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Books: Authors Share Wit, Wisdom At Luncheon

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  • Books: Authors Share Wit, Wisdom At Luncheon

    AUTHORS SHARE WIT, WISDOM AT LUNCHEON

    San Antonio Express-News
    October 9, 2012 Tuesday
    STATE EDITION

    by Hector Saldaņa

    Whether sharing stories about a lost cat in King William, the forgotten
    Armenian genocide, the outrageous history of the Dallas Cowboys,
    the science of cooking, Ulysses Grant or reintroducing a domesticated
    owl to the wild, the common goal was cancer research awareness.

    Authors Sandra Cisneros, Chris Bohjalian, Joe Nick Patoski, Jack
    Bishop, H.W. Brands and Gijsbert "Nick" van Frankenhuyzen were the
    star attractions at the 21st annual San Antonio Express-News Book &
    Author Luncheon on Monday.

    The long-running literary event benefits the Phase I Clinical Research
    Program of the Cancer Therapy & Research Center at the University of
    Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

    About 1,000 attended Monday's sold-out luncheon at the Marriott
    Riverwalk. To date, the event has raised more than $2.8 million.

    Trinity University professor Coleen Grissom reprised her role as the
    sardonic "Ms. Of Ceremonies," as she has done since the program's
    inception.

    "If every day was like this for authors, everyone would want to be
    writing," said Patoski, praising the "well-oiled event" that offers
    book fans face-to-face time with guest authors.

    Rowena Lopez waited in line for Cisneros' signature and inscription.

    "I've read all of her books. It hits home for me," Lopez said. "And
    this is such a wonderful way to donate to charity."

    Cisneros, whose animated readings fall into the category of performance
    art, was happy to oblige. Offstage, the author lovingly called "La
    Sandra" revealed a vulnerable side.

    "You get an affirmation," she said about meeting readers.

    "Writers are basically introverts. Most of us are very shy. This is
    our performance."

    Brands agreed.

    "Writing is purely a solitary undertaking," Brands said. "You get no
    feedback. So (meeting readers), it's very helpful. It gives you the
    encouragement to write again."

    Kristina Hanley weighed her purchase options, glancing at a table
    of books.

    "The appeal is seeing the author in person," she said. "It makes it
    much more personal than ordering it from Amazon."

    "It's a big thing to see the author in person," added Anoop Warrier,
    "especially when you're gifting."

    As in years past, the audience was overwhelmingly women. Tom Payton,
    associate director/director of marketing and sales at Trinity
    University Press, says there's a simple reason.

    "Guys read books," Payton said. "But from a publisher's point of view,
    women are the absolute Energizer Bunny consumers of books."

    This year's lineup was among the most memorable and engaging. The
    eight-minute time limit per author often passed too quickly
    and presented one of the funnier moments of the day as Nick van
    Frankenhuyzen watched the seconds count down as he wrapped up.

    "Thirteen seconds! This is like Cape Canaveral," he said.

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