Gregg Wilhelm knows a thing or two about literature.
President and chief executive officer of the CityLit Project, Wilhelm began his career in book publishing in 1992, working at Johns Hopkins University Press and Tidewater Publishers. He also started Woodholme House Publishers, a regional book publisher.
In 2004, Wilhelm founded the nonprofit CityLit Project, an organization that strives to promote the literary arts in Baltimore City.
The 5th Annual CityLit Festival takes place Saturday ? bringing together an appropriate mix of prolific, aspiring and diverse authors both young and old.
The CityLit Festival is Saturday ? what should people look forward to?
I think this is the most solid lineup we?ve had, top to bottom. [Laura Lippman, Dan Fesperman and Afaa Michael Weaver are appearing.] We strive for balance and to feature authors and poets with new or recently published books. We have a lot of new emerging voices, balanced against internationally acclaimed writers, balanced against poetry.
How do you want the CityLit Project defined?
It?s an ongoing effort to raise the awareness of the literary arts. I?ve always maintained that the literary arts are somewhat disadvantaged, because they are produced in solitude ? writing ? and consumed in solitude ? reading. We want to create dynamic programs that bring the artists and the public together in creative ways.
What is CityLit taking on next?
We?re coming up on a year of tremendous growth. We?ve come to the realization that the CityLit Project is succeeding and is going to work. We are looking to establish new ways to serve the community and new sources to sustain the organization.
