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Author Events
Author Banquet with Charles R. Smith Jr. and Laurie Halse-Anderson
Friday, November 6, 6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Fee: $49
Piedmont Ballroom
Charles R. Smith Jr. combines his experiences in these three areas—writing, photography, and sports—in his work creating children's books. This fusion is evident in his very first book, RIMSHOTS, a collection of stories, poems and “other stuff” mixed with gritty black and white photos, and has only grown from there. Many of his books, such as HOOP KINGS, HOOP QUEENS, TALL TALES and SHORT TAKES, focus on basketball, but his diverse interests have kept fans on their toes with other fun subjects. Baseball gets its due in DIAMOND LIFE, while the definition of what it means to be American is celebrated in bright, colorful images and words in I AM AMERICA. A father of three, this author brings his love of basketball and baseball right down to the toddler set in LET’S PLAY BASKETBALL and LET’S PLAY BASEBALL. His recent work celebrates those who have inspired him, such as Muhammad Ali in TWELVE ROUNDS TO GLORY, and subjects he’s been interested in since he was a kid, such as THE MIGHTY 12, which celebrates Greek gods and goddesses. Of the distinctive niche he fills with his books, Charles R. Smith Jr. notes, "I want to show students, particularly boys, that there are many ways to pursue their interests, no matter what they may be."
Laurie Halse Anderson never intended to be an author. At Georgetown University, she majored in foreign languages and linguistics. She hit the real world with no idea of what kind of work she wanted to do. She tried almost everything, including cleaning banks, milking cows, and working as a stockbroker. She hated all of it. Laurie's books for children and teenagers have attracted a lot of attention. Her first novel, Speak, was a National Book Award Finalist, a Michael L. Printz Honor book, a New York Times bestseller, and an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults. In 2009, Laurie received the Margaret A. Edward Award for Lifetime Achievement for her body of work for young adults. Laurie also received the prestigious ALAN Award in 2008, which honors those who have made outstanding contributions to the field of adolescent literature. Anderson's most recent novel, Wintergirls, is also her most emotionally wrenching. Released in March 2009, it is about two friends who compete in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. Wintergirls has received 5-star reviews and debuted on the New York Times bestseller list. In addition to writing novels, Laurie also writes picture books and chapter books for elementary age children.
Author Breakfast with Linda Sue Park and Richard Peck
Sunday, November 8, 8:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Fee: $30
Piedmont Ballroom
Linda Sue Park went to Stanford University, competed for the gymnastics team, and graduated with a degree in English. She was convinced that an interested writer can make any subject fascinating (well, almost any subject...). In 1997, she started writing her first book, Seesaw Girl. It was accepted that same year and published in 1999. The Kite Fighters came out in 2000 and A Single Shard was published in March 2001 and was awarded the 2002 Newbery Medal. Since then, Linda Sue Park has published several other novels, as well as picture books, poems and short stories.
Richard Peck has written more than thirty novels, and in the process has become one of America’s most highly respected writers for young people. A versatile author, he is beloved by middle-graders as well as young adults for his comedies and coming of age novels. He lives in New York City and spends a great deal of time traveling around the country to speaking engagements at conferences, schools and libraries.Mr. Peck is the first children’s book author to have received a National Humanities Medal in a White House ceremony in 2002. He was a representative of American writers to the Russian National Book Festival in Moscow in 2005. In addition, he has won a number of other major awards for his body of work, including the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement, the ALAN Award and the Medallion from the University of Southern Mississippi. In addition, the Mystery Writers of America twice gave him their Edgar Award. Many of his books have received commendations, including A Year Down Yonder, which won the 2001 Newbery Medal while its prequel, A Long Way from Chicago, was a National Book Award Finalist and a Newbery Honor Book. In September 2009, Dial Books for Young Readers is publishing A Season of Gifts, the companion novel to A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago. A Season of Gifts has received 4 starred reviews.
