Each year we gather with a few hundred of our closest friends to celebrate James Thurber’s 120^th Birthday. Thurber House friends and supporters gathered at The Westin Columbus around for drinks and appetizers, followed by dinner, and of course, birthday cake. Our wonderful host, Wayne Lawson, made sure that the “laughter” portion of our mission was a big part of the evening with his charm and wit. As the role of the host is often to make sure that everyone knows each other, he asked our new Executive Director, Jennifer Gregg, a series of questions to give the crowd an idea of who she is and what she likes (yes, cheesy chips came up… more than once). She also had a surprise for the audience in the form of Golden Tickets that a handful of lucky guests found under their chairs, each of which held a gift certificate to the upcoming series of our 2015 Evenings with Authors.

The evening moved forward with our featured guest, Dan Zevin, the winner of the 2013 Thurber Prize for American Humor. Zevin’s book, Dan Gets A Minivan, Life at the Intersection of Dude and Dad, is the hilarious account of how he discovered and coped with the changes in life that come with being a father. His stories were accompanied by hilarious home movies, and passages from his book.

Last but not least, a party is not a party without gifts! Thanks to the generous contributions from organizations and businesses around the city, many guests took home prizes that ranged from wine, to hand made ceramics, to a great adventure at the Columbus Zoo.

Special thanks also to our corporate sponsors (listed below), The Westin Columbus,
The Ohio Arts Council, GCAC, and The Columbus Foundation!

Crane Group
Friends of The Ohio State University Libraries
Huntington National Bank
Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter
Nationwide
The Office of Student Life at The Ohio State University
Park National Bank
Phi Kappa Psi, In Honor of Norm Spain
PNC Bank
State Auto Insurance
Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease
The Westin

A huge thank you to all of the literary enthusiasts in Columbus (and around the country!) who have supported us at one of our many events this year. We were proud to end the fall on a high note with two wonderful, award-winning authors.

Janet Evanovich- Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Guests from far and wide poured into COSI to see New York Times bestselling author, Janet Evanovich. Joining us on the day that her latest book was released, 700 fans gathered to hear endless anecdotes about her personal life, career, and how she found her love of writing. While jokes were in abundance, and the topic of “who is the hottest” of her characters came up multiple times, Evanovich also shared moments in her life that have been special to forming who she is as a person. Although having to transition from a frustrated art student, to writing cheesy romance novels, to creating the now famous Stephanie Plum, living the life of an author has been a challenging and wonderful dream. Written with Lee Goldberg, her newest novel, The Job, was gripped by many of the hundreds of fans who waited in the signing line to meet Evanovich. The novel is the fourth in a series that the duo have written together about Special Agent Kate O’Hare and charming con man, Nicolas Fox. In The Job, these two dynamic characters work together to bring down one of the largest global drug smuggling empires.   

Garth Stein, Monday, November 24, 2014
Last Monday, Garth Stein was the final author in our 2014 Fall Evenings With Authors series. Made famous by his book (and soon to be film) The Art of Racing in the Rain, Steins fans filled the auditorium to hear about his newest novel, A Sudden Light. Unknown to most of his readers, Stein had an interesting connection to James Thurber from his childhood. As many Thurber fans know, the family often had an abundance of dogs in their house, one of which is the infamous Airedale Terrier, Muggs. Stein’s father was a Thurber fan and dog lover, so upon the adoption of their own Airedale Terrier, it was only fitting to name the puppy Muggs. A collective “awe” rose from the audience when Stein revealed that his stoic father shed a few tears upon seeing that A Sudden light is dedicated to their late dog Muggs. The signing line was also abundant with fans and book clubs anxious to meet Stein and share their accolades for his work.

Keep your eye out for our 2015 Winter/Spring Evenings with Authors line up!

Join us on Monday, November 24 for our last 2014 Fall Evenings with Authors event. Coming all the way from Seattle, Garth Stein will be at the Columbus Museum of Art to discuss his newest novel, A Sudden Light. The novel centers in on a young boy, who in attempt to save his parents marriage, opens doors that let out years of buried secrets. During the separation, the family’s estate becomes a potential hot spot for making money, but something supernatural within the house has a different plan. Throughout his career Garth Stein has created a documentary, written multiple plays, and written six novels, including the international bestseller, The Art of Racing in the Rain. Stein’s love of writing stretches beyond his career, as he is also the co-founder of Seattle7Writers, a non-profit organization dedicated to energizing readers and writers, along with providing funding, programming, and free books to those in need.

