The John Dermot Woods Festschrift
A Festschrift is a book that celebrates a scholar, usually comprising essays from the scholar’s peers (here’s the Wikipedia page). From time to time at Real Pants, we’ll hold a sort of online version of this—we’ll dedicate a week to one beloved writer, during which we’ll ask some contributors and guests to send in posts inspired by or commenting on the writer’s work. And readers! If you’ve been moved by a book we’re celebrating, we want to know. Please email adam@realpants.com if you’d like to submit something.
For our first Festschrift, we’re pleased to take some time digging into John Dermot Woods’ new book from Coffee House Press, The Baltimore Atrocities. The publisher describes the book thusly:
The Baltimore Atrocities is a mordant, deadpan collection of more than one hundred murders, betrayals, heartbreaks, suicides, and bureaucratic snafus—each with a half-page illustration by the author—that tells the story of a couple who spends a year in Baltimore in search of their respective siblings, who were abducted decades earlier as young children.
This week, we’ll be featuring the book in numerous ways:
- Shanna Compton’s design review
- Sarah Jean Alexander’s Weather Report
- A note from the Anitra Budd, the book’s editor at Coffee House, on its production
- Read Along with Richard Chiem from a section of the book
- A scandalous Eat | Read story about Waffle House
- A “Table of Contents” and a prompt from Woods
And all of this will culminate in a release party on January 24, in Brooklyn, NY, which will also be the launch party for Real Pants! All are welcome.
This will be a Real Pants Signature “Popeye’s & Caviar” event
Featuring a short reading by John Dermot Woods, and a toast
Also featuring:
- Sarah Jean Alexander, Elisa Gabbert, Dylan Kinnett, Amy McDaniel, RM O’Brien, Justin Taylor,
- a cake from Momofuku, and also gift bags
If you go
When: January 24, starting at 8pm
Where: 47 Hall St, #109 Brooklyn, NY
How Much: Free!
