TROLLEY

The online journal of the NYS Writers Institute

Trolley, Fall 2019

For our Fall 2019 edition, we asked readers to share their impressions of our fall Visiting Writer events, including the Albany Book Festival held in September at the University at Albany.

Featured writers include UAlbany students, community members, professors and adjunct professors. These essays carry forward Writers Institute founder William Kennedy's premise for Trolley to be written by all and accessible to all.

We hope you enjoy the variety of perspectives and opinions shared in Trolley and we will see you again in the spring.

-- Michael Huber

NYS Writers Institute, Albany NY

The second annual Albany Book Festival drew more than 5,000 people to the University at Albany campus in September. (Patrick Dodson / UAlbany)

About Trolley

A web magazine of essay, opinion, literature, culture, and politics, published by the New York State Writers Institute based at the University at Albany.

Editor: Paul Grondahl

Executive Editor: William Kennedy

Managing Editor: Michael Huber

Contributing Editor: Edward Schwarzschild

NYS Writer Instiute

Previous editions

“I have always imagined paradise will be a kind of library.”

– Jorge Luis Borges

By Edward Schwarzschild

For this fourth column, in celebration of the 2nd annual Albany Book Festival, we present a wide-ranging interview with one of the luminaries who spoke at the Festival, Joyce Carol Oates.

Though this interview took place in early 1995, you’ll find that the conversation touches upon many issues of current concern, from American politics, to Supreme Court justices, to quantum physics and the vicissitudes of memory.

And of course, once again, as with so much of what you can find in the Institute’s archives, this interview overflows with wisdom, laughter, and a love of literary conversation. Read more.

"I see myself as an American writer, and well, there’s equal stress on both words, 'American' and 'writer'...” (Photo by Dustin Cohen)

From the archives: Joyce Carol Oates

A wonderful event for readers and writers

"When I entered the UAlbany Campus Center there were sounds of bustling activity. Piles of books and purple tote bags were everywhere. The aroma of strong Starbucks coffee overwhelmed the other scents. People were chatting excitedly and planning their day using the detailed program which was available on- line and in print."

By Faith S. Green

The race issue: Reconstruction and now

"America was a slave society for a lot longer than not. This was not confined to the South, but colored everything. And we're still dealing with the fallout...

But secession was not a noble cause, it was a vile one. A rebellion against the ideals America actually stands for (or should). The war was not about "liberty" but its opposite, slavery — no slavery, no war."

By Frank S. Robinson

A conversation with author L.M. Elliott

"When one thinks of a book festival, what comes to their mind is probably something like the Scholastic Book Fairs we had growing up; the most exciting day of elementary school, when a pop-up bookstore would appear for a day. We could buy any books we wanted, or at least that our lunch money allowed us to..."

A journey back to books

"Simply put, there is no substitute for the feel of a book in your hands and reading the printed page.

So when I learned the New York State Writers Institute would be hosting a Book Festival – their second, my first – it seemed the perfect opportunity to lead me back to a pastime I enjoyed several years before."

By Emily Pawlak

The true cost of homelessness

"The ones who suffer the most … are the children. Matthew Desmond's Evicted documents that housing insecurity manifests in food insecurity and poorer health for them. When children are moved from school to school their learning is disrupted along with their social networks."

By Rev. Sam Trumbore

A taste of the craft beer and spirits discussion

"The Craft Beer and Spirits Panel was among the many others found at the Albany Book Festival. Attendees all agreed that the festival was a success and they were already counting the days until the next one!"

Running down a dream

"I will never run a marathon. I have a better chance of walking on the moon than running 26.2 miles here on Earth.

So why did I sit through hour-long talk about long-distance running?"

By Michael Huber

A woman truly free to be herself

"Having known very little about famous poet Sharon Olds prior to her event at the New York State Writers Institute in October, I was blown away by her conversation."

By Stella Thomas

Drawing inspiration from a very old memoir

"Really good writers who can explain complex scientific or medical topics are rare. Scientists and/or physicians who are really good writers are even rarer."

By Mark Marchand

Discovering new authors

"When I asked Mr. Devine if his stories are based on real people, he responded, “it’s fiction, we steal from people."

Consequences of telling the truth

"Humans have a biological response to protect their young. However, what happens when there’s a betrayal that ostracizes one member from the others? This question is the central theme for My Life as a Rat."