2010 New Mexico Women Authors’ Book Festival

Critically acclaimed author Anne Lamott kicks of the New Mexico Women Authors’ Festival Tuesday, September 28, 2010, 7 p.m. at the historic Lensic Theater in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Lamott will present a one-hour talk about her newest book, “Imperfect Birds.” Lamott, often referred to as the “people’s author,” is an uncommon writer who traverses the worlds of spirituality and religion without alienating those uncomfortable with either, and she does so with humor, intelligence and grace. A political activist, progressive and author of several novels and works of non-fiction, Lamott’s writings cover such subjects as alcoholism, single motherhood and Christianity.

Lamott has explained: “I try to write the books I would love to come upon — that are honest, concerned with real lives, human hearts, spiritual transformation, families, secrets, wonder, craziness — and that can make me laugh. When I’m reading a book like this, I feel rich and profoundly relieved to be in the presence of someone who will share the truth with me and throw the lights on a little, and I try to write these kinds of books. Books, for me, are medicine.” “Imperfect Birds,” is a sequel to “Crooked Little Heart” and “Rosie.” The book opens during the complicated moment in a family’s life when a child is hovering between adolescence and adulthood. “Life with most teenagers,” Lamott notes, “was like having a low-grade bladder infection. It hurt, but you had to tough it out.” “We are very pleased to be able to kick-off the New Mexico Women Authors’ Festival with Anne Lamott,” says John Stafford, founder of the festival and director of retail operations, Museum of New Mexico Foundation. “She’ll be speaking about “Imperfect Birds,” which is a thoughtful novel about a family crisis, and in typical Lamott fashion, doesn’t ignore the pain or exalt in despair. Lecture-goers will enjoy Lamott’s ability to capture the conflicted feelings of many parents and difficult issues, often with comedic hyperbole. I encourage people to join us for this interesting lecture that benefits the Museum of New Mexico Foundation.”

Lamott was born in San Francisco, and is a graduate of Drew School. Her father, Kenneth Lamott, was also a writer. His death was the focus of her first published novel “Hard Laughter.” She has one son, Sam, who was born in 1989 and a grandson, Jax.

WHAT: Anne Lamott kicks off the New Mexico Women Authors’ Festival with a one-hour talk about her newest book, “Imperfect Birds.”
WHEN: Tuesday, September 28, 2010, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Lensic Theater, 211 West San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
TICKETS: $15, $20, $25, $30, (505) 988-1234 or online at www.ticketssantafe.org

The third annual New Mexico Women Authors’ Book Festival (NMWABF) benefiting the Museum of New Mexico Foundation opens to the public Saturday, October 2 and runs through Sunday, October 3, 2010, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the New Mexico History Museum. The festival celebrates the joy of reading and the creative power of New Mexico’s women writers. The program expands this year with best-selling author Anne Lamott kicking off the festival with a ticketed event Tuesday, Sept. 28 at the historic Lensic Theatre in downtown Santa Fe.

More than 110 talented New Mexican female authors who have been juried into the festival will discuss their current work and craft in 30-minute segments Saturday and Sunday in six different venues throughout the New Mexico History Museum (NMHM) campus. Authors will be grouped by Fiction, History/Biography, Poetry, Food/Cooking, Creative Arts, Spirit/Health, Children and Special Topics. They will be presented in three tents in the Palace Courtyard, the auditorium, the Meem Community Room and the Learning Center. “New Mexico has a long history as a literary mecca,” says John Stafford, founder of the festival and director of retail operations, Museum of New Mexico Foundation. “We built the festival with the hopes that we can offer something to everyone in terms of world-class lectures, talks, book signings and events for both the general public and authors.” Friday, October 1, is an educational day for authors with seminars throughout the day on a variety of subjects. These events will be programmed and supported by the NMWABF Authors’ Committee.

“We launched New Mexico Creates in 2002 with 319 artists in the program, and now work with more than 1,200 New Mexico artists,” says Stafford. “Over the last five years the MNMF Shops have purchased over $5,500,000 of works directly from these authors, artists and artisans, helping build their livelihoods as well as contributing to the economy of New Mexico. Please join us for an enlightening literary week and support the Museum of New Mexico.”

The New Mexico Women Authors’ Book Festival is organized and produced by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation Shops, part of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, through the MNMF Shops initiative “New Mexico Creates.” The mission of New Mexico Creates is to promote and strengthen creative entrepreneurs while offering visitors and New Mexico citizens the best of New Mexico and supporting the units of the Museum of New Mexico. Book sales and authors’ book signings will take place in the lobby of New Mexico History Museum. Music, food and special presentations include the Palace Print Shop, Santa Fe’s Book Arts Group and the Fray Angelico Library, creating a fun and educational event expected to draw over 3,000 people. The festival is generously supported by the Marineau Family Foundation and more than 60 volunteers who devote many hours of their time to make the event a success.

WHAT: New Mexico Women Authors’ Book Festival
WHERE: New Mexico History Museum, 113 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM, 87501
WHEN: Friday, October 1, Author Workshops. Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3, open to the public.
COST: Saturday and Sunday; Free.
Friday Education Day: $25.00 for an all-day pass. Call 877-567-7380 to reserve a space for the day as space will be limited.

Download the Authors’ Presentation Schedule (452 KB PDF)

Download the Educational Presentation Schedule (208 KB PDF)

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