This year the Sun Valley Writers' Conference explores the theme "Identity: Who Are We Now?" through a distinguished group of visiting writers representing acclaimed non-fiction and fiction as well as prized poetry, screenwriting and much more.
"The conference this year is a combination of writers who live high literary lives," said conference chairwoman Reva Tooley. "The conference will address some of the issues people are concerned about these days."
The conference has been sold out for passes, but single-ticket events at the Sun Valley Pavilion will be available for $25. In addition there are free events including a talk with civil rights advocate and corporate executive Vernon Jordan on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
His memoir, "Vernon Can Read!," was well received for its insight into a critical period in American history. His latest book, "Make It Plain: Standing Up and Speaking Out," is a collection of his speeches. Jordan and his wife, Ann Dibble Jordan, live in Washington, D.C. Jordan writes a column that appears in about 300 American newspapers.
"One of the things we really liked to see is the various authors introduce authors to authors," Tooley said. "We love our new home and last year was our first experience. Sun Valley Co. has done a wonderful job and has a very skilled crew operation for the pavilion."
Some of the highlights of this year's conference include Vartan Gregorian, former president of Brown University and the New York Public Library and current president of the Carnegie Corp. of New York. Gregorian will discuss his 2003 memoir, "The Road to Home: My Life and Times."
In addition, Abraham Verghese will present his novel "Cutting for Stone," which concentrates on his study of medicine and how he views the health care crisis as a crisis of physician faith. Financier Liaquat Ahamed will talk about his book "Lords of Finance," which explores events and situations that led to the Great Depression and how it relates to current economic times.
The conference will also feature a talk and reading by Booker Prize-winning novelist Ian McEwan, who will discuss and read from his new, yet-to-be-published novel, which has as its "background hum" the subject of climate change. McEwan is the author of "On Chesil Beach," "Saturday" and "Atonement."
The conference is dedicating a concert at the pavilion to the late author Frank McCourt, who died in July.
"Frank McCourt was a huge loss for everybody," Tooley said. "He first came to the conference in 1996 and only skipped one year. He was very much involved in the conference. We learned a lot from him."
The conference has many more events with writers, including the poetry of Paul Muldoon and W.S. Merwin as well as the works of humorist Roy Blount and a conservation with Jan Morris, who is reputed to be the greatest living travel writer.
"We have over 80 loyal volunteers who help with the conference," Tooley said. "It's important for the community of students and teachers to come free to the pavilion as long as they show identification."
The conference will take place Friday, Aug. 21, through Monday, Aug. 24. For a complete listing and schedule of events visit svwc.com.
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Pavilion talks
The Sun Valley Writers' Conference is offering single-ticket events at the Sun Valley Pavilion for $25 at Iconoclast Books, Chapter One Bookstore and at the conference.
Friday, Aug. 21
· 6:30-7:30 p.m. Vartan Gregorian
Saturday, Aug. 22
· 10:15-11:15 p.m. Liaquat Ahamed
· 3:30-4:30 p.m. Vernon Jordan, free talk open to the community
· 6:30-7:30 p.m. Ian McEwan
Sunday, Aug. 23
· 10:15-11:15 a.m. Jan Morris
· 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Annette Gordon-Reed
· 2-3 p.m. Roy Blount
· 3:30-4:30 p.m. Philip Gourevitch
· 5-6 p.m. Celebrate the life of Frank McCourt with Mick Moloney and his band
· 6:30-7:30 p.m. Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Monday, Aug. 24
· 9-10 a.m. Gretchen Morgenson
· 10:30-11:30 a.m. Paul Mulddon
· 12-1 p.m. Peter Duchin
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
The Sun Valley Writers’ Conference will have open, single-ticket events at the Sun Valley Pavilion.
Photo by Barbi Reed
