The “Author Confidential” speaker series has previously brought notable authors like Sue Grafton and Scott Turow to the library for speaking appearances, question-and-answer sessions with guests, and book-signings.  This year’s event features acclaimed novelist, essayist, and speaker Ann Patchett for a 10:00 a.m. talk in the library’s 46th Star Auditorium that is free and open to the public.

Ann Patchett won the 2002 PEN/Faulkner Award for her amazing novel, Bel Canto, which is currently being adapted into a film.  Her most recent novel, 2007’s Run, was another highly acclaimed best-seller.

Patchett has also written interesting non-fiction works, including 2004’s Truth & Beauty: A Friendship, which chronicles her friendship with the late writer Lucy Grealy.  Her most recent book, 2008’s What Now?, is an adaptation of a commencement speech Patchett gave at her alma mater, Sarah Lawrence College.  

What Now? is not only an interesting compilation of Patchett’s thoughts about dealing with uncertainty and major life transitions, but it also reveals some autobiographical details and explains the inspiration behind some of Patchett’s fiction.  The book was designed by book cover guru Chip Kidd, whom Patchett credited as a major contributor to the project.

The “Author Confidential” event generally plays to a packed house, and doors open at the Downtown Library at 9:00 a.m. for guests who would like to get good seats.  Overflow seating with closed-circuit video screens will be available around the corner in the Friends of the Library meeting room. 

Ann Patchett will do a short Q & A session and will also be signing books after her talk.  Full Circle Books will have an extensive selection of Patchett’s books on hand for purchase before and after the event.

This interview with Ann Patchett from powells.com features some of her thoughts about Bel Canto and her earlier writing.  This Q & A from 2008 is a wide-ranging discussion about book tours, Patchett’s favorite reads, and other inspirations.  In this segment from NPR’s great ”You Must Read This” series, Patchett describes her feelings about Henry James’s The Ambassadors.