Author Jamie Ford has become well-known in literary circles for his New York Times bestselling novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, which is a popular choice with many book clubs, common reads, and all campus reads programs around the country. This September, you’ll have another reason to pay attention to him. His second novel, Songs of Willow Frost, will be published on September 10, 2013. Read More »
Within her novels, New York Times bestselling author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni brings to life the South Asian experiences, culture, and diversity in both America and India. Her latest novel, Oleander Girl, explores the conflicts between the old world and new, the difficulties of finding love in a broken world, and the courage needed when we travel to strange, unfamiliar lands. Read More »
This year, the Monroe County “One Book, One Community” wowed visiting author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni with their organization, planning, and community support. We asked Cheryl Johnston, one of the event’s co-chairs, to share some of the skills and tricks to pulling off a successful common read program. Read More »
Winter doldrums are no problem at St. Petersburg College, Florida, which hosted Garth Stein for a visit this March and is still feeling the excitement. Read More »
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.
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“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.”
Read More »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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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