Catch a wave at the OCPLs’ eighth annual literary festival
By Chris Wright
It may be Christmas but in April the surf will be up in Irvine at the Irvine Marriott on Saturday, April 11, 2015. Literary Orange, Orange County Public Libraries’ annual literary festival, is going to have a panel of authors who not only live to surf but who love to write about it too. It’s called Surferati appropriately enough and will delve into surfing in both fiction and non-fiction. And you can still catch the morning waves because Surferati won’t be happening until 1:20 p.m. So you should be able to both physically and figuratively catch a wave that day.
We’ve recently lost some surfing legends in the past year and perhaps it’s fitting we should reflect on the contributions of these icons to not only a sport but also a way of life. Our Surferati panel has legends of its own as well. Paul Holmes, a former editor of Surfer magazine, recently published his beautiful biography of Hobie Alter, Hobie: Wizard of Wind and Waves. David Rensin who writes on just about every topic under the sun will discuss his book about surf legend Miki Dora in All for a Few Perfect Waves. We also have surf journalist and author, Kevin Naughton, whose travel writing for Surfer magazine in the 1970s and ’80s was much acclaimed. He has also written a surf-themed coming of age novel for young adults, Trout Rising. Finally we have the king of what could be called “surf noir,” Kem Nunn, whose novels some think are as cold and dark as the ocean off our coast.
All these surfing authors will be moderated by the editor of the Surfer’s Journal, Scott Hulett, so there shouldn’t be any translating needed. Dude, where’s my wave? It’s in Irvine. That’s a fact, man.
The eighth annual Literary Orange is set for Saturday, April 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Irvine Marriott. In January 2015, you should be able to register online at www.literaryorange.org or pick up a registration form at the library. Log on to the website and enter your email address to receive automatic updates and a reminder when registration opens.
For more information about upcoming events at the Dana Point Public Library as well as across the Orange County Public Libraries system, visit the website at www.ocpl.org. The site also provides access to online databases, digital copies of popular magazines, pdf copies of historical sheet music, ebooks, audiobooks, jobseeker resources and more.
Chris Wright is not sure if he lives to read or if he reads to live. He has been a public librarian with the OC Public Libraries since 2006.
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