Curtis Wilkie poses for a photo in his office in the Overby Center at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014. (DM Photo | Cady Herring )
Beginning at 5 p.m. tonight at Off Square Books, Curtis Wilkie’s latest novel “Assassins, Eccentrics, Politicians, and Other Persons of Interest,” will be featured at a book signing. At 5:30, Wilkie will speak about his book and refreshments will follow.
This is Wilkie’s fourth book, and it is comprised of articles he has written throughout his life, some focusing on events in the Middle East and others on moments here on The University of Mississippi’s campus.
The South is prevalent in much of Curtis Wilkie’s work, but with all the differing topics and focuses within this particular mix, there is no central theme to this collection.
“Just a collection. No them; no axe to grind,” Wilkie said of his newest publication.
In fact, “Assassins, Eccentrics, Politicians, and Other Persons of Interest” came about in response to the suggestion of Ann Abadie, former associate director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture and colleague of Wilkie’s.
“Curtis Wilkie is a marvelous writer, and I have admired his work for years,” Abadie said. “His columns are outstanding, as are his first two books-his memoir, “Dixie,” written several years ago and his recent “The Fall of the House of Zeus.” Because Curtis Wilkie is an outstanding writer from Mississippi, and his work should be recognized and made available to a wide audience, I did suggest that the University Press of Mississippi publish a collection of columns he has written during his long and illustrious career and a journalist.I am exceeding pleased that the UPM staff agreed and has published this collection.”
“I said I’d be honored,” Wilkie said.
Curtis Wilkie reads excerpts from his new book ‘Assassins, Eccentrics, Politicians, and Other Persons of Interest’ at Off Square Books in Oxford, Miss., Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014. (DM Photo | Cady Herring )
When asked about a favorite piece in this collection, Wilkie mentioned spending a couple of days in Aspen, Colorado, speaking with Hunter Thompson for an article not long before Thompson’s suicide.
“He was an infamous character,” Wilkie said of Thompson. “Irreverent, a flamboyant writer, wrote about drugs and drinking. He had a big student following.”
Thompson was known for subjects like counterculture and “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” later popularized through the movie version starring Johnny Depp.
Wilkie also spoke of Abu Jihad, a man he knew and dealt with in the Middle East during the 1980s before Jihad was assassinated by an Israeli hit team, and a magazine piece he wrote about Gaza, a subject that is just as relevant today as it was three decades ago.
“The Middle East is the Middle East,” Wilkie said. “It will always be interesting.”
Wilkie interviewed Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, a couple weeks before the civil rights’ leader’s murder. Wilkie also covered six presidential campaigns.
Wilkie is no stranger to Off Square Books and book signings.
“Oh, yeah. Fourth book, fourth signing,” he said. “Seeing people interested in your books, that’s encouraging.”
Independent bookstores like Square Books, Lemuria in Jackson and Turnrow Books in Greenwood draw Wilkie’s business.
While Wilkie has traveled all over the world, living in places like Jerusalem and working for the Boston Globe, the South has always exercised a strong pull on him.
Wilkie had advice to budding writers and journalists.
“Basically, take advantage of all the wonderful stories that are out there,” Wilkie said. “Throw yourself into conceiving them. Good stories are everywhere. This is no secret. Get people to talk to you. Good anecdotes and background information make a good story. Always be on the lookout for anecdotes that can double as metaphors, so they can sell the
point of your piece.”
