Paula Poundstone and Lizz Winstead among the featured authors at ‘The Laugh’s On Us,’ sponsored by Playaway, at ALA Annual Conference

PHILADELPHIA —  The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), will host “The Laugh’s On Us,” sponsored by Playaway, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. PDT on Sunday, June 24 at the 2012 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif.

Lizz Winstead, co-creator and former head writer of "The Daily Show," will join comedian and ALTAFF spokesperson Paula Poundstone for "The Laugh's On Us," which will also feature Carlos Kotkin, Tracy McMillan, Julia Pandl, and Joel Stein. Wine and cheese will be served, and a book signing will follow. Some books will be given away free and others will be available for purchase at a generous discount. Purchase tickets early to this event, which is always a sell-out. This event is sponsored by Playaway.

Lizz Winstead ("Lizz Free or Die: Essays," Riverhead/Penguin) is co-creator and former head writer of "The Daily Show" and one of the founders of Air America Radio. A performer and stand-up comedian, she frequently appears on MSNBC, CNN and Comedy Central.  She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Paula Poundstone ("There’s Nothing in this Book That I Meant to Say," Three Rivers Press/Random House) is a frequent panelist for NPR's "Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!" Paula was the first woman to win an ACE Award for Best Standup Comedy performance and the first woman to be invited to perform at the distinguished White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. She has starred in solo specials on HBO and Bravo and made frequent TV appearances on "The Late Show" with David Letterman, "The Tonight Show" and "The Late Late Show" with Craig Ferguson. Her first CD is "I Heart Jokes: Paula Tells Them In Maine. " 

Carlos Kotkin ("Please God Let it Be Herpes: A Heartfelt Quest for Love and Companionship," New American Library/Penguin) is a 10-time Moth StorySLAM winner and a two-time winner of the coveted GrandSLAM. He has been featured on NPR’s "The Moth Radio Hour," KCRW's "UnFictional" and the popular podcast "RISK!" He lives in Los Angeles.

Tracy McMillan ("Why You’re Not Married Yet," Ballantine Books/Random House) is a television writer whose credits include "Mad Men," "United States of Tara," "Life on Mars" and "Necessary Roughness." She is the author of the memoir "I Love You and I’m Leaving You Anyway." She lives in Los Angeles and is the mother of a 15-year-old son.

Julia Pandl ("Memoir of the Sunday Brunch," Algonquin) was born in Milwaukee, Wis., where she still lives and works. "Memoir of the Sunday Brunch" is her first book. When she is not writing and otherwise working, she moonlights as a stand-up comic.

Joel Stein ("Man Made," Grand Central Publishing/Hachette) grew up in Edison, N.J., went to Stanford University and in 1997, became a staff writer for Time magazine. In 1998, he began writing his sophomoric humor column, which now appears on the back page of the magazine every week. He also writes many other articles for Time and has contributed to The New Yorker, GQ, Esquire, Details, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, Wired, Real Simple, Sunset, Playboy, Elle and many more.

Advance tickets to “The Laugh’s On Us!” cost $49, $45 for ALTAFF division members. Onsite tickets cost $55. Event code: ALT2. For more information on purchasing tickets or other ALTAFF events at the ALA Annual Conference, visit http://www.ala.org/altaff/events_conferences/annual.

Find out about the many other ALA Annual Conference & Exhibits highlights as they’re added — speakers, events, networking opportunities, and more. For general information about the meeting in Anaheim, Calif., June 21-26, 2012, visit www.alaannual.org.  Save money with Early Bird Registration, open until midnight, Sunday, May 13, 2012.

ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition—Transforming Our Libraries, Ourselves

ALTAFF is a division of the American Library Association that supports citizens who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. ALTAFF brings together library Trustees, advocates, Friends, and Foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/altaff, or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.

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