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Susann Cokal

AppearancesCommunity work
October 14, 2013

Virginia Book Lovers: This is the week for you!

This is the week to be proud to be a Virginian, especially if you're a book geek like me. The Literary Festival of Virginia is back. It has been  gaining national attention over the years, thanks to the impressive list of  bookish events you can find in this state. One event that I hope is on your radar is right here in Richmond. If you're a fan of books for young readers,  we want to see you at Teen '13  at the Richmond Public Library on October 17, 6 - 8:30 PM. Food, music, authors, books, free stuff, all in one place. The fifteen Virginia authors who are coming offer a mind-blowing range of styles and topics. The books - all 2013 releases -- are about psychic powers, romance, religious zealots, racism, canaries in coal mines, circus freaks, the KKK, bullies, military families, Darfur, dementia, horses, angels, courtiers, girls in juvie hall - you name it. See for yourself on the final schedule and the author list here. Teen '13 program_proof2 (2) Oh, and to sweeten the deal even more, there's free stuff: six $25 gift cards to Fountain Bookstore (which will be on hand that night); three winners of 30-minute video chats with an author of their choice; and an autographed collection of the entire list of books. Huge smooches to the Hanover High School Jazz band for their talents and to the Friends of the Library who funded the food, the space and all the prizes. (And buttons. Did I…
Appearances
September 16, 2013

Literary Mischief: A New Answer to Book Signings in RVA

Our host This Friday night, I'm getting in the ring with one of Richmond's favorite (and best named) storytellers, Slash Coleman for Literary Mischief, his refreshing and oddball take on book events. We'll be at The Crossroads Art Center and here's the basic set up. Four authors get a few minutes to talk about anything they choose. Then they face Slash for offbeat interview questions and plenty of audience participation. Yes, you can buy a book and we'll sign it, but the night is about relaxing and connecting with the authors who live and work in this city. I'll likely talk about what it's like to write for kids when your book pushes all the wrong buttons for school administrators. If that doesn't suit you, don't worry. I'll be joined by some of Richmond, Virginia's favorite faces in the arts, too. The lineup: Harry Kollatz, Jr - Senior writer and Arts and Entertainment Editor at Richmond Magazine  (Yep, you know him. The dashing guy in the fabulous hat.) He's the author of Richmond in Ragtime. Virginia Pye - former chair of James River Writers, whose debut novel River of Dust, was called "mysterious, exotic and creepy... A fine journey, well worth the effort" by The Washington Post Susann Cokal - critic, college professor essayist, and cat-obsessed friend, whose new novel The Kingdom of Little Wounds has earned a starred review from Kirkus. I admire everybody on the list, but we are a far-flung bunch, so who knows how Slash will knit us all together.  That's the fun. Our work spans…