Carol Muske Dukes

One often hears writers complain about book tours. Traveling constantly, facing small crowds, having the dream of the next book interrupted by the need to promote this one -- it's all too much. I'd expected to find Carol Muske-Dukes, back in L.A. last week to promote her novel "Channeling Mark Twain," just as weary about book touring as everyone else. Instead, she felt energized by the opportunity to discuss with live audiences a book that has eluded her for 20 years.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday appointed a USC English professor and author as California's next poet laureate. Carol Muske-Dukes founded the school's graduate program in literature and creative writing. She has written seven books of poetry, four novels and two essay collections. Her most recent work, "Sparrow," was a National Book Award finalist. She also founded and taught in a creative-writing program at a women's prison on Rikers Island in New York.

Three Los Angeles writers, two of whom teach at USC, are among the 20 finalists for the National Book Awards. The finalists were named Wednesday in New York by the National Book Foundation, which recognizes the best literary and nonfiction work by Americans each year. Nominees include T.C. Boyle, for his novel "Drop City" (Viking/Penguin Group), and Carol Muske-Dukes, for her book of poems "Sparrow" (Random House), both of whom are creative writing professors at USC.