What They Say About us!

Words & Music is proud of the comments from participants, including especially our faculty. Read their evaluations of Words & Music.

No one knows how to throw a party like New Orleanians, and no one knows how to convene a meeting of literary minds like the Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society. Rejuvenating to seasoned authors and tremendously nurturing to those who are just starting out, Words & Music is a festival, an homage, a think tank, a celebration of books all rolled into one. It is a touchstone in my life as a writer.
--Julia Glass, Winner 2002 National Book Award for Three Junes

...what a wonderful concept for a conference. I want to come back. Why don't you do an evening featuring writers who play music? I play guitar, incidentally!
-Oscar Hijuelos, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love.

Having just finished a book, I was searching around again for what exactly writing is and what it can do (and why we do it). .. it was all great grist for the mill, and welcome.
-Stewart O'Nan, author A World Away and eight other novels

Words & Music really engaged and stimulated me as a writer. Rarely are so many great writers of such varied aethetic and disciplinary range gathered together in the same place; and it is intimate enough to interact and exchange in a way that other writers' conferences do not.
-David Wright, contributor: The Kenyon Review, New York Newsday, The Southern Review, and African American Review; author: Fire on the Beach.

I've met great writers and had compelling discussions about books at Words & Music. I listened to Peter Guralnick talk about writing non-fiction, and ended up talking to some of my writers here at the Los Angeles Times about his books and what he had to say. This is what you hope will happen at a literary festival, the reason you have one.
-Dean Baquet, Managing Editor, The Los Angeles Times

I left New Orleans inspired and energized. I am still corresponding with some of the writers.
-Priscilla Cohen, Hollywood literary agent, specializingi n screenplays

Th elegant jazz interpretation in Words & Music of Faulkner, demonstrated the power of art and the healing across races and cultures when writers reach real depth. The spirituality panel broke new ground, the poetry reading debuting Stuart Margolin as T. S. Eliot's prosecutor was an extraordinary moment , illustrating the wonderful way artists collaborate spontaneously in the festival's generous atmosphere.
-Rodger Kamenetz, poet, author of the lowercase jew, and memorist

...refreshingly unique, the combination of literary and musical creators in the same conference. I thought it showcased New Orleans so clearly and colorfully.
-Susan Vreeland, author of The Girl in Hyacinth Blue

The conference, in the three years that I've been privileged to attend, has been uplifiting and inspirational, not to mention fun!
-Ken Wells, author of the Meely Labauve mysterry series and Wall Street Journal writer

It was a stellar conference!
-Ira Silverberg, literary agent, Donadio & Olson, New York

My experience with Words & Music was nothing short of wonderful!
-Jack Fuller, President, Tribune Publishing Company

I lobbied to come back because I enjoy it so much.
-Karen Exxex, screenwriter and novelist, author of Kleopatra

Outstanding, relevant, important, and the Words & Music festival is all of that and more.
-Richard Katrovas, poet, novelist, and Director, Prague Summer Studies Program

...when I talk to writers in New York, I fret about so-and-so got a half-million-dollar advance and what's wrong with me. During Words & Music I am inspired by extraordinary writers to do better work!
-Patricia Beard, Editor-at-large, Elle, and author of Good Daughters and After the Ball.

Just so y'all know, every single person who writes me, asking what they need to do to get published--I'm telling them the truth. Which is first of all, I don't know--my publisher called ME. I give 'em y'all's address and tell 'em about Words & Music. If half of 'em have any sense and listen to me, you'll be swamped!
-Jill Conner Browne, THE Queen, author of Sweet Potato Queens' Book of L

Words & Music is one of the best and most hospitable conferences at which I speak. It
certainly attracts more celebrities than any except for the LA Times Book Fest.
-John Biguenet, author of Oyster and The Torturer's Apprentice

.. . thank you for the opportunity to perform at the Words & Music festival. New Orleans is a great city, you were great hosts, and we had a memorable time. I would love to participate in the festival in the future....
-Don Maseng, Israeli playwright, actor, producer, Terra Infirma.

...a fabulous festival ...keep me in mind if you need someone to vouch for the festival in New York.
-Christopher Drew, New York Times journalist and bestselling author, Blind Man's Bluff.

Had a wonderful time. Thank you for letting me be a part of it. I'd love to come back again...
-Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize winning literary critic for The Washington Post.

You're doing the Lord's work...
-Nick Lemann, The New Yorker, and author, The Big Test and The Promised Land.

Having administersed a similar program, I know the enormity and the incredible success of what you do. You continue to provide an important arts and cultural resource not just for the citizens of New Orleans and Louisiana, but for the nation. I was proud to write an article on Words & Music for Poets & Writers to share with others what those of us who have attended already know: that you have been quietly providing one of the most engrossing immersions in the arts to be found.
-Greg Garrett, author, Director of Religious Faith and Literary Art, Baylor University,

...You took the writers' conference to a superb new level and the evening entertainment events are quite simply glorious...
-Susan Dodd, author, creative writing professor, author of six books, including O Careless Love

...I was giving up writing when your call came, telling me my manuscript 66 Laps was a winner in the William Faulkner Creative Writing Competition. Winning the Society's gold medal and coming to your extraordinary conference literally has changed my life...
-Leslie Lehr Spirson, winner, Faulkner medal for 66 Laps, since published and favorably reviewed in USA, Today, The Los Angeles Time. . Leslie met her agent Deborah Grosvenor at Words & Music.