Authors Among the Throngs in Harvard Square

May 7, 2005. Fiction Writers, Photographers, Columnists and Others

After we had such a good time at the Oktoberfest, we figured the Harvard Square Mayfair would be even better, with hope springing eternal and all that. We were right. From our familiar spot in front of the former Wordsworth Books, we set up our tables and shelves and brought the books to the people.

First up was Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, who stopped by on his way to Fenway Park. In addition to his newspaper work, Shaughnessy is also the author of numerous books, including Reversing the Curse and Seeing Red: The Red Auerbach Story. The versatile Shaughnessy can also be heard on the Mike Barnicle radio program on 96.9 FM Talk

Our next guest was Margot Livesey, the Scottish born author who is currently a writer-in-residence at Emerson College. Her novel Eva Moves the Furniture was a New York Times Notable Book. She is also the author of Learning By Heart, a collection of short stories. Livesey chatted with fans and signed copies of her latest novel, Banishing Verona.

After Livesey it was back to baseball with Bill Nowlin, author and editor of over 10 books pertaining to his beloved Boston Red Sox. Fan favorites included Mr. Red Sox: The Johnny Pesky Story, and Blood Feud: The Red Sox, the Yankees, and the Struggle of Good versus Evil. Nowlin is also a co-founder of the Cambridge based Rounder Records.  

Our next guest author, Geraldine Brooks, recently won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel March. A native of Sydney, Australia, Brooks' other books include Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague and Foreign Correspondence. Brooks got her start as a reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald.

We were pleasantly surprised that Brooks' husband, author and fellow Pulitzer recipient Tony Horwitz came along to the Mayfair. We happened to have a few copies of Horwitz's phenomenal book Confederates In the Attic with us that he graciously signed for fans.

Around this time I wandered around Harvard Square (the Fairgrounds?) and browsed the various booths. The organizers do a great job attracting a wide variety of vendors for these events - and I'm just talking about the food. In addition to the great grub, there was a revolving lineup of musical acts and a ton of cool booths featuring clothes and jewelry and artwork (and books).

After lunch Phyllis Karas came by and signed copies of her latest book, Brutal: The Untold Story of My Life Inside Whitey Bulger's Irish Mob, which she co-authored with Kevin Weeks. Karas, in addition to her work for People Magazine, is also the co-author of another book set in Whitey's World, Street Soldier with Eddie MacKenzie.

Taking time out from his busy schedule as a photographer for the Boston Globe, Bill Brett met readers of his stellar compilation, Boston, All One Family. Over the span of 254 black-and-white images, Brett manages to capture the changing face of the city. He is currently making the rounds and taking photographs in anticipation of a sequel. We look forward to it.

Back at the Oktoberfest, we had the pleasure of having Sage Stossel at our table, signing copies of her wonderful children's book, We're Off to Harvard Square. We were glad to have her join us again for the Mayfair. Stossel's work appears regularly in the Boston Globe, and she is an editor at the Atlantic Monthly. Her illustrations have also been featured in the Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year (2005 & 2006 editions).

Professional photographer Susan Wilson's book The Literary Trail of Greater Boston is a great guide for any booklover. It works like the Freedom Trail, but instead of Minute Men, on this tour you get authors and journalists. Wilson's work can be seen in various publications, cd covers, posters, websites and other places around the globe.

Thanks again to the Harvard Square Business Association - and to the readers and authors that congregated around our table.