Larry Brown — the Mississippi firefighter turned nationally recognized writer — died in 2004, but his work survives: two short-story collections (Facing the Music and Big Bad Love); five novels (including the contemporary classics Joe and Father and Son); and two books of nonfiction (On Fire and Billy Ray’s Farm).
Now add one more title to that list of works: Brown’s last novel, A Miracle of Catfish, published by Algonquin Books and due to be released at this year’s Oxford Conference for the Book at the University of Mississippi starting on Thursday, March 22nd.
Catfish isn’t the only thing on the conference menu, however. Family and friends, authors and editors will remember Brown the writer; musicians (among them, Alejandro Escovedo and Robert Earl Keen) will remember Brown the music lover; and director Richard Corley and actor Debra Winger will remember Brown on stage and screen. All this in addition to the annual conference’s panel discussions, readings, and booksignings. Extra added attraction this year: a live broadcast from the Ole Miss campus of Whad’Ya Know?, hosted by NPR’s Michael Feldman. (For ticket information and reservations, call 662-915-7411.)
The conference itself is free and open to the public, but registration is recommended. Go to OxfordConferencefortheBook.com to register and to see the full schedule of events.
Oxford Conference for the Book, Thursday-Sunday, March 22nd-24th, University of Mississippi
