Literary Lancaster!

When we mention to those outside the are we're a bookstore in Lancaster County, three guesses what the first association is and the first two don't count.... yep, "oh you mean Amish area".  Those closer to us think Amish, plus corn fields... but there is a true burgeoning literary arts scene in this part of the state and we're excited to play a big part in it.  This Fall is looking to be a stellar line up of author appearances around Lancaster County.... perhaps a list to rival most urban areas.  Here's a run down of the next 4 months of author events (or at least the ones we know about!)

August 25
Tea With Author Susan Gregg Gilmore at Aaron's Books

4pm; Free, reservations requested due to limited seating
A store and area favorite Susan Gregg Gilmore returns to celebrate the release of her second novel, The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove. Set in Nashville, during the 1960's and 70's this book is sure to be discussed for years to come. Bezellia Grove is the oldest daughter of one of Nashville's most revered families. A family that has many secrets, perhaps with Bezellia's love of their African American handy-man's son being the biggest. This a a great book for those that loved The Help. Susan's first book, Looking For Salvation at The Dairy Queen, was our best selling adult fiction title of 2009. Susan will be joining us for an afternoon of tea and discussion.




August 26
Back To School Night with 2010 Scott O'Dell Award Winner At Aaron's Books
6-8pm
Teachers, librarians, and PTA officers are invited to meet authors Matt Phelan and Mara Rockliff, and learn more about the services we offer for schools and non-profits. Guests will also get a sneak peek at books coming in the fall and winter, and be able to pre-order them for the classroom at a deep discount! All in store purchases that evening are 20% off!  Space is limited, so reservations are required. Call 627-1990.


September 10-12
2nd Annual Lititz Kid-Lit Festival

Building upon the popularity of the store’s first festival in 2009, Aaron’s Books is expanding the event locations, adding a fundraiser for local literacy programs, and providing a focus on diversity in children’s literature. Scheduled events for the weekend include a local author’s night, story time with picture book authors and illustrators and special guest Mother Goose, open signing times with the authors, a panel discussion on diversity in literature, an editing workshop for aspiring writers, and a dinner with authors to raise funds for Lancaster Reach Out and Read programs. All events are open to the public and all are free except the Saturday dinner.

Authors Appearing- Mitalie Perkins, Laurel Snyder, Amy Wummer, Eric Wight, Amy Ignatow, Suzanne Supplee, Cyn Balog, Josh Berk, A.S. King, Holly Nicole Hoxter, Vicky Burkholder, Chrysa Smith, Ruth Zavitsanos, Susan McKain & Sandy Swann, Matt Royer






September 29
Taylor Branch
Lancaster Literary Guild, Lancaster Interchurch Peace Witness, and Bright Side Opportunities Center welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Taylor Branch. His lecture, “Forty Years after Martin Luther King: Looking Ahead,” will be held at Bright Side Baptist Church, 515 Hershey Ave., Lancaster at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 29.  Taylor Branch is the author of the highly acclaimed King Era Trilogy: Parting the Waters, Pillar of Fire, and At Canaan’s Edge. That series is far from his only published works, though. In 2010 Branch published The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President, a work based on seventy-nine confidential conversations with President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001.


October 16
Launch Party for Vera Dietz at Aaron's Books
Aaron’s Books hosts the national release of author A.S. King’s new YA novel Please Ignore Vera Dietz with an evening of refreshment, live music, and a reading by A.S. King. This event is free. Call or visit Aaron’s Books for reservations or information.


October 17
Eileen Clymer Schwab, 11am
 Eileen Clymer Schwab Eileen will join Aaron's Books' Books & Brunch Book Group to discuss her debut novel, Promise Bridge, a historic novel of the Underground Railroad and friendship.

October 21
Bestselling Author Beth Hoffman
Co-sponsored by the Council of Friends of the
Lancaster Public Libraries
Thursday, October 21, 6:30pm at the Cork Factory Hotel
Aaron’s Books & the Council of Friends brings bestselling author Beth Hoffman to Lancaster for an evening of refreshments and a reading by the author, as well as an exclusive early release of the paperback edition of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.   Tickets $20. Contact Ronnie Kepchar at 569-6850 to purchase tickets.




October 22
Monster Bash!
With NY Times Bestselling zombie author Jonathan Maberry

Friday, October 22, 6pm
Celebrate American Library Association’s Teen Read Week with pizza and readings by NY Times Bestseller and multiple Bram Stoker Award winner Jonathan Maberry from his new teen zombie novel Rot & Ruin. Teens and the young at heart are invited come as their favorite dead, living dead, or un-dead book character. Sparkly vampires not invited. Proceeds will be donated to teen programs of the Lancaster County Public Libraries.  Tickets $7. Call or visit Aaron’s Books for reservations or information. Costumes not required.




November 9
Evening With The Author of "The Shack", William Young

Tuesday, Nov 9 7:00pm
at Lancaster Bible College and Graduate School, Lancaster, PA
 Parish Resource Center of Lancaster is bringing William Paul Young, author of the bestselling novel "The Shack", to speak in the Chapel Auditorium of Lancaster Bible College. This book has been a New York Times best seller for more than two years. This is a Benefit Event for the Parish Resource Center of Lancaster.


November 12
Jeanette Walls
Jeanette will be joining the Junior League of Lancaster at its 2010 Author’s Luncheon on Friday, November 12 at the Lancaster Marriott and Convention Center.
Critics have called Jeannette Walls’ memoir, The Glass Castle, “spectacular,” “extraordinary,” “incredible,” and “riveting.” It has been a New York Times best-seller for more than three years, has sold more than two million copies, been translated into 16 languages, and is being made into a movie by Paramount. Walls’ follow-up to The Glass Castle, Half Broke Horses: A True Life Novel, was released in October 2009, and was an immediate New York Times best-seller.  Tickets for the Author’s Luncheon will go on sale in September.


November 12
Local Author Night at Aaron's Books
Appearing at part of Lititz's 2nd Friday Festivitities will be regional authors Mike Silvestri, Kim Kluxen Meredith and several other to be named.

November 14
Bestselling author Joyce Hinnefeld, 7pm
Aaron's Books
Joyce Hinnefeld author of In Hovering Flight and a professor at Moravian College will be joining us for coffee and dessert and to discuss her new novel Stranger Here Below.






So not a bad Fall line-up right?  There are many more literary events planned for the remaining months of 2010 here in Lancaster County.  The Lancaster Literary Guild has a great line up of author related exhibits and discussions. The Philadelphia Alumni Writer's House at Franklin & Marshall College always has wonder speakers and workshops.  Millersville University usually brings in some fabulous academic writers and speakers.  Plus the chain stores will probably have one or two mega-watt conservative memoir writers coming (in the past Mike Huckabee and Karl Rove have appeared there... whatever people may say about them, their appearances DID get people into a bookstore!) And don't forget to check out the calendar of events at your local library!

So Happy Reading and Happy Author Eventing!