Trevor Noah, Paul Auster and many more at first Montclair Literary Festival

by JAY LUSTIG

TREVOR NOAH

“The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah and novelist Paul Auster will be among dozens of writers and publishing professionals participating in the first Montclair Literary Festival, taking place March 31 and April 1. The event is organized by, and will benefit, Succeed2gether, a Montclair-based nonprofit that provides educational opportunities to low-income students.

Noah will speak about his memoir, “Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood,” and Auster will talk about his new, Jersey-set novel “4 3 2 1.”

Here is the schedule. All events are free, except for the talks by Noah and Auster.

For information and tickets, visit succeed2gether.org.

MARCH 31

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Trevor Noah discusses “Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood” with his editor, Chris Jackson, at the Montclair State University’s Memorial Auditorium. $40 (including a copy of “Born a Crime”).

2:45 to 4 p.m.: “Poetry and Politics Panel” with poets Jonterri Gadson, Vincent Toro, Vi Khi Nao and Teka Lark, moderated by Claudia Cortese. At Montclair State University’s Segal Gallery.

6:30 to 9 p.m.: “Young Writers Showcase,” middle and high school poetry slam and high school short story competition prize-giving. Succeed2gether students and tutors showcase their poetry, with slam poet Vincent Toro as MC. At Montclair High School Auditorium.

APRIL 1

10 to 11 a.m.:
“How to Get Published” panel with publisher Reagan Arthur, agents Tina Bennett and Richard Abate and authors Nancy Star and Deborah Davis. At Montclair Public Library Auditorium.

10 to 11 a.m.: “The Story of My Life.” Memoir writers Meredith Maran, Ylonda Gault Caviness and Lee Siegel in conversation with literary agent, editor and writer David Henry Sterry. At The Guild Room at First Congregational Church.

10 to 11 a.m.: “Facing History and Ourselves.” Authors Stephan Talty and Ellery Washington in conversation with Anne Burt. At The Sanctuary at First Congregational Church.

10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.: “Children’s Program,” story time with local children’s writers Jorge Aguirre, Jason Kirschner, Adriana Brad Schanen and Geoff Rodkey, plus writing games. At Montclair Public Library.

11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Laurie Lico Albanese, author of “Stolen Beauty.” At Montclair Public Library Auditorium.

11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Music writers Warren Zanes, Alan Light, Michael Azzerad and Bob Mehr. At The Guild Room at First Congregational Church.

11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Alice Elliot Dark talks about the interplay between fiction and life with authors Jayne Anne Phillips, Benilde Little, Elisabeth Egan and Dagmara Dominczyk. At The Sanctuary at First Congregational Church.

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: Emerging local writers. At Montclair Public Library Auditorium.

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: “Creating Compelling Characters” discussion with Young Adult authors E.R. Frank, Sharon Dennis Wyeth, Valerie Wilson Wesley and Adriana Brad Schanen. At Montclair Public Library YA Room

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: “Nature Writing in the Current Climate.” Writers Robert Sullivan, Elizabeth Royte and David Biello in conversation with editor Scott Dodd. At The Guild Room at First Congregational Church.

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: “Nasty Women in Fiction” talk with Matthew Thomas, Marcy Dermansky and Jillian Medoff, moderated by Thad Ziolkowski. At The Sanctuary at First Congregational Church  

1 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Art and Literature workshops for ages 7 and up. At Montclair Art Museum.

2 to 3 p.m.: Flash Fiction workshop with David Galef, creative writing program director at Montclair State University and author of over a dozen books. At Montclair Public Library YA Room

2 to 3 p.m.: Marina Budhos and Marc Aronson, authors of a new book on Robert Capa, Gerda Taro and the invention of modern photojournalism, with moderator Tom Franklin. At Montclair Public Library Auditorium.

2 to 3 p.m.: Michael Twitty, author of the upcoming book “The Cooking Gene,” in conversation with food writer Marissa Rothkopf Bates. At The Guild Room at First Congregational Church.

2 to 3 p.m.: “Why We Write.” Nicolas Delbanco in conversation with Sam Lipsyte, John Keene, Garth Risk Hallberg and Elena Delbanco. At The Sanctuary at First Congregational Church.

3:15 to 4:15 p.m.: Sports writers Filip Bondy, Mike Freeman and Jerry Barca in conversation with Jay Schreiber. At Montclair Public Library Auditorium

3:15 to 4:15 p.m.: “Race and Social Justice in the Age of Trump” discussion with David Troutt, Mychal Denzel Smith and Jason Williams. At The Guild Room at First Congregational Church.

3:15 to 4:15 p.m.: Discussion on the link between narrative and mental health with Larry Dark, Siri Hustvedt, Daphne Merkin and D.T. Max. At The Sanctuary at First Congregational Church.

4:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Pitch your book idea and get advice from “book doctors” Arielle Ekstut and David Henry Sterry. At Montclair Public Library Auditorium.

4:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Nicole Dennis-Benn discusses her novel “Here Comes the Sun” with her editor, Katie Adams. At The Guild Room at First Congregational Church.

4:30 to 5:30 p.m.: “Alternative Facts: Trump and the New World Order” with Tim O’Brien, Steven Engleberg, Kate Zernike and moderator Tom Johnson. At The Sanctuary at First Congregational Church  

6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Paul Auster discusses his novel “4 3 2 1.” At The Sanctuary at First Congregational Church. ($50, including copy of “4 3 2 1.”

7:30 to 9 p.m.: Drinks and hors d’oeuvres with Paul Auster and other festival writers and supporters. At The Guild Room at First Congregational Church. ($100, including admission to Auster’s talk and a copy of “4 3 2 1.”)

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