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Colum McCann in @LosAngelesTimes. We host him 6-18 at Live Talks LA
We host Colum McCann on June 18th at the William Turner Gallery at Bergamot Station. He’ll be discussing his new novel, Transatlantic. Ticket info here.
McCann was featured as the Sunday Interview in the Los Angeles Times on May 26th. Here’s an excerpt…
National Book Award winner Colum McCann’s ninth book, “TransAtlantic,” is a fictionalized exploration of three historic journeys between North America and Ireland. He talked about his new novel, which hits bookstores on June 4, by phone from his birthplace, Dublin.
How did this book come about?
One of the stories that obsessed me was the idea that Frederick Douglass had gone to Ireland at the age of 27 in 1845. He came to do a lecture tour — he was on the abolitionists’ circuit — and at the same time, the Irish famine began in 1845. So I was basically corralled by the notion of a black slave — he was still a slave at the time — being in Dublin and what it might be like. But I also wanted to bring it up to the present day, right up to Obama’s visit in 2011.
Actually, Obama had mentioned Frederick Douglass when he came to visit Ireland. So there were other things that I also wanted to write about, especially [former U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland] George Mitchell and the peace process, which was another image that corralled me — this great relationship between these two countries. I wanted to write an alternative Irish and American history — not necessarily an Irish-American history but an Irish and American history.
June 18 — Colum McCann in conversation with Carolyn Kellogg
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
8:00pm
An Evening with Colum McCann
in conversation with Carolyn Kellogg
discussing new novel, Transatlantic
William Turner Gallery
Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404
PURCHASE TICKETS
$20 General Admission
$40 Includes McCann’s book + Reserved seat
Colum McCann interview in the Los Angeles Times
Colum McCann is the bestselling author of the novels Let the Great World Spin, Zoli, Dancer, This Side of Brightness, and Songdogs, as well as two critically acclaimed story collections. His fiction has been published in thirty-five languages. Among his honors: the National Book Award, the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French government, and the Ireland Fund of Monaco Literary Award in Memory of Princess Grace. He has been named one of Esquire’s “Best & Brightest,” and his short film Everything in This Country Must was nominated for an Oscar in 2005. A contributor to the New Yorker, New York Times Magazine, Atlantic Monthly, and Paris Review, he teaches in the Hunter College MFA Creative Writing Program.
McCann’s new novel spans continents, leaps centuries, and unites a cast of deftly rendered characters, both real and imagined.
Newfoundland, 1919. Two aviators—Jack Alcock and Arthur Brown—set course for Ireland as they attempt the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean, placing their trust in a modified bomber to heal the wounds of the Great War.
Dublin, 1845 and ’46. On an international lecture tour in support of his subversive autobiography, Frederick Douglass finds the Irish people sympathetic to the abolitionist cause—despite the fact that, as famine ravages the countryside, the poor suffer from hardships that are astonishing even to an American slave.
New York, 1998. Leaving behind a young wife and newborn child, Senator George Mitchell departs for Belfast, where it has fallen to him, the son of an Irish-American father and a Lebanese mother, to shepherd Northern Ireland’s notoriously bitter and volatile peace talks to an uncertain conclusion.
These three iconic crossings are connected by a series of remarkable women whose personal stories are caught up in the swells of history. Beginning with Irish housemaid Lily Duggan, who crosses paths with Frederick Douglass, the novel follows her daughter and granddaughter, Emily and Lottie, and culminates in the present-day story of Hannah Carson, in whom all the hopes and failures of previous generations live on. From the loughs of Ireland to the flatlands of Missouri and the windswept coast of Newfoundland, their journeys mirror the progress and shape of history. They each learn that even the most unassuming moments of grace have a way of rippling through time, space, and memory.
Carolyn Kellogg is a staff writer at the Los Angeles Times. She writes about books and he publishing industry. She previously interviewed Carl Hiaasen at Live Talks Los Angeles. Here’s the video.
