Author of award winning-novel featured in video event for creative writing program

The creative writing program is hosting a video conference Q-and-A with Rex Pickett, author of the best-selling book “Sideways,” at 8 p.m. in Letterman Building room 125.

The Q-and-A will be preceded by a 5 p.m. showing of the 2004 Academy Award-winning film adaptation of “Sideways,” directed by Alexander Payne and starring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church.

“Sideways” tells the story of two friends who travel to California’s wine country to enjoy the last week of their freedom before one gets married.

The book has sold over 150,000 copies in the U.S., and the film grossed over $71 million in the U.S. and has won 107 awards from various award shows across the world.

The event is part of the creative writing program’s focus on hosting events that cater to the interest of all creative writing majors.

“With this event, I wanted it be different,” said Sean Lovelace, director of creative writing. “We’ve never done a video event before, so it’s cool we have a well-known author for our first one.”

Pickett has written two novels and has both written and directed two independent feature-length films.

Lovelace cited Pickett’s career in both novels and screenplays as the major reason he organized the event.

“Pickett has written screenplays, novels and now even a play, so I thought bringing him in to talk to creative writing students would be great,” Lovelace said.

The film and video conference Q-and-A is open to Ball State students and the public.

The Q-and-A will be informal and more audience-driven, so any audience member can ask Pickett questions.

“I want this to be more of a community and university-wide event than a lecture,” Lovelace said.

There will be refreshments, as well as a contest where attendees can guess what the secret drink “Cardinal Punch” tastes like. The attendee who has the most creative answer will win a prize.

“If you’re into creative writing or screenwriting, I recommend coming,” Lovelace said.