Sometimes, the most powerful stories speak to experiences so deep and human that they can cross boundaries to appeal to readers from all walks of life. Jennifer Lauck’s memoir, Blackbird, has garnered praise from Oprah and other nationally renowned book critics, and Jennifer herself is a popular speaker and writing teacher throughout the west coast. […]
As we count down to the National Book Critics Circle Awards, for which Reyna Grande’s The Distance Between Us is a finalist in the autobiography category, here’s a review from the El Paso Times. Calling immigration “The monster who steals parents,” Martha Statz notes that Reyna Grande’s account of her family’s immigration troubles is only […]
Welcome to Books In Common, from Director Dawn Stuart
For more than a decade I’ve chatted with thousands of literary event planners. From Community Reads committee chairs, to All Campus/Freshman Class Reads staff, to Literary Festival organizers, and beyond, I’ve been part of the process. I’ve helped select book titles that work for a particular type of event and community. I’ve supplied information on speaking fees and author schedules, and organized the details of the author’s visit. Every person and venue is unique, but we all have something in common: we’re passionate about books and inspiring more people to read and share their literary experience with others.
“It has to be the connection that happens with the people,” says author and actor, Andrew McCarthy, explaining what he enjoys most about meeting his readers when he does literary events. “When I’m telling a story and I see the heads begin to nod, that identification is a really satisfying thing. You sit in a room alone for a year, spilling your guts onto the page, then the book goes out into the world. It’s nice to know it’s been received.”
As part of our ongoing efforts to help match up events with the very best books for their particular needs, we’re conducting a survey of school-based author event organizers.
It’s fun, it will only take you a few minutes, and it will help hundreds of other Campus Reads Planners across the country.
How do we bring together people of diverse backgrounds, politics, interests, and lifestyles when all they share is a common city? Librarian Nancy Pearl tried using a book. It worked, and the idea spread around the country (as good ideas tend to do).
What began with a simple “If All Seattle Read the Same Book” in 1998 has developed into a national phenomenon. Libraries, colleges, towns, schools, and even states now host Books In Common type programs.
In 2013 Richardson Reads celebrates its 10th year uniting the town of Richardson, TX, around books and a shared love of reading. BIC/Terra Communications has been part of their planning process for several of these past few years, and we’re honored to be working with them again this year to celebrate this milestone event. This year, they not only welcome a top-notch author (to be announced), they’ll also remember the many amazing authors they’ve hosted and shared over the years. Susan Allison, the director of the program, joined us for some valuable advice and memories.
Many Community Reads Programs select books about characters who live far different lives from most of their readers. National bestseller, Enrique’s Journey, a nonfiction account of a young Honduran boy setting out to find his mother in America, is one such book. Enrique’s Journey has already been selected by 58 universities and scores of high schools as a Freshman/All Campus Reads. It’s been adopted by nine cities as a “One City, One Book” selection. Pulitzer Prize winner, Sonia Nazario, answered a few questions for us about her book and its impact on communities throughout the US.
BIC: Would you tell us a bit about your program?
Sarah: The Community Read was started in March 2003 as a way to celebrate the Community Foundation’s ten-year anniversary, bring attention to the fact that illiteracy is an issue in Findlay and Hancock County and help promote the Hancock READS endowment fund.
