Joyce takes readers on epic journey
Chapter16.org
Author and illustrator William Joyce is hardly new to epic tales — he’s the creator of the bestselling “Guardians of Childhood” series of picture books and novels, among others — but his newest novel manages to be epic within a 10-block radius. “Ollie’s Odyssey” is the tender story of Ollie, a boy’s favorite stuffed animal, who is “toynapped” by the Toy World’s mechanical villain, Zozo, and his henchmen. The boy gathers his courage for the neighborhood journey to rescue his homemade “funny little rabbit toy.”
Can you talk about this story’s spark? Did any particular classic children’s books inspire you?
I thought a lot about “The Velveteen Rabbit,” “Winnie-thePooh,” and a Danish book called “Wool Man.” “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “Winnie-the-Pooh” are about the bond between children and beloved toys. And “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “Wool Man” also are about the physical frailty of the things children love — that they can wear out or become lost. I know people, adults and
How long would you hold out hope for the system to find you innocent?
These are some of the questions addressed in the 2015 book “Pruno, Ramen, and a Side of Hope: Stories children, who have these poignant wads of blankets or stuffed animals that they still carry around or have tucked away in a box somewhere, and they are essential to these people. Some of these things are literally unrecognizable, they are so worn out . ... Yet to the people they belong to, they are as beautiful as any treasure, as beloved as any actual person.
My daughter, Mary Katherine, had a huge stuffed bear that she called Big Teddy. She’d had it since the day she was born, and he went everywhere with her. When she was 17 and diagnosed with a brain tumor, Big Teddy went with her to St. Jude’s in Memphis, and Big Teddy was with her till her last moments. of Surviving Wrongful Conviction.” The authors of the book, Courtney B. Lance and Nikki D. Pope, will appear at a book-signing at 1 p.m. Saturday at South Main Book Juggler, 548 S. Main St.
They’ll be joined by an exoneree who will read an excerpt from the book, My daughter was a very tough young lady, and that she took such comfort in this talisman of her childhood was very moving to me. So I wanted to explore this sometimes extraordinary relationship, this humanity, that we sometimes share with things we know are not alive or real.
Can you describe a part of the creation of this story that was as well as a mother whose son was wrongfully convicted.
Lance, the daughter of a civil-rights organizer, is a real estate professional and writer from Chicago whose volunteer ventures include a creative nonprofit called The Third Place as well as a nonprofit challenging or surprising?
I was in a sort of fever dream when I wrote this. I got so lost in the different mind sets of the characters. I imagined how a very young boy and a toy would see the world and adults and find language and grown-up behavior as sometimes strange and confusing. I mean, children take language so literally; my daughter used to point out to me that she did not “fall” asleep but lay down in her bed to go to sleep. So I had great fun remembering the things my daughter and son found peculiar about the way they perceived adults, and I made that not only a part of Billy’s character but also of Ollie’s.
Do you recall your own childhood “favorite” vividly?
Yes, I do remember my favorite “Teddy.” He’s sitting on my desk now. I’ll send a picture of him. We’ve had many an adventure and traveled many a mile, and he was lost for more than 10 years, but I found him in my parents’ attic the night before my wedding. called Louis’ Groceries that promotes healthful eating habits among underserved communities.
Pope is a Northern California-based securities and corporate governance attorney and a member of the advisory board of the Northern California Innocence Project.
Wednesday, 7-9 p.m. Author reads, discusses and signs “Buckled Down and the Mata Morrow Mystery” series at Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center, 892 S. Cooper. Visit mglcc.org.
April 21, 6 p.m. Author discusses and signs books at Hernando Public Library, 370 W. Commerce St. Visit firstregional.org or call 662-429-4439.
April 20, 1-3 p.m. Author reads and signs “J.D. Salinger: Three Early Stories.” Rare dramatic reading followed by Q&A at LeMoyne-Owen College, 807 Walker. Visit loc.edu. Saturday, 2 p.m. Author discusses and signs “The Rector” at The Booksellers at Laurelwood, 387 Perkins Ext. Visit thebooksellersatlaurelwood.com or call 901-683-9801.
Also coming up:
April 23, 2 p.m. Authors discuss and sign “A Toast to Lafayette Draper.”
April 26, 6:30 p.m. Author discusses and signs “Ladies Night at the Dreamland.”
The Booksellers at Laurelwood and Christian Brothers University present a featuring Erik Larson, Friday at Christian Brother University Theatre, 650 E Parkway S. Single and couples tickets are $15 and include a paperback copy of Erik Larson’s “Dead Wake.” All college students get in free with a student I.D. Visit thebooksellersatlaurelwood.com or call 901-683-9801.
April 21-22 at Rhodes College, Blount Auditorium in Buckman Hall, 2000 N. Parkway. Celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death by exploring the intellectual history of the year 1616 across the globe. Commencing with a keynote lecture by Thomas Christensen, author of “1616: The World in Motion,” Thursday, 5:30 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit rhodes.edu/1616.
May 5 and 12, 1-4 p.m., at Flicker Street Studio, 74 Flicker. Students learn basic book binding techniques, tools, and materials. Leave the class with several handmade, oneof-a-kind books suitable for journaling, sketchbookery, or gift giving and the knowledge to continue book making independently. Materials included. Cost is $150. Email flickerstreet@gmail.com, visit flickerstreetstudio. com/may-workshops or call 901-767-2999
First Saturday of every month, from 2-4 p.m., at the Poplar-White Station Branch Library, 5094 Poplar. Featuring speakers, workshops and readings. Free to attend. Email joan0620@att.net or call 901-361-0077.
Third Thursday of every month, from 6-7:30 p.m., at The Dixon Gallery & Gardens, 4339 Park. Interactive discussion with three copies of selected books available to loan. Free with admission. The Booksellers at Laurelwood will offer book club members a discount toward each selection. Email lschmidt@ dixon.org, visit dixon.org or call 901-761-5250.
Meets every third Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. at The Booksellers at Laurelwood, 387 Perkins Ext. Visit thebooksellersatlaurelwood.com or call 901-683-9801.
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