PHOTOPHILE2- Book buddies: Literary lions roar for Webb

The Festival of the Book doesn't happen for another six months, but at the Paramount on Sunday, September 24 Senatorial hopeful Jim Webb staged his own version of the all-star event.

Governor Tim Kaine was the Master of Ceremonies.

Local literary luminary John Grisham invited fellow Democrat and horror-meister Stephen King, and they took turns reading from new work. 

Ponying up $100 (come in and listen), $500 (listen from a better seat) or $2,100 (nip wine and nibble cheese with the big guys), book-loving Democrats were expected to raise $100,000 for Webb's campaign to unseat incumbent George Allen in November.

Grisham read from his not yet published, first work of non-fiction, The Innocent Man. King gave a preview of his newest novel, Lisey's Story, and the candidate himself– author of six novels and eight screenplays– read from his Born Fighting, a work of non-fiction.  

Calling the event "an evening of fiction and fun," Webb quipped, "I even brought my tweed coat." All three writers wore combat boots to demonstrate solidarity with Jim Webb's son, Jimmy Webb, who is currently serving with the Army in Iraq.

Other notables in the audience were Al Weed, Dave Toscano, Boyd Tensley, Dave Mathews, and Coran Capshaw, but the night clearly belonged to the storytellers.  

Stephen King

Governor Tim Kaine, master of ceremonies

Author and Senate candidate Jim Webb

The Fab Four: Jim Webb, Tim Kaine, John Grisham, and Stephen King

Dave Matthews signs autographs after the event.

Boyd Tinsley was there, too.

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