CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) welcomes New England authors Chris Bohjalian, Nathaniel Philbrick and Tom Perrotta to the Best-Selling Author Forum, Friday, January 14, at 4 p.m. The event will showcase the authors' latest works, and attendees can participate in a question-and-answer session. The forum is part of the ALA's Midwinter Meeting to be held in Boston's Hynes Convention Center, January 14-19.
Bohjalian, author of the New York Times-bestseller "Midwives," is once again engaging readers in his latest novel, "Before You Know Kindness." Bohjalian is the author of nine novels, various magazine credits, and currently has three works in development for movies: "The Buffalo Soldier," "The Law of Similars" and "WaterWitches." Random House is the sponsor of Bohjalian's appearance.
Philbrick takes his fans on a riveting voyage with his latest book "Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery-The U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842." The book integrates his acute knowledge of history, while he discusses the journey from the South Pacific to the Antarctic, Pacific Northwest to New York City. Philbrick is currently working on a novel about the voyage of the "Mayflower." Philbrick's appearance is sponsored by Penguin Putnam.
Perrotta is the author of several works of fiction, including "Joe College" and "Election," which was made into the acclaimed 1999 movie starring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick. Perrotta's latest novel, "Little Children," finds him illuminating the familiar territory of the American suburb. Sponsored by Holtzbrinck Publishers, including St. Martin's Press; Farrar, Straus and Giroux; Henry Holt; Picador; Tor Books and Audio Renaissance.
Earlier on Friday, Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor and library advocate Kerry Healey will kick off the ALA Advocacy Institute with ALA President Carol Brey-Casiano at 9:30 a.m. Healey is a member of the Beverly, Mass., Friends of the Library and helped raise more than $1 million to rebuild the community's library. The institute will focus on the importance of building coalitions of library workers, trustees and Friends. Attendees will leave with a draft of an advocacy action plan for their library communities. Brey-Casiano and Healey also will be joined by Sally Reed, executive director of Friends of Libraries USA (FOLUSA).
Advocacy also is the theme for Brey-Casiano's President's Program on Sunday, January 16, which will feature best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell ("The Tipping Point") as its keynote speaker.
The Mendelssohn String Quartet will play at 3 p.m. Saturday, January 15, as part of the Arthur Curley Memorial Lecture series, which commemorates ALA past president Arthur Curley's lifelong dedication to the principles of intellectual freedom, public access to information and public advocacy for libraries.
More than 425 exhibits will feature the latest and best in services and technology for today's library users. The exhibit hall will be open Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A technology showcase will take place Monday from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. More information about the ALA Midwinter Meeting can be found on the ALA Web site at www.ala.org under Events and Conferences.
For advance media registration, please contact Macey L. Morales at 312-280-4393 prior to January 10, 2005. Registered media may pick up their credentials in the event Press Office, Hynes Convention Center, Level 1, Hallway A, G120. Media also may register on site, but due to high media volume, advance registration is strongly recommended.
Press office hours are: Friday, January 14, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday to Monday, January 15 - 17, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, January 18. The telephone number is 617-954-3320.