We hope to see you at the event! Click here more information or to purchase a ticket.

If you would like a more personal experience with the author, consider attending The Authors Table and having dinner with Garth Stein. Please contact Anne Touvell at 614-464-1032 x 10 by Thursday, November 20 to reserve your meal ticket.

As a gesture of respect to our authors and guests, the event will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. with no admission allowed past 7:45 p.m. We thank you for your understanding on this matter.

Join us Tuesday, October 21 at the Columbus Museum of Art for an evening with New York Times bestselling author, Nicholson Baker. Baker’s character, Paul Chowder, has won over readers with his eccentric and witty poetry over the course three books, all of which are being published for the first time in an original omnibus. A lover of books and knowledge, Baker is also the writer of the award-winning book, Double Fold: Libraries and the Assault on Paper. In conjunction with that publication, he also created a non profit organization in 1999 that works to rescue old print material from destruction by libraries. As lovers of books and knowledge ourselves, we are excited to welcome Nicholson Baker to Columbus and celebrate the joining of Paul Chowders adventures for the first time.

Click here for more information about this event, or to purchase a ticket.

If you’re interested in a more personal experience with Nicholson Baker, consider attending out Author’s Table Dinner! This opportunity allows you to sit down for a catered dinner with the author, receive reserved seating at the event, and get your book signed ahead of time. For more information about the Author’s Table Dinner, please call Anne Touvell at Thurber House, 614-464-1032 ext. 10.

As a gesture of respect to our authors and guests, the event will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. with no admission allowed past 7:45 p.m. We thank you for your understanding on this matter.

Thank you to everyone who came out on October 7 to see Simon Winchester talk about his book The Men Who United the States: America’s Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics, and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible. Winchester, a new citizen of the United States, was thoroughly charming as he talked about what he has learned about our country’s infrastructure and what makes the U.S. a united country.

Photo by Sarah Lamme

Thank you to everyone who came to see Kathy Reichs earlier this week! Dr. Reichs thrilled the audience with stories of her anthropological journeys and how they have tied into her bestselling series and hit television show, Bones. Paired with a slideshow, her discussion gave the audience an inside look at all of the aspects of her life that have merged together, creating a melting pot of fascinating careers. While Reichs isn’t the typical novelist (not only was she a scientist first, but she’s never received a rejection letter), she has been prolific in both the adult and children writing worlds. In an effort to provide enthralling mystery stories for younger readers, she and her son created a series where a few kids mistakenly gain super senses that lead them to solving cold cases. With a full audience, Reichs’ stories and wit made for a great evening!

Don’t miss out on our next event with Simon Winchester on Tuesday, October 7. As a known world traveler, Winchester will be presenting his first book about America. In The Men Who United The States: America’s Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics, and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible, he uses popular history to tell a unique story of how America came to be America. Click here for more information or to purchase a ticket. Special thanks to the Friends of The Ohio State University Libraries and their generous sponsorship of this event!

We hope to see you next Monday, September 26 at the Columbus Museum of Art for an Evening with Kathy Reichs! Beginning at 7:30 p.m., Reichs will be discussing her bestselling crime series that acts as the inspiration for the hit T.V. show, Bones. Dr. Temperance Brennan (also known as Bones) is the heroine for this 17 novel series that works to solve seemingly unsolvable cases. In her newest novel, Reichs takes Dr. Temperance on a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina to find the connection between two murders on opposite sides of the country.

While general admission tickets for this event are sold out, we do have limited availability in an overflow seating area at a discounted rate. Please call 614-464-1032 x.11 for more information and ticket availability.

As a gesture of respect to our authors and guests, the event will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. with no admission allowed past 7:45 p.m. We thank you for your understanding on this matter.

