2008
Maryville University -
Author Auditorium
* Please note that the Author Auditorium is sponsored by Maryville University, but is hosted on the Big Read site inside of Clayton High School.
Admission to all author appearances are free.
Seating is limited and filled on a “first-come
first-served” basis.
Book Signings immediately following each event.
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9:45am-10:30am
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"St. Louis and the Civil War”
Dr. Edward Ayers is one of the nation’s leading scholars on the history of the American South and recently became the ninth president of the University of Richmond. Author of 10 books including The Promise of the New South: Life After Reconstruction, a finalist for both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, Dr. Ayers will discuss the American Civil War experience. Dr. Ayers will also discuss his latest book, In the Presence of Mine Enemies: The Civil War in the Heart of America, 1859-1863. Dr. Ayers will also serve as the Guest of Honor at The Historic Hanley House Fall Festival from 3:00 to 4:00 pm.
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10:45-11:45 am
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"Will the Media Decide Your Vote?"
Meet St. Louis’ top trusted journalists and authors, Julius Hunter, Don Marsh, and Don Corrigan with host Donn Johnson in a frank discussion about the influence of media on our political thoughts and decisions. Julius Hunter, award-winning broadcast and print journalist whose career spanned almost thirty years as anchor on CBS’ Channel 4 news, discusses his new tell-all, Julius Hunter: TV One on One. Don Marsh, host of KWMU’s “ St. Louis on the Air,” reflects on nearly fifty years as a journalist and recounts the stories in his book, Flash Frames: Journey of a Journeyman Journalist. Don Corrigan, editor and co-publisher of two suburban weeklies in St. Louis, Webster-Kirkwood Times and South County Times and author of Show Me… Natural Wonders shares his thoughts about public journalism. Donn Johnson, Director of Communications at the Missouri History Museum, will moderate this lively discussion. Join in the fun – and the debate! Booksigning to follow.
  
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12-12:45 pm |
“The Flood of 1993 – Damned to Eternity”
Did you know one man was convicted twice – once in 1994 and again in 1998 of Intentionally Causing a Catastrophe, a Class A felony in the state of Missouri, because authorities clamed he destroyed the levee that caused the 1993 flood in Missouri on purpose?
Join St. Louis magazine staff writer Jeannette Cooperman as she interviews Adam Pitluk, author of the new book, Damned to Eternity: The Story of the Man Who TheySaid Caused the Flood. In the book, Pitluk introduces us to James Scott, a then 24-year-old fast food employee who was assisting in relief efforts along the Mississippi River when a levee on which he was working broke.
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1-2:00 pm
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“Fighting for Justice in the Prisons of Guantanamo”
Masterful writer, Steven T. Wax, tells the gripping inside stories of two of the most highly publicized terrorism cases of the 21 st century in his new book, Kafka Comes to America: Fighting for Justice in the War on Terror, A Public Defender’s Inside Account. It is the saga of one federal public defender’s struggle to rescue two innocent men from the often harsh and absurd policies of the war on terror. Wax has a unique and powerful insider’s perspective. After his talk, join him in a discussion of our judicial system, moderated by Tom Eshen. Booksigning to follow.
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2:30-3:30pm
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“Being a Black Man in America Today”
Join St. Louis American editor, Bill Beene, in an honest discussion with nationally acclaimed authors, Kevin Powell, Lyah Beth LeFlore, and David Mendell, about being a black man in America today. Kevin Powell, writer, political activist, and bestselling author discusses his new book, The Black Male Handbook: A Blueprint for Life. Kevin Powell is a 2008 Democratic candidate from Brooklyn for the United States Congress. St. Louisan Lyah Beth LeFlore joins the panel in her discussion of her latest, I Got YourBack: A Father and Son Keep It Real About Love, Fatherhood, Family Friendship – the story of Eddie Levert Sr. and Gerald Levert. And Barack Obama’s biographer, David Mendell, staff writer for the Chicago Tribune, discusses his new book, Obama: From Promise to Power. Mendell shows how Obama tose to arguably be the most dynamic figure to grace the American stage since Kennedy. Booksigning to follow
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