Special Events
The evening events, cost-free to Workshop attendees, have always been a feature of PWW, and 2008 will be no exception.
For PWW 2008, those so far finalised include:
- A Night in Gormenghast. A celebration in words and images of the life and work of fantasy author and illustrator Mervyn Peake, presented by his son Sebastian. In association with New York University in Paris.
- Wine and cheese launches of an exhibition of etchings by PWW tutor John Freeman and a selection of oil paintings of Paris by Claire Laporte, creator of our masthead view of Paris roofs.
- An encounter between PWW Tutor Kevin Jackson and Paris Prize judge Matt Thorne at the world-famous Shakespeare and Company bookshop.
- Readings of work by PWW students and faculty.
Also, Sunday 6th July has been designated as our first "Signing Sunday" an entire day devoted to book signings, readings, consultations with PWW's agent/publisher guests Jonathan Lloyd, Elizabeth Sheinkman and Patrick Janson-Smith, and concluding with a panel discussion of the problems of finding an agent and publisher.
In addition, attendees will be able to meet each afternoon at 5pm at our Literary Café to catch up on the day's events and enjoy music, readings, or just a chance to relax and chat.
Twentieth Annual Paris Writers Workshop
previous stop press
British novelist to judge first Paris Prize
British writer Matt Thorne has agreed to judge the first $5000 Paris prize for fiction. Born in 1974, Matt grew up in Bristol, graduated from Cambridge University, and published six novels before he turned thirty. Tourist, (1998) attacked the negative effects of tourism on a seaside town. Eight Minutes Idle (1999) drew on his experiences working in a call centre, and won an Encore Award, while his 2004 novel Cherry was longlisted for the Booker Prize. His critical study of the rock musician Prince will be published in 2010.
A regular critic for national newspapers, Matt has written screenplays and plays for radio, and several books for young adults, including the 39 Castles series, about a group of high-spirited children in medieval England.
Photo: Caroline Forbes
Another PWW success story!
Natalia Sarkissian (PWW 2007) writes: "Congratulations on your lovely new website. I would love to attend PWW this year, but as a result of last year's short-story workshop with Manette Ansay I was awarded a merit scholarship by Vermont College, where I am currently enrolled! I can safely say it is all thanks to you and your wonderful program that my life has taken a new and unexpected turn."
The Organisers
Meet Marcia and John, the people who made this year's PWW happen.
Marcia Lèbre
Marcia Mead Lèbre, who has lived in France since 1973, is a poet, translator, and teacher.... She attended her first Paris Writers Workshop in 1992 as a beginning writer and discovered her vocation as a poet. After participating in several more PWW's, she returned to graduate school and earned a M.F.A. at Bennington College She has directed the Paris Writers Workshop since 1998.
John Baxter
John Baxter was born in Australia but has written and taught in London, Dublin, Los Angeles and, for the last 18 years, in Paris. He is the author of more than 40 books, including We'll Always Have Paris: Sex and Love in the City of Light, A Pound of Paper; Confessions of a Book Addict, the forthcoming Immoveable Feast; A Paris Christmas, and biographies of Robert DeNiro, Federico Fellini, Stanley Kubrick and Woody Allen.
