PIERCE COUNTY LIBRARY – Would you like to plan a trip to Paris this spring, get that book you’ve been wanting to write published, or perhaps make some art deco jewelry? Those are just a taste of the 40 free events you may participate in during Pierce County READS 2013, the countywide community one book program. Now through May 17, you may join with thousands of people throughout the county who will be reading copies of this year’s Pierce County READS’ book the New York Times best seller and award-winning “The Paris Wife,” by internationally known author Paula McLain.
 
“The Paris Wife” gives an intriguing account of one of the world’s greatest authors, Ernest Hemingway, seen through the eyes of his first wife, Hadley Richardson. This book has been very hot on the best-seller’s list, and with significant social media chatter, it soared and stayed at the top of the list. “The Paris Wife” garnered the Winner for Best Historical Fiction in the Goodreads Choice Awards, which is the only major book award that readers decide.
 
In addition to the many hands-on activities, Pierce County READS will feature other authors including: author and Professor Ann Putnam who will discuss the role of women in Hemingway’s life and works at King’s Books, Thursday, May 2, 7 p.m.; Kathleen Flinn, an award-winning author of two memoirs with recipes, who will inspire listeners to participate in her passion for home cooking at University Place Pierce County Library, Thursday, May 16, 7 p.m.; and Gregg Olsen, a New York Times best-selling author, who will talk about how he researches and writes about the lives of others at the Arts and Allied Health Building, Pierce College Puyallup, Friday, May 17, 12 p.m.
 
Please bring a non-perishable food item to events to donate to one of our community partners Emergency Food Network.
 
You may also enter to win a signed copy of “The Paris Wife” at all 18 libraries and our online library. On May 10 we will select a winner from each library and our online library.
 
You may meet Paula McLain at a free event and book signing at McGavick Conference Center @ Clover Park Technical College, in Lakewood, Friday, May 17, 2013, 7 p.m. She will speak and sign books.
 
Pierce County Library and The News Tribune present the sixth annual Pierce County READS, sponsored by KeyBank Foundation and Pierce County Library Foundation. Twenty community partners are participating and 17 towns and cities and Pierce County Council and Executive are sign proclamations proclaiming March 18-May 17, 2013 as Pierce County READS.
 
Pierce County READS @ www.piercecountylibrary.org