Our 2014 Fall Evenings with Authors kicked off last Wednesday with bestselling author, Susan Elizabeth Phillips. As a former resident of Columbus, the event was extra special as Phillips was able to return and reunite with old friends that came out to celebrate her success. Phillips discussed that she prides herself on being able to create feel-good worlds where readers can immerse themselves in the story and end each novel feeling happy. Her newest novel, Heroes Are My Weakness, is no exception to this idea. Having only been released a few days before the event, readers were eager to hear what she had to say about her newest romantic comedy. Phillips said this novel was particularly fun for her, because rather than the typical warm location as a setting of many like novels, she had to find other ways to add heat as she set this one in the middle of winter. Phillips also talked about the importance of her covers, and unlike many authors, she has the opportunity to be very involved in the process. If you have read her books, you may have noticed that very few of the figures have heads. Phillips revealed that this is because she believes in the imaginations of her readers and hates the idea of placing a restriction on them by providing facial association to a character. Thank you to everyone who attended our first event of the season! We hope to see you again.

On Monday, September 29, Kathy Reichs will be joining us to discuss her newest novel, Bones Never Lie. Reichs is one of fewer than 100 certified forensic anthropologists and has used her experience to create seventeen novels in a series that thrills both on paper and screen. The bestselling series is also the source for the hit television show, Bones, which Reichs produces.

We do expect that the Kathy Reichs event will sell out soon, so get your tickets today! For more information or to purchase tickets, click here!

Katrina Kittle, a wonderful author, former John E. Nance Writer-in-Residence, and great friend of Thurber House is hosting an online writing workshop that everyone should join if they need a push to finally start a project…or finish one. Katrina Kittle’s online class series “Inspiration and Motivation” begins September 3rd. This 5 week class is for writers of any level of experience. Each week will focus on some aspect of the writing life (such as creating and defending a writing schedule, and dealing with the inner critic) and loads of writing prompts to jumpstart ideas.

Details here: http://www.onliten.com/workshops.htm 

Who knows…maybe the famous Joey Cat (pictured right) will make an appearance!

We are looking forward to kicking off our 2014 Fall Evenings with Authors series on Wednesday, August 27! Beginning at 7:30 p.m., Susan Elizabeth Phillips will be at the Columbus Museum of to discuss her newest novel, Heroes are My Weakness. Susan’s love for her readers and passion to write a good story lead to her novels repeatedly appearing on the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestseller lists. Heroes are My Weakness takes readers to a secluded island in winter off the coast of Maine, where we see a struggling actress begin to reconsider her feelings of fear towards the story’s villain (or hero, you’ll have to wait and see). With the release of this anticipated novel just a day before our event, you won’t want to miss seeing the author who Bookpage magazine refers to as “the crown jewel of romantic comedy.”

For more information or to order tickets, click here!

If you’re interested in a more personal experience with Susan Elizabeth Phillips, consider attending out Author’s Table Dinner! This opportunity allows you to sit down for a catered dinner with the author, receive reserved seating at the event, and get your book signed ahead of time. For more information about the Author’s Table Dinner, please call Anne Touvell at Thurber House, 614-464-1032 ext. 10.

As a gesture of respect to our authors and guests, the event will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. with no admission allowed past 7:45 p.m. We thank you for your understanding on this matter.

Author and artist Tony Mendoza wrapped up our 2014 Summer Literary Picnic season last Wednesday, August 6. Having grown up in Cuba, Mendoza shared the fictionalized (although mostly true) stories from his youth that comprise his novel, A Cuban Summer. The audience filled with laughter as he told tales of he and his best friend running through the streets of Cuba as teenage boys, experiencing brothels and living a high-end live provided by their parents. Mendoza discussed life in Cuba today versus when he was growing up in the 1950’s, as well as his experiences going back and learning how the people of today manage their daily lives. What a great way to wrap up a wonderful season of Ohio authors! Thank you to everyone who attended one of our 2014 Summer Literary Picnics, we hope to see you soon! 

If you didn’t make it to a picnic (or even if you did) make sure you visit us in the fall at one of our Evenings with Authors events! We kick off the fall 2014 season at the Columbus Museum of Art on Wednesday August 27 with Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Beginning promptly at 7:30 p.m., Phillips will join us to discuss her twenty-second novel, Heroes Are My Weakness. Also stay tuned for our Fall Adult Writing Workshops class line-up. For more information about these events or to order tickets, click here!

