One of Austin’s great contributions to the worlds of both academia and music
was John A. Lomax, the UT professor who was one of the first musicologists to
take American folk music seriously as an academic discipline. He preserved
America’s endangered cowboy song heritage for later generations, and made the
world aware of blues great Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter. Lomax’s life was
recently chronicled in Last Cavalier: The Life and Times of John A. Lomax,
1867-1948, by Nolan Porterfield (University of Illinois Press).
Porterfield is the author of Jimmie Rodgers: The Life and Times of America’s
Blue Yodeler and his A Way of Knowing won the Best Texas Novel award
of the Texas Institute of Letters. He will be in town to accept the 1997 Miss
Ima Hogg Historical Achievement Award from the UT Center for American History
(actually, he will receive it at noon on Sat., Mar. 22 at the Winedale
Historical Center in Round Top), in addition to speaking at the Center on Mon.,
Mar. 24, 3-4pm (on the fourth floor of the Flawn Academic Center) and then
signing copies on Tue., Mar. 25, 7-8pm at Bookstop Central Park.
Political Bigwigs
Two names of great importance in Democratic Party politics — one local, onenational — will be in local bookstores this week promoting recent
publications. After 30 years of representing Central Texas in Congress, Jake
Pickle has racked up plenty of admirers in Austin. Now that he has retired and
spends his time in his hometown instead of Washington, he can rub elbows with
some of them — Pickle will appear at Barnes & Noble in the Arboretum on
Saturday, Mar. 22 and Congress Avenue Booksellers on Tuesday, Mar. 25 to
promote his memoirs, Jake, recorded with the help of his daughter Peggy
Pickle and published by University of Texas Press. Festivities are 4-6pm,
beginning with an introduction by former Governor Ann Richards, who wrote the
introduction to the book. Former U.S. Senator George McGovern, best remembered
on the national stage for his 1972 candidacy for the presidency, no doubt will
be meeting many of his former voters when he appears at Book People at 7pm on
Wednesday, Mar. 26. McGovern will sign copies of Terry: My Daughter’s
Life-and-Death Struggle With Alcoholism. Tickets for the event will be
given out at 9am that morning.
Texas Bound
For the fourth year in a row, Austin short story writer Tom Doyal has been
invited to participate in the Texas Bound program of the annual Arts &
Letters Live series at the Dallas Museum of Art. Doyal’s “Suppressing the Grief
Response” will be read by Dallas actor Katherine Owens at 6:30 and 8:30pm on
April 7 in the museum’s auditorium. Doyal’s story won second prize in The
Austin Chronicle‘s 1993 short story contest. For tickets, call 214/922-1219
or 214/922-1220.
Events
* THU, MAR 20: Fantasy writer Raymond Feist will read from and sign copies of
his Rage of a Demon King at Book People at 7pm… Author Robert Stone
will give a reading at 7:30pm in the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center’s
fourth-floor auditorium on the UT campus. Stone is the author of several
novels, including Dog Soldiers, winner of the 1975 National Book
Award.
* FRI, MAR 21: In celebration of Women’s History Month, Book People presents
local author Genevieve Vaughn, who will read from and sign copies of her
For-Giving at 7pm.
* SAT, MAR 22: Dr. Shirley Peddy, a former Exxon executive, has recorded her
experiences and insights into the corporate world in Secrets of the
Jungle. She will discuss and sign copies of her book at Barnes & Noble
(Arboretum), 2-3pm… Honoring Women’s History Month, Book People will sponsor
a reading by local poet Sue Littleton from her latest collection, Ranch on
the Pecos, at 7pm.
* SUN, MAR 23: Dr. Andrew Weil, author of New York Times bestseller
Spontaneous Healing, will discuss his new Eight Weeks to Optimal
Healing Power at Book People at 2pm.
* MON, MAR 24: Peter Gomes, the preacher to Harvard University, will be at Book
People at 3:30pm to discuss and sign copies of his The Good Book.
* TUE, MAR 25: The Women’s Way Literary Festival will take place at Book
People at 7pm with reading from Plain View Press writers and others, including
Margo LaGattuta, Susan Bright, Jill Wiggins, Ana Sisnet, Lauren Hawkins Grevel,
Arlene Jackson, Eve LaSalle Caram, Tammy Gomez, Cindy Huyser, Valerie Bridgeman
Davis, and Lana Book. More readings will be held on Mar. 27.
* WED, MAR 26: Jane Mendelsohn, author of I Was Amelia Earhart, will
appear at Barnes & Noble (Arboretum), 7:30-8:30pm.
* THU, MAR 27: Harriet Rochlin, author of Pioneer Jews and The
Reformer’s Apprentice, will present her slide show, “In a Rush: Jewish
Women in the Early West,” at Book People at noon… The Women’s Way Literary
Festival will take place at Book People at 7pm with reading from Plain View
Press writers and others, including Margo LaGattuta, Susan Bright, Jill
Wiggins, Ana Sisnet, Lauren Hawkins Grevel, Arlene Jackson, Eve LaSalle Caram,
Tammy Gomez, Cindy Huyser, Valerie Bridgeman Davis, and Lana Book.
* FRI, MAR 28: Contributors to Wind Eyes — A Woman’s Reader and Writing
Source will discuss their work at Book People at 7pm. The event, honoring
Women’s History Month, will include Susan Bright, Marty Burnet, Carol Cullar,
and Margo LaGattuta.
* SAT, MAR 29: Rob Thomas, who has taught high school journalism for over five
years and advised the University of Texas student magazine UTmost, will
read from his new book, Slave Day, at Book People at 5pm. Thomas is the
author of Rats Saw God.
* MON, MAR 31: Dancer, choreographer, and author Bill T. Jones will come to
Book People at 7pm to sign copies of his book, Last Night on Earth.
* THU, MAY 22: The final reading in the five-part Copyright Texas series at the Central Library in San Antonio (600 Soledad St.) will begin at
6:30pm with readings from Elizabeth F. Hailey, Rosemary Catacalos, and Naomi
Shihab Nye, with others to be announced.
* ONGOING: The Houston Writers Conference will present the “New Horizons” 1997
Writers Conference and Manuscript Contest, Mar. 20-22, at the Renaissance
Houston Hotel. Call 713/528-1286… The exhibition The Life and Films of
Warren Skaaren: Screenwriter is showing in the seventh-floor gallery of the
Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center through June 27.
“Post Scripts” is for author appearances and booksignings; the deadline is
two weeks before the issue date. Mail to The Austin Chronicle, PO Box
49066, Austin, TX 78765; fax 458-6910.
This article appears in March 21 • 1997 and March 21 • 1997 (Cover).