Publishing Triangle expands literary conference and book fair
Queer writers, book lovers, would-be authors, and everyone in between will find some thing to their bookish liking at Pink Ink 2006. This year the LGBT literary conference and book fair, presented by the Publishing Triangle—the third since 2003—has expanded beyond the one-day format of previous years. Along with the workshops and the book fair are panel discussions, readings, and a walking tour of Times Square with author Samuel Delany—June 10 at 11 a.m., pre-registration required.
Carol Rosenfeld, co-chair of the Publishing Triangle said that this year’s expanded program is split along two tracks—”one practical, one cultural.” Rosenfeld also pointed out that this year’s pricing structure allows participants to attend the entire weekend, opt for one-day packages, or just pay for individual panel events. The reading series organized by Cheryl B is free, as is the book fair.
Budding writers are likely to appreciate the one-on-one session with agents, and the and “Agents 101” and “Query Letters Workshops” on Saturday—pre-registration required—as well as the Sunday workshops “Writers Online” and “Writing What You Don’t Know: Becoming the Other.”
Pink Ink is offering plenty for the non-writing booklover as well. “We’re Funny That Way,” a humor panel featuring comedians Judy Gold and Jaffe Cohen, and author Stephen McCauley, will be moderated by Bob Smith. Playwright Doric Wilson will be one of the scheduled panelists on “Oz: New York and the Queer Imagination,” where New York-identified authors discuss how Gotham has sparked their imagination, activism, and unique voices. Author Trebor Healey and others will discuss “The Book That Made Me Gay,” reflecting on the role literature plays in coming out and becoming part of a community.
Author Perry Brass, who is on the steering committee for Pink Ink 2006, told Gay City News, “It is still very trying to row the choppy waters of indifference. Books are a hard sell in our celeb-and-hype driven corporate culture, but maybe Pink Ink can get a few more readers to get into our boat and find distinct pleasures in it.”
Pink Ink is also a great place for informal networking. Travel writer and Gay City News contributor Michael Luongo has attended Pink Ink in past years and said, “”It was a great way for me to stay connected with other LGBT writers in New York and the surrounding area. It’s hard to build a community of writers, especially with fewer and fewer bookstores, but Pink Ink helps, at least for a weekend, to bring us all together.”
He also noted that “Pink Ink is a great way for starting writers to learn in a safe supportive way who the players are in this very tough publishing industry, whether they are looking to put out gay, straight or whatever kind of material.”
Luongo also met Kathleen Warnock—an editor at Frommer’s—at Pink Ink, which led to his authoring of the new travel book “Frommer’s Buenos Aires.”
Warnock, who was recently named one of the Publishing Triangle’s Robert Chesley Award winners for playwriting, noted, “As an editor, I’ve met talented folks who ended up writing for us. And in general, Pink Ink always impresses with the depth and breadth of talent in the LGBT community. I always meet someone I’ve heard about, and I always learn something useful to me either professionally, as an editor, or something that is useful to my own writing.”
gaycitynews.com
