Author Spotlight: Tanya Wright

As if playing a starring role on HBO's True Blood isn't enough, Tanya Wright has also found time to write a screenplay, translate it into her first novel, and direct and star in said screenplay. Fans worldwide know her as the saucy, outspoken Deputy Kenya Jones on HBO's hit series based on Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels. Wright's debut novel, Butterfly Rising, was inspired by the loss of her own brother and the transformation she experienced in her life at that time. According to Wright, "I hope the message in Butterfly Rising inspires people to believe in their dreams, no matter how far-reaching they may seem. In today's world, it's easy to put our dreams last on our daily list of 'things to do.' Butterfly Rising - a bumpy and emotional journey towards hope and rebirth - is a story that suggests our dreams may actually be the bridge to leading a productive, fulfilling and extraordinary life. The journey of Lilah and Rose also exemplifies that second chances are infinitely real and deserved."

Meet Tanya Wright at PCL on Thursday, February 17th at 7pm. Reservations requested, but not required - 610-398-1361 x13. Read on for fun facts about the author and place your hold on Butterfly Rising today.

*She has appeared in ground-breaking shows including 24, NYPD Blue, ER, The Cosby Show and the Morgan Freeman-produced NBC feature Mutiny
*A native of Bronx, N.Y., Wright moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career
*She worked briefly at The New York Times
*While attending Vassar College, her studies focused on comparative literature and writing
*She is the writer and creator of several screenplays and television pilots, a soap opera, a web-based series and a reality show
*In her spare time she enjoys yoga, dance, bike riding, hiking and mentoring projects for young girls and other artists

Author Spotlight: Steven Walker

True crime fans will not want to miss Steven Walker's visit to the library on Mon., Oct. 25th at 7pm. His most recent work, Predator, hits close to home with the story of Timothy Krajcir. Read a helpful review of this book on the PCL Reference blog. Learn all about Walker by visiting his website, and find out even more about the author and the true crime cases he has profiled by attending his book discussion/signing at PCL on Oct. 25th. (Reservations requested, but not required - 610-398-1361 x13.)

5 Facts about Steven Walker:
1. He has approximately 1,500 published credits to his name.
2. He was born in Heidelberg, Germany.
3. He founded the Lehigh Valley Writers Academy in 2001.
4. He was a reporter for The Morning Call for three years.
5. He has won several awards for his macabre style of poetry.

Author Spotlight: Carol Higgins Clark

Get to know PCL's Annual Summer Celebrity before her visit to Parkland High School's auditorium on Wed., June 9th at 7pm!

Carol Higgins Clark is the author of thirteen Regan Reilly mysteries, all of which have hit the New York Times bestseller list. A native New Yorker, Carol has four siblings and an incredibly famous mother, America's #1 bestselling suspense writer, Mary Higgins Clark. They have co-authored five bestselling holiday suspense novels, including Dashing Through the Snow.

Carol obtained her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College. She then studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. After several acting gigs in theater, film and television, Carol tried her hand at writing a novel. The result was Decked, the first Regan Reilly novel and a nominee for both an Anthony and Agatha Award for Best First Novel.

Here are some fun facts about Carol:
*Her first job was at a dry cleaners, which inspired her to cast a character in Iced as an employee at a dry cleaners.
*One critic has noted "Mary Higgins Clark goes for the jugular; Carol Higgins Clark goes for the funny bone."
*Together, Carol Higgins Clark and Mary Higgins Clark received the University of Scranton's Distinguished Author Award in September 2000.
*Carol has recorded several of her mother's works, as well as her own novels. She received AudioFile magazine's Earphones Award of Excellence for her reading of Jinxed in 2002.
*Her training as a novelist began early on, as she typed up some of her mother's novels on a manual typewriter.
*She starred in Who Killed Amy Lang?, a mini-mystery aired on "Good Morning America."
*Carol was the lead in the film A Cry in the Night, based on the novel by her mother. The film was shown at the Cannes TV Festival and nationally on U.S. television.
*She was named one of Irish America magazine's Top 100 Irish Americans in 2005.
*Some of Carol's favorite films include The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, The Birds, The Exorcist, Arthur and It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.

