Diana Pavlac Glyer» C.S.Lewis

Oxford CSL Society

Diana — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:29:07 +0000

a glorious time in a glorious space

My sabatical travels have ranged far and wide. One of my best trips was a short visit to Oxford last February. While I was there, I spent most of my time at the Bodleian, studying Tolkien materials.

I also presented a paper to the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society. Officers Brendan Wolfe and Judith Tonning offered a warm welcome. It was really a lovely evening, and I was both enlightened and encouraged by this remarkable group.

I used the occasion to offer my first formal presentation of some new research on Warren Hamilton Lewis. Warnie stands in his brother's shadow, and his legacy has been marred by his well-known struggles with alcohol. But there is so much more to know about this man: a fine writer, a gracious friend, a key member of the Inklings. I have been studying his letters and look forward to writing more about him.

If you are interested in C. S. Lewis, I urge you to support the work of this Society: http://lewisinoxford.googlepages.com/

Mystery & Imagination Bookshop, Glendale, California

Diana — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:52:11 +0000

Catching up....

Andrew Lazo talks; Will Vaus and Diana Glyer listen

Josh Long, Mike Glyer, Lions, Tigers, and other notables crowded into the bookshop.

Back in October, Will Vaus and I were featured speakers at a book signing at the Mystery and Imagination Bookshop in Glendale, California. Local signings can be particularly energetic, and this event was no exception.

Josh Long, a Tolkien scholar and teacher at a near-by high school, had invited his class to attend the event, and he sweetened the deal by offering extra credit to his students if they came in Narnia costume. There is nothing quite like talking about C. S. Lewis with Prince Caspian, a White Witch, and a few assorted LIONS in the room!

Other not-so-fictional notables included Stan Mattson of the C. S. Lewis Foundation; Inklings scholar Andrew Lazo; authors Joseph Bentz and Tom Allbaugh; Hugo winner Mike Glyer; and musician Lynn Maudlin. (Lynn took all of the pictures featured in this post).

Will talked about The Professor of Narnia, I talked about The Company They Keep, and then we answered questions from the audience. Our hosts, Malcolm and Christine Bell, were an absolute pleasure to work with. They were well prepared, they communicated freely and frequently, they publicized well, and they provided a bright and spacious venue for a truly great evening. Kudos all around.

Takeaway: Local, special-interest bookshops provide an extremely important service when they connect readers with writers. It's a great deal of fun, and everybody wins. Ask your local bookshop to provide time and space for authors and fans to connect face to face.

Writers Track at CSLF Conference

Diana — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:57:58 +0000

Plans are taking shape for the C. S. Lewis Foundation's Regional Retreat, October 30-November 1, in Navasota Texas. It will be a celebration of creativity and community, and this year for the first time it will feature a two- day writers track. Watch the website for details:

http://www.cslewis.org/programs/regional/sw/2009/index.html

Where:	Camp Allen Retreat in Navasota, Texas
When:	Main Retreat: October 30 - November 1, 2009 Children's Track: October 30 - November 1, 2009 Writer's Workshop: October 29 - November 1, 2009
Who:	Featured Speaker: Dr. Diana Glyer, Professor of English, Azusa Pacific University, Author of The Company They Keep: C.S. Lewis & the Inklings Preacher: Rev. Skip Ryan, Dallas, Texas Rev. Scott Irwin, Austin, Texas Artists: Ad Deum Dance Company, Houston, Texas Breakout Session Leaders: Andrew Lazo, Don Wood, Joy Jordan Lake Writer's Workshop Leader: Joy Jordan Lake, Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee Chaplain:
Theme:	"The Company We Keep: Creativity & Community with C.S. Lewis & the Inklings"
What to Expect:	Engaging lectures on C.S. Lewis, the Inklings, Christianity, and creativity. Special Writers Track Small group sessions on conference themes Panel Discussion with leading Christian thinkers Worship and fellowship with friends old and new Children's Track: Sailing the Dawn Treader (ages 7-12) Bag End Cafe: after hours music and readings by speakers and conferees Opportunities for recreation at the retreat center, including horseback riding, nature walking, skeet shooting, and canoeing.

Type

Diana — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:52:41 +0000

tapping the keys of Warnie's typewriter

When I visited C.S. Lewis's house, The Kilns, I was delighted to see that his brother's typewriter was on display. Warnie typed up manuscripts, wrote letters, and drafted his own books on that sturdy machine. Something very satisfying in the patterns and textures and sounds of an old machine. Something very humbling to touch lightly on the keys of history.