Pat Conroy, who was scheduled to join John Irving Friday on the 10:30 Literary Lions panel and was also to be a speaker at Saturday’s Author Luncheon, will not be making the trip to New York. According to his agent Marly Rusoff, Conroy’s doctor recommended he not travel following unexpected surgery. Rusoff said Conroy is well aware of the role the convention and booksellers had in breaking out The Prince of Tides and had been looking forward to this year’s event. Noting that South of Broad is Conroy’s first novel in 14 years, Rusoff said she is happy Doubleday will still make galleys of the book available at its booth. Mary Karr is replacing Conroy at the lunch and Richard Russo is stepping in to join Irving on the Lions panel. In addition to his own activities, Conroy was set to appear with his daughter Melissa, who is promoting her own book, Poppy’s Pants, due out from Blue Apple Books. Melissa will carry on without her father.
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