 |
Free Tickets available Saturday, December 2, 2006, 10 am - 4 pm The Guilderland Public Library will become an author's salon the evening of Friday, December 8, 2006, at 7:30 pm, when Jeff Shaara, who has enthralled readers with his bestselling historical novels set in the Civil War, World War I and World War II, reads from his latest works as part of the Library's Carol J. Hamblin Notable Author Speaker Series. Seating at this free, popular event is limited; the Library is making tickets available at no cost on a first-come, first-served basis on Monday, November 27 from 9 am to 5 pm. This is a historic event. Not since Joyce Carol Oates's appearance at the Library in 2003, has such a widely read author spoken at the Library. Shaara's rise to the rank of bestselling author began in 1993 when he was helping turn his late father's phenomenally successful historical novel, The Killer Angels, into the equally successful film "Gettysburg." The film's director, Ron Maxwell, approached Jeff about finding someone to author a prequel and sequel to The Killer Angels. In spite of having no previous writing experience, Jeff tackled the job himself. Gods and Generals was the result. Two weeks after its release, it was on the New York Times Best Seller List where it remained for fifteen weeks. In 1998, Jeff's sequel to The Killer Angels, The Last Full Measure, was published and quickly found its way to a thirteen-week stay on the New York Times Best Seller List, gaining praise from fans and critics alike. Recently Jeff focused his storyteller's art to World War II to write his latest work, The Rising Tide, in which he follows several significant historical figures through this global conflict. The Rising Tide is the first work in a planned trilogy devoted to the Second World War. Other bestsellers by Mr. Shaara include Rise To Rebellion and The Glorious Cause, a two-volume story of the American Revolution as seen through the eyes of its key participants. His To The Last Man, a novel of the First World War, received extraordinary praise from notable figures such as General Tommy Franks, Steve Forbes and General Wesley Clark. The book became an immediate national bestseller, and was given the American Library Association's "Boyd" Award for excellence. For some time, Jeff had been researching a different kind of project, which came to fruition last April: Jeff Shaara's Civil War Battlefields is a unique look at ten of this country's most valuable pieces of hallowed ground. Mr. Shaara's appearance in Guilderland and his discussion of The Rising Tide caps the Library's World War II: Documentaries and Discussion program that has, for the past two months, examined the causes, combatants, and human cost of the world's deadliest conflict. Mr. Shaara is appearing at the Guilderland Public Library as part of the Carol J. Hamblin Notable Author Speaker Series, a continuing series sponsored by the Guilderland Library Foundation. The Foundation, a not-for-profit, all volunteer organization, raises funds to expand and enhance programs and services provided by the Library. All donations to the Foundation directly benefit the Library, and are tax-deductible. This event is underwritten, in part, by Burns Management, the Capital District Civil War Round Table, Friends of the Guilderland Public Library, Mr. Bruce Sherwin, and the law firm of Ganz Wolkenbreit & Friedman, LLP. Tickets to this free program will be avaiable on Saturday, December 2, from 10 am to 4 pm; thereafter, ticket inquires may be directed to the Library's Adult Reference Department. Call 456-2400, ext. 7. for more information.. All library programming is free (unless otherwise noted) and open to the public. The Guilderland Public Library is located at 2228 Western Avenue, Guilderland. Notice Date: November 20, 2006 Contact: Mark Curiale, Public Information Specialist, at 456-2400 x 12 |
|||