Our eight weeks of Thurber Summer Writing Camp have come to a close. After eight weeks of brainstorming wondrous ideas of unicorns, labyrinths, and alien invasions, we are extremely proud of our more than 300 young writers this summer and the stories they created. We asked some of our interns to reflect upon their time with at Thurber Camp and treat us with a few fun anecdotes.

Here is what Intern Samantha had to say: 

Hello, my name is Samantha Silber and I am a Professional Writing and Creative Writing double major at Miami University. Though I’ve always been an avid reader, I didn’t consider myself much of a writer until late in middle school. This may be why interning during the second and third grade Thurber House Summer Writing Camps was so inspiring to me.

            Though I frequently work with children, I have never seen any so enthusiastic and excited to write as literally every child at the Thurber House was. Of course there were children who insisted that writing, or poetry, or fairy tales were not for them, but by the end of the day, you would never have known it, as the children eagerly worked on and shared their handiwork.

            I believe this is because the camp made writing exciting and hilarious. We were able to give these energetic and wildly imaginative kids the ability to express themselves through writing what they wanted to write. Though we gave the children prompts and ideas ultimately the children were given a lot of freedom to explore their own imaginations. I heard stories about gargoyles coming to life, villains making socks stinky, lizards slurping on frappuccinos, and Little Red Zombiehood. I was impressed by how respectful my fellow staff members were of even the most outlandish ideas. So were the kids, who were incredibly open to sharing their vivid characters and wacky settings in our Fairy Tale and Plot workshops.

            One of the most surprising and fun parts of the Thurber House Camp was that it wasn’t just about writing, but also about science, art, theater, and so on. Like Thurber before them the kids were encouraged to tell stories through drawing. A professional storyteller came in and taught the children the value and uniqueness of oral storytelling. This is especially critical for young writers such as these kids because their pencils can’t quite keep up with their minds yet. Afterwards, I heard many more stories than I had before. Though I had originally though that the costumed counselors who read the students town crier notes and requests at the end of the day were just for laughs, I realized that they too were teaching the children about storytelling through theater and character creation.

I had lots of favorite camp moments but here are two of them:

• On my first day the children were on a tour of the Thurber House looking at the photographs and signatures of the house’s visiting writers. As one of the docents told them visitors weren’t allowed to sign the wall, one of the kids explained that it was because they weren’t “real writers.” A dejected sort of silence fell and their counselor stepped in, explaining that they were all real writers and that the wall was just for published writers. She told them that someday they might get to sign their names on that wall too. This moment was small, but to me it represents one of the best things that the camp had to teach which was that all of the children are authors and that their writing matters.
• I’m also really partial to the jungle word wall that I helped to assemble. This word wall was a mural of plants and animals composed of scraps of paper upon which the children described and wrote about them. The word wall included gems such as: What’s a lizard’s favorite kind of weather? A blizzard! And drawings of tigers driving Fer-rawr- The wall was a brilliant representation of the children and staff’s hard work, sense of humor (we never could get the tiger’s head and body quite proportional…) and outstanding creativity.

This Wednesday, August 6, local author and renowned photographer, Tony Mendoza will join us as the last Literary Picnic of the 2014 season. He will talk about his new coming-of-age novel, A Cuban Summer. It is the story about a 13-year-old boy in 1950’s Havana, his love of girls, and desire for romance.

Join us anytime after 5:30 p.m. on the lawn of Thurber House, and the reading will begin at 7:00 p.m. Please remember to bring your own chairs, and while it’s too late to order a dinner through us, feel free to bring your own picnic (and alcohol, if you wish). Picnics are rain or shine. The rain site is the Columbus Museum of Art.

For more information or to purchase tickets, click here. We also have a full season of Evenings with Authors coming up! Be sure to check out our great lineup and get your tickets before they’re gone! Click here for the full lineup.

