Award-winning authors to present in Reno, Nev.
Contact: Kathy Agarwal
Communications Specialist
312-280-4381
kagarwal@ala.org
For Immediate Release
September 4, 2007
Award-winning authors to present in Reno, Nev.
CHICAGO – Read any good books lately? The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) 13th National Conference & Exhibition will provide many opportunities to hear what authors of children’s and young adult literature have to say. AASL is pleased to announce the Author Track at the AASL 13th National Conference & Exhibition in Reno, Nev., October 25 - 28, 2007. The Author Track contains concurrent sessions presented by award-winning children’s and young adult authors.
“We’re thrilled with the variety of speakers for the Author Track,” said Allison G. Kaplan, co-chair of the National Conference Committee. “If you are interested in children’s literature, young adult literature or literacy in general, there will be at least one session in the author track for you! It’s a tremendous opportunity to hear great authors talk about their books and about the writing process.”
The AASL National Conference Author Track sessions will feature renowned authors Julie Anne Peters (author of “Luna”), Marilyn Reynolds (whose recent claim to fame is making the “ALA Top Ten List of Banned or Challenged Books” with “Detour for Emmy”), Laura McGee Kvasnosky (author of the “Zelda and Ivy” stories) and Kathleen Duey (author of “The Unicorn’s Secret” series). The Author Track sessions will take place during the standard concurrent session blocks, adding another dimension to the wealth of daily educational programming.
In addition to the Author Track sessions, AASL National Conference attendees can spend an evening with Wendelin Van Draanen, author of the “Sammy Keyes Mysteries,” “Shredderman: Secret Identity” and “Flipped,” at the Author Banquet, Friday, October 26, 6–9 p.m.. To cap off the author offerings, conferees can join David Lubar, author of “Hidden Talents,” for the Author Breakfast on Sunday, October 28, 8–10 a.m.
“I commend the National Conference committee for securing excellent author programming,” said Sara Kelly Johns, AASL president. “From preconferences with Judy Freeman and Ruth Cox Clark, to a full lineup of authors in the concurrent sessions Author Track, to the author banquet and breakfast, to author signings in the AASL Bookstore, conference attendees will be able to see, hear and shake hands with many great authors in Reno.”
All of the presenting authors and speakers will host book signings at the AASL Bookstore on the exhibit floor, where attendees will meet the authors in person. The author signings schedule will be available in the conference program book, on the Web site and in the AASL Advocate, the daily conference newspaper.
Online registration for the AASL National Conference is now open at
http://www.ala.org/aasl/reno . In addition to the Author Track and many author programs and events, the conference will feature three full-day and five half-day preconference workshops, several school and educational tours, more than 100 educational sessions and more than 200 exhibiting companies.
The American Association of School Librarians,
http://www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library media services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library media field.
