Melinda Palacio
The book tent at Jazz Fest |
Many locals grumble about the
rising costs of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, but the proceeds go
to good causes, especially education programs for kids. Thanks to Ted O'Brien
of the Garden District Bookshop, I worked the book tent at Jazz Fest in New
Orleans last Thursday. All proceeds of book sales went to the Children's Book
Bank which provides books to children through several organizations, including
STAIR (Start the Adventure in Reading), For the Children, Just the Right
Attitude, and Girls and Boys Town of Louisiana.
While working the cash register,
Ted allowed me to display my novel, OcotilloDreams, front and center. If people looked as if they weren't sure which book to top off their shopping
list, I could direct them to mine. This is how I sold a copy to Swati J. Shah
of New Orleans. She dropped in to say hello to friends and browse the
collection. "I came by to see if any books caught my eye," she said.
"I buy books for me and for children I know. I love to read and want them
to enjoy it too."
Jazz Fest is seven days, spread
over two long weekends of music, dancing, food, and books. On the day that I
went, M was the operative letter: music, mud, manure (the festival takes place on
the fair grounds and horse racing track), miscommunication, and overall messy. The shows go on, rain or shine. There
are some covered tents, but the big stages are an open free for all where you
bring your own chair, blanket, or tarp and claim some land to dance on.
The telephone game came into play
in form of a miscommunication that went viral. I remember the potential
suspect, a woman in a green raincoat who asked about the sign that announced
the cancellation of Patti Smith's signing in the Book tent and rescheduling to
the Garden District Book Shop a few hours before her performance at the
Gentilly stage. The tall lady in the green coat was confused and asked everyone
in the book tent about Patti Smith's "cancelled performance." We all
assured her that only the book signing for her memoir Just Kids was cancelled at the book tent and moved to the Garden District Book Shop several hours before her appearance at Jazz Fest. Yet somehow, through the power of facebook and twitter, news of
Smith's supposed show cancellation went viral. Eventually, Jazz Fest organizers
put up an official sign assuring the crowd that Patti Smith did not cancel her
performance. She even started playing early, and with her bewitching voice, the
clouds parted and the sun came out.
Ted O'Brien with Patti Smith in background |
There was nothing to do about the
mud. Super volunteer Sean Griffith said he didn't mind the mud or the manure
one bit: "Honestly, the music and the atmosphere were so electric, the bad
weather didn't matter much to me," he said. "It maybe even added
something. But this is coming from someone who chronically shows up unprepared
and had no chair or blanket to be ruined."
Two people who did not know each other before Jazz Fest dance to Widespread Panic. |
The rain sure caused a damper on
the book tent. It's very hard to keep the books dry when people ducked into the
tent for shelter and perused the books with dripping hands and wet ponchos. The
previous weekend, the book tent's grassy ground flooded. Jazz fest organizers finally
put down some rubber walkways. Ted O'brien has been working the jazz fest book
tent for the past decade. For him, every day it doesn't rain is a highlight.
I was excited to discover the book
tent, attend Jazz Fest (even for just a day), and volunteer at a worthy cause
that helps children have access to books.
Back in California, this Saturday is Lit Fest Pasadena, May 11. Visit three blogueros at the Omnipresent Panel: The Vibrancy of Latino Literature
Starting: 2:00PM to 3:00PM
PANEL: Omnipresent: The Vibrancy of Latino Literature (2:00pm-3:00pm)
Omnipresent: the Vibrancy of Latino Literature offers something for everyone. From memoir to noir mystery, poetry to historical fiction, and magical realism to L.A. fiction. The showcase of literature by Latino authors includesReyna Grande (The Distance Between Us: A Memoir), Manuel Ramos (Desperado: A Mile High Noir), Alex Espinoza (The Five Acts of Diego León), Melinda Palacio(How Fire Is a Story, Waiting), and moderator Daniel Olivas (The Book of Want).(Julia Child Stage)
May 18, Tia Chucha's Words and Music Festival,
The Banned Books panel is slated to begin at 1:30 and will end at 2:15 on Saturday May 18, 2013 at Los Angeles Mission College, 13356 Eldridge Avenue, Sylmar, CA. 91342.
The Banned Books panel is slated to begin at 1:30 and will end at 2:15 on Saturday May 18, 2013 at Los Angeles Mission College, 13356 Eldridge Avenue, Sylmar, CA. 91342.
May 19, Griffith Park Reading Series at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park at 5:30 pm (note new time).
The readers are Chiwan Choi, Melinda Palacio, Diana Wagman and Amanda Yates, with our special musical guest, Bloody Death Skull
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