Amanda Lamb Tracks A Murderess in N.C. & George Witte Considers Deniability in D.C.

Among the more literary events in the Triangle area of North Carolina this weekend is an appearance by septuagenarian novelist Paule Marshall, touring with her new book Triangular Road, a memoir that Jonathan Yardley at the Washington Post said “reveals a strong gift for self-scrutiny made all the more revealing by quiet humor and what appears to be complete honesty.” Marshall was at Raleigh’s Quail Ridge Books last night and comes to Durham’s Regulator Bookshop tonight, Friday, March 20, at 7 p.m.

On Monday, March 23, at 7 p.m., WRAL-TV reporter Amanda Lamb visits the Cary Barnes & Noble to discuss her latest book, Deadly Dose: The Untold Story of a Homicide Investigator’s Crusade for Truth and Justice, an account of one of North Carolina’s more notorious murder cases: the arsenic poisoning of Eric Miller by his wife Ann. I reviewed the book for Metro last summer, and while I thought the perspective was slightly limiting (the story relies almost exclusively on Raleigh homicide detective Chris Morgan’s account of the investigation), the book succeeds in taking us behind-the-scenes and into the day-by-day of tedious (and often fruitless) police work. 

Then, looking ahead to next Thursday evening, March 26, don’t miss short story writer Matthew Vollmer, author of Future Missionaries of America, at Quail Ridge Books. Vollmer was interviewed on Art & Literature a couple of months back when this debut collection was released, and I’m glad to see him making his way to the Triangle now.

For a full calendar of events for the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina, check out the MetroBooks Calendar at right.

In and Around D.C.

As usual, the D.C. area schedule is overflowing with author events over the coming week, including Michael Chabon at George Washington University on Monday, March 23, and Laura Lippman with her latest, Life Sentences, at Politics and Prose on Tuesday, March 24. (Please note: Mark Athitakis, at American Fiction Notes, maintains a comprehensive literary calendar for the D.C. area at his site, much like my MetroBooks Calendar. I turn to Athitakis’ calendar regularly and would urge readers here to do so too.) 

One event that I’m definitely going to make is an appearance by George Witte, editor in chief at St. Martin’s Press and author of two volumes of poetry, most recently this year’s Deniability. Witte comes to George Mason University’s campus on Monday, March 23, to read from his recent work and talking about editing for a major publishing house; the talk begins at 5 p.m. in Research I, Room 163. (For those who can’t make it to Mason Monday afternoon, Witte and fellow poet Sue Ellen Thompson will also be appearing at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda the day before: Sunday, March 22, at 2 p.m.)

I also just got notice that a new poetry journal, Rooms Outlast Us, is hosting a launch party for their first issue. The event takes place at Iota Club & Cafe in Arlington on Sunday, March 22, beginning at 7 p.m. Featured readers include Eric Pankey, Wade Fletcher, and Mel Nichols — each of whom I’m pleased to call a friend. Check it out!

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Lunch with Charles Todd

Caroline and Charles Todd

A quick update here on Charles Todd’s visit to North Carolina on Wednesday, February 25. The mother and son team, Caroline and Charles, will be part of an “author luncheon” at McIntyre’s Books in Fearrington Village (instead of a reading, as I’d mentioned earlier this week). The event — beginning at 2:30 p.m. in the Old Granary Restaurant — offers a chance for more extensive time with the bestselling authors, who will discuss their new book, A Matter of Justice. (See my interview with Caroline and Charles Todd here.) 

Tickets for the luncheon are $40 per person, but that price does include a signed hardcover copy of the new book. To sign-up, contact McIntyre’s at (919) 542-3030 or at books@fearrington.com. 

The Todds will also appear later that evening at Quail Ridge Books at 7:30 p.m. for a more conventional reading and signing. 

Additional events on the calendar for the coming week include:

• Leonard Todd, author of Carolina Clay: The Life and Legend of the Slave Potter Dave, on Friday, February 20, at 7:30 p.m. at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh.
• The monthly North Carolina Poetry Society Reading with Bill Griffin and Maureen Sherbondy, on Thursday, February 26, at 7 p.m. at McIntyre’s. 
• And Jayne Anne Phillips, author of Lark & Termite, on Friday, February 27, at 7:30 p.m. at Quail Ridge Books.

In & Around D.C.

A couple of interesting events on the schedule for the coming week in the D.C. area.

First up, on Sunday afternoon, the Writer’s Center in Bethesda is hosting a talk with literary agent Paige Wheeler, founder of Folio Literary Management. The free event begins at 2 p.m. (and comes in the midst of a very, very busy weekend for the Writer’s Center; check out a full schedule of events here.)

On Thursday, February 26, at 8 p.m., the Cheryl’s Gone Reading Series kicks off its first reading of the new year, featuring fiction by Sara Hov, poetry by Ryan Walker and Zein El-Amine, and music by Spoonboy (of the Max Levine Ensemble). It all takes place at Big Bear Cafe in D.C.

And don’t forget, NEXT Saturday, February 28, brings a Fiction Seminar at George Mason University, co-presented by Mason’s MFA program and American Independent Writers.

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