The Return of the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Festival
The Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society awards dinner, 2019, photo by Ellis Anderson
September 2023After a three-year pandemic-related hiatus, one of the city’s favorite literary events makes a September comeback – with a series of author presentations and concerts slated for 2024. The full schedule is included.
- by Michael Warner
It began as a jest, on a whim.
“We invited 500 people to the first annual meeting of the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society,” said Rosemary James, co-founder of the group. “We just made that up on the spot. To our surprise, most of the 500 accepted.”
James and her late husband, Joseph DeSalvo, Jr., were owners of the erstwhile home of William Faulkner and William Spratling at 624 Pirate’s Alley in New Orleans. The year was 1990 and they were about to open Faulkner House Books on the first floor of the building. But they wanted to debut the bookshop with a bang.
The couple decided to honor the late author with a literary event. After all, Faulkner had written his first novel, Soldiers’ Pay (1926), within those walls.
Now that they had invited all these people, James and DeSalvo needed a program. On Tuesday, September 25, 1990 – Faulkner’s birthday – the couple organized readings from Faulkner’s work and toasts to Faulkner from such literary luminaries as Joan Williams, author and love interest of Faulkner. These were held at the Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré, and – it being New Orleans and all – the agenda was rounded out with a block party in Pirate’s Alley.
“It was a black tie event, and so many people told us how much they enjoyed it, that we immediately applied for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation,” said James. “W. Kenneth Holditch, PhD – literary expert and co-founder of the Tennessee Williams Festival – had been bugging us to start a Faulkner Society, so indeed he became a co-founder.”
By the next year, the Society was incorporated and had become part of New Orleans’ literary history.
Rosemary James and Joe DeSalvo in 2008 at Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society’s Krewe of Libris ball, photo courtesy PAFS
Time passed. Books were read. Eventually, the Faulkner Festival incorporated a well-respected writing competition, and the Society began to sponsor more events, such as the Spring Concert Series, and an author speaking series.
But in 2019, Covid hit the fan. Though the writing competition continued, that was the last year for the Faulkner Festival and other in-person events. And then at the end of 2020, Joe DeSalvo passed away, well-beloved and at the age of 88.
Despite all, James tried to reboot the festival in 2021 and 2022, but Covid still asserted its presence. “I wouldn’t take responsibility for bringing people into that,” said James.
Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Gaines with Leah Chase at 2012 PAFS event in honor of Gaines. Photo courtesy PAFS
But 2023 is the year. The Faulkner Festival is back and kicks off on Friday, September 22 with a three-day program, outlined below.
Furthermore, the Spring Concert Series for 2024 Lenten Season is resuming, to be held at St. Mary’s Church at the Old Ursuline Convent, 1116 Chartres St. The first concert will be held Wednesday, February 21, 2024 and will run each Wednesday for six weeks.
“We are also resuming our calendar of author events at the Cabildo in partnership with the Louisiana State Museum,” said James.
One of the first author-speakers in that series will be Walter Isaacson, returning to New Orleans on December 10, 2023 to celebrate his new book, Elon Musk (Simon & Schuster, to be released Sept. 12, 2023). And on a date to be set in February 2024, Richard Ford has been invited for a similar event when his book tour for Be Mine: A Frank Bascombe Novel (HarperCollins Ecco Imprint, 2023) is over.
Novelist Karen Essex, author of Leonardo's Swans interviewed Walter Isaacson at a capacity-crowd cocktail hour event in 2017. Isaacson’s book, Leonardo, had recently been released. Rosemary James on right. Photo courtesy PAFS
Registration takes place in person at the Cabildo at noon, Friday, September 22; or for advance registration, email faulkhouse@aol.com. All discussion events are free. The Friday evening event at the Historic BK House is $25 per person and includes food and wine. The Sunday Gala is $150 per person and includes cocktails and dinner.
Information on the concert series and the author events will be posted on the Faulkner Society website when details are finalized.
