Every spring, since 1996, some of the greatest writers of the last 50 years have come to Point Loma Nazarene University to simply talk about the craft, as part of the annual Writer’s Symposium by the Sea. This year, the university is privileged to host one of the living legends of American journalism, Gay Talese, who will headline its 13th annual symposium, Feb. 4-8.
Other bestselling authors will be on hand at the symposium, including Anchee Min and Philip Yancey, as well as local writers Ken Kuhlken, and Susan Vreeland. In addition, Richie Furay, (founding member of the band Buffalo Springfield and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee) will also be featured at the symposium and will talk about songwriting. He will be joined by Jon Foreman of the local band Switchfoot.
From George Plimpton, to Ray Bradbury, to Amy Tan, to Bill Moyers, to Joseph Wambaugh, the symposium has consistently provided its guests with unforgettable memories. Candid stories have been told, laughs have been shared, and knowledge and experience have traveled from the lips of the literary giants to the ears of eager young students and invited visitors.
Talese is the bestselling author of eleven books. He was a reporter for the New York Times from 1956 to 1965, and has since written for the Times, Esquire, The New Yorker, Harper's Magazine, and other national publications. His groundbreaking article "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold" was called the "best story Esquire ever published." Talese was credited by Tom Wolfe with the creation of an inventive form of nonfiction writing called "The New Journalism."
Min’s bestselling memoir, “Red Azalea,” the story of her childhood in communist China, has been compared to The Diary of Anne Frank. Called a “wild, passionate and fearless American writer” by The New York Times, Min has written four other works of historical fiction: “Katherine,” “Becoming Madame Mao,” “Wild Ginger.” and “Empress Orchid.”
Yancey is one of the most popular Christian writers in America. He currently has 13 million books in print and has penned best-sellers “Disappointment with God” and “Where is God When it Hurts?,” which was distributed to all emergency workers after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Talese, Min, Yancey, and Furay will be interviewed on different days at Crill Performance Hall, by Dr. Dean Nelson, head of the journalism department at PLNU Tickets for each of those interviews are still available and are $15 each and will be available at the door. Each will offer his or her own unique perspective on the craft of writing, based on their years of experience.
For more information, contact event coordinator, Edie Chapman, (619) 849-2297 or echapman@pointloma.edu. You can register for the sessions online, or see a full schedule of events by visiting www.pointloma.edu/writers.
The Writer’s Symposium by the Sea is co-sponsored by the Department of Literature, Journalism and Modern Languages and the Wesleyan Center for 21st Century Studies, Cultural Events, The Society of Professional Journalists, and The City Club of San Diego.