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February 5, 2010

Writers Series kicks off with a 'Goddess'

Amy Alkon takes on 'Rude People' in latest book

By VANESSA McCRAY

TRAVERSE CITY -- "Advice Goddess" Amy Alkon waged war against the impolite, the oblivious and the downright rude.

Her weapon: Blunt force. Like when loud shouting outside her house disrupted the 2 a.m. neighborhood hush. Alkon confronted the rowdy men with this zinger: "Clearly, you were very badly raised."

Alkon brings her campaign for courtesy to Traverse City on Feb. 11. She will appear at the City Opera House as part of the National Writers Series, which last year featured a visit from Elmore and Peter Leonard.

Billed as a "year-round book festival," the series was founded by three locals: "Horse Soldiers" author Doug Stanton; his wife, journalist Anne Stanton; and attorney Grant Parsons.

"These evenings are really an up close and personal way to talk with the storyteller," Doug Stanton said.

He called Alkon a "hysterically funny" writer with "wide appeal" who is bent on "injecting some civility, in a humorous way, back into everyday conversation."

Alkon's column "Ask the Advice Goddess" runs in the local weekly paper Northern Express. She dispenses tips on dating, love, sex and other messy details of life. Her book "I See Rude People: One Woman's Battle to Beat Some Manners into Impolite Society" was released in November.

"I am not going to be victimized ... by these people who are basically social bullies," she said.

Alkon describes herself as "a skinny redhead" with a complexion "the color of fresh Wite-Out." She grew up in the Detroit suburbs and recalls frequent visits to northern Michigan. After moving to New York, she and friends thought it would be funny to offer "free advice" from a lemonade-like stand on a SoHo street corner. People lined up around the block, and the three women, known as "The Advice Ladies," eventually authored a book with pointers on love and dating.

Now based in California, Alkon's column is syndicated in more than 100 newspapers. Her advice-seekers pose all sorts of problems -- from a married man whose wife is jealous about his friendly relationship with a younger, female co-worker to a woman who resents the financial burden of providing for her boyfriend. Alkon's responses reference psychology, studies and sometimes suggest sources to consult.

"I try very hard to get the science right ..., and to have my stuff be based in something," she said.

She also wants to entertain. Readers recognize her signature repartee and sarcastic style.

"I don't want to bore people," she said.

But enrage them? That's another matter. Alkon receives hate mail sometimes and draws the occasional heckler at readings. She welcomes detractors in the name of free speech.

That gutsy approach shows in her new book. When a car thief swiped Alkon's pink 1960 Nash Rambler, she went on a rampage fueled by righteous indignation. Her own detective work led to the location of the stolen car. Alkon proceeded to harass the thief, a story she recounts in her book.

"The way to not be a victim is to act like you're not a victim," she said.

She deals the same way with everyday nuisances such telemarketers, loud cell phone talkers and unruly children. Alkon said she's tired of inconsiderate people stealing her time, sleep and attention. She makes it a practice to tell people when their actions are inappropriate, and encourages others to join the battle against rude behavior. She tries to balance her approach by also practicing small acts of kindness.

Advance tickets to hear Alkon are $15 plus fees, or $10 for seniors and $5 for students, and are available at the opera house box office or online at www.cityoperahouse.org. Tickets at the door are $20. The cost includes Indian food from Wellington Street Market. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the event starts at 7 p.m. Net proceeds benefit a scholarship fund for local collage-bound students interested in writing.

Audience members can bid on a chance to go to brunch with Alkon and the prize of having the sharp-tongued author record a voicemail greeting on the auction winner's phone.

The series lineup this year includes notables such as Mary Karr, Tom Brokaw and Walter Kirn. For more information about upcoming events, visit the Web site www.nationalwritersseries.org.

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