Press release from Literacy Council of Buncombe County:
New York Times bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver will keynote the Literacy Council of Buncombe County’s 11th Annual Authors for Literacy Dinner & Silent Auction on November 29, 2018. Tickets go on sale Thursday, July 5.
Barbara Kingsolver is the author of nine bestselling works of fiction, including the novels, Flight Behavior, The Lacuna, and The Poisonwood Bible, as well as books of poetry, essays, and the influential nonfiction bestseller Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. She has won or been a finalist for major awards including the PEN/Faulkner, Pulitzer, Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and—three times—the UK’s Orange Prize. She is founder of the PEN/Bellwether Prize for socially engaged fiction. In 2000, she was awarded the National Humanities Medal, our country’s highest honor for service through the arts. She lives with her husband on a farm in southern Appalachia.
Her latest release, UNSHELTERED, is meticulously researched and five years in the making. This timely novel looks between past and present to explore the human condition in times of great uncertainty.
“I’m interested in how people cope with shifting paradigms,” Kingsolver explains. “It struck me as fantastic territory for a novel. I wanted to compare the world of right now – which feels dangerous for a new set of reasons – with the late 1800’s when people also faced what looked like the end of their world.”
The Authors for Literacy Dinner & Silent Auction featuring Barbara Kingsolver will begin with a cocktail hour and silent auction to include distinctive art and crafts, autographed and rare books, and priceless opportunities to enjoy excursions in Asheville and beyond. Following the cocktail hour, event guests will enjoy a three-course dinner and presentation by a current Literacy Council student. Barbara Kingsolver will then give the keynote presentation and autograph guests’ books. Book sales will be managed by Malaprop’s Bookstore & Café.
Event guests may upgrade tickets in order to attend a VIP reception with Barbara Kingsolver just prior to the event. This reception will include the opportunity to spend one-on-one time taking pictures and talking with the author, as well as enjoy hors d’oeuvres fireside in the picturesque Blue Ridge Room at the Crowne Plaza.
Proceeds from the Authors for Literacy Dinner & Silent Auction will benefit the Literacy Council’s programs, which provide comprehensive literacy and English language skills to 350 students and 1,270 book recipients in Buncombe County annually. The Literacy Council gives opportunities to people who don’t believe they have a second chance to learn. Literacy and English language skills are tools that help people rise out of poverty and get better-paying jobs to support their families. Literacy allows parents to read to their children. Improved literacy skills benefit not only the struggling reader, but everyone in our community regardless of age, race, gender, or background.
Authors for Literacy Dinner & Silent Auction Event Details:
• Thursday November 29, 2018 from 6:00-9:00pm at the Crowne Plaza Resort Expo Center
• General admission tickets: $95.00
• VIP passes: $500 for two (limited number available), includes two general admission tickets as well as a meet and greet with the author
• To purchase tickets online visit www.litcouncil.com. For more information or to purchase tickets by phone call LuAnn Arena at (828) 254-3442 x206
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.