The entire festival is volunteer-run. But the Society hasn’t had a fundraiser in two years and is actively seeking donations and members. Anyone may join the Society by requesting a membership package at faulkhouse@aol.com.
Agenda for September 22-24
Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Festival
Friday, September 22
The Cabildo at Jackson Square, Second Floor Gallery
11:30am — Opening reception, registration, book sales
12:15pm — Welcome. Rosemary James, Co-Founder, Faulkner Society
12:30pm — Keynote Discussions:
The Importance of Face to Face Connections in this Era of Social Media Disconnect –– Connect with the Real World for Literary Creativity and Publishing Success. — Led by Jeff Kleinman, well known NYC agent, partner in Folio Literary Management, with participating literary professionals: Shari Stauch, Lauren Marino, Michael Signorelli, and Katherine Fausett.
1.45pm –– Break
2:00pm –– How Personal Connections in New Orleans Led to the Nobel Prize for William Faulkner — Featuring Thomas Bonner, Ph.D., Faulkner scholar and former Chairman, English Department, Xavier University, and Judith Bonner, Ph.D., Executive with the Historic New Orleans Collection. This creative husband and wife duo dove deep into Faulkner’s time in New Orleans and decided to reissue the famous satirical book by William Spratling and William Faulkner, poking gentle fun at their social and literary friends with illustrations by Faulkner: Sherwood Anderson and Other Famous Creoles. All of those characterized in the book were important in Faulkner’s path to the Nobel Prize. He came to town as a minor, though dedicated poet and left town with his first novel, Soldiers’ Pay, published, thanks to the mentorship of Sherwood Anderson, an important fiction writer of the 20s.
3:00pm –– Social time, Book sales, signing
3:30pm –– Adjournment
Note: Out of town guests to check in at the Hotel Provincial, across the Street from the next venue.
The Beauregard-Keyes House, 1113 Chartres Street
5:00pm — Welcome. Rosemary James, Co-Founder, Faulkner Society
5:15pm — Magnificent Obsessions as Inspiration for Literature & Life –– How a Love of Being With People in the Real World, Leaving the Virtual World Behind, Gave us the Inspiration and the Material for a Big Book…a Really Big Book. Try to Pick it up, if You Don’t Believe Us! Featuring Doctor E. Quinn Peeper and Michael Harold, Esquire, authors of Classical Shindig, a lifestyle book which soars above the level of “Coffee Table Book” to the literary level of such icons as that famous English diarist Samuel Pepys.
6:15pm — What do Fables, Iceland, and Pomeranians have in common? Author Obsessions, a session featuring Dalt Wonk, New Orleans playwright, poet, artist and fabulist, whose books of fables are a delight in content and illustration. Joining him will be New Orleans artist Jana Napoli, who became totally entranced, yes obsessed, with Iceland and is working on a unique special interest book. Jana is known not only for her talent as an artist but for her gift at reading people’s fortunes by examining their hands. Her book will be a series of profiles of Icelanders and their fortunes. Invited to join them is Nina Kelly, whose charming children’s books feature Athena, a Pomeranian whose heroic personality sends role model messages to children by her actions. Joining them will be Literary agent Sydnie Thornton.
7:15pm — Festival Welcome Party
8:30pm— Evening Free
Saturday, September 23
Hotel Provincial Meeting Room
8:30am — Continental Breakfast with Editors and Agents
This session is for writers who have registered for manuscript critiques, and interested festival presenters. Not open to the general public. Sponsors, members may attend with advance RSVPs.
9:30am –– Manuscript Critiques by editors and agents, arranged in advance.
Historic BK House, 1113 Chartres Street — Main Floor
10:30am — My Magnificent Obsession and How it Became My Book. Invited to lead this session is Susan Schadt, owner of
Susan Schadt Press, a boutique publishing company specializing in beautiful special interest books. She will be joined by four of her authors: Patricia Austin, Matt Haines, Echo Olander, and Madison Webb, all with entertaining new special interest books for adults and children.