We’re adding to our venues: The Alex Theatre in Glendale | Upcoming events: Burt Bacharach, Phil Jackson, Neil Gaiman
As we continue to grow Live Talks Los Angeles, we are happy to share that we will be producing some of our events at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale. We have the following events scheduled at the Alex, with more to come. Ticket info in each of the links…
May 14 Burt Bacharach in conversation with Mitch Albom
discussing his memoir, Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music, 8pm
Jun 12 Phil Jackson in conversation with John Salley
discussing his memoir, Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success, 8pm
June 27 An Evening with Neil Gaiman
in conversation with Entertainment Weekly’s Geoff Boucher, 8pm
discussing his new novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane
May 17 — Burt Bacharach in conversation with Carole Bayer Sager (Santa Monica)
Friday, May 17, 2013
8:00pm (Reception, 6:30-7:30pm)
An Evening with Burt Bacharach
in conversation with Carole Bayer Sager
discussing his memoir, Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music
Presented in association with New Roads School
Ann and Jerry Moss Theater
Herb Alpert Educational Village
New Roads School
3131 Olympic Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 9o404
PURCHASE TICKETS
$20 General Admission
$40 Includes Bacharach’s memoir
$95 *Includes Reserved seats + Burt Bacharach’s memoir
* Proceeds from our receptions, support the Live Talks Los Angeles Newer Voices series giving greater exposure to emerging authors and newer voices. At check in, you will get a ticket that gives you access to the aforementioned reserved block of seats
Burt Bacharach is a classically trained pianist whose songs and compositions have been recorded by the most influential artists of the twentieth century. Over the past six decades, his legendary songwriting has touched millions of devoted listeners all over the world. He has written more than seventy Top 40 hits and won three Academy Awards, eight Grammys (including one for lifetime achievement), and an Emmy, was nominated for a Tony, and received the prestigious Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. “What the World Needs Now is Love,” Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”, “That’s What Friends are For” and “Walk on By” are just a handful of his hits.
In his memoir, Anyone Who Had a Heart, Bacharach steps out from behind the music to give an honest, engaging look at his life—from a childhood in Forest Hills, New York, where he first fell in love with music after seeing Dizzy Gillespie perform to his work with Hal David, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Costello, Carole Bayer Sager, Neil Diamond, and many others to his tumultuous marriages and the tragic suicide of his daughter. His memoir is the story of a man who has always expressed his deepest feelings through his music. His memoir offers a candid backstage look at show business as well as the personal struggles of an artist whose incredible body of work has earned him a unique position in the American cultural landscape. Visit his website.
Carole Bayer Sager’s songbook spans 40 years, and contains some of the period’s most popular and successful songs. From the Grammy-winning “That’s What Friends Are For,” the Oscar-winning “Arthur’s Theme,” and the Oscar-nominated/Golden Globe winning “The Prayer,” Carole’s songs have become pop standards.
Honors for her work also include a Tony Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Songwriter’s Hall of Fame induction and a Distinguished Alumni Award from the New York University Alumni Association.
One of the most prolific and poignant writers in pop history, Carole began her songwriting career while in high school. She wrote her first #1 hit, “A Groovy Kind of Love,” for the British group The Mindbenders in 1966. Phil Collins re-recorded it and took it to #1, and it was the most performed radio hit of 1990.In the 70s, Carole’s partnership with Burt Bacharach was fruitful, both professionally and personally. As husband and wife, they were one of songwriting’s most successful teams. They contributed the proceeds of “That’s What Friends are For” to AIDS research, more than $3 million to date.
In addition to her philanthropic work, Carole began painting in 2006, and what began as a hobby has become a full-time passion. She lives in LA and NY with her husband, the media executive Bob Daly. Her son Cristopher Bacharach is now 27. Visit her website.
June 12 — Phil Jackson in conversation with John Salley
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
8:00pm (Reception 6:30-7:30pm)
An Evening with Phil Jackson
in conversation with John Salley
discussing his memoir, Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success
The Alex Theatre
216 North Brand Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91203
PURCHASE TICKETS
$22 General Admission
$42 General Admission + Phil Jackson’s book, Eleven Rings
$55 Reserved Seats* + Phil Jackson’s book
$105 **Premier Reserved seating* + pre-event reception + Jackson’s book
EVENT IS SOLD OUT. VIDEO WILL BE RELEASED SOON.
* At check in, you will get a ticket that gives you access to a reserved block of seats
**Proceeds support the Live Talks “newer voices” author series launching in Fall ’13
All tickets include Alex Theatre restoration facility fee of $2.00
A sampling of Phil Jackson in the news:
— NPR, May 21 (audio) — Courtside Chemistry: How NBA’s Phil Jackson won ‘Eleven Rings’
— New York Times, May 16 — Why Basketball Won’t Leave Phil Jackson Alone
— The Daily Show (via Huffington Post, May 22 — Phil Jackson on The Daily Show
— NBC, The Tonight Show, May 17 — Phil Jackson on the Tonight Show
— Los Angeles Times, May 16 — “Eleven Rings’: Phil Jackson Savors Beating Celtics in 2010
— Los Angeles Times, May 16 — Phil Jackson Throws the Book at Kobe Bryant
— Time Magazine interview, May 26 — “10 Questions for Phil Jackson”
During his storied career as head coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson won eleven titles — more championships than any coach in the history of professional sports. Even more important, he succeeded in never wavering from coaching his way, from a place of deep values. Jackson was tagged as the “Zen master” half in jest by sportswriters, but the nickname speaks to an important truth: this is a coach who inspired, not goaded; who led by awakening and challenging the better angels of his players’ nature, not their egos, fear, or greed.
