CL Speaks

Pearl Cleage will be at Charis Books on Thurs., March 27, for a reading from her sixth novel Seen it All and Done the Rest, a Q&A and signing. Free. 7:30-9 p.m. Charis Books & More, 1189 Euclid Ave. 404-524-0304. charisbooksandmore.com.

Novelist and playwright Pearl Cleage has lived in Atlanta for almost 40 years.

She’s written several plays including A Song for Coretta, which wrapped up last month at 7 Stages, and her first book, What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day, was an Oprah Book Club pick and best seller. Cleage wrote a column for the Atlanta Tribune for a decade and has contributed to Essence, Ms., Rap Pages, Vibe and Ebony as well.

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Podcast produced by Alejandro Leal / Photo by Albert Trotman

Paula Poundstone performs Fri., MARCH 28, at the Ferst Center for the Arts, and her material is as fresh as ever. $21.60-$37. 8 p.m. Ferst Center for the Arts, 225 North Ave. 404-894-9600. www.ferstcenter.gatech.edu.

Pundstone came out of the same burgeoning Boston comedy scene of the late 1970s that produced Steven Wright, Denis Leary, Janeane Garofalo and Kevin Meaney, but she carved out her own unique brand of observational humor in California. She won two Cable Ace Awards and was given an American Comedy Award for Best Female Stand-Up Comic in 1989. A frequent panelist on the National Public Radio show “Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me!” – which airs Saturdays, 11 a.m., on WABE-FM (90.1) – Poundstone also has authored a quirky, history-lesson-laced memoir, There’s Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say (Three Rivers Press), which includes a candid take on alcohol-abuse issues that led to a 2001 arrest.

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Podcast recorded by Edward Adams and Alejandro Leal, and produced by Alejandro Leal / Photo courtesy George Lange Photography

The Bellwether Prize is an award that recognizes unpublished literature of social responsibility. Barbara Kingsolver, critically acclaimed author of multiple works including The Poisionwood Bible and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, founded the prize in 2000 and names a winner biennially. The winner receives $25,000 and a book deal with a major publishing house. The most recent recipient, in 2006, was Hillary Jordan, a newcomer to the literary scene with her debut novel, Mudbound, published earlier this month by Algonquin Books.

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Hillary Jordan reads and signs Mudbound. Free. Mon. March 24. 7:30 p.m. Wordsmiths Books, 141 E. Trinity Place, Decatur. 404-378-7166. www.wordsmithsbooks.com.

Listen as Hillary Jordan speaks with Krista Derbecker Gilliam and reads from Mudbound - Download

Podcast produced by Alejandro Leal / Photo by William Coupon

Legendary comedic actress invades Athens

She might be approaching 82, but Cloris Leachman shows no signs of slowing down. Leachman has won a record number of Emmy Awards for an actress (nine) to go along with her Oscar for her work in 1971’s The Last Picture Show. But this weekend she is live and in person, presenting the local premiere of her one-woman show Cloris, which covers her formidable career with humor and music. Leachman took some time to discuss the show, which plays Saturday at the University of Georgia’ Ramsey Concert Hall. Saturday, March 22, at UGA’s Ramsey Concert Hall in Athens, at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. For tickets, call 888-289-8497.

Cloris Leachman speaks with David Lee Simmons - Download

Podcast produced by Alejandro Leal

Noted environmentalist and writer Bill McKibben, when not organizing visually stimulating demonstrations to wake up politicians and the populace to the threat of global warming, writes best-selling books about everything from the environment to alternative energy to how the information age has impacted our collective and personal identity. He also founded Step It Up 2007, a grassroots advocacy group that’s met with success in getting out the message about global warming’s impact. McKibben was gracious enough to speak with me over the phone from his Vermont home. Click below to hear about where the nation stands in terms of what we’re doing, how metro Atlanta’s existence as a sprawling monster has hurt more than just the environment, and who he’s supporting for president in November. (Hint: It’s a Democrat.) Most importantly, McKibben talks about what we can do.

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Podcast produced by Alejandro Leal / Photo courtesy of Nancie Battaglia

In Rock On, Kennedy makes the office fun again via describing the strange things going on around him, and inside his own head while working in the music industry.

What were you hoping your book conveyed about the corporate world?

I really attempted to write humorously and with a fair heart about navigating through those little deals with ourselves as we move into adulthood. You start out saying you aren’t going to change and you are going to keep it real. The first job you get you’re like, “OK, I’m going to keep it real but they do want me to wear sweaters and button-up shirts.” It isn’t an easy transition to navigate for any of us coming from an idealist everyday life. You have to figure out how much of yourself do you set aside so you can fit into this corporate structure to succeed. It isn’t an easy thing and I hope I didn’t make it look like anyone who tries seems like a jerk, because I was right there wearing the Prada shoes going, “Yes, I think this makes me look like a sensible adult.”

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Abi Berwager speaks with Dan Kennedy

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