The National Writers Series rolls into its Summer/Fall season, welcoming not only a new roster, but its Front Street Writers Program, a partnership with Traverse City Area Public Schools that brings these authors in direct contact with area students (learn more at nationalwritersseries.org).
Here’s what’s on the docket for the upcoming months:
JANET EVANOVICH • JULY 9
Author of the sassy, sexy and sidesplitting Stephanie Plum novel series, Evanovich has cranked out 18 best sellers—with the first, One for the Money, recently turned into a feature film—and shows no signs of slowing down. Her latest series, Wicked, features a new heroine, cupcake maker Lizzy Tucker.
Guest host: NWS founder Doug Stanton. This event is provided by a partnership with the National Cherry Festival, with a portion of proceeds to benefit the NWS Scholarship Fund.
LEE CHILD • SEPT. 18
Lee Child, creator of the thrilling Jack Reacher series, has been published in 95 countries and in 40 languages. He’s topped the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Bookscan and IndieBound lists and continues pushing forward with his books depicting a man set adrift through the American landscape.
Guest host: NWS founder Doug Stanton
MAGGIE STIEFVATER • SEPT. 27
Young adult fiction writer Maggie Stiefvater has been wooed by Warner Brothers to pick up her best-selling Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, making this author hot on the tails of powerhouse bestsellers The Hunger Games and Twilight series franchises.
Guest host: Lynn Rutan, a Young Adult and children’s literature reviewer.
AYAAN HIRSI ALI • OCT. 11
Author and subject of the international best-seller, Infidel, Ayaan Hirsi Ali describes her life hiding from and fighting the treatment of women in Islam. The women’s rights advocate is the founder of the AHA Foundation, which works to “Protect and defend the rights of women and girls in the West from oppression justified by religion and culture.”
Guest host: Jack Segal, diplomat, columnist and lecturer whose international career has spanned 50 years.
BENJAMIN BUSCH • NOV. 8
Author, actor and photographer Benjamin Busch shares his life as a former U.S. Marine Corps officer and his path in relation to his father, his family and the natural world with his memoir, Dust to Dust.
MICHAEL CONNELLY • NOV. 29
Author of the New York Times bestseller-turned-feature film, The Lincoln Lawyer, Michael Connelly presents his latest thriller, The Black Box. Connelly has won every major mystery writing award available.
Guest host: Bryan Gruley, author of the Starvation Lake trilogy.
The National Writers Series takes place at the City Opera House, Traverse City. Events begin at 7 p.m., followed by book signings and an afterglow party. Visit www.nationalwritersseries.org for ticket information and availability.
