New reading on March 27th?
Posted: February 29, 2008, 20:41
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The Wall Street Journal: How did Stephen King get onto your book so early?
Lauren Groff: He chose a story of mine for "The Best American Short Stories 2007," which he edited. It's a resetting of Abelard and Heloise in 1918 during the flu epidemic titled "L. DeBard and Aliette." Aliette is a girl stricken by polio who later goes on to become an Olympic swimmer. Anyway, he loved the story, thank goodness. My editor, Pam Dorman, had worked with him on earlier books, and asked if he would like to see my book. He wrote it up and created amazing buzz right from the beginning. (Ms. Groff's short story is online at The Atlantic.)
WSJ: What was the impact?
Ms. Groff: There is no name in American literature more recognized than Stephen King, so it helped immeasurably. In Sarasota, Fla., we'll be doing a reading together. (The March 27 event will be on the University of South Florida's Sarasota-Manatee campus.)
The moderator of King’s official board had the following comment:
I'm not 100% sure about his doing a reading -- will have to double check with him. The original deal was just that he would be introducing Lauren Groff, nothing about a reading.
