The annual Cavalcade of Authors: Read, Write, Imagine! event kicks off this week, featuring a visit from 15 notable young adult authors and one illustrator.
The award-winning writers will give individual lectures beginning Wednesday at venues around town and concluding Friday at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.
Visiting authors include Jeff Burlingame, Jonathan Auxier, Chris Crutcher, Holly Cupala, Kelly Milner Halls, Jonathon Maberry, D.J. MacHale, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, Lisa McMann, Maureen McQuerry, Brandon Mull, Gregg Olsen, Trent Reedy, Veronica Rossi, Suzanne Selfors and illustrator Brandon Dorman.
About 1,000 middle- and high-school students from Richland, Kennewick, Pasco, North Franklin, Finley, Yakima and Umatilla school districts will participate in writing workshops, discussions and book signings with the authors. Students were required to read four books -- each from a different author -- by Jan. 18.
"This is our fifth year for the Cavalcade of Authors and the event is growing and includes Pasco and Yakima students this year," said Lori Russo, a teacher/librarian at Horse Heaven Hills Middle School in Kennewick. "We are excited to have so many students and authors be a part of this."
Most of the visiting authors will conduct readings and book signings before Friday's main event, she added. Most of the advance events are free.
New York Times best-selling author Lisa McMann will visit the Richland Public Library from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. The event is free. From 7 to 8:30 p.m. the same day, author Brandon Mull and author/illustrator Brandon Dorman will conduct a lecture and book signing at the Richland High auditorium. Admission is $3 at the door.
Dorman, who grew up in the Puget Sound area, is known for his New York Times bestselling picture book, The Wizard. Mull, from California, is best known for his Fablehaven fantasy series of books.
There also will be a free session from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Barnes and Noble Booksellers at Columbia Center mall in Kennewick featuring all the Cavalcade authors, who will sign copies of their books and meet fans.
"This truly is a great family event," Russo said.
The main event Friday starts at 8:15 a.m. and continues until about 2 p.m. at CBC. The workshops are open to the public, and there is no spectator fee.
For more information, call the event organizer, Michelle Lane, at 509-967-6212, email michelle.lane@rsd.edu or go to www.cavalcadeofauthors.org.
The Cavalcade of Authors is a nonprofit agency whose mission is to enrich the literary lives of students by bringing to town renowned authors of children's books.
-- Dori O'Neal: 582-1514; doneal@tricityherald.com; Twitter: @dorioneal
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.