Although the rain cut us a little short, we had a great time hosting Claire McMillan last Wednesday, July 23, for our second to last Literary Picnic of the 2014 season. Her novel brings Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth to Cleveland Ohio, complete with passion, excitement, and of course, scandal. Having been an enormous Edith Wharton fan her entire life, McMillan was thrilled to share her work with the audience. 

Our last Literary Picnic of the 2014 season will take place next Wednesday, August 6, with Tony Mendoza. For more information or to order tickets, click here!

Last Wednesday, July 9, we had a great time hosting local Associated Press reporter, Andrew Welsh-Huggins. His debut novel, Fourth Down and Out: An Andy Hayes Mystery is an engaging thriller set in Columbus, Ohio. Due to the story’s locality,  Welsh-Huggins expressed the pressure he felt to make sure that he was providing the type of detail that gave unfamiliar readers a clear picture of the streets and shops, and allow locals to recall images of their favorite parts of the city. We can’t wait to see what other mysteries Andy Hayes solves!

On Wednesday, July 23, Claire McMillan will be coming to Thurber House to discuss her debut novel, Gilded Age. The lawn will be open to guests at 5:30 p.m. with the reading beginning at 7:00 p.m. If you would like to order one of our delicious boxed picnics, please remember to place your order by 4 p.m. on Monday, July 21.

Click here for more information or to order tickets. 

Tomorrow, Wednesday, July 9, we will be hosting local author, Andrew Welsh-Higgins as he discusses his debut novel, Fourth Down and Out: An Andy Hayes Mystery. Title character Andy Hayes, OSU football star turned P.I., works through a mystery that leads him down a dangerous, and potentially deadly path as he tries to keep his clients reputation clean.

Join us anytime after 5:30 p.m. on the lawn of Thurber House and the reading will begin at 7:00 p.m. Please remember to bring your own chairs, and while it’s too late to order a dinner through us, feel free to bring your own picnic (and alcohol, if you wish).

Click here for more information or to order tickets!

Here’s what’s been happening at our Summer Literary Picnics!

Local author and Thurber volunteer, Scott McKenzie, kicked off our 2014 Summer Literary Picnics on Wednesday, June 11. McKenzie had the great opportunity to put the life of 1950’s icon, Bozo the Clown, into words. His book, The Man Behind the Nose: Larry Bozo Harmon recounts story upon story of the famous entertainer, painting a clear picture of how be became so loved. Although the event was rained-in, McKenzie captivated the audience with anecdotes of his long talks with Harmon and how the book came to fruition.

Our second Literary Picnic of the 2014 season featured David Giffels, who was back for his second event with Thurber House. In 2009 he was part of the New Voices picnic for his first book, All the Way Home: Building a Family in a Falling-Down House. Proud Akron native, Giffel’s newest book, The Hard Way on Purpose, is a collection of essays about growing up (and staying) in the Rust Belt. His love for his hometown shined through the finicky weather and his hilarious tales made the audience feel as if they were seeing Akron through his eyes. Walking through the streets to the bowling ally that looked like it was from the 1970’s, not because someone made it look that way, but because it hadn’t been updated for 40 years. 

If you haven’t made it to a Summer Literary Picnic yet, we still have three wonderful authors still to come. Andrew Welsh-Huggins will be joining us on the lawn of Thurber House on Wednesday, July 9. His debut mystery novel, Fourth Down and Out: An Andy Hayes Mystery is set in our very own city and tells the story of a football star turned P.I. who puts himself in danger when his case takes a turn for the deadly.

For more information or to order tickets, please visit our website.   

On Friday, May 30^th, Steve Berry, along with his wife Elizabeth, made their second visit to Thurber House for a two-day special event. Friday began with a reception and reading to celebrate the publication of Steve’s ninth Cotton Malone thriller, The Lincoln Myth.  Berry’s novel wasn’t the only reason for their return visit to Columbus. Steve and Elizabeth are avid supporters of historic preservation. After their first visit to Thurber House last year, they fell in love and knew they would come back to help the organization. It was in the spirit of history that the evening began with a presentation by special guest, Doreen Uhas-Sauer, Former President of the Columbus Landmarks Foundation, teacher, local tour guide, and author of many books on the history of Columbus and her many unique neighborhoods. She discussed the importance of preserving places like Thurber House because they serve as places of many memories to those who seek them out. Berry followed with a discussion about The Lincoln Myth and his writing process.

