Past Dan's Literary Prize Entrants Read Last Sunday
Four authors read from their East End–related works at the Dan’s Papers Literary Salon at Southampton Arts Center last Sunday, July 19. With stories touching on the people, the money and the absurdity of high summer season in the Hamptons, Sunday’s Salon explored the lighter side of living in a rich man’s playground.
Jacqueline Horner Plumez Ph. D. read “An Outbreak of Affluenza,” her account of entitlement and excess in the Hamptons and the preventative medicine necessary to stop the spread of the disease. Plumez is a practicing psychologist, career coach and author of The Bitch in Your Head: How to Finally Squash Your Inner Critic (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015). Plumez has been named a Distinguished Psychologist by the Westchester County Psychological Association and has received their Distinguished Service Award. In May, she was given the Service to Humanity award by Bucknell University. “An Outbreak of Affluenza” was entered into the 2014 Dan’s Papers Literary Prize for Nonfiction.
Year-round Southampton resident Joseph Antretter read “Hamptons Apocalypse Redux,” his war-like description of Memorial Day weekend in the Hamptons. Antretter considers himself a full-time patron of the arts, a climate control advocate and a non-Prius owner. “Redux” was his 2014 entry in the Dan’s Papers Literary Prize for Nonfiction.
Bruce Buschel read his 2012 entry into the Dan’s Papers Literary Prize for Nonfiction titled “Breadzilla,” a delightfully absurd account of a visit to the famed Wainscott bakeshop. Peter Cestaro assisted Buschel in presenting the piece.
All three pieces were strong contenders from past years’ Dan’s Papers Literary Prize for Nonfiction, and were selected for the July 19 Salon for their resonance with this high-season, high-energy time on the East End.
Dan’s Papers founder and Editor-In-Chief Dan Rattiner read “Robert’s French Ice Cream,” an excerpt from his upcoming book, In the Hamptons 4Ever, which is set to be released on August 1. The piece recounts a sticky situation involving a popular ice cream shop on County Road 39A in Southampton.
Sunday’s event was the fourth Literary Salon held at Southampton Arts Center, 25 Jobs Lane, Southampton. The next will be on Saturday, August 29. The event will continue monthly through October, with additional dates to be announced soon. “This Sunday’s Literary Salon, like the others, is a celebration of the spoken word to honor the Dan’s Papers Literary Prizes for Nonfiction contests currently underway,” Rattiner said before the event.
“We are so pleased that Dan’s Papers has chosen to host their Literary Salons at Southampton Arts Center, as offering rich cultural programs such as these is central to our mission,” Southampton Arts Center Director Michele Thompson says.
Held in conjunction with the Dan’s Papers $6,000 Literary Prize for Nonfiction and the $4,000 Emerging Young Writers Prize for Nonfiction, which are now accepting entries online at LiteraryPrize.DansPapers.com, the monthly Literary Salons will feature authors reading their entries from past Dan’s Papers Literary Prize competitions. Complimentary wine and cheese will be served. These live events are free and open to the public.
Enter your personal essays that reference the East End at LiterayPrize.DansPapers.com for a chance to win up to $5,000. Writers aged 25 and younger are eligible for the Emerging Young Writers Prize for Nonfiction with winnings totaling $4,000. Entries accepted through August 15. Winners to be announced September 3 at Guild Hall in East Hampton.