocean. Before writing history, Standiford mentioned that he wrote ten novels including at least one situated in Key West itself. Sadly, Standiford described being in the audience for the very last circus presentation.

Watch the presentation here: Les Standiford youtube

Can’t Wait for the 2023 Series!

It was a great year for the Speaker’s Series but only the prelude for the 2023 series.  So be sure to check our website late next fall for what promises to be an exciting season to come.

LUCY AGAIN: In addition to the speaker series, our board ran five book sales in our library's palm garden, plus revamped the entire back of our house--meaning implementing technology that brings our organization to the current century. As Pat mentioned, we also ran a fundraiser featuring New York Times Cooking founding editor, Sam Sifton. That meant we made a second donation, this one earmarked for improvements in the lighting and AV systems in the garden, where the events took place:

speaker series committee members turn the loot over to librarian Kim Rinaldi (photo by Bill Carito)

We are tired and happy, and already planning events for next year! Reds, have you been involved with your local library's Friends group? What has your experience been like?