Day two of this special weekend continued on Saturday with Steve and Elizabeth leading their nationally renowned Master Class on the Craft of Writing. The class crammed years and years of invaluable writing and publishing experience into just a few hours. Steve gave advice on the craft of writing and Elizabeth (Steve’s literary agent and Director of the International Thriller Writers annual Thrillerfest) talked about getting published and navigating the process most effectively. Students left with plenty of ideas and tools to get their writing going!

Through their foundation, History Matters, the Berry’s have developed an innovative way to raise money for historic sites around the country. Because of their generosity and belief in our mission, all proceeds from this two day event go directly to support Thurber House.

My name is Kirby Boes and I am just finishing my junior year at Columbus School for Girls. I have attended CSG since 1st grade, so it is still unreal to me that next year will be my last. Throughout my almost 12 years at CSG, writing and literature classes have always been my favorite; so, when I had the opportunity to intern at Thurber House for my Junior May Experience, I was immediately interested.

Junior May Experience is part of our high school’s “May Program”, which is a yearly program that takes place the last two weeks of May, after we finish our final exams. May Program for the underclassmen consists of a variety of opportunities including cultural cooking classes, drivers ed., historical film classes, service trips, and even ultimate frisbee! Senior May Program, for the seniors, is a month long internship organized individually and can be anywhere in the city, state, country, or world! Junior May Experience (JME) is the happy medium, as well as the transition, from the underclassmen’s May Program to Senior May Program.

So, how did I end up at Thurber House this week? During the school year, we turned in a list of our likes and interests, and later received a list of possible places to intern for one or two weeks – all organized by one of our teachers. We labeled our top three choices for our JME and soon received where we would be interning. Last week, my first week of JME, I interned at Flying Horse Farms, an amazing camp for children with severe illnesses, and now, the second week of JME, I am here interning at the one and only Thurber House!

Today is my first day here at Thurber House, and to be completely honest, I was a little creeped out, but also intrigued, after recently discovering that this place is haunted. When I arrived this morning, I went on a self-guided tour of Thurber House and read two of James Thurber’s short stories, The Dog that Bit People and University Days, both of which were comical and enjoyable easy-reads. The next few days I will be assisting in preparations for the Thurber House summer writing camp, which I actually attended when I was in elementary school! I am also very excited to help Katie and Meg teach a super heroes and villains writing activity at Horizon Middle School later this week. I am not entirely sure what to expect, but it sounds super exciting! (See what I did there? Super heroes, super exciting…)

I am very happy to be here at Thurber House. I really hope I don’t run into any ghosts, but most of all I cannot wait to see what the next four days have in store!

Thank you to everyone who came out for our final event in our 2014 Winter/Spring Evenings with Authors series! We had a great time with Lynn Cullen and can’t wait to see what she writes next. Check out our pictures from the event!

Don’t forget about our special event with international bestselling author, Steve Berry on Friday, May 30. Also known for being a historic preservation enthusiast, Berry writes thrillers with a historical twist and is best known for his Cotton Malone series. His newest novel in the series, The Lincoln Myth, comes to shelves on May 9. The following day, Berry will be teaching a Master Class on all aspects of fiction writing, including a session taught by his wife and literary manager on the business of writing. Visit our website and safe yourself a spot to take part in this unique opportunity!

Thurber House is pleased to offer the 29^th summer of outdoor literary picnics and readings with authors who have an Ohio connection. Grab your lawn chairs and picnic blankets, and join us on the Thurber House lawn for five evenings of good friends, good food, and great books.

Here’s the lineup:

Scott McKenzie
Wednesday, June 11
The Man Behind the Nose: Larry Bozo Harmon
McKenzie brings to life the 1950’s American icon and helps tell the story of the world’s most beloved clown, Bozo.

David Giffels
Wednesday, June 25
Essays and Dispatches from the Rust Belt
Making his second appearance at Thurber House, long time columnist for the Akron Beacon Journal and author of The Hard Way on Purpose has compiled a book of heart felt essays about the place he loves: Akron, Ohio.

