Words Alive's Board of Directors invites you to join our annual fundraiser, an on-demand, self-paced virtual celebration of the power of reading.
October 1 - 31, 2020
Featuring Ayad Akhtar
Join Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and author Ayad Akhtar in conversation with leading scholar Dr. Seth Lerer about his new, highly-acclaimed novel Homeland Elegies -- one of the most anticipated books of 2020. Participate from home, at your leisure, in October.
“It would not surprise me if it wins him a second Pulitzer Prize.”
About The Presenters
Ayad Akhtar is a novelist and playwright. His work has been published and performed in over two dozen languages. He is the winner of numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Dr. Seth Lerer is an American scholar, teacher, and public lecturer who specializes in the history of English literature and the English language. He is a Distinguished Professor of Literature at University of California, San Diego, where he served as the Dean of Arts and Humanities from 2009 to 2014.
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The VIP Experience
In addition to general admission, VIP ticket holders are also invited to join a live, moderated online conversation with Dr. Lerer, Distinguished Professor of Literature at UC-San Diego to discuss themes in the book. Sessions are:
October 12 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific
October 21 at 4:00 p.m. Pacific
October 30 at 12:00 noon Pacific
Authors Auction
Bid on authors to virtually visit your book club or child's classroom through this innovative silent auction.
Find award-winning, best-selling, and engaging adult and children's authors who have donated virtual conversations with your group.
Mission Marketplace
Shop a remarkable collection of restaurants and shops believing in the power of reading and donating proceeds to support Words Alive.
Find your favorite restaurants, handcrafted goods, custom jewelry, designer clothing, toys and games, and much, much more!
Visit our Special Attendees page to see who is coming.
Your investment in Words Alive makes a difference, perhaps now more than ever, in the lives of children, teens, and families. Thank you for your support!
Special Thanks
This event is possible thanks to our Authors Circle sponsor:
And our community supporters:
With technical assistance and thought leadership from:
A very special thank you to the many volunteers and supporters who have graciously given their time and talent in support of this event. You can view the list of these remarkable volunteers here.