Erin Morgenstern among featured authors at Gala Author Tea sponsored by Reference USA at ALA Annual Conference

EXTON, Pennsylvania — Erin Morgenstern, Kate Elizabeth Russell, Kiley Reid, Karl Marlantes, Megan Angelo, and Gabriel Bump will be the featured authors at the United for Libraries Gala Author Tea, sponsored by ReferenceUSA, from 2-4 p.m. on Mon., June 24 at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

Erin Morgenstern (“The Starless Sea​​​​​​​,” Doubleday/Penguin Random House) is the author of “The Night Circus,” a number-one national best seller that has been sold around the world and translated into thirty-seven languages. She has a degree in theater from Smith College and lives in Massachusetts.

Kate Elizabeth Russell (“My Dark Vanessa,” William Morrow/HarperCollins) is a writer and teacher. “My Dark Vanessa,” forthcoming from William Morrow (US) and 4th Estate (UK), will be translated into more than 20 languages. Originally from eastern Maine, she earned a BFA at University of Maine at Farmington, an MFA from Indiana University, and a PhD from the University of Kansas.

Kiley Reid (“Such a Fun Age,” Putnam/Penguin Random House) is currently pursuing a master’s in fine arts at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, where she was awarded the Truman Capote Fellowship. Her short stories have been featured and are forthcoming in Ploughshares, December, New South, and other literary journals and publications.

Karl Marlantes, (“Deep River,” Atlantic Monthly Press/Ingram) a graduate of Yale University and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, served as a Marine in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals for valor, two Purple Hearts, and ten air medals. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel, “Matterhorn,” which won numerous prizes, including the Center for Fiction’s Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize and the 2011 Indies’ Choice Award for Adult Debut Book of the Year. He is also the author of the highly acclaimed nonfiction book “What It Is Like to Go to War.”

Megan Angelo (“Followers,” Graydon House/Harlequin) grew up in Quakertown, Pa., and graduated from Villanova University. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Glamour and Elle, among other publications. Followers is her first novel.

Gabriel Bump (“Everywhere You Don't Belong,” Algonquin/Workman) is from South Shore, Chicago. His nonfiction and fiction has appeared in Slam magazine, Huffington Post, Springhouse Journal, and other publications. He was awarded the 2016 Deborah Slosberg Memorial Award in Fiction. He received his MFA in fiction from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Barbara Hoffert, editor, Library Journal's Prepub Alert, will moderate the event. Tea, light fare, and a variety of sweet treats will be served. A book signing will follow. Advance tickets to the Gala Author Tea cost $60, $55 for United for Libraries division members. Onsite tickets cost $65, if available. Advance purchase is recommended. Event code: UNI3. The event will be held at Marriott Marquis Washington, D.C., Marquis Ballroom Salon 1-5. For more information on purchasing tickets and other United for Libraries events and meetings at the ALA Annual Conference visit http://www.ala.org/united/events_conferences/annual.

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United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. To join, please visit www.ala.org/united or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.