The Deschutes Public Library Foundation is proud to present award-winning author Erik Larson as part of its Author! Author! Literary Series. Author Erik Larson will speak at the Bend High School auditorium on Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. and discuss his award-winning novels In the Garden of Beasts and Devil in the White City.

Erik Larson is the fourth author to visit Central Oregon as part of the Library Foundation’s Author! Author! literary series. Author! Author! presents world-class, award-winning authors to Central Oregon through a lecture, question and answer session, book signing, and outreach to area high school students. Revenue from ticket sales provides funds to enhance the Library’s services and programs. The Library Foundation hosted one author each quarter from September 2012 through June 2013. The new slate of authors for 2013/2014 will be announced on June 20 at the Bend High event.

“The Author! Author! Literary Series celebrates four of the finest authors writing today,” said Community Relations Manager Chantal Strobel. “We believe these acclaimed voices are critical to expand the cultural landscape in Central Oregon. Author! Author! improves literacy in the region, strengthens community dialogue, and enhances the programs and services of the Deschutes Public Library. It’s a win-win for Central Oregon!”

The Library Foundation works with regional high schools to provide books for students to read prior to each author’s visit, as well as provide 200 tickets for students to attend the presentations.

“This is part of an effort to reach out to young adults in the region and expose them to quality literature while engaging them in discussions regarding the book’s themes and content,” Strobel said.

Erik Larson is the author of four New York Times bestsellers, most recently In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin, which hit #1 and remained on the New York Times printed list for 35 weeks. It was published in Britain, France, Italy, Poland, Australia and was published in paperback in the U.S. on May 1, 2012. Movie rights were optioned by Universal Studios and Tom Hanks’ Playtone. Erik’s book The Devil in the White City remained on the Times‘ hardcover and paperback lists for a combined total of over three years. It won an Edgar Award for nonfiction crime writing and was a finalist for a National Book Award. Larson graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied Russian history, language and culture. He received a Masters Degree in Journalism from Columbia University. After a brief stint at the Bucks County Courier Times, Larson became a staff writer for The Wall Street Journal, and later a contributing writer for Time Magazine. He has written articles for The Atlantic, Harper's, The New Yorker, and other publications. Larson lives in Seattle with his wife and three daughters.

Tickets to see Erik Larson are $20 and are available at the Deschutes Public Library Foundation’s website at www.dplfoundation.org. Ticket revenue supports the programs and services of the Deschutes Public Library.

To volunteer to assist with the Author! Author! series, please contact the Library Foundation at: admin@dplfoundation.org.