Reading and Q&A with Author Adam Davies, May 12, 2011

Author Adam Davies will discuss his novels, share his experience in creative writing and answer questions from the audience at New College of Florida on May 12. The event, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7 pm in Sudakoff Conference Center, 5845 General Dougher Place. Davies has published three novels, The Frog King, Goodbye Lemon and Mine All Mine. He is currently serving as the writer-in-residence at New College of Florida.

“Writing a book is a living relationship,” Davies says. “If you do the wrong thing by your muse or manuscript, it shows.”

Davies began his career in book publishing at Random House in New York. After three years reading manuscripts, he wanted to change his title to ‘senior dreamkiller.’ Davies left book publishing to pursue a graduate degree in creative writing. Every assignment he turned in as an M.F.A. student at Syracuse University was part the same story, which in 2002 became his first novel, The Frog King, an urban romantic comedy about first loves and first jobs.

His second novel, Goodbye Lemon, is a piercing and hilarious novel about love, family and redemption. In 2008, he published Mine All Mine, a screwball thriller and exposé of the black market in looted artwork. It was named “One of the Top Ten Crime Books of the Year” by “Booklist.” Davies’ nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times and Popular Mechanics, and he has made many radio and TV appearances, including NPR and the A&E Channel’s “Breakfast with the Arts.”

Davies’ use of words is most remarkable. Even in speaking, his playful expressions roll off the tongue effused with character and wit. Davies has been referenced in the Oxford English Dictionary more than 10 times as examples of word usage, such as “nepenthe” and “porrection.” He likes to refer to these interesting but infrequently used words as ‘orphan’ words that are ‘neglected, lonely and don’t have many friends.’

“As a writer I feel I can give them a home on the page,” Davies says. “One word that I really like a lot is ‘ramekin.’ It sounds like a much more exalted word than it really is,” he quips. “Good for you, ramekin.”

As New College’s writer-in-residence, Davies has been amazed by the small, intimate New College campus he calls a ‘precious, little microcosm.’

“New College students are some of the most intelligent, creative students I’ve taught.” Davies said. “They are responsible and willing to engage in everything.”

For more information, call 941-487-4888 or email events@ncf.edu.