Charlotte, NC – June 17, 2008 – The public library’s annual Novello Festival of Reading brings book lovers and authors together for a celebration of books and reading. This year’s star-studded line-up is full of award-winners and fan favorites sure to entice just about every interest. Tickets go on sale August 1. Check www.novellofestival.org for updates.

Thursday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. ($15)
A Novello Evening with Scott Turow, ImaginOn
Turow is an attorney and suspense author best known for “Presumed Innocent”.

Saturday, Oct. 11, FREE event
Book Brunch (9:30 a.m.) and WordPlay Saturday (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.), ImaginOn
WordPlay Saturday is the Library’s annual free festival for kids and teens. Book Brunch occurs on this same day and is an opportunity for the public to mix-and-mingle with their favorite authors and illustrators for youth.
•Cynthia Kadohata (“Kira-Kira” and “Weedflower”)
•Margaret Haddix (“Running Out of Time” and “Among the Hidden”)
•Deborah Gregory (“The Cheetah Girls” and “Catwalk”)
•Charles Smith, Jr. (“Hoop Kings”, “I am America”)
•Lucia Gonzalez (“Señor Cat's Romance and other Favorite Stories from Latin America”)
•Frank Remkiewicz (illustrator of the popular Froggy books)
•A. M. Jenkins (“Repossessed”, “Night Road”)
•Gabrielle Zevin (“Elsewhere”, “Margarettown”)
•Josh Elder (“Mail Order Ninja”, “The Batman Strikes!”)

Sunday, Oct. 12, 2 p.m. ($15)
An Afternoon of Book Lust with Nancy Pearl, ImaginOn
Known for the Librarian Action Figure modeled in her likeness, Pearl is the author of the best-seller “Book Lust”.

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m. ($35, $25, $15)
A Novello Evening with Khaled Hosseini, Ovens Auditorium
Best-selling author of “The Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns”.

Thursday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. ($15)
A Novello Evening with Armistead Maupin, ImaginOn
Maupin is the author of nine novels, including the six-volume “Tales of the City” series, “Maybe the Moon”, “The Night Listener” and most recently, “Michael Tolliver Lives”.

Friday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. ($15)
Titans of Graphic Novels with Harvey Pekar and Alison Bechdel, ImaginOn
Pekar is best known for his autobiographical slice-of-life comic book series “American Splendor”, a first-person account of Pekar’s downtrodden life. Bechdel is the creator of the comic strip “Dykes to Watch Out For” and author of the graphic memoir “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic”.

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m. (FREE)
Carolina Writers’ Night featuring John Hart, ImaginOn
John Hart, author of “Down River” and “The King of Lies”, will headline this year’s event celebrating local and regional authors. The evening will culminate with the announcement of this year’s NFP Literary Award Winner. Free event, but tickets are required.

Thursday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. (FREE)
Grown Deep Like the Rivers: African-American Poetry in Charlotte, ImaginOn
Enjoy a celebration of African-American poetry old and new featuring Slam Charlotte, and other local/regional poets. Free event, but tickets are required.

Saturday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m. ($15)
A Novello Evening with Colson Whitehead, ImaginOn
Whitehead is the author of “Apex Hides the Hurt” and “John Henry Days”, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m. ($15)
A Novello Evening with Sara Paretsky, ImaginOn
Paretsky is the award-winning creator of the V. I. Warshawski detective novels. Her 14th novel is “Bleeding Kansas”.

Thursday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m. ($25 in advance, $30 at the door)
Windy City Clues, An Evening of Food, Fiction and Friends with Sara Paretsky, Main Library
Sample Chicago-style food and drinks with author Sara Paretsky of the V. I. Warshawski detective novels. Event presented by the Friends of the Public Library.

Since its founding in 1903 as a Carnegie Free Library, PLCMC has provided community service and outreach to the citizens of the Charlotte area. One of the premier libraries in the country, PLCMC was named winner of the 2006 National Award for Library Service. The library sponsors a variety of community-based programs, from computer and Internet workshops to the award-winning Novello Festival of Reading, a celebration of the joys of reading and learning. With 24 locations, 1.6 million volumes and 28,000 videos, DVDs and CDs, PLCMC is dedicated to its mission of expanding minds, empowering individuals and enriching the community.