His memoir, Eleven Rings, is the story of a preacher’s kid from North Dakota who grew up to be an innovative leader. In his quest to reinvent himself, Jackson explored everything from humanistic psychology and Native American philosophy to Zen meditation. In the process, he developed a new approach to leadership based on freedom, authenticity, and selfless teamwork that turned the hypercompetitive world of professional sports on its head.In Eleven Rings, Jackson candidly describes how he: Learned the secrets of mindfulness and team chemistry while playing for the champion New York Knicks in the 1970s; Managed Michael Jordan, and got him to embrace selflessness, even if it meant losing a scoring title; Forged successful teams out of players of varying abilities by getting them to trust one another and perform in sync; Inspired Dennis Rodman and other “uncoachable” personalities to devote themselves to something larger than themselves; Transformed Kobe Bryant from a rebellious teenager into a mature leader of a championship team. His memoir is full of revelations: about fascinating personalities and their drive to win; about the wellsprings of motivation and competition at the highest levels; and about what it takes to bring out the best in ourselves and others.
His reputation was established as head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989-1998; during his tenure, Chicago won six NBA titles. His next team, the Los Angeles Lakers, won five NBA titles, from 2000 to 2010. He holds the record for the most championships in NBA history as a player and a head coach. He also has the highest winning percentage of any NBA coach (.704). Jackson was a player on the 1970 and 1973 NBA champion New York Knicks. In 2007 Jackson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Follow him on Twitter.
John Salley is an NBA veteran of 11 seasons. He is the first basketball player in NBA history to win four championships with three different teams. He was on Phil Jackson coached teams in Chicago and Los Angeles. Drafted out of Georgia Tech in 1986 by the Detroit Pistons, Salley was a member of the “Bad Boys” squad which included Isaiah Thomas and the infamous Dennis Rodman; a team that went on to win back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. Following stints with the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors, Salley played with Michael Jordan as part of the Chicago Bulls 1996 championship team. After a brief retirement to co-host NBA on NBC, Phil Jackson invited Salley to come join the Los Angeles Lakers where he was on the 2000 NBA Championship team.Since his retirement from the NBA, Salley has worked in television, film, radio, print and new media. Salley was a co-host of the Emmy nominated series The Best Damn Sports Show Period (FOX) for seven years. He is presently hosted and was Executive Producer of his interview show, Game On! with John Salley on the Reelz Channel. He has written on food, wine and wellness, for Wine Spectator, Cigar Aficionado and LA Confidential. Visit his website. Follow him on Twitter.
May 14 — An Evening with Burt Bacharach in conversation with Mitch Albom
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
8:00pm
An Evening with Burt Bacharach
in conversation with Mitch Albom
discussing his memoir, Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music
The Alex Theatre
216 North Brand Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91203
PURCHASE TICKETS
$22 General Admission
$42 Includes Bacharach’s memoir
$55 *Includes Reserved seats + Burt Bacharach’s memoir
$70 *Includes Premium Reserved seats
Plus 2 books (Bacharach’s memoir & Mitch Albom’s recent book, The Time Keeper)
* At check in, you will get a ticket that gives you access to the aforementioned reserved block of seats
Burt Bacharach is a classically trained pianist whose songs and compositions have been recorded by the most influential artists of the twentieth century. Over the past six decades, his legendary songwriting has touched millions of devoted listeners all over the world. He has written more than seventy Top 40 hits and won three Academy Awards, eight Grammys (including one for lifetime achievement), and an Emmy, was nominated for a Tony, and received the prestigious Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. “What the World Needs Now is Love,” Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”, “That’s What Friends are For” and “Walk on By” are just a handful of his hits.
In his memoir, Anyone Who Had a Heart, Bacharach steps out from behind the music to give an honest, engaging look at his life—from a childhood in Forest Hills, New York, where he first fell in love with music after seeing Dizzy Gillespie perform to his work with Hal David, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Costello, Carole Bayer Sager, Neil Diamond, and many others to his tumultuous marriages and the tragic suicide of his daughter. His memoir is the story of a man who has always expressed his deepest feelings through his music. His memoir offers a candid backstage look at show business as well as the personal struggles of an artist whose incredible body of work has earned him a unique position in the American cultural landscape.
Mitch Albom is a best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster and musician. His books have collectively sold over 33 million copies worldwide; have been published in forty-one territories and in forty-two languages around the world; and have been made into Emmy Award-winning and critically-acclaimed television movies. He hosts a daily talk show on WJR radio (airs Monday through Friday, 5-7 p.m. EST) and appears regularly on ESPN Sports Reporters and SportsCenter. He is author of the mega bestseller, Tuesday’s with Morrie, and his most recent novel is The Time Keeper. Visit his website.