Friday, May 15, 2020

Virtual Arts and Letters Live - Sue Monk Kidd

Arts in the new Era - a Virtual ticketed event to hear Sue Monk Kidd give an author talk.

Totally worth the price of admission. Thanks to the Dallas Museum of Art and their Arts and Letters Live program, I was able to enjoy an hour long outdoor fireside chat with Sue Monk Kidd. Her new book is called Book of Longing.  I have not read it yet - a copy is being sent to me as part of the ticket price. Nonetheless, it sounds intriguing and I enjoyed hearing the author's comments on her process, concerns, and efforts to bring this book alive.

"You put yourself out there, " she said.  She decided to write a book about Anna, her creation - the wife of Jesus.  As her husband said, "What could go wrong?"  She approached it with trepidation, but felt there was a story there. It's fiction, but she believes writing is " a fight of courage."

She did a year of research and then took over four years to write the book. She wants the novel to "inspire our longings, our largeness." It was a feminist quest, a concern for freedoms, and to give a voice to a strong woman.

Sue Monk Kidd said, "My writing is a prayer."  She's seventy years old now, began writing at age thirty - a tad late to the game.

She was classy, well spoken, sincere, had a super sense of humor.  This program was a delight to watch. It would have been more fun live, but this could be the new norm and I am happy to pay for a ticket.

Sue Monk Kidd - author and neat lady.

12 comments:

  1. Sounds like a winning lady indeed.

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  2. That sounds like an intriguing concept for a book. You say she started writing at thirty, and that makes her a tad late to the game, eh? OY. Then I was reeeeeeally late...! :) (Oh well... better late than never, right?)

    Take care, kiddo, and have a super weekend.

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    1. yep - goes to show it's never too late, and she's still working on her craft

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  3. Clever way to do an event when people aren't allowed together.

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    1. I've signed up for another one for a local author

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  4. This sounds like it was a fun event. Interesting concept for the book too.

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    1. I just got the book. I'll write a review one of these days

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  5. Hi Joanne - it does sound like a lovely way to engage - and the idea has obviously captivated you ... as you've signed up for another event. I'm looking forward to the review - stay safe - Hilary

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    1. It's better than nothing and supports the arts. I have to keep the mind engaged

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  6. Looking forward to your next event Joanne.
    Great post and idea.

    Take care.
    Yvonne.

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