United for Libraries to host ‘Quirky Books’ at ALA Annual Conference

PHILADELPHIA — United for Libraries will present “Quirky Books for Quirky Librarians,” 3-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 28 in the Las Vegas Convention Center, N252,  at the ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas.

Join United for Libraries as Liz Climo, Ian Doescher, Caitlin Doughty, Jennifer Holland, Andrew Mayne and Ben Parzybok talk with pride about their often out-in-left-field topics. The program will be moderated by Barbara Hoffert, editor of Library Journal’s “Prepub Alert.” A book signing will follow.

Liz Climo (“The Little World of Liz Climo,” Running Press/Perseus) is an author, illustrator and animator currently working on “The Simpsons.” A California native, she has worked on such projects as “The Simpsons Movie,” “The Lebrons,” and Seth MacFarlane’s “Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy.” She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs.

Ian Doescher (“William Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return,” Quirk Books/Random House) is the author of the New York Times bestseller “William Shakespeare’s Star Wars.” He has a BA in music from Yale University, a master of divinity from Yale Divinity School, and a PhD in theology from Union Seminary. A theologically trained social media specialist, he currently works for a marketing agency in Portland.

Caitlin Doughty (“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory,” W.W. Norton & Company), called “America’s (kinda dark) sweetheart” by Huffington Post, is the host and creator of the “Ask a Mortician” web series and the collective Order of the Good Death. A licensed mortician, she lives in Los Angeles.

Jennifer Holland (“Unlikely Heroes: 37 Inspiring Stories of Courage and Heart from the Animal Kingdom,” Workman) has traveled to more than a dozen countries, flying in zero gravity over the Gulf of Mexico, scuba diving with tiger sharks, climbing the tallest tree in Costa Rica, and camping out with bushmen in the forests of Papua New Guinea. She lives in Silver Spring, Md., with her husband, two dogs and dozens of snakes and geckos.

Andrew Mayne (“Angel Killer,” Bourton Street Books/HarperCollins) has worked behind the scenes creatively for David Copperfield, Penn & Teller and David Blaine. With the support of talk show host and amateur magician Johnny Carson, Andrew Mayne started a program to use magic to teach critical thinking skills in public schools for the James Randi Educational Foundation. He stars in the reality show “Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne” on A&E.

Benjamin Parzybok (“Sherwood Nation,” Small Bear Press/Consortium) is the author of the novel Couch and has been the creator/co-creator of many other projects, including Gumball Poetry, The Black Magic Insurance Agency (city-wide, one night alternate reality game), and Project Hamad. He lives in Portland with the artist Laura Moulton and their two kids.

For information on registering to attend United for Libraries programs, visit www.ala.org/united/events_conferences/annual/register. For a detailed listing of United for Libraries programs at the ALA Annual Conference, visit www.ala.org/united/events_conferences/annual.

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United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association that supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. United for Libraries 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 or to join United for Libraries, visit the United for Libraries website or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.