The Maryland Humanities Council (MHC) is proud to announce the locations and dates for its One Maryland One Book author tour with Sherman Alexie from September 22 – 24, 2011. His book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, is the 2011 One Maryland One Book selection.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a semi-autobiographical work. The book details the life of Arnold Spirit (a.k.a. Junior), a 14-year-old budding cartoonist living on the Spokane Indian reservation in Washington State, as he attempts to break away from a seemingly inescapable future. The novel, a 2007 National Book Award winner, tackles poverty, bullying, overcoming adversity and family struggles.
One Maryland One Book (OMOB) is Maryland’s statewide community reading project and a program of the Maryland Center for the Book. With support from Honorary Chairperson First Lady Katie O’Malley, One Maryland One Book is a year-long project that culminates with two months of free public programs, using literature to spur conversations on critical issues in communities across the state. Libraries, educational institutions, community organizations, and cultural institutions partner with MHC to produce companion programming and book discussions during September and October.
“The Maryland Humanities Council has been fortunate to have outstanding local partners co-host the One Maryland One Book Author Tour each year,” said Andrea Lewis, One Maryland One Book Coordinator. “This year we are excited to tour to three communities that have never before had a visit from the author as a part of the program—Frederick, Cumberland and Wye Mills—in addition to our annual stop at the Baltimore Book Festival. The author tour is a highly anticipated component of the program, and we are delighted to work with three communities that are so enthusiastic about literature.”
At each stop, the author will give a talk and Q&A followed by a book signing. There will be four stops on the tour, including an appearance in the Literary Salon at the Baltimore Book Festival on September 24. Visit www.onemarylandonebook.org for an ongoing list of program partners and events.
About Sherman Alexie
Author, poet and screenwriter Sherman Alexie was named one of The New Yorker’s 20 top writers for the 21st century. The New York Times Book Review described him as “one of the major lyric voices of our time.” Men’s Journal called him “the world’s first fast-talking and wisecracking mediagenic American-Indian superstar.” His latest books include Flight, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and Face, his first full collection of poems in nine years. His collection of short stories, War Dances, was released in Fall 2009, and was the winner of the PEN Faulkner Award.
Alexie wrote and produced the film, Smoke Signals, based on his book, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, which won the Audience Award and Filmmakers Trophy at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. In 2002 he made his directorial debut with The Business of Fancydancing. He is currently working on a sequel to The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven entitled Fire with Fire, and a sequel to True Diary entitled The Magic and Tragic Year of My Broken Thumb. For more information on Sherman Alexie and his other works, visit www.fallsapart.com.
2011 One Maryland One Book Author Tour Stops
The author will give a talk and Q&A followed by a book signing at each location. All programs are free. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Details are subject to change; any changes will be posted at www.mdhc.org.
EVENT: An Evening with Sherman Alexie – Queen Anne’s County
Date(s): Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 7 p.m.
Location: Chesapeake College, Todd Performing Arts Center 1000 College Circle, Wye Mills, MD 21679
This program is being co-hosted by Chesapeake College.
EVENT: An Afternoon with Sherman Alexie – Allegany County
Date(s): Friday, September 23, 2011 at Noon
Location: Allegany College of Maryland, Auditorium
12401 Willowbrook Road SE, Cumberland, MD 21502
This program is being co-hosted by the Allegany County Library System.
EVENT: An Evening with Sherman Alexie – Frederick County
Date(s): Friday, September 23, 2011 at 7 p.m.
Location: Weinberg Center for the Arts
20 West Patrick Street, Frederick MD 21701
This program is being co-hosted by Frederick County Public Libraries.
EVENT: Baltimore Book Festival
Date: Saturday, September 24, 2011 time TBD
Location: Mount Vernon Square, Baltimore
This event will be held in the Book Festival’s Literary Salon.
About the Maryland Humanities Council
The Maryland Humanities Council (MHC) is a statewide, educational 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which utilizes the humanities to encourage informed dialogue and increased civic engagement. MHC encourages Marylanders with different backgrounds and viewpoints to see, hear, and learn more about others and themselves because only informed engaged citizens can build healthy, democratic societies. Since 1973, the Maryland Humanities Council has brought humanities programs to communities across the state and provided grant funding for nonprofit organizations to create their own humanities programs. To learn more, visit www.mdhc.org.