An Unforgettable Evening with Kathryn Stockett
It’s a hot July evening, and the buzz of anticipation fills a living room in Brentwood, California. Women and men of varied ages settle into their chairs. They’ve traveled from all over, some coming alone, others with company. It seems as though everyone is friends.
This is The Sunday Paper’s premiere Be Lit Salon Series, and it already feels like the destination for book lovers.
From our first conversation with our friends at Spiegel & Grau, the women-founded independent publisher with whom we partnered on the event, we knew there’d be magic. People crave stories, and to hear the writers behind them. But this level of electricity still surprises us. The intimate room is packed—everyone waiting to hear firsthand from one of the world’s brightest literary minds, Kathryn Stockett.
Julie Grau, co-CEO of Spiegel & Grau, and Liza Wachter, President (and our gracious host), take the stage first. They talk about the magic of publishing Stockett’s new novel, The Calamity Club, which came out this May, nearly 17 years after her colossal bestseller, The Help. Maria comes to the front of the room next, telling each of us in the crowd the importance of salon gatherings, an inspiring get-together in a home where folks come together to discuss books and the issues of the day, and to be together. “They were renowned for what came out of them,” Maria says of the salons of her past. “Great friendships were formed at salons, and I always thought, Why did that go away? That should come back!”
Now it’s time for Stockett. She commands the front room. Strong in presence with her notable Southern charm, she has everyone laughing and inhaling and laughing again with every sentence—which you can watch for yourself below. As she talks with Sunday Paper senior editor Stacey Lindsay, Stocket tells of the inspiration behind her strong-willed characters, how she faces both acclaim and criticism of epic proportions as a writer, and the need for us all to gather around stories.
Watch below to witness the magic Stockett delivers, and to feel the energy that happens when people gather face-to-face to discuss art, the news of the day, and the world we want to create. As Maria says, “so many people are looking for connection, looking for conversation, looking for friends, looking for community, and this is an example of that.”
This is the power of the Be Lit Salon Series—and we’re just getting started. Join us!
Photos Courtesy of Storyd Media
The Sunday Paper would like to sincerely thank Spiegel & Grau President Liza Wachter for being the most gracious host and Zibby’s Bookshop for being our salon bookseller partner.
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