Billy Phelan’s Greatest Game - Marathon Reading, November 7

For the 2nd year in a row the NYS Writers Institute organized a marathon reading of a novel by the esteemed Albany treasure, author William Kennedy. Last year it was a reading of Ironweed (1983), for which he won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984; this year it was Billy Phelan’s Greatest Game (1978). Both events were held at the Albany Distilling Co. Bar and Bottle Shop, 75 Livingston Ave., Albany, NY, home of Ironweed Bourbon.

To join the reading one needed to sign-up prior to the event & then, of course, show up to read. Although I couldn’t be there all day I managed to carve out a couple hours in the mid-afternoon around my scheduled slot to immerse myself in Kennedy’s masterful storytelling (the event was scheduled from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm).

Among the community readers I heard -- & photographed -- were Robb Smith, Sally Rhoades, Michi Vonnegut, Joan Goodman, Craig McAvoy, Mike Reger, Bill Ritchie, Monica Trabold, William Kennedy himself, Wanda Fisher, & Wilma Alvarado-Little (in a stunning green dress). Just as I was about to read, Paul Grondahl, the Opalka Endowed Director of the Writers Institute, asked if I would mind if Bill Kennedy read the first page or so of my section because Jim Franco, the Times Union photographer, wanted to get photos of Bill reading — like I should say no? It was great fun to follow the author himself reading from his book.

I have posted photos of each of the readers named above & they are posted in an album on my flickr site here. & while you are at the site, stay & browse around awhile — you might even see photos of someone you might know. And while you are at it check out the Writers Institute website.