Countdown to World Book Night: Two Weeks to Go

World Book Night [1] now has 27 kick-off events scheduled around the country between April 19 and April 23. The events, taking place in libraries, bookstores, clubs, and breweries, will feature a variety of authors and entertainment.

Just added to the roster are April 22 events at the Cambridge Public Library [2], featuring authors Neil Gaiman, Vanessa Diffenbaugh, and Lisa Genova; the Union Square Barnes & Noble [3] in New York City, where the party will bring in authors Lisa Scottoline, Walter Mosley, and Hillary Jordan; and Parnassus Books [4] in Nashville, where a private reception for givers and a public signing will be hosted by Ann Patchett and James Patterson.

A number of other authors, including Nora Roberts, Jesmyn Ward, Mike Perry, J.R. Moehringer, Sandra Cisneros, Rick Riordan, Alexis Smith, and Michael Lewis, will be attending kick-off events – and there will certainly be a few additional surprises.

Two WBN poetry events, at WORD [5] in Brooklyn and at Barnes & Noble [6] in Glendale, California, will feature poets reading from the WBN pick Favorite American Poems, and there will be 11 WBN Book & Rose events.

Additionally, WBN books are being given to every audience member at the Broadway shows Annie and The Lion King on the evening of April 23 in New York City, as well as at the production of WBN pick Still Alice in Chicago. Each event will have cast-read or Playbill announcements about WBN.

Bookstores that have not received their giver contact information or a folder of giver materials should e-mail U.S. World Book Night Executive Director Carl Lennertz [7]. Books will be delivered to stores and libraries by Friday, April 12. 

For more details about kickoff plans, visit the WBN blog. [8] Also check out the customizable giver thank you certificates and other downloads on the WBN website in the Bookseller and Library sections under WBN Resources [9].

Keep checking for updates at World Book Night’s Facebook page [10], or follow WBN on Twitter [11].