Of all the events taking place during the BookExpo America convention that invades the city next week, the most peculiar promises to be Author Improv.
Scheduled for 8:45 p.m. May 31 at Navy Pier, it is being thrown by the Ingram Book Co.
The event will feature the comedic talents of authors such as Roy Blount, Rick Bragg and Fannie Flagg, with the promise of others.
Improv is not, as any of the fine local improv groups would tell you, for the faint-hearted or slow-witted. And while many writers can be funny on paper, they will find it a lot different, and tougher, in front of an audience.
What’s the reason for staging such a “literary” event? Says Courtney Muller, industry vice president for BookExpo America (which used to be called the American Booksellers Association Convention and Trade Exhibit): “Publishing is, among other things, an entertainment-oriented business.”
So, naturally, the best person to host the improv event would be the great Ed McMahon, he of American Family Publishers monkey business and shame.
