Two weeks from today I’ll be standing on stage with the guy who wrote the book Game of Thrones. The Chicago Public Library and Chicago Public Library Foundation is honoring George R. R. Martin at their Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner on Thursday, October 10, 2019 and I am absolutely thrilled to have been asked to play a very miniscule part in that event. From the press release:
Legendary Chicago newscaster Bill Kurtis serves as host, and the evening’s highlight is always the intimate onstage conversation with the Sandburg Award honoree led by best-selling author and National Public Radio host Scott Simon. An acclaimed author with ties to Chicago is also seated at each table, adding to the evening’s uniqueness.
You got that right. I will be an “acclaimed author with ties to Chicago” sitting at one of the tables to add to the evening’s uniqueness, and from the form I was asked to fill out, it sounds like the other acclaimed authors and I will be on stage for a bit, too. Among the questions about dietary restrictions and how to pronounce names were questions about whether I have any problems climbing the steps to the stage and whether I can stay standing for 30 minutes for introductions. My answer: “I am blind and will be guided to the stage by my Seeing Eye dog, who will be coming to the event with me. Whitney and I have no problems climbing or descending stairs and will be able to stand for 30 minutes during the introductions.”
My answer about pronunciation of names was a bit more complicated. I’ll say goodbye here, leave you with my answer and get to work figuring out what I should wear that night!
My first name, Beth, rhymes with “death”; my last name, Finke, rhymes with “stinky.” If you’ll be reading my entire bio out loud, my husband’s last name, Knezovich, doesn’t rhyme with anything. It’s pronounced kuh NEZZ uh vitch.
I love your way with pronunciation guides, Beth. No one can possibly get your name wrong — Death Stinky even works as an alias!
Death Stinky. Sounds like a 21st Century rock band!
How exciting!!!!
It is! I just hope Mr. Martin doesn’t ask me to feel his beard….
“acclaimed author with ties to Chicago” – Love it! You most certainly will add to the evening’s uniqueness with your charm and poise.
For yucks, I just looked up the definition of the adjective “acclaimed.” Among the synonyms? “Fashionable.” Gee whiz, guess I knew what I was doing by ending my blog with figuring out what I might wear that night.
Beautiful, sounds very exciting!!
Not nearly as exciting as sharing the microphone with you at Max and Benny’s Heidi.
Yeah Death Stinky, you are hilarious! And will be a very special asset to that evening.
Can’t wait to hear all about it.
If it turns out as interesting as I think it will be, you’ll heard all about it for sure…on the blog. Stay tuned, Annelore.
Your public has always known this
Do you mean my public has always known that I add to an evening’s uniqueness? Or that my last name rhymes with Stinky…?!!
Doesn’t rhyme with anything. Ha!
Congratulations, Beth. What an honor.
I had no idea the Game of Thrones writer had a connection to Illinois.
George R R Martin got his BS in journalism from Northwestern, then his graduate degree from there, too. That’s his connection.
A big whoop-de-doo to you Ms. Stinky. That’s awesome!!!
Thank you, M. Theo Bald!
Beth, I don’t know how you know that I am bald, but if you ever want to rub my head, you won’t find any hair there. Nor a beard on my chin. Parsing my name, I always tell people that I am a “God Without Hair.” Get it? Love your sense of humor. All is good. You are the best.
Oh, Great God Without Hair, I thank thee for the generous offer to feel thine head. Outside of our home, though, the only heads I deign touchable are those of well-known actors with British accents.
Hi Beth,
You’re getting to be a celebrity right in our own hood!! I think it is wonderful that you were
chosen. Have a great time at the dinner!
Kathy
Oh, shucks. Thank you, Kathy. You’ve always been such a kind supporter of my adventures, and this is bound to be a fun one.
Very cool.
Yes, I agree, you don’t want to touch that beard. Yikes! Can’t wait to hear about your evening.
Thanks for confirming. I’m guessing Mr. Martin’s is more “disheveled” than Mr. Coyle’s “dapper.”
Zowie! This is pretty fabulous, kiddo. Sharing a table with Scott Simon is a major coup in my book. I’m a huge fan. Please let us know how the evening went and, of course, what you wore.
Somehow, Death Stinky is better than Breath Stinky.
Wow. An honor well deserved, stinky finke.
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