Noon: Break
12:15pm — New Orleans as a Magnificent Obsession: What Makes Her Such a Siren? Moderator for this panel will be Ellis Anderson, prize-winning author and publisher of French Quarter Journal. The discussion will feature Jack Davis, who was a publisher of Figaro; reporter and editor for the States- Item; and then, reporter, editor, and publisher for various publications of the Tribune Corporation; Nancy Dixon, Ph.D., Chairman of the English Department at Dillard University and historian, author and editor of essays and books about New Orleans history; and distinguished historian Lawrence Powell, PhD., whose book, The Accidental City: Improvising New Orleans, is must reading to understand the city.
1:15pm –– Break
Hotel Provincial Meeting Room
1:30pm — Casual Lunch for Presenters, Competition Winners. Open to paid members with advance RSVPs. Not open to the general public.
Historic BK House, Main Floor
3pm — Magnificent Obsessions as Inspiration for Non-Fiction. Led by literary marketing expert Shari Stauch of Writers Win and featuring literary editor Lauren Marino and featuring winners of the Faulker-Wisdom Competition gold
medal for non-fiction books and essay in 2020 and 2021: Rosemary Daniell, Laura Joyce-Hubbard, Justin Gardiner and Jane Kahramanidis.
4pm — Break
4:15pm — Why Short Stories and Novellas Instead of Book Length Fiction? Do they command fans as easily as novels? Led by literary marketing expert Shari Stauch and featuring literary editor Lauren Marino,and 2020 and 2021 winners of the Faulkner – Wisdom Competition for short fiction: Lawrence Coates, Michael Janis, Benjamin Duffy and Jean-Marc Duplantier.
5:30pm — Adjourn
Evening free to explore the music and cuisine of New Orleans
Sunday, September 24
Hotel Provincial Meeting Room
8:30am — Continental Breakfast with Editors and Agents. This session is for writers who have registered for manuscript critiques, and interested festival presenters. Not open to the general public. Sponsors, members may attend with advance RSVPs.
9:30 a. m. — Manuscript Critiques by editors and agents, arranged in advance.
Cabildo at Jackson Square
10:30am — Magnificent Obsessions as Inspiration for Poetry and Poetry as Inspiration for Prose. This session will be led by literary agent Michael Signorelli and will feature New Orleans Poetry Festival Founder Bill Lavender, winners of the Faulkner – Wisdom Competition gold medals for poetry: Chad Foret, Dennis Fomento, and Laura Joyce-Hubbard. Invited to join them is Louisiana Poet Laureate Mona Lisa Saloy.
11: 45am — Break
Noon — Obsessions with Fiction by Writers and Readers - are books a thing of the past or is the tactile pleasure of holding a book to read still going strong? Led by Literary Agent Katherine Fausset. and featuring Faulkner – Wisdom Competition gold medal winners
for fiction: Daniel Turtel, Victoria Ryan, Sidne Gard and Maurice Carlos Ruffin with literary agents Sarah Gerton and Ivy Givens.
1:30pm — Adjourn.
Afternoon free to enjoy the sights of New Orleans
Historic Ursuline Convent Complex, 1116 Chartres Street
6:00pm — Happy Birthday, Mr. Faulkner! Invitation only. The Faulkner Society’s annual salute to all great writers: Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Welcome and remarks in memory of the Society’s late Co-Founders, Joseph DeSalvo and Kenneth Holditch. William Faulkner’s Magnificent Obssession, Thomas Bonner, Faulkner Scholar and former Chairman, Xavier University English Department. Introduction by Novelist Laura Lane McNeal and Presentation of Gold Medal Winners. The program will begin in St. Mary’s Church, the chapel of the Convent and will be followed by cocktails and dinner in the Convent Garden.
Monday, September 25, 2023
Hotel Provincial Dining Room
11am — Champagne brunch saluting William Faulkner on his actual birthday. Open to the general public only with advance paid reservations. Included in member, sponsor, winner packages.
1:30pm — 2023 festival ends.
One of the event posters, this one a creation of artist Paul Cox. Image courtesy THNOC
Join our Readers’ Circle now!