Andrew Welsh-Huggins
Wednesday, July 9
Fourth Down and Out: An Andy Hayes Mystery
Set in Columbus, OH, Welsch-Huggins tells the story of Andy Hayes, OSU football star turned P.I. and his quest to find a murderer.

Claire McMillan
Wednesday, July 23
Gilded Age
As McMillan’s debut novel, Gilded Age is noted as a modernized take on Edith Wharton’s, The House of Mirth. Set in Cleveland, the novel follows main character Eleanor Hart on her journey of self discovery while everyone around her seems to have negative intentions. 

Tony Mendoza
Wednesday, August 6
A Cuban Summer
A Cuban Summer is a coming of age story about a young boy, his love of girls, and growing up in Cuba in the 1950’s. Mendoza was a professor of art at OSU for twenty-five years and has received numerous awards for his photography.

Starting at 5:30 p.m. – Our young docents offer guided tours of the house.
5:30 p.m. – 6:50 p.m. – During this time frame, boxed dinners from Party Panache will be handed out to those who purchased dinner tickets. If you would like to order dinner from us, please make your reservation by 4:00 p.m. on the Monday before the picnic. You are also free to bring your own dinner. You are also welcome to bring alcoholic beverages.
7:00 p.m. – The program begins. Thurber House remains open after the reading for touring, book buying, and signing.

For more information about these events or to order tickets, visit our website.
Thurber House proudly supports the Mid Ohio Food Bank. Please consider bringing any canned or boxed goods you can spare when you attend any of our picnics this summer.

Join next Tuesday, May 6 for the last Evenings with Authors of our 2014 Winter/Spring season. Lynn Cullen will be with us to discuss her latest novel, Mrs. Poe.  The novel examines the rumored romantic relationship between Edgar Allen Poe and budding poet Frances Osgood. The story follows the dangerous friendship that forms when Mrs. Poe deceptively wins over Osgood in an effort to protect her marriage. Indiana native and historical fiction fanatic, Cullen creates a Poe-like tale full authentic detail that puts you 1845’s New York.

The event will take place at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 6 at the Columbus Museum of Art. Click here for more information or to order tickets for this event. Stay tuned for the upcoming announcement of our 2014 Literary Picnic season!

Writing has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and as a result I’ve been involved with the Thurber House ever since I was in fourth grade, when I attended a summer camp in the hopes of improving my craft. In fifth grade, I was asked to be a docent for the House, and I spent much of my free time explaining the intricacies of the building to tourists, sipping hot chocolate while decorating for various holidays, and interacting with people of all ages who shared my passion. My involvement waned by the time I was in high school and immersed in other activities. Flip the Page has been the perfect opportunity to reacquaint myself with a place I once considered a second home, but, more than that, it has allowed me to see others’ perspectives and learn more about writing and the nuances of life, literature is meant to capture.

Kinsey reading her poem “Concussed and Nonplussed” at the 2013 Columbus Arts Festival.

I first heard about Flip the Page last year, and, excited by the possibility of publication, I submitted a poem, “Concussed and Nonplussed”. After being selected for the magazine, I was given the opportunity to read it out loud at the Columbus Arts Festival and listen to others in the magazine do the same. It was incredible what this small journal had the ability to do for dozens of kids, teachers, and parents, instilling confidence and pride and augmenting a vivacity for both writing and reading. When my friend Brie told me there was a selection committee made up of high schoolers, I knew I had to get involved.

Literature amazes me with its ability to convey idea, thought, knowledge, and, perhaps above all, truth. Even more amazing and curious is that these truths are individualized to each reader. Pieces that have changed my outlook on life leave others lukewarm, and vice versa. Nowhere have I found this to be more true than the Flip the Page Selection Committee room. Often we’ll stumble upon a piece that I’ll fight to include while someone else fights just as hard to leave it out. Overall, this promotes intriguing and enlightening discussion about every facet of a piece – and these are not seasoned, experienced writers inspiring these discussions. These are high school students with astute views of life as a whole and topics that range from love to death to the power of the human mind. And these kids definitely have that power.