To learn more about this popular author, visit her website. Also, check out Barnes and Nobles' "Meet the Author" page featuring Carol Higgins Clark. Information for this post was found on both sites.

Author Spotlight: Lisa Spahr

Lisa Spahr is the author of World War II Radio Heroes: Letters of Compassion. This fascinating book is about strangers helping each other during a time of war. The book features more than 30 letters and postcards sent to the author's family in 1943, alerting them of her grandfather's capture and status as a prisoner of war. Upon discovering these letters, Ms. Spahr began researching and uncovered intriguing WWII history and a great humanitarian story.

Here are a few interesting facts about this Pittsburgh based author:

1. Ms. Spahr worked for the American Legion's Washington, D.C. office for several years as a researcher and advocate examining issues related to the Gulf and Vietnam conflicts.
2. She has lived in and visited cities around the world such as Rome, Liverpool, Side, Amsterdam, Glasgow and Heidelberg.
3. Ms. Spahr is a member of the Military Writers Society of America, Business Networks International, Pittsburgh Professional Women and several Chambers of Commerce.
4. She has two dogs - Syrah Jayne (an Airedale) and Louie B (an American Bulldog/Staffordshire mix.)
5. She is an investigative psychologist who owns a life coaching and consulting business in Pittsburgh.

To learn more about this author, please visit her website. Meet Lisa Spahr and hear about a little-known piece of WWII history on Thur., March 4th at 7 pm in the library. Reservations requested - 610-398-1361 Ext. 13.

Author Spotlight: Michael Davis

Get to know New York Times bestselling author Michael Davis better before his visit to the library on January 21st!

Davis is a journalist and the author of Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street. He regularly contributes freelance writing and photography to regional and national publications, such as The New York Times, The Washington Post and O: The Oprah Winfrey Magazine. He was a senior editor and Family Page columnist for TV Guide from 2000-2007. Davis holds both an undergraduate and master's degree. He was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University during the 1986-87 academic year. He is also the recipient of a Congressional Medal of Merit for Leadership.

Here are five fun facts about Michael Davis:
1. His favorite Sesame Street character is Grover.
2. In 1978, he played against the Harlem Globetrotters as a member (for a night) of the New Jersey generals.
3. He owns a greyhound named Janie.
4. In 2006, he moderated panels on Battlestar Galactica and Stargate Atlantis at Comic-Con in San Diego.
5. The audiobook version of Davis' book is narrated by legendary puppeteer and television performer Caroll Spinney, who has been Big Bird and Oscar on Sesame Street since the debut season of 1969.

Stop by the library on Thur., Jan. 21st at 7 p.m. to hear the unforgettable story behind Sesame Street, meet Michael Davis and pick up a signed copy of his fascinating book. Reservations requested - 610-398-1361 Ext. 13. Copies of Street Gang will be available to purchase.

All information taken from the Street Gang website. Photo credited to Adrian Kinloch.

Author Spotlight: Andrew Gross

Andrew Gross, PCL's 2008 "Annual Summer Celebrity," specializes in thrillers. He has co-written several books with James Patterson, including 3rd Degree and The Lifeguard, and penned three solo best-sellers, including his latest Don't Look Twice. Here are five fun facts about this popular author:

1. The Jester is his personal favorite of the books he has written with James Patterson.
2. At one time, he was president of HEAD Ski and Tennis, a manufacturer and marketer of premium sports equipment, and then Le Coq Sportif, a French sports fashion line.
3. One of his favorite quotes is "Some people think they can and some think they can't and they're probably both right!" - Henry Ford.
4. He owns two dogs - Westies, to be exact.
5. Some of his favorite books include Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, The Wind-Chill Factor by Thomas Gifford and Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy.

All information found at Andrew Gross' website: http://www.andrewgrossbooks.com. Photo credited to Jan Cobb.