Feb. 11, 2000
Media Contact: Julie Carlson
(254) 710-6681
[email protected]
Grisham Visit Combines Baseball and Books
WACO, Texas -- Best-selling novelist John Grisham, a devout Baptist and baseball fan, will combine those passions when he visits Baylor University on Friday, Feb. 25. Grisham, author of The Firm, The Testament and The Brethren, will make the rare public appearance to help launch Art & Soul, a program of public lectures and readings on faith and writing, scheduled for Feb. 24-27 at Baylor. He will speak before what promises to be a sell-out crowd at 10 a.m. in Waco Hall, then attend the Bears' Big 12 opening game at Ferrell Field against the Oklahoma State Cowboys that afternoon.
"Grisham's talk headlines what we think is one of the most exciting literary events in Texas this year," said Dr. Greg Garrett, director of religious faith and literary art, the Baylor program coordinating Art & Soul public lectures, writers conference and an international scholarly symposium on religion and literature, all being held concurrently. "His attention to faith in his own life and in his recent novels like The Testament made him a logical guest at Art & Soul, and we are truly grateful to him for volunteering to come."
In addition to Grisham, several other well-known writers will participate in the event. African-American novelist Charles Johnson, winner of the National Book Award, will deliver a public lecture at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25; Oprah Book Club author Bret Lott, author of Jewel and The Hunt Club will speak at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26; and Dennis Covington, nominee for the National Book Award for his Salvation on Sand Mountain, will appear with his wife, novelist Vicki Covington, at 7 p.m. on Saturday. These lectures will take place in the Barfield Drawing Room in the Bill Daniel Student Center on campus. Approximately two dozen other writers will participate in public readings, panel discussions and master classes for writers.
"Baylor is a logical place to host a gathering of people interested in religion and literature," said Garrett. "As the world's largest Baptist university, we have name recognition as a faith-based institution, and we are grounded in the Baptist tradition that we can remain true to ourselves while welcoming people who differ from us in what they believe and how they express it.
"Our program this year features members of virtually every Christian denomination, Jews, Buddhists, Baha'i, Sikhs and others who are still looking. The conversation will vital, interesting and maybe even inspirational."
All Art & Soul presentations, with the exception of Grisham's lecture, will be free to the public. General admission tickets for Grisham's talk are $10 and are available at the door from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Feb. 25. Conference registration for the Art & Soul writing conference or the Religious Faith and Literary Art symposium costs $60 for the general public or $30 for students and includes admission to Grisham's lecture.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Religious Faith and Literary Art, P.O. Box 97404, Waco, Texas 76798, call the Institute for Faith and Learning at (254) 710-4805, or visit the conference's web site at http://www.baylor.edu/~Rel_Lit/.
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