I’m thankful to have been able to work alongside the rest of the committee to produce something palpable and beautiful and true. I can’t wait to get my hands on the finished copy of this year’s journal, but I have gained so much more from this than just the book; I’ve gained experience, countless inside jokes, and a community of writers, all passionate, all dedicated to this illuminating form of art.

Concussed and Nonplussed
By Kinsey Cantrell
Hilliard Bradley High School

 Concussed and nonplussed, I sit in this chair
alone on a throne that bode me no wear
Disconnected, I’ve perfected the art of no thought
the pain is the bane and the shame is distraught

Thought I’m meek through the week, I may have found strength
in endings, upendings, and lending some length
to the notion of a potion I sip to feel numb
and sleep much too deep and keep a sure thumb

They ask me where I am and I cannot say
they ask me my name and I ask the day.

It’s been long here, inside my head
where the shade comes to fade and the haze lasts for days
and the rhyme holds be back and the prose pulls me forward
and the light is repulsive and the dark is no horror

Animal, I duck away from the noise
dogged by ponderings of perfect poise
parroting, slurred, the words I’m told are true
stepped up to bat and struck right through

Of sense I make none, of hopes I make many
they tell me to rest, give my musings no penny
I lie awake and dream of potential clarity
of a state I could know, one of disparity

There seems a wall between me and understandings constructed
And all the sights I could see this wall has obstructed
And all of the things that I could have lucked into
Remain out of reach the same way that you do

If I know not what I’m doing, does that not make me human?
In my scant knowledge, I know I’ll place no trust
And though my pleas increase by degrees
I’ve found I meander and I’ve found I am lost
and perhaps that is why I am thusly concussed.

A big thank you to everyone who came out the Bruce Weber Evenings with Authors Wednesday night! Weber shared the tale that inspired his most recent book, Life is a Wheel: Love, Death, etc. and a Bike Ride Across America accompanied by a presentation of images that brought context to a trip the most of us will never take in our lifetime. Take a trip by bike across the United States is no easy task, but Weber did it to find a story, and to learn about himself. Having been a writer most of his life, Weber decided to take his second trip across the country at 57 years old. While he was lucky enough not to have run into any major snags along the way, his book is inspiring,  empowering, and a great opportunity to see the country through someone else’s eyes.  

Travel journalist and bestselling author Carl Hoffman joined us Monday with a twist on the classic mystery novel by not only being the writer, but also living the story of a man in search of a potentially dangerous truth. Having traveled to more than 70 countries on various assignments, he took another journey to follow the steps of Michael Rockefeller and compose his newest novel, Savage Harvest: A Tale of Cannibals, Colonialism, and Michael Rockefeller’s Tragic Quest for Primitive Art. Rockefellers death had been ruled a drowning, but rumors of him being ceremonially killed and eaten by local Asmat tribe surfaced and lingered in Hoffman’s mind. After deciding to follow the trails of this mystery, Hoffman travelled the same route leading to the Asmat’s in attempt to find those who knew the missing pieces of history and to understand the spirituality behind cannibalism and other Asmat rituals. Hoffman’s presentation was brought to life with pictures and videos from his journey, bringing context to a vastly unexplored, inaccessible world. The audience seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief when they learned that the Asmat’s are now almost all Catholic and have left behind the rituals of cannibalism; although wouldn’t that have made for an undeniably dangerous story? Hoffman spent his time living with members of the tribe and learning by observation until he felt he gained enough trust to begin asking  the questions that eventually revealed the Asmat’s side of the Michael Rockefeller mystery.

If you missed Hoffman and are thinking “Oh no, I missed my chance to go to a Thurber House event,” don’t worry, we have events all the time! In fact, Bruce Weber will be here Wednesday, April 9^th as the next featured author in our 2014 Winter/Spring Evenings with Authors series. Weber is the New York Times bestselling author of As They See ‘Em: A Fan’s Travels in the Land of Umpires and long time New York Times staff member. At 57 he decided to take a trip (his second, actually) across the country on a bike. His newest book, Life is a Wheel: Love, Death, Etc., and a Bike Ride Across America chronicles that trip and his pedal-powered desire to learn more and gain new perspectives on the world.

Click here for more information or to order tickets.

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