Two of the most prolific and successful writers in America, John Irving (The World According to Garp, The Cider House Rules) and Stephen King (The Stand, Carrie) make regular appearances to raise money for causes close to their hearts. The two met at a fundraiser in the 1980's for writer Andre Debus Sr., who had been injured in an accident and had no health insurance. In Manchester, NH this weekend the two writers did readings for a school committed to diversity by providing scholarships to a third of its students.
During an interview following the event, both King and Irving talk about causes close to their hearts -- and King describes the birth of Wavedancer, his foundation which provides health coverage for artists, which he started when his close friend and the orginal reader of his books on tape Frank Muller, had a catastrophic motorcycle accident and had no insurance to cover his care.
"There are all kinds of artists: there are writers, actors, and performance artists who don't have any kind of a safety net or anything, so we founded Wavedancer Foundation to help. Wavedancer is the name of Frank's sailboat," King tells the Manchester Journal.
The two writers also talk about their writing process, losing manuscripts and riff on reviewers.
To donate to the Wavedancer Foundation, click here.
The Wavedancer Benefit CD, a recording of the first benefit for the foundation, was recorded at New York City's Town Hall and features readings by King, Irving, Peter Straub and Frank Conroy. Buy it here.
King's next book, out this fall is a hard-boiled crime novel The Colorado Kid
for Hard Case Crime. Irving's Until I Find You comes out next week.
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