Book Group

There is something satisfying about discussing books with congenial fellow book lovers, so even though I am perennially pressed for time, I will leading a discussion for a local public book group on Jan 17, 2009. Details can be found here.

Photos from 4/24/08, Grand Rapids

I've been having some computer troubles and so have only now gotten around to posting these photos from my appearance in Grand Rapids as part of the Great Michigan Read.

This photo is of myself and Mike Ross. Click on the image to see it full-sized.

This one is of me in action at the lectern. Click on the image to see it full-sized.

A Night to Remember Promo

From the Canton Repository, Canton Ohio: (full text is here)

"An Evening to Remember: A Hemingway Comes to Canton," Stark County District Library Foundation's fundraising event, will be Nov. 8 at Brookside Country Club.

Valerie Hemingway, author of "Running with the Bulls," will share stories of her life with the Hemingways. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres, music by Michael Curtis, and a silent auction.

After Hemingway presents her memoir, there will be a book signing and desserts. Cost is $50 per person. Contact Mark Guyer at (330) 458-2758 or mguyer@starklibrary.org. Deadline is Tuesday.

For two years after a chance meeting with Ernest Hemingway in Spain in 1959, young Irish reporter Valerie Danby-Smith traveled with Hemingway and his wife, Mary, through Spain and France.

She came by the Hemingway name by marrying Earnest's son, Greg.

Appearance in Petoskey, MI Oct 24 at 7:30pm

From the Petoskey News-Review:

Hemingway weekend — The Michigan Hemingway Society will hold the 19th annual Ernest Hemingway weekend Friday through Sunday, Oct. 24-26. Valerie Hemingway, the author’s former secretary, will describe her experiences with the Hemingway family. The historic Stafford’s Perry Hotel in Petoskey’s Gaslight District is the conference headquarters. Other activities include tours with historical reenactments, story discussions, talks on Ernest’s boating and on collecting rare books.Those interested in registration or additional information about the conference may call (231) 347-0117 or visit the Society’s Web site at www.michiganhemingwaysociety.org.

Mention in IHT Article

There is a nice article in the IHT today, in which I have a brief quotation. The full text can be found here; my quotation is reproduced below.

"Originally, I think they came over to steal the mangoes," said Valerie Hemingway, who worked as Hemingway's assistant from 1959 until his death in 1961 and later married Gregory. "Instead of shooing them away, Ernest found things for them to do. Feed the cats, pick up the mail and give them a few pennies. And when he knew Greg and Pat were coming, he started a baseball team."

Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Scotland

I was part of the Fringe Festival this year in Edinburgh.

I was unable to find time to blog about this myself, so I will cheat and refer you to press coverage of this event.

Here is a link to coverage from the LivingScotsman.com (though they mispelled "Hemingway"). You will find the Guardian's on-line coverage here.

This is a quotation the Reuters article on my appearance at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland:

Decades later, Valerie Hemingway brought her memories of daiquiris in tropical Cuba and bullfights in Spain to rainy Edinburgh, Scotland's capital.

She teamed up with Scottish director Toby Gough and a Cuban music and dance group to recreate the Havana of the 1950s in a stage production called "Hemingway's Havana" as part of last week's Fringe Festival.

"Hemingway loved Cuba because it was a place where he could be anonymous," she said in an interview with Reuters.

The full text can be found here.

This is a quotation from the Times On-line about the same event:

Surrounded by gorgeous dancers and musicians from Cuba, and dressed in a glamorous beaded frock, La Hemingway is a handy raconteur who offers a tantalising taste of Cuba at that perfect moment.

The full text can found here.

There was also some coverage in an on-line publication called The List:

Hemingway spent 20 years in Havana and this well-intentioned recreation of his favourite hangout, the Floridita bar, provides a reason for his one-time secretary and daughter-in-law, Valerie Hemingway, to be the star of the show. Live on stage, she diligently delivers reminisces of Cuba and Hemingway but you can't help longing for a native Cuban to give some insight into their country and heritage.

The full text can found here.

MSU President's Lecture

I am honored to be asked to give the President's Lecture this year at my alma mater, Montana State University.

For details, visit their web site here.