Writers Who Read LIVE!: Avalon - Nell Zink

November's meeting--IN PERSON at the Boulder Library Main Branch 2nd floor Flatirons Meeting Room & ONLINE (see link when you register)--is Avalon by Nell Zink (USA, 2022) on Sunday starting at 2:30 pm (for 2 hours). Facilities information here.

Avalon is a mythical island in Arthurian legend, a town on California's Catalina island, a Roxy Music album, and a Toyota model. After her mother abandons her to be a Buddhist nun, Bran grows up with her step-father and his creepy family on Bourdon Farms--a plant nursery that doubles as a cover for a biker gang. Can Bran ever find her own Avalon in this crazy mixed-up life?

We are Writers Who Read. We use Literary Forensics to dissect a recent novel (published within the past 18 months) with the goal of uncovering how the author has utilized their skills for effect. Storytelling is an art, but it's not a mystery. Every writer must address the following:

• Structure, Timeline, Pacing, Suspense, Omission
• Point of View, including Voice, Character, Place
• Language, Tense, Imagery, Metaphor, Symbols
• Motivation: Making a story pop - generating a thrill
• Why this story? And why now? Industry considerations

We ask that all attendees read the entire book in advance of the meeting, and come bearing their discoveries of how the author has addressed each of the five points above.

What is Literary Forensics? Find out here: https://www.garyalanmcbride.com/literary-forensics/