Old Dominion University’s Literary Festival is back for the 32nd year, today to Friday 10/9. AltDaily talked with co-director and ODU professor Michael Pearson about this year’s festivities, which feature Steve Almond, Mark Bowden, and Jane Mayer. Click here for the full schedule. Come back every day this week for our wall-to-wall coverage.

This photo was taken this past August at the MFA meet and greet at Meghan Hoyer's house.

AltDaily: You and Janet Peery have teamed up as festival directors for this year’s 32nd annual Literary Festival at ODU. When some people hear “literary festival” they might have flashes of answering comprehension questions from a Norton Reader back in college, or maybe that it’s a place to learn to read. Please explain what it’s really all about.

Mike Pearson: Hopefully, no one will assume he has to answer comprehension questions at the Lit Fest. If that were the case, I wouldn’t show up myself. The Literary Festival is an opportunity to meet writers you admire, to encounter ones you don’t know that much about, to hear the voice behind the words, to hang out with like-minded individuals, to ask questions, to be part of a tradition that goes back as far as such human instincts to gather and share beautiful language go — that is, as far back as the comforting fire in the cave.

The theme is “Writers in Peace and War.” Aside from the obvious–that the US currently has two wars going on, and we live in one of the most military-heavy areas of the world–why this theme?

Just for the reason implied in your question — we have 2 wars going on and we live in a military community. I think it’s important for us to engage in a conversation about peace and war in an environment where many people are significantly affected by conflict.  In many parts of the country, Iraq and Afghanistan are news stories. Here, they are personal stories. But, in general in our society, I think it’s past time when we discussed meaningfully what do we mean by war or peace or torture. We might think we know what we mean, but euphemisms often creep into the conversation — war doesn’t get declared; it gets called a conflict. Torture gets translated into the phrase ‘enhanced interrogation techniques.’ A long time ago, Orwell warned us that that euphemism and obfuscation might sound the first notes of the apocalypse. The writers we have with us at ODU might clear some things up. We need things to be cleared up.

What can literature tell us about war that a daily newspaper can’t?

Literature, as Ezra Pound said, is news that stays news. Literature gets us to a place in the human heart that no daily newspaper can–or ever will–reach.

I’m guessing that a good percentage of our readers have never been to a Lit Fest event. Why don’t you sell them a little bit by telling some wild, crazy story from a Literary Festival in the past.

Well, has anyone told about the Pulitzer Prize winner a decade ago who walked onto the stage a bit tipsy and totally naked?  Or the writer who kept a flying squirrel in her bra? No, come to the Festival and I’ll give the details. There are tales tragic, comic, and in between.

Steve Almond brings it at his readings.

How about just from a reading? What’s the most interesting thing you’ve seen happen?

We’ve had 31 years worth of readings at ODU. I’ve seen 21 years of them. One of the best readings I’ve ever seen was Tim O’Brien’s in 2000. He gave a performance worthy of Charles Dickens, a real tour de force. There will be some of that this year, I’m sure.

Back to our party. What’s the one event someone should come to if they want to engage in a good literary/intellectual discussion? Which event is most likely to have the audience laughing? Which reading after party is most likely to end in wild drug use and spontaneous love making (as suggested by the hippy-style picture of you two in the brochure)?

I can’t talk about drug use. It’s still illegal in the United States, right? All of the readings will offer powerful, thought-provoking  entertainments (that’s what literature is). For instance, Jane Mayer will give us the inside story of the Bush administration policy on torture, Mark Bowden will tell the horrific tale of the Battle of Mogadishu, Brian Turner will give us a poet’s view of war. The reading that is most likely to not only end but actually cause spontaneous drug use and on-the-spot lovemaking might be Steve Almond’s.  He’s a little crazy in an absolutely sane way. If this were One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, he’d be McMurphy. He’ll end the Festival on Friday night, and I can only guess what will happen. I hear the governor has called out the National Guard in advance.

One last question. I don’t mean to reveal an industry secret of sorts, but a lot of undergrads will be attending the Festival as a class assignment. What advice to you give to someone who might not know how to appreciate a good reading? What’s the best way to enjoy it and/or get something out of it?

Come with an open heart and an open mind. Both will get filled up with good things.