Acclaimed writer Anne Lamott slated for author series

The Main Event Speaker Series, an author series featuring prominent voices from the worlds of literature, the arts, politics and journalism, resumes this fall with bestselling author Anne Lamott Tuesday, November 20, 7 p.m. in the Main Library Auditorium in downtown Akron.

Lamott writes and speaks about subjects that begin with capital letters: Alcoholism, Motherhood, Jesus. But armed with self-effacing humor – she is laugh-out-loud funny – and ruthless honesty, Lamott converts her subjects into enchantment.

Lamott is the author of seven novels including Hard Laughter, Rosie, Joe Jones , Blue Shoe , All New People , and Crooked Little Heart (the sequel to Rosie ).

He as also published five bestselling books of non-fiction, Operating Instructions , an account of life as a single mother during her son’s first year and Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life , a guide to writing and the challenges of a writer’s life, Traveling Mercies , a collection of autobiographical essays on faith, and Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith .

Lamott has been honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship and has taught at UC Davis, as well as at writing conferences across the country. Lamott’s biweekly Salon Magazine “online diary,” Word by Word , was voted The Best of the Web by TIME magazine.

Filmmaker Freida Mock (who won an Academy Award for her documentary on Maya Lin) has made a documentary on Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird with Annie (1999). Anne Lamott’s last collection of essays is Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith .

Her most recent novel, entitled Imperfect Birds , was published in Spring 2010. In the Fall of 2010, Lamott was inducted into the California Hall of Fame. Her latest book, Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son , is non-fiction and was released in Spring 2012.

In her new book, Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers (November 2012), Lamott gives us three prayers to assist us in trying times. She is also working on an essay collection entitled As in Life: New and Selected Pieces , about moving through grief and loss.

A question and answer session will follow the presentation. There will be a book signing, and Lamott’s new book will be available for purchase.

Presented by the Akron-Summit County Public Library and Friends of Main Library Auditorium doors open at 6:30 p.m. Parking in the High/Market deck is free for those arriving after 6 p.m.Call 330-643-9000 or go to www.akronlibrary.org for more information.